Pauline McNeill

10 Jun 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the most recent statistics are on drop-out rates among full-time first degree students and whether it has any concerns regarding these statistics.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0618-01.htm">http://www.scot…

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reference there is to class sizes in the single outcome agreement relating to Glasgow City Council.

Answer · Keith Brown: The single outcome agreements (SOAs) reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each council and include relevant supporting indicators and targets. Copies of all 32 SOAs, once agreed with local authorities, can be obtained via the Improvement Service web…

28 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources have been allocated to Glasgow City Council for a reduction in class sizes from 2007 onwards.

Answer · Keith Brown: Funding of £9 million for employing additional teachers to make progress on class size reduction and early year''s commitments was announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 20 June 2007. Glasgow''s share was £978,300. The Scott…

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the pilot scheme for testing new arrangements for public notices will be assessed.

Answer · John Swinney: The Improvement Service are managing the Public Information Notices Project on behalf of local government. They will be formally reviewing the pilot testing with the councils involved. This will be to ensure that the functionality of the administration system…

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the duration will be of the pilot scheme for testing new arrangements for public notices.

Answer · John Swinney: The Improvement Service on behalf of local government are currently progressing the pilot testing for new arrangements for Public Information Notices. The aim is to conclude the pilot by September 2009.</p>

26 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason Glasgow has been selected as an appropriate area to pilot new arrangements for public notices.

Answer · John Swinney: Glasgow was part of the Public Information Notices project working group and board from an early stage. They were involved in the development of the Public Information Portal, and their involvement has influenced the functionality, and how it fits with busine…

11 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the impact of implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 as it relates to an increase in fines for failure to have a house in multiple occupation licence.

Answer · Alex Neil: The increase in the maximum fine for operating a licensable house in multiple occupation (HMO) without a licence is intended to address concerns that the current level of fines does not provide an adequate deterrent to landlords operating unlicensed HMOs. The…

11 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to implement Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to the increase in fines by the end of 2009.

Answer · Alex Neil: We will draw up a timetable for implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 following consultation with stakeholders regarding the options for implementation and taking into account the drafting of statutory guidance and decisions on transitio…

11 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the number of prosecutions of landlords for illegally operating houses in multiple occupation.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government does not monitor the number of prosecutions of landlords for illegally operating houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). However, we discuss progress on enforcement of the HMO licensing requirements, including prosecutions, with local au…

11 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had in relation to implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 regarding the increase in fines.

Answer · Alex Neil: Officials of the Scottish Government have had discussions on various aspects of the implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 with local authority officials, including within the context of the Scottish Houses in Multiple Occupation Networki…

11 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last discussed with Glasgow City Council the implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.

Answer · Alex Neil: Officials of the Scottish Government last discussed the implementation of Part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 with officials from Glasgow City Council and other local authorities at the most recent meeting of the Scottish Houses in Multiple Occupation N…

23 Apr 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the project team responsible for the new children’s hospital at the Southern General Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : <i> This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0430-01.htm">http://www.scott…

6 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider using the word artist in the public services reform Bill.

Answer · Michael Russell: The wording of the Creative Scotland provisions in the Public Services Reform Bill will be made available to the Parliament on the Bill''s introduction. As previously indicated, the use of the word artist could lead to difficulties of legal interpretation but…

6 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Creative Scotland will offer loans to artists.

Answer · Michael Russell: As I said in my statement to the Parliament on 2 April 2009, the way in which support is provided to artists and creative practitioners in Scotland must be modernised. The detail of this work will be an operational matter for Creative Scotland who will explor…

6 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last discussed the public services reform Bill with regard to the establishment of Creative Scotland with Scottish Enterprise.

Answer · Michael Russell: I discussed Creative Scotland, its establishment and its role in supporting creative industries with the Creative Industry Framework Agreement Implementation Group on 24 March 2009. The group includes Scottish Enterprise and its Chief Executive, Jack Perry, a…

6 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects the public services reform Bill to be introduced by May 2009.

