- Asked by: Karen Whitefield, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 4 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the findings of the Equal Opportunities Commission’s report, Valuable Assets, how it plans to tackle the undervaluing of the work of classroom assistants in schools, particularly in respect of low pay.
Answer
Scottishministers hold all school support staff in the highest regard and value the importantcontribution they make towards the benefit of all children in schools. However,the pay and conditions of service of classroom assistants are matters for localauthorities to consider as employers.
- Asked by: Karen Whitefield, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 3 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to deliver a station at Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line, as committed to by the previous administration.
Answer
I understand thatthe commitment of the previous administration was to a feasibility study. I willbe writing to the convener of the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change committeeshortly, providing information from the feasibility study commissioned by the previousminister, Tavish Scott MSP following his letter of 30 October 2006 to the convenerof the Airdrie to Bathgate Private Bill Committee.
- Asked by: Karen Whitefield, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 3 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has carried out into the technical viability of a station at Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.
Answer
Provision of a stationat Plains was considered as part of the Initial Technical FeasibilityReport in 2004 and this work was taken forward into the Design Development Appraisalin 2006. A further feasibility study has recently been completed following the commitmentby the then minister, Tavish Scott MSP in his letter of 30 October 2006 to the convenerof the Airdrie to Bathgate Private Bill Committee. I will shortly be writing tothe convener of the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee givingdetails of the findings of the report on provision of a station at Plains.
- Asked by: Karen Whitefield, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 3 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop a system of registration for jobs for classroom assistants to raise standards and promote their education and training.
Answer
The suggestion thatthe General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) should register classroomassistants was raised in the Equal Opportunities Commission’s report ValuableAssets – a general formal investigation into the role and status of Classroom Assistantsin Scottish schools. We will consider the suggestion carefully, in consultationwith the GTCS.
- Asked by: Karen Whitefield, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 2 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the findings of the Equal Opportunities Commission’s report, Valuable Assets, what plans it has to encourage local authorities to revisit the job evaluation of classroom assistants’ roles and to carry out equal pay audits using a non-discriminatory job evaluation system.
Answer
Job evaluationand the determination of the pay and conditions of service of classroom assistantsare matters for local authorities to consider as employers.
- Asked by: Karen Whitefield, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Maureen Watt on 2 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop a national framework of job roles to ensure proper recognition of the role and responsibilities of classroom assistants.
Answer
The developmentof job roles for classroom assistants is a matter for local authorities toconsider as employers.
- Asked by: Karen Whitefield, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 1 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with North Lanarkshire Council regarding stations at Blackridge and Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.
Answer
Officials metwith North Lanarkshire Council on 20 September 2007 to discuss this issue. Discussions focussed on theoutput from the feasibility study on the provision of a station at Plains. Theissue of station provision is also covered at the regular meetings betweenNorth Lanarkshire Council, Network Rail and Transport Scotland officials.
- Asked by: Karen Whitefield, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 1 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has carried out into the economic viability of a station at Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.
Answer
Work was carriedout on the economic viability of all proposed additional stations on theAirdrie to Bathgate Rail Link during the Initial Technical Feasibility Study in2004 and this work was taken forward into the 2006 Design DevelopmentAppraisal. Both these reports are available on the Airdrie to Bathgate website.
- Asked by: Karen Whitefield, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 1 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has carried out into the demand for a station at Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.
Answer
Work was carried outon the likely demand of all proposed additional stations on the Airdrie to BathgateRail Link during the Initial Technical Feasibility Study in 2004 and this work wastaken forward into the 2006 Design Development Appraisal. Both these reports areavailable on the Airdrie to Bathgate website.
- Asked by: Karen Whitefield, MSP for Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 September 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 1 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with West Lothian Council regarding stations at Blackridge and Plains on the new Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.
Answer
Officials metWest Lothian Council officials on 9 August 2007 todiscuss this issue. Discussions focussed on cost, funding and construction ofBlackridge Station which the Scottish Government wishes to see delivered, atminimum cost to the public purse. The issue of station provision is alsocovered at the regular meetings between West Lothian Council, Network Rail andTransport Scotland officials.
