Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government does not have a role in this area. The Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc (Scotland) Act 2000 includes many provisions to make sure that parents are consulted on key issues at both school and education authority level. In addition, the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 sets out the list of relevant proposals that must be consulted on by local authorities in...
Adam Ingram: This information can be found in the School Meals Survey published in June 2010 and can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/07/06095048/0 .
Adam Ingram: When the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme goes live on 28 February 2011 all applications and disclosures will be on paper format only. Release 2 of the system is scheduled to be deployed in summer 2011. This will include the electronic interface. Online accounts will be made available to any organisation, for paid workers or volunteers, if they are a registered body with Disclosure...
Adam Ingram: Yes.
Adam Ingram: I am glad to say that the situation in Aberdeen City Council seems to have moved on. The member will be aware that the SNP council group has brought forward proposals to withdraw the threat of wholesale compulsory redundancies. I hope that we can move forward, build better relationships with staff and unions and maintain key services for the people of Aberdeen, including having pupil support...
Adam Ingram: In 2010-11, we provided £4.16 million for the children’s services-women’s aid fund, which supports the network of children’s workers throughout Scotland. I was delighted to announce in the Parliament on 23 December last year that we will continue to fund those important local services at the same level for 2011-12.
Adam Ingram: We are looking at funding the CEDAR project through the new early years and early intervention fund. We are working up details on the scope and management of the new fund and eligibility for it, and we will make an announcement as soon as we can.
Adam Ingram: Consideration of the report has taken place in the context of the Draft Budget 2011-12 and has now concluded. It has been decided to publish this report on 24 January 2011. Ministers note the recommendations and that the majority of local authorities already provide a school clothing grant at a threshold at least as generous as that proposed in recommendation 7.1 of the report.
Adam Ingram: For Scotland’s Disabled Children (FSDC) is a lead partner, along with Scottish Government and COSLA, in a national review of services for disabled children undertaken in 2010 and due to be published shortly. FSDC’s baseline survey, Setting the Scene , was a key source for this review and will remain central to its work with plans to update it on an ongoing basis.
Adam Ingram: There are legal obligations on local authorities to provide pre-school education and these are set out in the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc, Act 2000. When proposing the closure of any school, including a school based nursery, local authorities must undertake a consultation using the updated and robust process set out in the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010
Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government has amended the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 to create a stronger system for supporting children’s learning. The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 commenced on 14 November 2010. The Scottish Government has also published a revised code of practice: supporting children’s learning which explains the...
Adam Ingram: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education published a review on the implementation of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 in November 2007. The Scottish Government subsequently introduced legislation to strengthen the 2004 act and the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 commenced on 14 November 2010. A revised code of practice –...
Adam Ingram: The Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme will start in February 2011. This follows an announcement on 3 November 2010 to delay commencement of the scheme from the planned date of 30 November 2010 to February 2011. The date of 30 November 2010 was previously announced on 29 June 2010 providing five months notice for stakeholders. The delay until February 2011 will provide a further two to three...
Adam Ingram: The Code of Practice is published by the Scottish ministers under Section 122 of the Police Act 1997. It is currently being revised for the introduction of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme in February 2011, at which point the revised Code of Practice will be formally published, laid in the Scottish Parliament and come into force. The revised Code of Practice will be made...
Adam Ingram: Since the bill was first introduced to the Scottish Parliament, the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme has been the subject of wide ranging communications and consultation activities with the voluntary, public and private sectors across Scotland. Communications activities have included information events, both open and targeted to specific interests, publication of a regular newsletter...
Adam Ingram: The School Leavers Destination Publication (1 December 2010) indicates that 2.1% of school leavers, identified as being "Looked After" during their final year at school, were in higher education approximately three months after leaving from the academic year 2009-10.
Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of foster care within the wider care sector and the critical role played by Scotland’s foster carers. We have continued to fund national third sector organisations that support foster carers and promote the development of foster care and we are fully protecting funding for 2011-12. Additional financial support is provided to the fostering...
Adam Ingram: It is for local authorities to determine, in consultation with families to whom they provide social work services, what type of services, including family group conferencing and other approaches, best meet their needs. The Scottish Government supports the use of family group conferencing and other supportive interventions, and has funded and published research about the impact of these in...
Adam Ingram: First, I join others in congratulating Johann Lamont on securing today's debate on children in family and friends' care. We have heard some excellent speeches from all round the chamber and a good many pertinent points—one or two I might take issue with, although I will not do so this evening. I shall endeavour to respond to as many of the points as possible in the limited time available....
Adam Ingram: Yes, indeed. I shall go on to discuss the situation of all kinship carers, including informal kinship carers. Whether or not they are kinship carers of looked-after children, we know that kinship carers do it for love, not money but, equally, we all know that financial resources—or the lack of them—have an impact on how easy it is to care for a child. We also know that the number of...
