The Scottish Government participates in the Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR) devolved taxes forecast challenge meetings ahead of each UK fiscal event.

The OBR updated its estimate of the effect of forestalling in relation to the introduction of Land and Buildings Transaction Tax in the Devolved Taxes Forecast published on 25 November 2015, which is available at:

http://budgetresponsibility.org.uk/wordpress/docs/Devolved-taxes-forecast.pdf

The Scottish Government had no responsibility for the operation of Stamp Duty Land Tax in Scotland, which was reserved to the UK Government.

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes annual UK stamp tax statistics, which include data on Scottish receipts. Publications covering the period 2012-15 are available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-stamp-tax-statistics. HMRC also publishes monthly summaries of UK tax and NIC receipts. The most recent publication is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/hmrc-tax-and-nics-receipts-for-the-uk.

Revenues from Land and Buildings Transaction Tax remain on track and in line with the Scottish Government expectations.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission submitted a monthly breakdown of the Scottish Government's 2015-16 residential revenue forecast for Land and Buildings Transaction Tax to the Scottish Parliament Finance Committee on 24 November 2015. This seasonally adjusted in-year profile does not take account of forestalling impacts.

The Scottish Fiscal Commission's paper is available at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/S4_FinanceCommittee/General%20Documents/Further_submission_from_SFC_Outturns_vs_forecast.pdf

The review has now concluded, and a report is being prepared for Argyll and Bute Council’s Community Services Committee, which meets on 10 December 2015.

Education Scotland will shortly provide all parents with a brief letter outlining its current involvement and is continuing to build the school’s capacity for improvement by:

Discussing findings and ensuring next steps are informed by best practice;

Facilitating links between Hermitage and other schools which are offering two year courses leading to qualifications, so that learning can be shared;

Offering support to the local authority/school on parental engagement approaches;

Alongside the Scottish Qualifications Authority, offering support on planning courses and assessment approaches, ensuring the needs of all groups of learners are met.

I am being kept up to date with developments. All that can be done at a national level to secure the interests and aspirations of the young people at Hermitage Academy will be done.

The Scottish Government ensures the list of gifts received by ministers is published on a quarterly basis in line with the Scottish Ministerial Code.

Parliamentary question S4W-27885 was answered on 25 November 2015.

Government agencies are part of the Scottish Government Main pay bargaining unit. Each non-departmental public body and other arm's length body subject to Scottish ministers' pay policy submits an individual pay remit. Three smaller bodies choose to analogue to the Scottish Government Main pay remit.

The numbers employed and paybill (salary plus on-costs - NIC, pensions, allowances etc) for each body subject to the pay policy as at the beginning of 2015-16 are set out in the following table:

As set out in the answer to question S4W-27521 on 29 September 2015, we continue to consider consultation responses. We will provide an analysis of responses and our proposals to Parliament in due course.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-28360 on 19 November 2015. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Education Scotland is now participating in order to offer advice on the local authority’s internal review of Hermitage Academy’s curriculum model.

I want to reassure the local member and indeed, parents and families with children at Hermitage Academy that I am monitoring the situation and review closely.

If further action is required, then I will make sure this is undertaken so that children’s opportunities to gain vital qualifications for their future are not compromised.