Parliamentary questions
Bashir Ahmad
71 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Jan 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office regarding the situation in Gaza and any implications for the Scottish Government’s International Development Policy.
Answer · Linda Fabiani : <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/sor0115-01.htm">http://www.scottish.p…
23 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of adult literacy was in each year since 2001.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Figures for the level of adult literacy in each year since 2001 are not available.</p> <p >A national survey is currently under way to measure adult literacy and numeracy levels, the results of which will be available later this year.</p>
23 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what delegations it will be sending abroad in 2009.
Answer · Michael Russell: Ministers have agreed to undertake the following overseas visits:</p> <p >North America “ The First Minister will travel to Washington DC this month in support of the Scottish Government''s promotion of the year of Homecoming. He will take part in a major s…
23 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to create jobs in the current economic climate.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is working alongside local authorities and agencies (including Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and VisitScotland) to ensure that we respond effectively to the current economic climate.…
23 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Jobcentre Plus and what was discussed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scottish Government Officials meet with representatives from Jobcentre Plus regularly with the most recent meeting occurring on 19 January 2009. Alastair Macdonald the Customer Services Director of Jobcentre Plus in Scotland and other DWP and Jobcentre Plus O…
23 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many criminals are serving a life sentence.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As at 19 January 2009 there were 798 prisoners serving a life sentence in Scottish prisons.</p>
23 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for tackling child poverty.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government remains committed to doing what it can within the available powers to end child poverty by 2020. We recognise that any effective approach to child poverty must also address income inequality in Scotland, and set out our approach to tac…
23 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the availability of affordable housing.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Over the current Spending Review period we are providing over £1.5 billion for affordable housing across Scotland, 19% more than planned for under the previous administration.</p> <p >Following the Budget Bill the government now plans to accelerate £120 mil…
23 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of voluntary or public sector organisations to discuss poverty and deprivation in the Shettleston area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has met with representatives from Glasgow City Council (GCC) and Govanhill Housing Association (GHHA) on several occasions in the last six months to discuss issues affecting the Govanhill area of Shettleston. The Minister for Communiti…
23 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Shelter and what was discussed.
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children of asylum seekers have been enrolled in higher education in each year since 1999.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This information is not held centrally.</p>
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those organisations representing the Muslim community that have received Scottish Government grants since May 1999, also showing the value of grants received.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The projects currently funded through the Race, Religion and Refugee Funding Stream are listed in question S3W-15639 which was answered on 3 September 2008. Prior to this funding stream being established funding was made available through the Race Equality, I…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new homes have been built in the last three years.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The information requested is published on the Scottish Government website at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuildSummary">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regener…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with energy companies operating in Scotland on lowering domestic energy bills.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth along with the Minister for Communities and Sport are currently conducting a series of meetings with the main energy supply companies in Scotland. These meetings have covered a wide range of issues incl…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with fuel companies on lowering the cost of petrol.
Answer · Jim Mather: We have not held specific recent discussions with fuel companies on this issue. However, we made it clear that we would expect any fall in the price of oil to be passed on in the form of lower petrol prices as soon as possible.</p> <p >More generally, the S…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with UK ministers on lowering the cost of fuel.
Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish ministers have been in regular contact with the UK government on the issue of fuel costs on a number of occasions in recent months. Examples of this include writing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to call for a delay in the planed increase in fuel…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the UK Counter-Terrorism Bill
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Counter-Terrorism legislation is reserved. I have, however, met Lord West, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Security and Counter Terrorism, to discuss counter-terrorism issues, including the Counter-Terrorism Bill and I have written to both the Home Secr…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many racially aggravated crimes have been reported in the last three years, broken down by police force.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The latest available information on the number of racially aggravated crimes recorded by the eight Scottish police forces covers financial year 2005-06. The number of these crimes, covering the period 2003-04 to 2005-06 and broken down by police force, is giv…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of how it has spent its overseas aid budget since 2007.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The total expenditure from the International Development Fund for financial year 2007-08 and 2008-09 (to date) is £5,284,046.04. The correct breakdown is as follows:</p> <p >International Development Fund Expenditure 2007-08</p> <table border=1 cellspacing…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with restaurateurs regarding the effect of the UK Government’s new points-based immigration system
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The First Minister met with Enam Ali, the founder and organiser of the British Curry Awards, in January 2008.</p> <p >In March 2008 officials discussed the points based system with restaurateurs at the evidence gathering event organised by the Migration Advi…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the minimum threshold for low-skilled workers, such as Indian curry chefs, coming from outside the European Union.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government has not made representations to the Home Secretary on the issue of low skilled workers. In respect of skilled workers on the shortage occupation list, the First Minister wrote to the Home Secretary who has responsibility for the UK Imm…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Migration Advisory Committee regarding the minimum threshold for low-skilled workers, such as Indian curry chefs, coming from outside the European Union.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Migration Advisory Committee''s (MAC) remit is to provide advice on where shortages of skilled labour can sensibly be filled by migration from outside the European Economic Area. The Scottish Government has not made representations to the MAC on the issue…
2 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many people have been stopped under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in (a) Glasgow, (b) Prestwick and (c) Edinburgh airports in 2008, also broken down by ethnicity.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.</p>
2 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhat information it has on how many people were stopped under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 in (a) Glasgow, (b) Prestwick and (c) Edinburgh airports in 2007, also broken down by ethnicity.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.</p>
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting Gaelic Medium Education among people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14173 on 24 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary question’s are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children from black and ethnic minority backgrounds currently receive Gaelic Medium Education.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is keen to see Gaelic medium education promoted throughout Scotland and for access to be for all families with an interest. The day-to-day promotion of Gaelic medium education is largely a matter for Scottish local authorities and for …
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, when it expects more public authorities to be asked to produce Gaelic language plans.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 gives Bòrd na Gidhlig the power to require Scottish public authorities to prepare Gaelic language plans which will set out what they will do to support the use of Gaelic in delivering their core services. Bòrd na Gidhli…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to ensure that engagement with providers of business advice and support, such as Business Gateway and local enterprise agencies, is maximised among ethnic minorities.
Answer · Jim Mather: The management of the Business Gateway contracts has been transferred to local authorities, and the service will be extended to the Highland and Islands Enterprise area. The role being given to local government will ensure a more responsive, accessible and jo…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to promote young entrepreneurship in ethnic minority communities.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Promoting entrepreneurship as a career option for all young people is a priority for the Scottish Government if we want to ensure that we achieve our overall purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth. Through our new phase of Determined to Succeed, ou…
24 Apr 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle the issue of forced marriages.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to addressing forced marriage and we are going to consult on whether civil legislation should be introduced to protect those who may be affected. This consultation will link with the work currently underway within communit…