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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S5W-05493

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 9 January 2017

To ask the Scottish Government how many additional support for learning teachers there are, also broken down by each year since 2007.

Question reference: S5W-05492

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on each of the 22 recommendations in the Enable Scotland report, #IncludED in the Main?!, and how it will implement them.

The Scottish Government will consider the recommendations of the Enable Scotland Report #Included In the Main?! In conjunction with the Advisory Group for Additional Support for Learning and other key stakeholders.

The Scottish Government is in the process of developing revised guidance for education authorities and schools on the presumption of mainstream education. This guidance is being developed in partnership with key stakeholders including Enable Scotland and will be published for public consultation early in 2017.

Question reference: S5W-05648

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether its funding arrangements for grant-aided special schools make provision for teaching staff, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Grant-aided special schools receive funding from the Scottish Government. This funding is provided to enable delivery of specialist provision for children and young people with complex additional support needs to overcome barriers to learning and realise their potential. This targeted support will be tailored to the needs of the child and may include speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Question reference: S5W-05649

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how arrangements for teacher salaries are determined for grant-aided special schools and whether they are covered by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers.

The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) sets out the pay and conditions of service for teachers and associated professionals employed by Scottish Councils. As grant-aided special schools are independent of Scottish Councils and the Scottish Government, pay and conditions set by the SNCT do not automatically apply. It is for each grant-aided special school and its Board of Governors to decide if they wish to apply the SNCT pay and conditions to their teachers as part of their role as employers.

Question reference: S5W-05491

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 30 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of children with learning disabilities are being taught in special schools, also broken down by each year since 2007.

The percentage of children with learning disabilities being taught in special schools broken down by each year since 2007 is as follows.

Pupils in Scotland with a Learning Disability - 2007-2016

Learning Disability	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Special Schools	3388	4134	4097	4126	4266	4421	4604	4601	4569	4311
All Schools	7399	8956	9232	11534	14673	15979	15859	15600	15324	14608
Percentage Special	46%	46%	44%	36%	29%	28%	29%	29%	30%	30%

All pupils with an ASN	36,510	38,716	44,176	69,587	98,523	118,034	131,621	140,542	153,192	170,329
of which special school pupils	6,709	6,756	6,673	6,800	6,973	6,976	6,984	6,981	6,920	6,735
of which mainstream school pupils	29,801	31,960	37,503	62,787	91,550	111,058	124,637	133,561	146,272	163,594

All special school pupils	6,709	6,756	6,673	6,800	6,973	6,976	6,984	6,981	6,920	6,735
All mainstream school pupils	685,506	674,817	670,067	666,333	663,538	664,242	666,546	669,974	673,087	677,680
All pupils	692,215	681,573	676,740	673,133	670,511	671,218	673,530	676,955	680,007	684,415
Percentage ASN	5%	6%	7%	10%	15%	18%	20%	21%	23%	25%
Percentage of ASN pupils that are at Special schools	18%	17%	15%	10%	7%	6%	5%	5%	5%	4%

Percentage of Special school pupils with a Learning Disability	50%	61%	61%	61%	61%	63%	66%	66%	66%	64%

Question reference: S5W-05616

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government when there will be an expansion of hubs to encourage exporting beyond Europe.

Scottish Development International already provides a range of products and services to Scottish companies seeking to export through its existing global network of 29 field offices and over 200 exporting professionals. In response to global trade and investment opportunities, since 2012 SDI has expanded its presence to new locations in Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Canada, Brazil, China and India. Most recently, we announced grant funding of up to £400,000 to the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, to support new business-led trade missions and forge new trading alliances between Chambers both here and abroad. This will complement the work of SDI and contribute to our shared efforts to increase business exports and internationalisation activity.

Question reference: S5W-05632

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 16 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government whether one of its ministers will chair the statutory board arising from its enterprise and skills review and, if so, who.

In our report on phase one of the Enterprise and Skills Review we have committed to work with agencies and other partners to strengthen our enterprise and skills system by consulting on the strategic board, including the best distribution of functions between the agencies underneath it and the associated legislative requirements.

As part of this work, we will also consider who should chair the board.

Question reference: S5W-05574

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-05398 by Keith Brown on 14 December 2016, when the vacancy will be advertised for the position of chief executive of (a) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (b) the Scottish Funding Council.

Question reference: S5W-05488

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 12 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5O-00356 by Keith Brown on 17 November 2016, (Official Report, c. 2), when the agencies involved in developing the business case for the national manufacturing institute (a) have met and (b) will publish the case; what locations are being considered for the institute, and by what date it will be established.

The Scottish Government is working closely with Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Funding Council, Skills Development Scotland and Highlands & Islands Enterprise to develop the business case for the national manufacturing institute for Scotland. Officials meet regularly to take this forward, including work to better understand the private sector needs and demand and how best to maximise the economic impact of the institute, including possible locations. Wherever the institute is located, it will serve the whole of Scotland.

This is a significant proposal with the potential to support step-changes in the efficiency and productivity of Scotland’s manufacturing sector. Decisions on its establishment and location(s) will depend on the business case, which will be published later this year.

Question reference: S5W-05615

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 December 2016
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 22 December 2016

To ask the Scottish Government how much it spends on encouraging exports through its network of hubs in (a) the UK, (b) Europe and (c) the rest of the world.

Through its existing global network, Scottish Development International (SDI) provides a range of products and services to attract inward investment to Scotland and to support companies in Scotland seeking access international markets. As set out in answer S5W-03968 on 16 November 2016, SDI has allocated £30.3 million in 2016-17 to support these trade and investment activities in its UK, European and international locations.

To complement the work being led by SDI, the Scottish Government has allocated £3.5m in 2016-17 for the development of the Innovation and Investment Hub programme. These hubs will play a critical role in attracting investment to Scotland, helping businesses to trade internationally, raising Scotland’s international profile and, crucially, protecting Scotland’s relationship with the EU.

The Dublin Hub opened in January 2016 and is in its first full year of operating. It provides dedicated support to enhancing high-value economic, academic and innovation partnerships between Scotland and Ireland.

The London Hub, which will open early in 2017, will bring together the Scottish Government, our enterprise agencies and VisitScotland under one roof and provide a ‘touch down’ and meeting space for Scotland’s businesses and other organisations.

Plans for the Brussels Hub are being taken forward as part of wider post referendum planning. Plans to establish a Berlin Hub are currently in development and details will be made available in due course.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx