Parliamentary questions

Cathy Jamieson

1,344 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional finance has been allocated to EventScotland in the budget to support its work in relation to the 2009 Year of Homecoming.

Answer · Jim Mather: In our spending plansfor 2008-09 to 2010-11 we have set out plans to spend £3.2 million each year onmajor events and themed years. A large proportion of this funding in 2008-09 and2009-10 will be allocated to Homecoming Scotlandto cover the project’s costs, i…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce details of the rolling year programme of activity for the 2009 Year of Homecoming referred to in EventScotland’s press release of 27 November 2007.

Answer · Jim Mather: A rollingprogramme of events and activities for Homecoming Scotland is currently beingworked up by the Homecoming Scotland team and potential partner organisations.As the programme develops, information will be released, but the spring 2008target for a full H…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the list of partner events planned as part of the 2009 Year of Homecoming.

Answer · Jim Mather: A programme ofpartner events and activities for Homecoming Scotland is currently being workedup by the Homecoming Scotland team and potential partner organisations. As theprogramme develops, information will be released, but the team are working to aspring 20…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the list of signature events planned as part of the 2009 Year of Homecoming.

Answer · Jim Mather: A programme ofevents for Homecoming Scotland, including signature events, is currently beingworked up by the Homecoming Scotland team and events organisers. Taking intoaccount that the budget for this was confirmed in November 2007, the team areworking to a s…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will provide to the Robert Burns World Federation to support its activities in relation to the 2009 Year of Homecoming.

Answer · Jim Mather: The ScottishGovernment agreed in September 2005 to provide funding to support the RobertBurns World Federation in relation to Homecoming Scotland in 2009. Total fundingof £100,000 is being provided over a five year period.

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements are being made to services for those suffering from Parkinson’s disease in Ayrshire.

Answer · Shona Robison: There is general recognitionthat NHS Ayrshire and Arran does not have a full Parkinson’s disease serviceat present. The board has therefore set up a Parkinson’s Disease Group, which includespatient representatives, to look at the improvements which could be m…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change will meet myself and the Maybole Bypass Committee, as he agreed to do on 8 August 2007, to discuss the recent report on the bypass published by Transport Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A meeting has been arranged for30 January 2008.

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role the rail network has in improving the economy and social inclusion in south-west Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The recentlypublished Government Economic Strategy (GES) sets out the Government’s centralpurpose of creating a more successful country with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable growth.The GES recognises that an effici…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to market the Ayr to Stranraer rail line to visitors and tourists.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Marketing of railservices on this is the responsibility of First ScotRail under the FranchiseAgreement with Transport Scotland and the extent of marketing carried outis a commercial decision for First ScotRail.

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the introduction of station adoption schemes with a view to improving the appearance and environment of stations for rail users.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: First ScotRail operatesrail services in Scotland under the Franchise Agreement with Scottishministers. First ScotRail already operates an Adopt a Station scheme.

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the recent decision by Stena Line and P&O Ferries not to relocate their terminal from Stranraer to Cairnryan will have on rail services using the Ayr to Stranraer line.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The decision by StenaLine not to relocate their ferry operation from Stranraer to Cairnryan has meantthat timetable plans which were in development to cater for this change in operationwill not now be implemented.P&O Ferries alreadyoperate from Cai…

29 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts have been made to promote and develop the Ayr to Stranraer rail line for passenger and freight traffic in accordance with local, regional and national transport policies.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In accordance withoptimising the use of the network through effective timetabling of passenger andfreight services, Transport Scotland and First ScotRail are examining the serviceprovision for services to Ayr and Stranraer. In the course of these examinations…

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with the UK Government regarding efforts to tackle human trafficking.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Scottishministers sit on the UK Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group with responsibilityfor overseeing the implementation of the UK Action Plan and the Council of EuropeConvention Against Trafficking in Human Beings. Scottish Government officials siton the Co…

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many victims of human trafficking have been identified in Scotland in each of the last three years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information on thenumber of victims of trafficking identified in Scotland is not held centrally.The Trafficking AwarenessRaising Alliance (TARA) provides support to adult female victims of traffickingfor sexual exploitation in the Glasgow area. The num…

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to victims of human trafficking in Scotland.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Governmentprovides funding to the Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance (TARA) in Glasgow, which provides specialist support to adult female victimsof trafficking for sexual exploitation in the Strathclyde area. The Scottish Governmenthas recent…

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to identify victims of human trafficking who have been brought into Scotland.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Scottish police forcesare currently participating in Operation Pentameter 2, a UK-wide multi-agency operationintended to combat human trafficking and identify and rescue victims of human trafficking.The UK Human TraffickingCentre has developed best-pra…

23 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations have met ministers or officials since 17 May 2007 to discuss a ban on snaring.

