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As part of our manifesto commitmentto provide leadership in promoting the Curriculum for Excellence agenda, we willconsider how the future qualifications system should be structured to best meetthe needs of all Scottish students. This will include consideration of future arrangementsat SCQF levels 4 and 5 (Standard Grade Credit and General/Intermediate 1 and 2).

This information is not heldcentrally.

Chartered Teacher alreadyoffers teachers substantial salary rewards in return for advanced learningwhich can lead to improved classroom practice. The scheme is currently beingreviewed to examine possible improvements. In the meantime universities reportincreasing interest in Chartered Teacher modules, in part as new generations ofteachers become eligible for entry.

This information is publishedin tables 3 and 14 of the statistical bulletin Local authority housing incomeand expenditure 2004-05 to 2006-07. This is available online in the publicationssection of the housing statistics branch reference site:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/PubLAHousingIncomeExpend.

We propose to include a newentrants measure for farmers in the new Scotland rural development programme, which we hope to launchtowards the end of this year.

At the end of the first Parliament there were nine special advisers in post at an annual salary cost of £602,449 and at the end of the second Parliament there were 12 special advisers in post at an annual salary cost of £854,376. Both cost figures include ERNIC and employer pension contributions.

The specific role and duties of special advisers is set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers at Schedule 1 of the Model Contract for Special Advisers which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37226).

 

The following is the original answer (published on 5 June 2007); see below

 

At the end of the first Parliament there were nine special advisers in post at an annual salary cost of £602,449 and at the end of the second Parliament there were 12 special advisers in post at an annual salary cost of £851,520. Both cost figures include ERNIC and employer pension contributions.

The specific role and duties of special advisers is set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers at Schedule 1 of the Model Contract for Special Advisers which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37226).

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-134 on 5 June 2007. Information on the remits of non-domestic publicbodies is provided in the directory of Scottish public bodies on the Scottish Executivewebsite at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/directory.All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

 

The employment of teachers, includingthe type of contract offered, is a matter for local authorities. However, teacherworkforce planning is designed so that new teachers are completing their inductionyear at the volume needed to achieve a broad balance between supply and demand forteachers.

Inprevious years, surveys by the General Teaching Council have found that most newlyqualified teachers are in full-time positions by the middle of the autumn term.

The Scottish Executive has madeadditional funding of £50.3 million available to local authorities for the employmentof additional teachers to meet the target of a workforce of 53,000 by August 2007.This funding covers staffing costs for the end of school year 2006-07, and partyear costs for 2007-08.

Data relating to teachersbeginning Chartered Teacher programmes is not held centrally.

Chartered Teacher programmesare modular in nature and were designed so that steady progress can lead tofull qualification in about six years. At the moment prior learning can also beaccredited and most of those completing the programme have taken advantage ofthis to some extent.

Based on information fromthe General Teaching Council for Scotland, the numbers achieving full Chartered Teacher statusin each year since inception of the programme in August 2003 is as shown in thefollowing table.

Year	Number
2003	0
2004	37
2005	113
2006	242

 

A 24-hour helpline for peoplein emotional crisis is already well established through Samaritans. The ScottishGovernment supports Samaritans’ work in Scotland through core grant funding. Inaddition Choose Life (the implementationteam for the government’s strategy on suicide prevention) have provided fundingto enable Samaritans to develop a co-coordinated approach to suicide interventionin branches in Scotland. This funding has included support to Samaritans to recruitand train more volunteers, with specific training in suicide intervention trainingskills, and support to pilot a phone texting service which will be reviewed in November2007.

There are no plans to introducea separate service to meet the same needs.

The government also supportsa number of other initiatives which provide support to people in crisis or experiencinglow mood or depression. This includes the free Breathing Space telephone adviceline (open 6pm to 2am nightly; currently piloting extended hours to 6am at weekends).

In emergency situations the emergencyservices can be contacted on 999 for assistance, 24 hours a day.

Through Choose Life, suicideprevention training is being rolled out across Scotland; over 11,500 individualsin community and public service settings have been trained in suicide interventionand risk management skills in the last three years.