Parliamentary questions
Tricia Marwick
552 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the statement in the report by the Council of Europe on the United Kingdom's application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages that “there appears to be less emphasis on minority language policy on the part of the Scottish Executive” …
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Council of Europe reportstates “There appears to be less emphasis on minority language policy on the partof the Scottish Executive, even though there is political will to protect the Gaeliclanguage, as demonstrated, for example, by the Scottish Minister r…
29 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific actions it is taking to ensure that it complies “as a matter of priority”, as requested by the Council of Europe, with the recommendations made by the council in respect of the United Kingdom's application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The recommendations from theCouncil of Europe report that fall to the Scottish Executive relate to the availabilityof Gaelic education; the monitoring and reporting on Gaelic education; the provisionof guidance to those working in Gaelic education and the adm…
29 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take account of the report and recommendations of the Council of Europe in respect of the United Kingdom's application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages during the final drafting of its Gaelic Language Bill.
Answer · Peter Peacock: In the final drafting of theGaelic Language Bill, the Scottish Executive will take account of the wide range of discussions andrecommendations. This will include the responses to public consultation, the discussionsheld between ministers and Gaelic interest g…
16 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional financial resources will be allocated to the Executive by Her Majesty's Government to implement in Scotland the provisions of UK legislation that have been the subject of Sewel motions in the Scottish Parliament during this session, broken down by Bill.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given today to question S2W-6960. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa…
16 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected costs will be to it of implementing the provisions of UK legislation that have been the subject of Sewel motions in the Scottish Parliament during this session, broken down by Bill.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given today to question S2W-6960. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa…
16 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the purpose was of the reception held on the evening of 11 March 2004 at Bute House; whether it was a private function; whether any of the public areas of Bute House were used for the reception, and whether the cost of catering was met from public funds.
Answer · Andy Kerr: No reception, nor any otherhospitality event, was held in Bute House on the evening of 11 March 2004.</p>
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional financial resources were made available by Her Majesty's Government to the Executive to implement in Scotland the provisions of UK legislation that were the subject of Sewel motions in the Scottish Parliament, broken down by Act.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given today to question S2W-6960. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa…
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were to it of implementing in Scotland the provisions of UK legislation that were the subject of Sewel motions in the Scottish Parliament, broken down by Act.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The information is notavailable in the form requested.</p><p>Information on the financialimplications of devolved provisions in UK legislation has on each occasion been included withinthe Sewel memorandum that the Scottish Executive has provided to the releva…
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish a monthly list of all functions and receptions hosted by the First Minister at locations other than Bute House detailing who attended each such function and what the cost was of hiring the facilities and catering.
Answer · Andy Kerr: There are no plans topublish such a list.</p>
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish a monthly list of all functions, receptions or other meetings held in Bute House, detailing who attended and the cost of catering for each such function or meeting.
Answer · Andy Kerr: There are no plans to publish such a list.</p>
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many receptions and functions hosted by the First Minister have been held at locations other than Bute House since 1 May 2003, detailing the date on which such function was held, the location of each function, who attended and what the cost was of hire of the facilities and the cater…
Answer · Andy Kerr: A list of the officialreceptions and functions hosted by Ministers at Scottish locations other thanBute House since 1 May 2003 is provided below. Some of the events were not a call on Scottish Executive funds. The totalcost to date to the Scottish Executive i…
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what receptions or other functions have been held at Bute House since 1 May 2003, detailing the date of function, who attended and the cost of the catering.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Bute House is the official residence of the First Minister and a range of official and private engagements are held there. A list of the official functions hosted by Ministers at Bute House since 1 May 2003 is provided below. Some of these events were not a c…
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have been held at Bute House since 1 May 2003, detailing the date of each meeting, who attended and the cost of the catering.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Meetings are held in ButeHouse for a wide range of purposes. The Cabinet meets there regularly and thereare also frequent meetings of Cabinet Sub-Committees and informal meetings of ministersand officials. Bute House is also used to welcome visitors of all ki…
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many private functions or receptions have been held at Bute House since 1 May 2003 and on what dates.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Bute House is the official residence of the First Ministerand both official and private engagements are held there. The Executive doesnot arrange the First Minister’s private events or bear the cost of them and does notmaintain a record of them.</p>
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the young people referred to each Reporter to the Children's Panel following an alleged assault on a teacher in each of the last five years had special educational needs.
