§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what payments have been made by education authorities under section 54 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to parents of school-age children for the purchase of school clothing for the years 1981 to 1986; and what are the figures for each education authority in that period.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe information to the latest year available is as follows:
Financial year (£ thousand) Education authority 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 Borders 10 13 18 30 Central 126 248 324 393 Dumfries and Galloway 17 26 32 44 Fife 12 18 33 116 Grampian — 4 8 11 Highland 17 32 63 93 Lothian 74 122 180 248 Strathclyde 444 1,937 2,917 3,034 Tayside 31 90 139 188 Orkney 3 4 4 5 Shetland — — — — Western Isles — 19 37 18 Total 734 2,513 3,755 4,180
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the expenditure per head of school population for payments under sector 54 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 for each education authority from the years 1981 to 1986 for the purchase of school clothing.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe information to the latest date available is as follows:
523W
Education authority 1981–82 £ 1982–83 £ 1983–84 £ 1984–85 £ Borders 0.58 0.79 1.12 1.19 Central 2.43 5.00 6.77 8.43 Dumfries and Galloway 0.66 1.04 1.31 1.85 Fife 0.19 0.29 0.55 1.96 Grampian — 0.05 0.55 0.14 Highland 0.45 0.88 1.75 2.62 Lothian 0.59 1.04 1.59 2.27
Education authority 1981–82 £ 1982–83 £ 1983–84 £ 1984–85 £ Strathclyde 0.98 4.52 7.08 7.61 Tayside 0.48 1.39 2.21 3.08 Orkney 0.86 1.16 1.17 1.50 Shetland — — — — Western Isles — 3.06 6.06 3.06
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance has been issued to social work authorities in Scotland since 1981 on their use of section 12 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 in response to requests for assistance with provision of school clothing from parents of school-age children and in their liaison with education departments on provision designed to ensure that children attend school appropriately and adequately clothed.
§ Mr. John MacKayNone, Local authorities' powers to provide assistance in cash or in kind under this section are expressly related to situations where they would otherwise he required to take more extensive measures in respect of the child's welfare.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance has been issued to education authorities on the exercise of their duties under section 54 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.
§ Mr. John MacKayAssistance with clothing under section 54 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 is available only where a pupil is unable to take full advantage of the education offered because of the inadequacy or unsuitability of his clothing. This is a matter for decision by education authorities in the circumstances of individual cases and no central guidance has been issued.