Parliamentary questions

Bashir Ahmad

71 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

21 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has now considered the outline business case for the South Glasgow Hospital Project, previously approved by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on 19 February 2008.

Answer · Shona Robison: I am pleased to confirm that following a rigorous review of the proposal The Scottish Government has now granted approval of the Outline Business Case for the New Southern Hospitals Project in Glasgow. The proposed investment will completely redevelop the Sou…

3 Apr 2008 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many freedom of information requests have been made to the Parliament since April 2007.

Answer · Tricia Marwick: Three hundred and seventeem freedom of information requests were made to the Parliament between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008.

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to tackle domestic violence among ethnic minority communities.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling domestic abuse and ensuring that all those affected by it are given the support they need and those perpetrating it are dealt with effectively. The National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse in Scotla…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to encourage more students to study dentistry.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are developing dental outreach training centres throughout Scotland, including Aberdeen, Inverness and Dumfries and Galloway. In addition, we are increasing the number of dental students in training and opening a third dental school for Scotland in Aberdee…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made with further integrating refugees and asylum seekers into their local communities.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Since 2001 the Scottish Government has invested over £10 million to aid the integration of refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland. A wide range of projects have provided opportunities such as volunteering, work shadowing, English language classes and cultura…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in Glasgow will benefit from the recent business rates cut.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the form requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available on the Scottish A…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with UK Ministers regarding the new points-based immigration system.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government have made a range of representations to UK ministers, which have included discussions about the new points-based system, including how it will impact on Scotland and Scottish interests, and how we can get the best deal for Scotland fro…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to criminalise forced marriages.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the question S3W-11547, answered on 21 April 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/webapp…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle drug use among children.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We plan to publish a new national drugs strategy by the summer. A key theme of the strategy will be more choices and more chances for young people to live constructive, drug free lives. It is important that children and young people who become involved in pro…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines have been issued to rail companies regarding punctuality of trains.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scotrail Franchise contains benchmarks for service punctuality and delay. Failure to reach these benchmarks means financial penalties and could lead ultimately to loss of the franchise contract. The recent extension of the franchise has tightened…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many overseas students studying at Scottish universities and colleges come from within the EU, broken down by country.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table shows the number of overseas students studying at Scottish higher education institutions (HEIs) and Scottish colleges who come from EU countries. Students enrolled at a Scottish HEIs but studying overseas are shown separately. Figures show…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many overseas students studying at Scottish universities and colleges come from (a) India, (b) Pakistan, (c) China and (d) Bangladesh.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table shows the number of students from India, Pakistan, China (including, Hong Kong and Macao) and Bangladesh studying at Scottish higher education institutions (HEIs) and Scottish colleges. Students enrolled at a Scottish HEIs but studying ove…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many overseas students are studying at universities in Glasgow.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table shows the number of overseas students studying at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Glasgow for academic year 2006-07. Students enrolled at a Glasgow-based HEIs but studying overseas are shown separately. <table border=1 cellsp…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many ethnic minority prisoners there are.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The information requested is given in table 7, on page 19, of the statistical bulletin Prison Statistics Scotland, 2…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many stop-and-searches British transport police have carried out in 2008.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is a matter for the British Transport Police (BTP). I met BTP on 21 January 2008 to discuss their use of stop and search in Scotland and l look forward to a further meeting with them on 30 April 2008.

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors heart disease figures in terms of ethnic breakdown.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on ethnic origin is not collected comprehensively on central statistical returns. Primary and secondary care databases have the facility to capture information on ethnic origin but recording is not a mandatory requirement of these databases. As a …

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of forced marriages have been reported since 2000.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11547 on 21 April 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/webapp…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to address the issue of forced marriage.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to addressing forced marriage and in 2005 the previous administration along with the UK Government undertook a consultation on whether forced marriage should be criminalised. The majority of respondents felt that creating …

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Executive has considered the use of local anaesthetic during male circumcision procedures.

Answer · Shona Robison: The potential use of local anaesthetic to carry out circumcision was considered at a seminar in Glasgow on 16 November 2006 attended by representatives of the Muslim community, the Jewish community, paediatric surgeons, and other clinical interests. The clini…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reduce male circumcision waiting lists to below six months.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-2677 on 20 March 2008. All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business…

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

Answer · Maureen Watt: The information requested is not collected by the Scottish Government.

3 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many officers have worked in anti-terror operations since 2005, broken down by constabulary.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally. Operational decisions are a matter for chief constables.

20 Mar 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to reduce the waiting times for male circumcision procedures.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Many male patients awaiting circumcision previously experienced lengthy waits because their treatment was considered to be of low clinical priority and they were therefore excluded from waiting time targets. These hidden waiting lists were abolished on 1 Janu…