- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Euan Robson on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it will introduce to improve procedures, services and support for adoptive and foster parents, as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is currently working with partners in local authorities and the voluntary sector to take forward policies to improve procedures, services and support for adoptive and foster parents.The report of the first phase of our adoption policy review was published last year and made a number of recommendations to improve support to adoptive parents, in particular the establishment of an Adoption Support Network for Scotland. Following consultation on these recommendations, the Executive is considering how best to take forward these recommendations. The second phase of the adoption review, which was launched in March, will consider the legal framework for adoption and fostering, including the support for adoptive parents.The Executive has invited the Fostering Network to develop their proposals for improving support for foster carers and I will be meeting with them in the near future to discuss this work.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive when the discussions with education authorities, higher education institutions and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council on the expansion of teacher training places will take place, as referred to in its news release SEED244/2003 of 25 June 2003.
Answer
Officials are in regular contact with the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to keep them advised of future requirements for teachers and further discussions with all relevant interests will take place in the course of the summer and autumn.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Euan Robson on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what form annual progress plans, as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland, will take and how such plans will differ from annual reports.
Answer
Work is under way to improve reporting to parents as part of the Assessment Development Programme. The form of annual progress plans is currently under consideration and will draw on a series of consultations with groups of parents planned for autumn 2003. Annual progress plans will be closely linked to Personal Learning Plans to provide parents with a broader range of quality information on their children's learning.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the training of additional teachers will have on the funding allocated to implement the McCrone settlement agreed with local authorities in March 2003.
Answer
We are committed to the full implementation of the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century. The training of any additional teachers arising from A Partnership for a Better Scotland will not affect the funding of that agreement.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what new initiatives will be introduced to increase teacher numbers to 53,000 by 2007, as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.
Answer
The increase in teacher numbers to 53,000 by 2007 is being discussed with education authorities, the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and universities. Any new initiatives will be announced as and when appropriate.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities about health and safety issues on school trips.
Answer
Such guidance was issued by the Scottish Office in the form of a circular. This guidance is currently being reviewed by the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis the Minister for Education and Young People decided which the subjects are where attainment is most important, as referred to in its news release SEED244/2003 of 25 June 2003.
Answer
The Scottish Executive's response to the national debate "Educating for Excellence" emphasised our commitment to better standards of literacy and numeracy and to make the best use of specialist teachers in both primary and secondary. Those commitments are reflected in the Partnership Agreement. We are also committed to increase the number of visiting specialists in primary schools. Discussions will be held with education authorities as to the subjects in which a visiting specialist would be most helpful.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding for the Millennium Volunteers programme will be extended beyond September 2003.
Answer
I have asked Volunteer Development Scotland to undertake an assessment of the effectiveness of our current strategy for volunteering, including the future of the Millennium Volunteers programme. Accordingly, funding for the programme will extend until 31 December 2003 while the review is undertaken.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce proposals for the training of additional teachers in mathematics and English in order to reduce class si'es in these subjects to 20 in S1 and S2.
Answer
Discussions will be held with education authorities as to their requirements for additional teachers. Intakes to teacher training courses are a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. The Scottish Executive offers advice to the council on the overall number of newly trained teachers and that advice will take account of additional requirements arising out of the Partnership Agreement.
- Asked by: Fiona Hyslop, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 23 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how training for the additional 2,800 teachers needed to meet its target of 53,000 teachers by 2007 will be funded.
Answer
Funding for any additional teachers required by the Partnership Agreement will be delivered through the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.
