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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S4W-04128

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 1 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction in foreign language assistants has been since 2005-06 and what impact it considers that this will have on its commitment to increase the take-up of foreign language lessons by children.

The number of foreign language assistants (FLAs) in Scottish schools fell from 284 in 2005-06 to 59 in 2011-12. Scottish Government is disappointed that 25 local authorities this year are not making use of FLAs, who at £7,911 per assistant per year, offer a very cost-effective way of enhancing delivery of language learning in our schools. The Scottish Government is committed to promoting the value of FLAs and the role of FLAs will be considered by the Languages Working Group which will report to ministers in April 2012 with advice on implementation of our commitment to strengthen language learning in schools.

Question reference: S4O-00453

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Orkney Islands Council since May 2011 in relation to the replacement of Orkney’s internal ferry fleet.

Question reference: S4W-04136

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 30 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the information provided to parents by local authorities about the education services available to children and young people who are absent from school because of accident or ill-health.

The provision of information to parents about educational services, including when a pupil is unable to attend school due to ill health is the responsibility of education authorities. Therefore this is a matter for education authorities themselves.

Education authorities have a duty to provide education elsewhere than at a school where a pupil is unable to attend school due to ill health. This should be arranged to meet the individual needs and circumstances of the pupil concerned.

Question reference: S4W-04137

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 30 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing a duty on local authorities to inform parents of the education services available to children and young people who are absent from school because of accident or ill-health.

Question reference: S4W-04139

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 21 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 30 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that HM Inspectorate of Education should include in its inspections an assessment of the quality of education services available to children and young people who are absent from school because of accident or ill-health.

Education Scotland, through HM Inspectors inspect a wide range of provision including schools, pre-school assessment centres, special schools and residential special schools as well as the grant aided special schools. HM Inspectors are looking to consider how well education authorities, schools and services are taking forward Curriculum for Excellence to ensure all of Scotland’s children are successful learners, effective contributors, responsible citizens and confident individuals. All children and young people are entitled to universal and targeted support to meet their needs.

In all its inspections HM Inspectors consider how successfully schools are ensuring high quality learners’ experiences which include how well children and young people achieve the national outcome indicators of children and young people being safe healthy nurtured achieving respected responsible and included. Within its inspection toolkit any inspection can draw upon tools linked to issues about attendance and long term absence.

Question reference: S4W-03760

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what its contingency plan is if the data from Glow is not fully migrated to another system when the contract with RM comes to an end.

The programme structure to manage the migration from the existing to a new solution takes into account the need for contingency planning. The contract for the current Glow includes a schedule that deals specifically with termination of the contract and migration of the data. We are working with the contractor to ensure a smooth transition according to the terms of the contract.

The education community, including local authority directors of education, will be kept informed of migration activities and contingency planning.

Question reference: S4W-03759

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how long it would take to migrate the data from Glow to a replacement system.

Question reference: S4W-03763

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from teachers' organisations concerning the proposed replacement of Glow.

The Scottish Government has not received specific representations from teachers’ organisations, however the education community including individual teachers, representative groups and teaching unions have been kept informed of the planned approach to the delivery of the next generation of Glow and encouraged to contribute to the ongoing discussion. The collated feedback from all engagement activities including that from individual teachers is informing the development of the next generation of Glow.

Question reference: S4W-03762

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure a successful transition to a replacement system for Glow.

Question reference: S4W-03761

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 10 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it is undertaking into the procurement of a new IT system to replace Glow.

The Scottish Government has engaged widely to ensure that development of the next generation of Glow produces the best possible outcomes for Scotland’s learners. This has included extensive engagement with the industry, representative bodies and learning communities, practitioners, parents and young people, through surveys and online discussions and culminated in the recent national ICT in Education summit held on 17 October.