Parliamentary questions
Pauline McNeill
2,367 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Jan 2009 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government will finalise the transition costs of establishing Creative Scotland.
Answer · Alex Salmond: <i> This PQ 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/sor0122-01.htm">http://www.scottish.pa…
15 Jan 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle overcrowding in social housing.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: It is very regrettable when any household has to live in overcrowded conditions. 4.2% of social tenants live in overcrowded conditions and the legislation provides that they must be given reasonable preference for re-housing. Through their housing need and de…
8 Jan 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what flexibility is permitted with council tax banding in areas of regeneration.
Answer · John Swinney: There is no flexibility. Council tax bands are as set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1992.</p>
8 Jan 2009 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Cabinet will discuss its International Development Policy in light of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Answer · Alex Salmond: <i >This PQ 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/sor0108-01.htm">http://www.scottish.p…
12 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17664 by John Swinney on 18 November 2008, whether it considers the absence of the Heritage Lottery Fund from the Awards for All scheme to be in the best interests of applicants as the existing one-stop-shop will cease to exist.
Answer · John Swinney: This is a matter within the operational responsibility of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The fund has advised that the new arrangements will lead to a number of potential benefits for applicants applying to HLF for small community heritage grants. Under the…
12 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17664 by John Swinney on 18 November 2008, whether it considers it satisfactory that the Heritage Lottery Fund will no longer be part of the Awards for All scheme.
Answer · John Swinney: This is a matter within the operational responsibility of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The fund has advised that it remains committed to providing efficient and simple ways of funding small community projects throughout the UK. From April 2009 HLF will us…
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support the National Trust for Scotland in meeting its heritage obligations in the face of lower visitor numbers.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: We will continue to support the National Trust for Scotland through Historic Scotland''s Historic Environment Grants Programme by providing funding to undertake quinquennial surveys of the trust''s main properties and to run a maintenance programme. In 2008-0…
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations it will meet to discuss its plans for the Indian subcontinent as part of its International Development Policy.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Plans for the Indian subcontinent, as part of the International Development Policy, have been discussed with the Consul Generals of Pakistan and India and the International Development Advisory Group. Further discussions will take place with relevant stakehol…
25 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will assess whether the change in structure of the local enterprise network affects the Glasgow economy.
Answer · Jim Mather: The reforms to Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are allowing them to focus on making an improved contribution to sustainable economic development both regionally and nationally. Scottish Enterprise is working closely with significant a…
25 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact is of the closure of Scottish Enterprise Glasgow.
Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Enterprise maintains, as before, a significant presence in Glasgow. The removal of the former local enterprise company structure has removed an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy and enabled both Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise…
25 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the funding that would previously have been distributed by Scottish Enterprise Glasgow is less in the current financial year than in previous years.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.</p>
25 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the funding that would previously have been allocated to Scottish Enterprise Glasgow has been spent in the current financial year.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.</p>
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps Creative Scotland will take to give young people, especially from deprived areas, the chance to learn about Scotland’s cultural heritage and to participate in projects or programmes that will help to develop their artistic skills and understanding.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The government is committed to widening access to and participation in cultural activity to all groups and communities including young people and, in particular, those who experience deprivation and are under-represented in terms of cultural participation. It…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following Glasgow Fashion Week 2008, by what means Creative Scotland will support the fashion industry.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Creative Scotland will be the national development body for the arts and culture. It will work in partnership with other publicly funded organisations including Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and local authorities to support the fashion…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is allocated to support the music industry and under what budget heading.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government supports the music industry through its publicly funded agencies, including Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council.</p>
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will give to the music industry.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is committed to the music industry which makes an important contribution to Scottish life and our economy and provides a wide range of support to the music industry throughout Scotland.</p> <p >Its publicly funded agencies such as th…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue the Scottish Music Futures Fund.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Music Futures Fund was set up in 2007 with funding of £0.5 million to support the commercial development and promotion of Scottish musical talent. It is administered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise for the whole of Scotland in partnership wit…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the strategic framework on violence against women will address the needs of women with no recourse to public funds.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18019 on 4 December 2008. 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/App…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the strategic framework on violence against women will be published.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The government is committed to tackling violence against women and ensuring that all those affected by it are given the support they need and those perpetrating it are dealt with effectively.</p> <p >A range of activities, including work around the issue of …
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the Public Services Reform Bill’s Financial Memorandum incorporating the costs of setting up Creative Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is planning that the Public Services Reform Bill will be introduced to the Parliament in early 2009. The bill will be accompanied by the Financial Memorandum setting out the best estimates of the administrative, compliance and other co…
10 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether applicants for the Awards for All scheme will be affected by a shortfall of around 10% compared with funds previously on offer in Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: The future of the Awards for All scheme in Scotland was assured earlier this month when the Big Lottery Fund and Sportscotland confirmed their commitment to the scheme, providing funding at about 90% of the current levels. While, Heritage Lottery Fund will no…
14 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle Islamophobia.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15005 on 3 September 2008 which details some of the initiatives which will help to tackle Islamophobia that are currently being funded by the Scottish Government. In addition educational resources are being dev…
13 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Glasgow Gaelic School will benefit from the recent funding announcement about Gaelic education.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is committed to the promotion of Gaelic and recognises the vital role that Gaelic education has to play in this. The announcement made by the First Minister referred to funding that will be available in the next two financial years and…
13 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding Glasgow City Council will receive as its share from recently announced funding for Gaelic education.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17036 on 31 October 2008. 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/weba…
10 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it expects the current economic uncertainty to have on low paid workers in Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: It is too early to tell what impact the current economic uncertainty will have on low-paid workers in Scotland. This will depend on the length and depth of the economic slowdown, for which there is still a significant degree of uncertainty.</p>
10 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what proportion of its workers and those of its agencies worked part-time in each year since 1999 and what the average salary was for such workers in each of those years.
Answer · John Swinney: The number and percentage of permanent staff in the Scottish Government main bargaining unit and the senior civil service who worked part-time, as at 30 September 2008, along with the average salary, is shown in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cell…
10 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what proportion of its workers and those of its agencies were paid a salary of less than (a) £25,000, (b) £20,000, (c) £18,000 and (d) £16,000 in each year since 1999.
Answer · John Swinney: The number and percentage of permanent staff in the Scottish Government main bargaining unit and the senior civil service within each salary group, as at 30 September 2008, is shown below. The full-time equivalent salaries of part-time staff have been include…
10 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to resolve the ongoing pay dispute with its workers and the pay disputes of its agencies.
Answer · John Swinney: Across the Scottish administration there are a number of separate pay bargaining units. Where there are continuing disputes about pay, it has been made clear to the relevant unions that management is willing to continue to work towards settling any difference…
26 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to promote the Gaelic language since the coming into force of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16608 on 9 October 2008. 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/webap…
26 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to promote the Gaelic language.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is committed to creating a secure future for Gaelic in Scotland and aims to enhance the status of Gaelic, promote the learning of Gaelic and encourage the increased use of Gaelic in Scotland. In order to achieve this, the Scottish Gove…