Answer · Michael Russell: My officials and Ihave met with the League Against Cruel Sports, the SSPCA, the British Associationfor Shooting and Conservation, the RSPB, the Game Conservancy Trust and the MoorlandForum since 17 May 2007 to discuss the future of snaring.

23 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations have corresponded with ministers or officials since 17 May 2007 in respect of a ban on snaring.

Answer · Michael Russell: Since 17 May 2007, the following organisations have written to ministersor officials about snaring:League Against CruelSports on 21 May;Game Conservancy Truston 24 May;Scottish CountrysideAlliance on 5 November;Scottish Badgers on2…

23 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its position in respect of a ban on snaring.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5475 on 1 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

22 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has to support the position that many pupils from small schools may find the move to secondary schools more difficult than those from larger schools.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Education authoritiesand individual schools are best placed to decide how best to manage transition fromprimary to secondary education and to meet the particular needs of individual pupils.

21 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities are required to take account of placing requests when considering the closure of small rural schools.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Statute does not prescribewhich specific issues shall be taken account of by authorities when consideringwhether to close a school, rural or urban. Pupil rolls and projections and all thefactors which may bear on them will very likely be relevant consideratio…

21 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that small schools are compatible with modern teaching methods, including the use of self assessment and peer assessment.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Curriculum forExcellence aims toprovide teachers with the flexibility to adopt new approaches to learning andteaching and its values, purposes and principles are not dependent onstructures. Likewise, we believe that good learning and teaching practices…

21 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any evidence that it is more difficult to recruit and retain staff in small schools.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We are not aware ofany evidence that it is more difficult to recruit and retain staff in small schools.The recruitment and retention of staff is a matter for individual local authorities.

21 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that small schools provide adequate opportunities for pupils to develop social skills.

Answer · Maureen Watt: It is for individuallocal authorities to consider how best to provide opportunities through policiesand curriculum programmes for pupils to develop social skills.

21 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that small schools can provide the appropriate range of extra-curricular activities.

Answer · Maureen Watt: It isfor individual authorities to consider how best to provide an enriched curriculumfor pupils in order to maximise the educational benefits for pupils, including opportunitiesfor personal achievement.

21 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that small schools can provide a learning environment that promotes confidence, responsible citizenship and the opportunity to contribute effectively.

Answer · Maureen Watt: It isfor individual authorities to consider how best to provide an enriched curriculumfor pupils in order to maximise the educational benefits for pupils.

21 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has to support the position that the educational advantages offered by small schools are “more than offset by the richer and more secure environment of a larger establishment where there is a larger pool of ideas, expertise and resources”, as outlined in East Ayrshire Cou…

Answer · Maureen Watt: It would be for EastAyrshire Council, whose report is quoted, to answer any questions about it.

21 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions ministers have refused authorisation for changes to the provision of denominational education.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Ministerial consentfor such changes in provision is required only in certain prescribed circumstances.Since 1999, ministers have given their consent in all such cases where it has beenapplied for.

21 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it takes account of local circumstances and social factors when considering whether to authorise the closure of rural schools.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Governmentre-issued comprehensive guidance to local authorities on proposals for changes tothe school estate on 11 October 2007 setting out howministers expect councils to handle all school closure proposals, whether or notrequiring ministerial c…

21 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines a rural school.

Answer · Maureen Watt: There is no legal definitionof a rural school in Scotland. However, for statistical purposes the ScottishGovernment classifies any school located in an “accessible rural”, “remote rural”or “very remote rural” settlement as a rural school. These definitions fo…