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Higher Still
27. Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action the Government are taking to ensure that Higher Still proceeds on time. [61291]
Mrs. Liddell: We are on course to introduce the first Higher Still courses in 1999. Over £24 million is being provided over the three year period up to 2001-02 to help classroom teachers implement Higher Still. This is in addition to the £20 million which will have been directly invested in Higher Still by the time the first classes start in 1999. An unprecedented level of support materials and national training is also being provided, and two additional in-service days have been granted for local training.
In addition, I have set up a Liaison Group consisting of representatives from teaching unions, local authorities, further education and parents' organisations, to discuss detailed arrangements for the phasing of Higher Still in 1999-2000. The Group will also consider other topics of concern identified by members.
Mr. Welsh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Education Institute of Scotland to discuss the implementation of Higher Still. [61288]
Mrs. Liddell:
I had a positive and constructive meeting with representatives of the EIS on 24 November. This resulted in the EIS suspending its boycott of preparations for Higher Still and joining the Liaison Group which I have set up to agree the detailed arrangements for the rephasing of Higher Still in 1999-2000.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review the rules that will determine the number of Scottish parliamentary constituencies. [62086]
Mr. McLeish:
Section 86 of the Scotland Act removes the current requirement in the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 for there to be a minimum number of Scottish constituencies, so that this requirement will not apply at future reviews of parliamentary boundaries in Scotland. Section 86 further provides that the electoral quota for Scotland will in future be the same as that for England. I have no plans for any further review of these provisions.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures is he taking to combat racism in Scotland. [62088]
8 Dec 1998 : Column: 161
Mr. McLeish:
The Government are firmly committed to combating racism in all its forms. In Scotland, we have taken steps to meet the Government's commitment to put racial equality at the heart of our policy agenda by introducing new measures in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to deal with racially aggravated offences; working with key agencies such as the NHS and the Employment Service to make services more accessible to minority communities; and promoting racial equality projects through funding the Ethnic Minority Grant Scheme. The Scottish Social Inclusion Strategy recognises the exclusion that some minority communities face, and we have made equal opportunity a key principle to underpin the Scottish Parliament so that it can be responsive to the whole range of Scottish society.
I plan to meet the Commission for Racial Equality shortly to discuss how we can work together to raise the profile of racial equality in Scotland as we look ahead to the Parliament. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has demonstrated his own personal commitment to racial equality by signing up to the Commission's Leadership Challenge.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish the findings of the consultation exercise concerning reform of SSSIs and national parks. [62255]
Mr. Macdonald:
The Scottish Office is currently considering responses to the consultation paper "People and Nature: A New Approach to SSSI Designations in Scotland". My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland expects to make an announcement in the early part of next year.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) recently consulted on proposals for National Parks appropriate to Scottish circumstances. The responses to the consultation will be taken into account by SNH in the advice that it provides to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. It is intended that SNH publish its advice in the early part of next year.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many concordats remain to be published; and if he will make a statement. [62186]
Mr. McLeish:
Work is progressing on concordats both within the Scottish Office and in Whitehall Departments. None of them has yet been published.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his e-mail address. [62564]
8 Dec 1998 : Column: 162
Mr. Dewar:
Electronic mail for me should be sent to scottish.secretary@scotland.gov.uk. This address is published on the home page of The Scottish Office Website.
Mr. Gorrie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schools have outside toilets (a) in each education authority and (b) in Scotland. [62648]
Mrs. Liddell:
The information is not collected centrally.
Mr. Gorrie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) pupils and (b) full-time equivalent teachers there were in each education authority in (i) primary schools and (ii) secondary schools; and in each case what the pupil-teacher ratio (1) was in 1997 and (2) is currently. [62649]
Mrs. Liddell:
The information requested is set out in the tables.
| Education authority | Schools | Pupils | Teachers (FTE) | Pupil/ teacher ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 2,300 | 440,594 | 22,187 | 19.9 |
| Aberdeen City | 61 | 15,921 | 795 | 20.0 |
| Aberdeenshire | 160 | 21,526 | 1,127 | 19.1 |
| Angus | 62 | 9,381 | 490 | 19.1 |
| Argyll and Bute | 87 | 7,792 | 447 | 17.4 |
| Clackmannanshire | 19 | 4,542 | 216 | 21.0 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 116 | 12,944 | 678 | 19.1 |
| Dundee City | 41 | 12,360 | 650 | 19.0 |
| East Ayrshire | 47 | 11,449 | 538 | 21.3 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 37 | 10,653 | 479 | 22.2 |
| East Lothian | 35 | 7,942 | 398 | 20.0 |
| East Renfrewshire | 24 | 8,596 | 384 | 22.4 |
| Edinburgh, City of | 103 | 30,590 | 1,491 | 20.5 |
| Eilean Siar(27) | 43 | 2,556 | 197 | 13.0 |
| Falkirk | 48 | 12,334 | 587 | 21.0 |
| Fife | 146 | 30,870 | 1,625 | 19.0 |
| Glasgow City | 204 | 49,439 | 2,458 | 20.1 |
| Highland | 191 | 19,149 | 1,078 | 17.8 |
| Inverclyde | 32 | 7,826 | 365 | 21.4 |
| Midlothian | 36 | 7,433 | 377 | 19.7 |
| Moray | 49 | 8,078 | 418 | 19.3 |
| North Ayrshire | 52 | 12,614 | 596 | 21.2 |
| North Lanarkshire | 134 | 29,831 | 1,472 | 20.3 |
| Orkney Islands | 22 | 1,846 | 124 | 14.9 |
| Perth and Kinross | 78 | 10,776 | 572 | 18.8 |
| Renfrewshire | 52 | 15,796 | 715 | 22.1 |
| Scottish Borders | 72 | 8,969 | 486 | 18.5 |
| Shetland Islands | 34 | 2,335 | 184 | 12.7 |
| South Ayrshire | 45 | 9,490 | 449 | 21.1 |
| South Lanarkshire | 125 | 26,846 | 1,285 | 20.9 |
| Stirling | 45 | 6,897 | 351 | 19.6 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 35 | 8,890 | 425 | 20.9 |
| West Lothian | 65 | 14,923 | 732 | 20.4 |
(27) Formerly known as the Western Isles
8 Dec 1998 : Column: 161
(28) Excluding adults
(29) Formerly known as the Western Isles
8 Dec 1998 : Column: 163
(30) Provisional
(31) Adults attending day education classes
Note:
Publicly funded schools comprise education authority, self governing and grant aided schools
8 Dec 1998 : Column: 164
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