Answer · Euan Robson: This is a matter for the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration. The information requested is notheld centrally.</p>
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people (a) in total, (b) under the age of 11, (c) aged from 11 to 13 and (d) aged 14 and 15 have been referred to each Reporter to the Children's Panel following an alleged assault on a teacher, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Euan Robson: This is a matter for the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration. The information requested is notheld centrally.</p><p><ahref="http://www.childrens-reporter.org/">www.childrens-reporter.org</a>.</p>
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people charged with assault on a teacher in each of the last five years had special educational needs.
Answer · Peter Peacock: This information is not heldcentrally. The Executive currently publishes data within the statisticalrelease on incidents of violence and anti-social behaviour against localauthority staff (Table 1: Incidents against local authority staff by sector) onthe numb…
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people (a) in total, (b) under the age of 11, (c) aged from 11 to 13 and (d) aged 14 and 15 have been charged in each local authority area with assault on a teacher, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Peter Peacock: This information is not heldcentrally. The Executive currently publishes data within the statisticalrelease on incidents of violence and anti-social behaviour against localauthority staff (Table 1: Incidents against local authority staff by sector) onthe numb…
10 Mar 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet Fife Constabulary and what issues it intends to discuss.
Answer · Hugh Henry: TheExecutive is in regular contact with Fife Constabulary, as well as other forces,and takes such opportunities to discuss a range of issues.</p>
10 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many eviction orders were awarded in respect of (a) Scottish Borders Housing Association, (b) Glasgow Housing Association and (c) Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership during the second quarter of 2003 and, in each case, how many such orders resulted in an abandoned dwelling.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive, Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>We are unable to supply theinformation requested. Communities Scotland collects on an annual basis (as at 31 March eachyear) information on the n…
23 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS hydrotherapy pools there are and where they are located.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information about local NHS provision of this kind is not held centrally.</p>
23 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-1115 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 January 2004, whether the proposal to reduce nursing staff was discussed at the meeting with Fife NHS Board
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This meeting was held to discussmedical workforce issues. But the Health Department meets regularly with NHSFife to discuss a wide range of matters, including those affecting nursingservices.</p>
14 Jan 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Fife NHS Board.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Officialsof the Scottish Executive HealthDepartment meet regularly with NHS boards and discuss a wide range of issues.The most recent meeting with Fife NHS Board took place on Friday 9 January 2004.</p>
5 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many evictions were carried out in respect of (a) Scottish Borders Housing Association, (b) Glasgow Housing Association and (c) Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership property in the quarter ending 30 June 2003.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>We are unable to supply theinformation requested. Communities Scotland collects the information on evictions on an annualbasis (as at …
5 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many eviction orders were granted in the quarter ending 30 June 2003.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The number of evictionorders against council tenants granted to local authorities during the quarterending 30 June 2003 was published in the latest quarterly <i>HousingTrends in Scotland</i> Statistical Bulletin (HSG/2003/6 published November2003). This can b…
10 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the 5.9% increase in Scottish Gas prices will have on the number of people living in fuel poverty.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The information requestedcould only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, we expect thefollow-up report on fuel poverty from the Scottish House Condition Survey 2002 toinclude information on modelled fuel price increases for all of Scotland.</p>
21 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with the Scottish Golf Union regarding the Scottish National Golf Centre at Drumoig prior to the centre's establishment as a private limited company.
Answer · Frank McAveety: None.</p>
17 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet the Scottish Golf Union to discuss the future of the Scottish National Golf Centre at Drumoig.
Answer · Frank McAveety: We have no plans to meet the Scottish Golf Union. The Scottish National Golf Centre is in the hands of receivers. <b>Sport</b>scotland has offered the receivers help to find a suitable replacement body and such professional advice as they may require.</p>
17 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the money set aside to host the Ryder Cup has been made available to assist in ensuring that every child has the opportunity to play golf and which golfing organisations have been the recipients of any such funds.
Answer · Frank McAveety: <b>Sport</b>scotland has been charged with taking forwardClubgolf, the initiative launched by the First Minister to take forward theExecutive’s commitment to youth golf as part of its Ryder Cup bid. In 2001-02,the Executive allocated £375,000 to the initiativ…
17 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what public bodies gave grant or loan assistance to the Scottish Golf Union to set up the Scottish National Golf Centre at Drumoig and how much each such body contributed.
Answer · Frank McAveety: No public bodies gave grantor loan assistance to the Scottish Golf Union to set up the Scottish NationalGolf Centre at Drumoig. However, <b>sport</b>scotland received Lotteryapplications from the Scottish National Golf Centre Limited in respect of the centrea…