Answer · Michael Russell: The public services reform Bill will be introduced to Parliament in late May. It will include provisions for the establishment of Creative Scotland, the simplification of the public services landscape and organisational changes to health, social work and soci…

6 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial costs would be associated with Creative Scotland other than transitional costs.

Answer · Michael Russell: As I said in my statement to the Parliament on 2 April, there are two additional smaller costs which, though not directly arising from the transition, are still germane to it. They are a one-off payment of a maximum of £340,000 which may be required on curren…

6 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any part of the creative industries budget would be transferred to Creative Scotland.

Answer · Michael Russell: On 18 June 2008, the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture announced in Parliament that resources of £100,000 provided by Scottish Enterprise to the Cultural Enterprise Office, for complementary specialist advice and information services for creat…

6 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with Scottish Screen regarding the retention of its brand if Creative Scotland is established.

Answer · Michael Russell: The branding of Creative Scotland will be an operational matter for the organisation to decide on. As I said in my statement to Parliament on 2 April 2009, Creative Scotland should, will and must be a highly successful and recognised brand, and all our effort…

6 Apr 2009 · Written Question

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

Answer · Michael Russell: I had a meeting with the Joint board of Scottish Screen and the Scottish Arts Council on 21 April and an introductory meeting with Scottish Screen staff on 24 March 2009. Scottish Government officials regularly meet with representatives from Scottish Screen o…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the issues arising from the Modernising Medical Careers programme.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) programme was a UK-wide initiative and was subject to an independent inquiry led by Professor Sir John Tooke in 2007. The inquiry report can be found at <a href="http://www.mmcinquiry.org.uk/">www.mmcinquiry.org.uk</a>.</…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional doctors will be employed in response to the European working time directive.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: To facilitate the reduction in hours NHS boards are continuing to implement service modernisation and new ways of working including rota and service redesign and the introduction of new roles for non-medical staff who are being trained to undertake areas of w…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will assess the impact of the European working time directive on the staffing levels of doctors and junior doctors on hospital wards.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards are required to report to the Scottish Government on current and projected compliance with the WTR 48 hour target for training grade doctors together with details of any rotas which are predicted not to meet the requirements of WTR by 1 August 2009…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it intends to make of shortages of doctors and junior doctors on hospital wards.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information about the NHS workforce in Scotland is routinely monitored by NHS boards, who are responsible for their own workforce planning, and by the Scottish Government.</p> <p >Data on consultant vacancies are available from the Information Services Divi…

30 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the estimated cost of Scottish Government amendments to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Only Scottish Government amendments 1 to 4 have been identified as having any financial implications. The total estimated cost of these amendments is £9,000.</p>

30 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cost of the amendments to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government has estimated the total cost of all of the amendments to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Bill to range between £10,539,161 and £32,029,744.</p>

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to meet Scotnom.

Answer · John Swinney: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth hosted a meeting in St Andrew''s House for Scotnom directors and their advisers on 24 February 2009.</p> <p >Officials have met with the same directors and advisers on two other occasions.</p>

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is supporting the dotSCOT campaign.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government supports the aims of the dotSCOT Campaign as the successors to the original dotSCO Campaign which submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament in 2008.</p> <p >Those aims are to establish a generic top level domain (gTLD) that will…

13 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how Creative Scotland will promote diversity in arts and culture and ensure that ethnic minority communities are represented on it and their cultural interests are safeguarded and secured by it.

Answer · Michael Russell: Creative Scotland will have as one of its key priorities ensuring access to and participation in the arts and culture so that as many people as possible can enjoy, contribute to and benefit from them. Details of its remit will be for consideration by the Parl…

13 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, if Creative Scotland does not have a general responsibility to pursue the economic benefits of the creative sector, what individual or organisation will.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21914 on 25 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/…