Parliamentary questions
Cathy Jamieson
1,344 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about the quality of education provided in St Xavier’s Primary School, East Ayrshire.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The quality of educationin St Xavier’s Primary School is the responsibility of East Ayrshire Council.We expect East Ayrshire Council to take the necessary action to secure continuous improvementin their schools and our experience is that this is happening.</p>
21 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about the quality of education provided in Sorn Primary School, East Ayrshire.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The quality of educationin Sorn Primary School is the responsibility of East Ayrshire Council. We expectEast Ayrshire Council to takethe necessary action to secure continuous improvement in their schools and our experienceis that this is happening.</p>
21 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what lowest number of pupils in a class is necessary for the satisfactory delivery of the curriculum for excellence.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The values, purposesand principles of <i>Curriculum for Excellence </i>are not dependent on structures,nor constrained by specific class sizes. It is for individual authorities to consider how best to provide anenriched curriculum for pupils in order to maxim…
21 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the curriculum for excellence can be satisfactorily delivered in small rural schools.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The values, purposesand principles of <i>Curriculum for Excellence </i>are not dependent on structures. It is for individual authorities to consider how best to providean enriched curriculum for pupils in order to maximise the educational benefitsfor pupils.<…
21 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in South Ayrshire where primary 3 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6748 on 29 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
21 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in East Ayrshire where primary 3 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6748 on 29 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
21 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in South Ayrshire where primary 2 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6748 on 29 November 2007. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, thesearch facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
21 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in East Ayrshire where primary 2 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6748 on 29 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
21 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in South Ayrshire where primary 1 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6748 on 29 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
21 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in East Ayrshire where primary 1 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Information onindividual class sizes from the 2006 pupil census (the latest figuresavailable) is published on the internet and can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16412/PrimClassSizesSep06">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/To…
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the link between eating red meats and an increased risk of people developing bowel cancer, highlighted in Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer, published by the World Cancer Research Fund.
Answer · Shona Robison: The World Cancer ResearchFund advice on meat goes further than current Food Standards Agency advice and theagency is aware of the evidence on the relationship between meat consumption andcancer. The potential impact of a recommendation to consumers to reduce …
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the link between physical activity and a reduced risk of people developing bowel and breast cancer, highlighted in Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer, published by the World Cancer Research Fund.
Answer · Shona Robison: The ScottishGovernment’s physical activity strategy <i>Let’s Make Scotland more Active</i>,published in 2003, recognises that physical activity can be protective againstcertain cancers, in line with the recommendations of the World Cancer ResearchFund report.…
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the link between weight gain and obesity and an increased risk of developing cancer, highlighted in Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer, published by the World Cancer Research Fund.
Answer · Shona Robison: The ScottishGovernment’s physical activity strategy “Let’s Make Scotland more Active” andthe Scottish Diet Action Plan both recognise that weight gain beyond the healthy BMI range increasesthe risk of certain cancers.</p>
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to alter its nutritional guidelines in relation to meals and snacks provided in schools and hospitals following the recommendations contained in Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer, published by the World Cancer Research Fund.
Answer · Shona Robison: No. Current draftguidance on food and fluid provision in hospitals and standards and guidance onmeals and snacks in schools are broadly in line with the World Cancer ResearchFund recommendations.</p>
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what views it has on the specific recommendations of Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer, published by the World Cancer Research Fund.
Answer · Shona Robison: Therecommendations of the World Cancer Research Fund report are in keeping withcurrent advice from the Scottish Government, Food Standards Agency Scotland and NHS Health Scotland on healthy eating, healthy weight and physical activity. This advice isdesigned …
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when patients in Ayrshire and Arran will be able to access an inpatient rehabilitation facility for patients with acquired brain injury.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: That is a matter forNHS Ayrshire and Arran.</p>
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what caused any delay in establishing an inpatient rehabilitation facility for patients with acquired brain injury in Ayrshire and Arran.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No firm date for theestablishment of such a facility has ever been given by the board.</p>
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a STAG appraisal is required for the construction of a railway station at Mauchline, East Ayrshire.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The ScottishTransport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) is focussed on identifying the appropriatesolution to a transport problem. It is therefore independent of any particulartype of solution. A STAG appraisal could therefore be used to assess the mostappropriate so…
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a STAG appraisal is required to take forward increases to the frequency of the rail service between Kilmarnock and Carlisle.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A STAG appraisalwould not be necessary in this case because no additional infrastructure wouldbe required and instead it is likely to involve timetabling changes. However, abusiness case for any additional services would need to made.</p>
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a STAG appraisal is required to take forward the dynamic loop upgrade of the Glasgow to Kilmarnock rail line.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The dynamic loopupgrade of the Glasgow to Kilmarnock rail line was appraised as one of the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA)Incremental Output Statement (IOS) Schemes and therefore pre-dates theintroduction of the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG). Th…
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minister will make a statement to the Parliament to update MSPs on the progress of Homecoming Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: I made such astatement as part of the Tourism debate on 29 November 2007.</p>
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism last met Homecoming Scotland’s project officer.
Answer · Jim Mather: ScottishGovernment Ministers and officials have been meeting with the HomecomingScotland project team to discuss plans for Homecoming Scotland.</p>
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism last met EventScotland to discuss the planned programme of events for Homecoming Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: ScottishGovernment ministers and officials have been meeting frequently withEventScotland to discuss plans for Homecoming Scotland.</p>
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work it has undertaken to raise awareness in Scotland of Homecoming Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: The HomecomingScotland project team are currently finalising plans for raising awarenesswithin Scotland through a PR and media campaign and inother ways. A prerequisite is to have a developed programme of events to use asa platform for this campaign.</p>
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been undertaken to market Homecoming Scotland internationally.
Answer · Jim Mather: VisitScotlandbegan introducing Homecoming Scotland into its international PR, consumer marketingand trade activity in April 2007. It will prioritise Homecoming Scotland as thelead message in its long-haul market programmes beginning in spring 2008 andthrough …
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific events and projects it will support to celebrate the life and work of Robert Burns as part of Homecoming Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: No specificallocations will be made to particular themes within the overall HomecomingScotland framework. Instead, events organisers are being asked by theHomecoming Scotland project team to put forward proposals for funding support,and these will then be ass…
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the full programme of events planned for Homecoming Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: A programme of eventsand activities for Homecoming Scotland is currently being worked up by the HomecomingScotland team and potential partner organisations. As the programme develops, informationwill be released, but the team are working to a spring 2008 targ…
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be available for community and regional organisations to bid for as part of Homecoming Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: No specificallocations will be made to particular types of events. Instead, eventsorganisers are being asked by the Homecoming Scotland project team to putforward proposals for funding support, and these will then be assessedaccording to the project criteria …
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be focused on events and projects in Ayrshire as part of Homecoming Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: No specificallocations will be made to particular areas. Instead, events organisers arebeing asked by the Homecoming Scotland project team to put forward proposalsfor funding support, and these will then be assessed according to the projectcriteria of driving…
19 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided for Homecoming Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: In 2006-07 and2007-08 the Homecoming Scotland project has had a total budget of £1.5 millionto cover the project inception phase of the project, including the costs ofinitial design and stakeholder engagement. In ourspending plans for 2008-09 to 2010-11 we ha…