Parliamentary questions
Patricia Ferguson
1,079 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to have issued all guidance and procedures to licensing boards in relation to the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Parliamentapproved the first draft guidance for Licensing Boards prepared under section 142of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 on 7 March 2007. The guidance was issued to boards on 4 April 2007 and is available at: </p><p><ahref="http://www.scot…
16 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will issue licensing boards with guidance under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 on the procedures for members of the public to make objections and representations about the granting of a licence to existing premises during the transitional period.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Statutory guidancefor licensing boards prepared under section 142 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 was approved by Parliament on 7 March 2007 and issued to boards on 4 April 2007. This will be revised later this year to<b> </b>takeaccount of the various r…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work is underway to identify whether any duplication of functions exists between organisations within the culture portfolio.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: We are working consistentlywith all of our arms’ length delivery bodies to ensure that they operate in a mannerwhich is as efficient and effective as possible.</p>
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations it has had discussions with regarding the possibility of a merger of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: In carrying out ourinvestigation of the possibilities for a merger of Historic Scotland and the RoyalCommission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, we have held discussions with the two bodiesand my officials have met with a range of relevant…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland since May 2007.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I met with the Chairand Chief Executive of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland at their premises on 17 July 2007 and discussed the widerange of activities it currently undertakes.</p>
2 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to enhance the acquisitions budgets of the national collections.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Ministers will considerall aspects of funding for culture during the Strategic Spending Review 2007.</p>
2 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what rationale determined its decision to increase Scotland’s international aid budget.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Governmentis determined to build on the international development work that was begun by theprevious administration. We have confirmed that our commitment to Malawi will continueat the current level of £3 million a year, but we are also aware tha…
2 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue the work begun by the previous administration to achieve Fair Trade nation status for Scotland.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: This Scottish Government iscommitted to Trade Justice and will continue to support the drive to make Scotland a FairTrade nation, based on meaningful and substantial measures.</p>
2 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will put in place to increase the number of Gaelic medium teachers.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish governmentgave a number of wide-ranging commitments in its manifesto to support the developmentof Gaelic in Scotland. Gaelic-medium education has a crucial contributionto make to the revitalisation of the Gaelic language and culture and increasin…
2 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will increase the number of people learning British Sign Language.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentestablished the British Sign Language (BSL) and Linguistic Access Working Groupin 2000 and it has been working within a strategic plan since then to deliver improvedaccess for deaf people. There is chronic under capacity to deliver many…
30 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a scheme similar to the Venezuelan El Sistema project can be complementary to the youth music initiative.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Executiveunderstands that both the Youth Music Initiative and the Venezuelan music projecthave at their core the aim to widen access to musical opportunities for childrenand young people.</p>
30 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has of “patchiness of accessibility” in respect of the youth music initiative, as stated by the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture at the Education, Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee on 27 June 2007 (Official Report c. 26).
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I used this phrasewithin the context of the information available on the percentage of children learninga musical instrument compared to those who received vocal coaching. I also earlierreferred to anecdotal reports that I had heard, concerning the methods us…
30 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the evaluation by Northumbria University’s Centre for Public Policy of the first three years of the youth music initiative.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Executiveaccepts the evaluation findings contained within the Scottish Arts Council <i>Retuning</i>report, which was published in March 2007.</p>
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the smoking rate was for those aged 16 and over in each of the last three years in the Glasgow Maryhill parliamentary constituency.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The informationrequested is not available for single years.</p><p>The preferredsource for smoking prevalence data is the Scottish Household Survey. The sampleis drawn such that results are available at Scotland level on an annual basis and at local authority …
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken to prevent underage smokers buying cigarettes, in light of recent figures from ASH Scotland which show that 82% of 15-year-olds and 47% of 13-year-olds in the Glasgow Maryhill parliamentary constituency who smoke regularly report buying cigarettes from a shop.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Governmentis committed to a zero tolerance approach to underage sales. We have beenworking in partnership with all 32 local authorities to introduce aScotland-wide national entitlement card that includes accreditation under theBritish Retail Cons…
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what future funding will be provided in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS board area for smoking cessation services, in light of recent figures from ASH Scotland which show that Glasgow Maryhill has the third highest smoking rate in Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Future fundingfor NHS boards smoking cessation services is being considered under the currentspending review.</p>
20 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS board area for smoking cessation services in the last three years, in light of recent figures from ASH Scotland which show that Glasgow Maryhill has the third highest smoking rate in Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board came into being in 2006, and it is therefore not possible to give figures for that board for last three years. The following table sets out funding available for smoking cessation services for Greater Glasgow Health Boar…
18 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings took place on the issue of corporation tax during the meeting of the British-Irish Council on 16 July 2007.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-2245 on 6 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website the search facility for which can befound at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
18 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what issues were discussed during the meeting of the British-Irish Council on 16 July 2007.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: At theBritish-Irish Council (BIC) Summit on 16 July 2007, members of the council reviewed and discussed howthe BIC might develop its work.</p><p>Recognising thepotential of the BIC to strengthen relations between its members and to developcooperation further …
18 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what face-to-face discussions took place between the First Minister and the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly Government during the British-Irish Council meeting on 16 July 2007.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The FirstMinister of the Welsh Assembly Government did not attend the British-IrishCouncil Summit on 16 July 2007.</p><p>Wales wasrepresented by the Welsh Deputy First Minister.</p><p>The format forBritish-Irish Council Summits involves round table discussion…
18 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what face-to-face meetings took place between the First Minister and the Taoiseach during the British-Irish Council meeting on 16 July 2007.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-2241 answered on 6 August 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/we…
18 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what face-to-face discussions took place between the First Minister and the Prime Minister during the British-Irish Council meeting on 16 July 2007.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The format forBritish-Irish Council Summits involves round table discussions during which allmember administrations are invited to contribute.</p><p>I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-2245 on 6 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary qu…
13 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the skills required to maintain our historic buildings are readily available.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The craft skills shortagehas been known by the Scottish Government for sometime, with the scale of theneed quantified in recent reports. The Scottish Government, through HistoricScotland, has been actively involved in the support and development oftraditional…
13 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to support the introduction of a National Box Office.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Scottish Ministersappreciate that, because of improved technology, a National Box Office may nowbe possible for the first time. Officials, key stakeholders and experts havebeen considering the possible scope of such a system, and I look forward toreceiving th…
13 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it considers that Scottish arts graduates can be encouraged to live and work in Scotland.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: There are a range of factorsinfluencing the choices graduates make about living and working in Scotland. Thosewho have trained in specific art forms, as well as those who have studied thewider humanities, have access to national bodies, including Careers Scot…
13 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to support the 2009 Year of Homecoming.
Answer · Jim Mather: This Government'sprimary aim is sustainable economic growth right across Scotland, and we see Scottish tourism playing a key role inachieving that aim. As part of that aim we are committed to making HomecomingScotland a success.</p><p>We will work withtourism…
6 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the entitlements for the public outlined in Building on success: a public library quality improvement matrix for Scotland, published with the support of the previous administration.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the member to the questionS3W-1978 answered on 24 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
6 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to the recommendations for the framework for delivery of library services in Building on success: a public library quality improvement matrix for Scotland, published with the support of the previous administration.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the member to thequestion S3W-1978 answered on 24 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
6 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to the priorities in Building on success: a public library quality improvement matrix for Scotland, published with the support of the previous administration.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the member to thequestion S3W-1978 answered on 24 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
6 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to support the development and improvement of public library services.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: We want to see access to,and participation in, cultural activities being as wide as possible and I amcurrently actively considering how best to deliver our manifesto commitments inrelation to widening access to cultural opportunities building on both goodprac…