- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the maximum possible number of Scottish athletes have the chance to participate in the Olympic Games.
Answer
We are currently consideringwhat further investment is needed to support our talented and emerging athletesto fulfil their potential and be part of future GB Olympic and Paralympic teams.We also welcome the Chancellor’s announcement in the recent Budget of additionalfunding for UK Sport’s World Class Performance Programme which will benefit thoseScottish athletes selected for GB/UK squads in the relevant sports.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many visitors to Scotland arrived in (a) a Scottish airport and (b) elsewhere in the United Kingdom on a flight from Australia in each year since 1997.
Answer
There are currently nodirect flights from Australia to Scotland, although there are a number of indirect flights to Scotland connectingwithin the UK and elsewhere. The number of visitors to Scotlandfrom Australia who travelled by air to the United Kingdomsince 1997 is shown in the following table:
| Year | Visitors (‘000) |
| 1997 | 124 |
| 1998 | 82 |
| 1999 | 86 |
| 2000 | 76 |
| 2001 | 67 |
| 2002 | 77 |
| 2003 | 77 |
| 2004 | 93 |
Source: InternationalPassenger Survey.
The estimated number ofvisitors for 2005 is not available yet.
A number of visitors to Scotlandfrom Australia also enter the UK by sea or tunnel.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff employed by VisitScotland are involved in marketing Scotland in Australia; where such staff are located, and whether any premises are utilised or occupied in Australia for this purpose.
Answer
The marketing of Scotland in Australia ismanaged by five members of the VisitScotland North America, Asia, andPacific team, who are based in VisitScotland’s Headquarters in Edinburgh.The VisitScotland staff work in partnership with VisitBritain staff based in Sydney tomarket Scotland as a great place for Australians to visit.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 27 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people visited Scotland from Australia in each year since 1999.
Answer
The number of people whovisited Scotland from Australia in each year since 1999 is shown in the followingtable:
| Year | Visitors (000) |
| 1999 | 112 |
| 2000 | 98 |
| 2001 | 86 |
| 2002 | 100 |
| 2003 | 107 |
| 2004 | 119 |
Source: InternationalPassenger Survey.
The estimated number ofvisitors for 2005 is not available yet.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 26 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers have been redeployed as a result of the first phase of the contracting-out of prisoner escort and court custody services.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-13357 on 25 January 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 25 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources are available to schools to help pupils understand the importance to business of modern foreign language skills.
Answer
In February 2006, the ScottishCentre for Information on Language Teaching and Research (SCILT) distributed materialson Languages and Careers to all Primary and Secondary schools in Scotland. Thiswas is supported by a section on careers involving languages on the Modern ForeignLanguages Environment (MFLE) for language teachers in Scotland.
SCILT’s materials highlight theimportance of modern foreign language skills for business and include testimonialsfrom young Languages Ambassadors to demonstrate the connections between a wide rangeof languages and occupations. The materials also contain links to other useful informationon languages and business, including the CILT UK Languages Work on-line informationportal, which is designed to help careers advisors and teachers to provide guidanceon the use of languages at work.
An electronic version of thematerials sent to schools can be found at:
http://www.scilt.stir.ac.uk/whatsnew.htmThe supplementary materials onthe MFLE are at http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/mfle/careerswithlanguages/index.asp.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 24 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is for increasing modern foreign language skills within Scottish business.
Answer
A Smart Successful Scotland,Scotland’s Strategy for Enterprise, states that the Enterprise Networks should work withexporters to help them better penetrate existing markets, access new ones and developtheir capacity to become more competitive suppliers to overseas markets. Both EnterpriseNetworks have put in place a variety of support measures to ensure that businessesknow how to go about this.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 24 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive which of its departments is responsible for developing a framework for language skills for Scottish businesses.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has noplans to develop a framework for language skills for Scottish businesses.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 24 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what the role of Language Network Scotland is and how this interfaces with the Executive’s policies in respect of education and lifelong learning.
Answer
Language NetworkScotland states its role as “promoting a greater nationalcapability in languages”. This interfaces with school education, where we have guaranteedthe opportunity to learn a modern European language starting in primary school,and with lifelong learning, where our colleges and universities continue to provideopportunities for students to develop their language skills. This includes innovationssuch as the University of Strathclyde’s Certificate in Applied Language Study, a new degree-level qualificationwhich recognises professional competence in language at work.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 24 April 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a Skills for Business agenda which embraces modern foreign languages as a vital sector skill.
Answer
The Language SkillsAlliance, funded by the Sector Skills Development Agency, is a new partnership whichaims to ensure languages are considered in skills strategy developments across allsectors of employment. The partnership is made up of the Sector Skills DevelopmentAgency, GoSkills which is the lead Sector Skills Council for languages and CILT,the National Centre for Languages.
The alliance willsupport employers in helping them to articulate demand for language skills thatcan be translated into appropriate education and training programmes for young peopleand adults. Languages will be integrated into skills planning and qualificationsframeworks for a wide range of sectors of the economy.
