Parliamentary questions
Patricia Ferguson
1,079 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that Scotland benefits from the legacy of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Answer · Shona Robison: The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games provide an ideal learning opportunity both for the delivery of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and for the legacy we aim to secure from the huge opportunity which both Games present. To this end, the Scottish G…
6 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will require primary legislation to facilitate the merger of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As I alluded to in my response to Ms Ferguson’s earlier parliamentary question (S4O-01218 on 6 June 2012), our intention is to secure RCAHMS functions through primary legislation. This will allow for formal consultation and full parliamentary scrutiny of the …
6 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the issues highlighted by Audit Scotland in its report, Learning the lessons of public body mergers.
Answer · John Swinney: We welcome the publication of the Audit Scotland report. In particular, the good practice guidance captures very useful lessons to be learnt. We have widely disseminated the guidance within the Scottish Government already and we are discussing the key message…
13 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many external appointments have been made to support each (a) work stream and (b) project relating to (i) constitutional policy and (ii) the forthcoming referendum on constitutional change in each year since 2007, broken down by (A) remit, (B) dates and (C) total employment cost of e…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There has been no external recruitment for constitutional policy since 2007, and no external appointments to the Scottish Government have been made.
13 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the (a) titles and (b) remits of all work streams and projects being carried out relating to the implementation of the Scotland Act 2012.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the Member to the answer to question S4W-09092 on 9 November 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…
13 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the (a) titles and (b) remits of all work streams and projects being carried out by its Elections and Constitution Division.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the Member to the answer to question S4W-09092 on 9 November 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…
13 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the (a) titles and (b) remits of the work streams and projects relating to (i) constitutional policy and (ii) its referendum on constitutional change that are due to be established, broken down by the (A) number and grade of staff, (B) date work will begin, (C) date …
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the Member to the answer to question S4W-09092 on 9 November 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentar…
13 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the (a) titles and (b) remits of the work streams and projects relating to (i) constitutional policy and (ii) its referendum on constitutional change that have been established, broken down by the (A) number and grade of staff, (B) date work began, (C) date work is d…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Staff across the Scottish Government support Ministers in work on constitutional policy, including preparing for the implementation of the Scotland Act 2012 and the independence referendum in relation to their own policy areas, as and when required. For detai…
26 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on establishing an endowment fund to support young people involved in sport, education and humanitarian work.
Answer · Shona Robison: In 2012-13 we are providing over £3.3 million funding for national youth work and youth citizenship organisations, including YouthLink, Young Scot and the Scottish Youth Parliament. The youth work sector receives an additional valuable boost through the CashB…
26 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish an endowment fund in the name of Eric Liddell to support young people involved in sport, education and humanitarian work and, if so, whether it considers that such a fund would be an appropriate way to honour his legacy.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government holds the achievements and legacy of Eric Liddell in high regard. The University of Edinburgh has recently launched the Eric Liddell High Performance Sports Scholarships to ensure future generations of university athletes have the oppo…
18 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role the Scottish Futures Trust has in deciding the design of a school for which it has contributed funding.
Answer · Michael Russell: The detailed design of new school buildings, including those receiving funding under the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme is a matter for the local authorities. The Scottish Futures Trust’s role is to manage the programme on behalf of the Scottis…
18 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Government funding for the building of schools can be accessed only via the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer · Michael Russell: Decisions about which schools are to receive funding under the Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme are for the Scottish Government. The Scottish Futures Trust’s role is to manage the programme on behalf of the Scottish Government and to assist local a…
18 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contribution the Scottish Futures Trust makes to the funding of individual schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: None. Funding for the £1.25 billion Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme is provided by the Scottish Government (£800 million) and the local authorities (£450 million). The Scottish Futures Trust’s role is to efficiently and effectively manage the prog…
18 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Futures Trust identified the savings reported in the media on 11 July 2012 as being enough to allow the building of additional schools and whether all of the savings will be allocated to school building projects.
Answer · Michael Russell: When the £1.25 billion Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme was announced in June 2009, it was originally expected to fund the replacement or refurbishment of 55 schools. The programme is managed by the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) on behalf of the Sco…
13 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any ministers, special advisers or officials have (a) met or (b) had contact, including correspondence, with the group, Americans for an Independent Scotland, or any of the people involved in the group who are named on its website, since 1 January 2012 and, if so, (i) who, (ii) w…
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The information relevant to your question is available on the Scottish Government Website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Information/FOI/Disclosures/2012/August/MinisterialEvents.
9 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions Creative Scotland had with the sector prior to the completion of its youth arts strategy document.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government asked Creative Scotland to develop a Youth Arts Strategy for Scotland, in the Letter of Guidance to Creative Scotland on its establishment in July 2010. Creative Scotland consulted extensively with the youth arts sector and other key …
9 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussion it will have with the sector prior to publishing its response to Creative Scotland's youth arts strategy.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08605 on 6 August 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
9 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a response to the youth arts strategy document prepared by Creative Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08605 on 6 August 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
9 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a youth arts strategy.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08605 on 6 August 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, for each of its consultations published in the last year, how many days there were between the closure of the consultation and the publication of the (a) responses, (b) analysis and (c) the Scottish Government’s response.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: As there is no set timescale for analysis or publication of consultation responses, the Scottish Government does not gather data on the timing of such publications.
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what length of time it recommends is allocated to (a) analyse and (b) publish consultation responses.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: Good practice guidance on consultations for Scottish Government staff is published on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/160377/0079069.pdf.
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, given the slippage in the timetable for publication of responses to and analysis of The Registration of Civil Partnerships Same Sex Marriage: A Consultation, as noted by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy on 27 June 2012 (Official Report, c. 10687), what safe…
Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08383 on 1 August 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it is due to receive the analysis of its consultation, Your Scotland, Your Referendum.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08383 on 1 August 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long it has allowed for analysis of the responses to its consultation, Your Scotland, Your Referendum, and for what reason.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-08383 on 1 August 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it will publish (a) the responses to, (b) the analysis of and (c) its response to its consultation, Your Scotland, Your Referendum.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The responses to the Scottish Government’s consultation, Your Scotland, Your Referendum, are currently being analysed by independent researchers who have verified that over 26,000 valid responses were received. The report of the analysis will be published aft…
27 Jun 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made with the merger of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland with Historic Scotland.
13 Jun 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it plans for town centres and high streets.
11 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider individual submissions to the Referendum Consultation received via a third party.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: Respondents were able to submit their views in a number of ways but only submissions which have provided a name and an e-mail address or a name and a postal address for the respondent will be included in the analysis of responses.
11 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider submissions to the Your Scotland, Your Referendum consultation that have been made by routes other than those outlined in the document.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: We will consider all responses received but only submissions which have provided a name and an e-mail address or a name and a postal address for the respondent will be included in the analysis of responses.
1 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to the UK Government’s consultation on the proposal to remove the zero rate of VAT for approved work to listed buildings.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Unfortunately, the consultation document published by HM Revenue and Customs does not offer the opportunity to comment on the substance of the proposals, only on the draft legislation that has been prepared to implement the proposed changes. Further, despite …