Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-14976

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider deploying more STEM Ambassadors to younger children at primary schools.

Question reference: S4W-14973

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that primary school pupils are encouraged to (a) learn and (b) enjoy maths and sciences.

One of the design principles of Curriculum for Excellence is that young people experience challenge and enjoyment in their learning, across all subjects. Teaching approaches for both science and maths will enable learning that is both stimulating and engaging. Education Scotland are working with a range of partners and teachers from across Scotland to support this by developing resources and facilitating sharing of practice.

These resources include STEM Central, which offers learner journeys based in real-life contexts for primary teachers to draw on. The Scottish Government is also supporting the Scottish Schools Education Research Centre (SSERC) to deliver a programme for primary teachers which will develop their confidence and skills in teaching science through practical lessons.

Education Scotland published a Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy (SSLN) Professional Learning Resource in October 2012. It provided details of learners’ strengths and areas for improvement in numeracy from the sample survey results, and associated advice and guidance to inform teaching practice. This was followed by the delivery of SSLN Improving Numeracy engagement days during February and March 2013, with an event on developing local authority numeracy strategies taking place in June.

The use of real-life contexts in learning helps enthuse learners about STEM career pathways, and the STEM Central resource offers a section on careers to help teachers build their own awareness of the types of jobs available. The direct engagement of industry and other partners with schools also helps to raise learners’ awareness of relevant careers. This includes the STEMNET STEM Ambassador programme which provides opportunities for young people to hear directly from those working in STEM jobs.

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

Question reference: S4W-14974

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 28 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses the success of the STEM Ambassadors programme.

The STEM Ambassadors programme is funded by the UK Government and run by STEMNET, a UK-wide charity that promotes STEM to schools. Four organisations in Scotland – Science Connects, Global Science, Dundee Science Centre and a UHI/HIE partnership – are contracted by STEMNET to run the STEM Ambassador programme in Scotland. As an initiative that encourages scientists and engineers to work with schools, the STEM Ambassadors scheme is to be welcomed. However, questions relating to its performance are a matter for STEMNET and not the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S4W-14925

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 23 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S3W-10807 and S3W-10809 by Shona Robison on 25 March 2008, what autism research projects the Chief Scientist Office has funded in the last five years.

The Chief Scientist Office has funded three autism research studies since 2008. These studies have been based in the University of Glasgow and University of Aberdeen, the funding awarded to the studies amounts to £320,000. Of these studies two were based in Aberdeen, both looked at Autism and Reactive Attachment Disorder, with the other study, based in Glasgow, looking at the role of particular genes in autism.

The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and healthcare needs in Scotland. CSO responds primarily to requests for funding research proposals initiated by the research community in Scotland. CSO would consider an application for further research on Autism. As with all research funded by the CSO it would have to be led by a researcher based in a Scottish University or NHS organisation.

Question reference: S4W-14721

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent development of a vaccine against Clostridium bolteae, which is common in autistic children, what consideration it is giving to offering the vaccine to autistic schoolchildren.

This vaccine has not yet had any preclinical or human trials, which would be needed to establish its efficacy and safety. Should these be completed satisfactorily, the vaccine would then be considered for licensing by the European Medicines Agency. If granted a licence the possible use of the vaccine would be considered by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. This is standard procedure for the introduction of all vaccines.

Question reference: S4W-14740

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 21 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to bring forward legislation on the introduction of plain packaging on cigarettes and, if so, what the timetable is.

Question reference: S4W-14738

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 17 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what conditions it has attached to its funding to the Scottish Asian Women's Association.

The Scottish Government does not provide core or project funding to the Scottish Asian Women’s Association. Funding was made available solely for the purpose of the launch event for the Association, due to the links it will help establish, not just with Scottish Asian women, with whom there are unique challenges inherent in making connections, but also wider representatives of Scottish civic life and industry.

Question reference: S4W-14739

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 17 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it took the political affiliation of the founder of the Scottish Asian Women’s Association into consideration when deciding to provide funding to it.

Question reference: S4W-14737

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 16 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what lessons it has learned from providing over £200,000 in funding to the Scottish-Islamic Foundation, which has been wound up.

Funding allocated to the Scottish Islamic Foundation resulted in a series of events in March and April 2010 to help tackle Islamaphobia by celebrating Muslim culture, challenging stereotypes and promoting community cohesion. A proportion of the total allocated funding was withheld and recalled as the Scottish Islamic Foundation was unable to deliver all of its agreed outcomes. This was done in accordance with standard procedures, which the Scottish Government continues to follow.

Question reference: S4O-02126

Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Submitting member has a registered interest.
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to understand and deal with the increase in the number of schoolchildren with additional support needs.

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