- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 November 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 4 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills has provided any messages to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry, and, if so, how many.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-23070 on 04 December 2023. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce the number of missed appointments in the NHS.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 7 December 2023
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 29 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether work has begun on its Innovation Funding Review, in light of its National Innovation Strategy stating that this will be completed by the end of 2023.
Answer
Yes, work on the Innovation Funding review, announced in the National Innovation Strategy, is already underway with our enterprise agencies. We are working with stakeholders to announce a consolidated innovation investment programme for 2024-2025.
It is our ambition that through renewing our approach to innovation investment and support, that over the next ten years we become a world leader in our priority areas, that we create jobs and opportunities throughout the country, contributing to our vision of making Scotland one of the most innovative small nations in the world.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 November 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 28 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the next round of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund will be announced.
Answer
The Scottish Government will confirm the final position for the Flexible Workforce Development Fund in 23/24 in the coming weeks.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 27 November 2023
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2023
To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government will publish the results of the A96 Corridor Review.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2023
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 November 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22060 by Jenny Gilruth on 6 November 2023, whether it has measured the impact and outcomes of the 2016 Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy prior to considering revising it; if so, how it measured this, and where the results of any measurements have been published, and, if no such measurements of outcomes have been undertaken, for what reason it decided not to do this, and whether it will set out its rationale for revising a strategy for which the impact has not been measured.
Answer
The 2016 Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy set out a series of national actions and local expectations to support local authorities in the development of their local digital learning and teaching offer. As set out in the strategy Education Scotland have ongoing engagement with local authorities, providing advice, support and professional learning and we know that many local authorities have made significant improvements in their use of technology in education in recent years.
Since publication of the 2016 strategy, both the technology and level of system maturity have moved on significantly, particularly following the pandemic. With a range of new and emerging technologies available, it is crucial that we continue to work with local authorities to ensure digital learning and teaching remains of a high standard now and in the future.
The refreshed digital strategy for education will build on existing practice and learning from the pandemic to support the ongoing evolution of the role of technology in Scotland’s education system.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22502 by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2023, whether it will provide the information requested regarding what the total cost has been to date of its development of a national digital academy, and for what reason it did not provide this information in its answer.
Answer
Further to the response to question S6W-22502 on 8 November 2023, I would clarify that there have been no costs incurred to date on the development of a National Digital Academy.
As set out, Scottish Government are currently developing options for a National Digital Academy. Once developed, these will include an estimate of future potential costs.
All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Graeme Dey on 27 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scotland’s universities will receive the full £5.8 million in regional innovation funding, as announced by the UK Government on 3 October 2023 as Scotland’s share of the UK-wide funding for the initiative, which universities in England are receiving directly via Research England.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the vital role that universities play in supporting innovation and contributing to economic and societal challenges, as we recently recognised in our National Innovation Strategy.
Following the UK Government’s announcement on a new UK Regional Innovation Fund (RIF), the Scottish Government has been engaging with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to understand implications for Scotland. The Scottish Government plans to provide an update shortly.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22202 by Jenny Gilruth on 8 November 2023, whether it will provide the information requested regarding how much of the £13 million allocated in its Budget 2023-24 has been allocated to date; which local authorities have received funding; what proportion of the allocated funding each local authority received, and whether there is any remaining funding to allocate; for what reason it did not provide this information in its answer, and, if it has not allocated any of the £13 million to date, whether it will confirm that.
Answer
As reported by the Deputy First Minister on 21 November, the £13 million originally allocated in 2023-24 has been announced as part of the savings required to reach a balanced budget. We remain committed to improving digital access in schools and work is ongoing regarding delivery options for future years.
- Asked by: Liam Kerr, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 13 November 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 27 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government which bodies have been contacted or consulted regarding the development of a national digital academy.
Answer
Scottish Government are currently developing options for a National Digital Academy.
Initial conversations have been held within the National e-Learning Offer Working Group (which includes representatives from the RICs, EIS, e-Sgoil, WestOS and Education Scotland). In addition, a Discovery process has been undertaken with all 32 local authorities regarding the future of Glow – the National Learning and Teaching Platform which will inform considerations. Further engagement with these parties and others (including direct user research with teachers and learners where required) will take place during the development of the options.