Pauline McNeill

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3F-2170 by Alex Salmond on 28 January 2010, whether existing staff will continue to deliver the Graduates for Business scheme.

Answer · John Swinney: Arrangements for the administration of the alternative programme to the Graduates for Business scheme, which Scottish Enterprise plans to have in place by the end of June, will be a matter for the agency itself.</p>

21 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it is not expanding the Graduates for Business scheme internationally.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30954 on 3 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…

21 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which is the lead agency for the Graduates for Business scheme.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Enterprise is the lead agency for the Graduates for Business Scheme.</p>

21 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions were held with Scottish Enterprise about ending the Graduates for Business scheme.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government works closely and continuously with Scottish Enterprise and its other key agencies on strategic issues, to ensure that their activities and resources are focused on delivering maximum impact towards sustainable economic growth. However…

21 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the Graduates for Business scheme was ended.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Enterprise has taken the decision to end the scheme in its current format. This decision was taken on the basis of value for money and follows an independent review of the programme that highlighted concerns about geographic coverage and consistency …

21 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30567 by Jim Mather on 20 January 2010, whether it had concerns regarding Scottish Development International’s (SDI) trade mission to Israel and what guidance was given to SDI prior to the visit.

Answer · Jim Mather: As there are no restrictions in place as regards trading with Israel, the Scottish Government had no concerns regarding the trade mission and considered that no specific guidance was necessary in this instance.</p>

19 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications there have been from people aged 75 or over for central heating under the Energy Assistance Package.

Answer · Alex Neil: Callers to the Energy Assistance Package helpline do not make an application for a particular measure. Where appropriate, the local energy adviser takes them through an assessment to determine their eligibility for each of the four stages of the package.</p> …

19 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 75 or over have had a central heating system installed under the Energy Assistance Package.

Answer · Alex Neil: By the end of November, at least 2,438 households with a person over the age of 75 had central heating systems installed. Of these, 1,977 were households with a person over the age of 80, carried forward to complete the previous programme.</p>

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether financial provision is in place to support specialist emergency childcare teams following the closure of the Queen Mother’s Hospital in Glasgow and, if so, whether such provision will be maintained and developed until 2015.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has confirmed that fully resourced maternity services “ including specialist maternity and paediatric services underpinned by robust clinical protocols “ are in place, and will remain so.</p>

14 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) cost to date is and (b) estimated final cost will be of drafting the proposed Referendum Bill.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The drafting of the Referendum Bill is being carried out by the Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel, which drafts all government bills as part of its normal duties. There are therefore no separate drafting costs.</p>

14 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimated cost is of the National Conversation.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The total cost of National Conversation events, branding and publications is £394,737 to date. The National Conversation successfully engaged over 5,000 people at public events across Scotland and stimulated a wide ranging public debate involving academics, m…

14 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many officials are working on the drafting of the proposed Referendum Bill.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel drafts all government bills and is responsible for drafting of the proposed Referendum Bill.</p>

11 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when in 2010 the proposed Referendum Bill will be published.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: As stated in the White Paper, <i >Your Scotland, Your Voice </i>published on 30 November 2009, the Scottish Government intends to bring forward the Referendum Bill early in 2010.</p>

8 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is within which the Scottish Legal Aid Board should respond to enquiries from MSPs.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Legal Aid Board''s internal target for responding to correspondence from MSPs is 28 calendar days. The board has measures in place to manage and monitor the time taken to respond to correspondence.</p>

8 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is within which its agencies should respond to enquiries from MSPs.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government and its agencies are expected to respond to all enquiries, including those from MSPs, within 20 working days.</p>

8 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides to Scottish Development International.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Development International (SDI) is a joint venture between the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Its budget for 2009-10 was £24.3 million.</p> <p >The majority of Scottish Development International''s bud…

8 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with Scottish Development International regarding the planned trade mission to Israel and, if so, on what date.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Development International (SDI) is a joint venture between the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise. It arranged the trade mission to Israel, in partnership with UK Trade and Investment, as part of its regular yearly programme of overseas trad…

22 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many members the private rented housing panel has and whether it will list them.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Private Rented Housing Panel currently has 37 members. The list of members is available on the Private Rented Housing Panel''s website.</p> <p ><a href="http://www.prhpscotland.gov.uk/prhp/files/Members%20list%20jan%202010.doc">http://www.prhpscotland.go…

22 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to protect tenancies under the Housing Act 1988 in relation to market rents.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 established assured and short assured tenancies. In these tenancies, unlike regulated tenancies, private landlords can set rents at market rates. Deregulation allowed the market to regulate the balance between demand and supply…

10 Dec 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is monitoring the number of days that an accused is in custody awaiting trial following changes to the 110-day rule.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The Scottish prison service, court service and Crown all ensure that accused are not remanded in custody beyond the terms of the court''s warrant. Statistics are not maintained on the actual number of days that an accused remains in custody in terms of the co…

8 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have been held and with whom about potential sponsors for events commemorating the Battle of Bannockburn.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am not aware of any meetings between staff of the Scottish Government and potential sponsors with regard to events commemorating the Battle of Bannockburn, although these may well take place at a later date when the proposals for the improvements to the Ban…

8 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been involved in discussions regarding a re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn and what the outcomes of any such discussions are.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am not aware of any specific discussions regarding the re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn, but staff from the National Trust for Scotland and Historic Scotland are involved in preliminary discussions on the improvements to the visitor and interpretat…

4 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to promote Scottish ballet.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government core funds Scottish Ballet by £4.713 million as one of Scotland''s five National Performing Companies. The Scottish Government has helped Scottish Ballet to celebrate its 40th anniversary season, contributed to the costs of the new hea…

4 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Scottish Ballet.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: My predecessor met with Scottish Ballet on 1 September and opened their new head quarters at Tramway in Glasgow on 17 September 2009. Officials meet with Scottish Ballet periodically, most recently on 1 December 2009.</p>

4 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an amount for touring is included in Scottish Ballet’s budget.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The grant from the Scottish Government contributes to all areas of Scottish Ballet''s work. A proportion of this work includes touring in Scotland and the UK. There is an additional fund available to the National Performing Companies to support international …

4 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in the event of an affirmative vote in the proposed independence referendum, whether it plans to hold a second referendum to confirm any settlement subsequently negotiated with the UK Government.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to chapter 10 of <i >Your </i><i >Scotland</i><i >, Your Voice</i>, which sets out the government''s plans for a referendum.</p>

5 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to alter the distribution of funding for the Youth Music Initiative from the Scottish Arts Council to local authorities and, if so, what conditions will be attached in single outcome agreements to the use of these funds by local authorities.

Answer · Michael Russell: There are currently no such plans. Funding for the Youth Music Initiative is to remain with the Scottish Arts Council in 2010-11 and pass to Creative Scotland once established. We will look with Creative Scotland and COSLA at the longer term options for fundi…

21 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs will be of running a referendum as outlined in the National Conversation

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20911 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…

21 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has costed running a referendum as outlined in the National Conversation.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20911 on 9 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…

18 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the impact to business and commerce in Glasgow following the cancellation of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are committed to delivering £182 million worth of investment in the rail infrastructure between Glasgow Central and Paisley Gilmour Street, which will bring real benefits to the people of Glasgow and the west of Scotland.</p> <p >Ministers continue to …