Parliamentary questions

Des McNulty

1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

23 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers met Scottish Enterprise to discuss the proposed Islamic Expo and, if so, on what dates, broken down by ministers and officials involved.

Answer · Jim Mather: There has been no meetings between ministers and Scottish Enterprise to discuss IslamFest.

23 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether representatives of the Scottish-Islamic Foundation met Scottish Development International to discuss the proposed Islamic Expo and, if so, on what dates, broken down by officials involved.

Answer · Jim Mather: David Smith, the then Operations Director of SDI and Mark McMullen, Senior International Manager at SDI met the Scottish Islamic Foundation on 8 October 2008 where IslamFest was discussed. Further meetings took place, which were attended by Mark McMu…

23 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers met Scottish Development International to discuss the proposed Islamic Expo and, if so, on what dates, broken down by ministers and officials involved.

Answer · Jim Mather: There have been no meetings between ministers and Scottish Development International to discuss the proposed IslamFest.

23 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Development International was approached to play a role in the organisation of the proposed Islamic Expo and, if so, by whom and what the proposed role was.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32712 on 29 April 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busines…

23 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Enterprise was approached to play a role in the organisation of the proposed Islamic Expo and, if so, by whom and what the proposed role was.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Enterprise is responsible for the allocation of its resources consistent with delivery of the objectives and priorities agreed with Scottish ministers and set out in its corporate plan. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this …

23 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reopen applications to its Race, Religion and Refugee funding stream to allow other organisations to bid for the £128,000 paid back by the Scottish-Islamic Foundation.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has no plans to reopen the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration funding stream. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31213 on 26 February 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliamen…

15 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether (a) the First Minister has or (b) other ministers have (i) entertained dinner guests in the Members’ Restaurant in the Scottish Parliament or (ii) attended a dinner in the Members’ Restaurant in the Scottish Parliament offered as a prize at an auction or raffle held at a party fun…

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is already in the public domain. Furthermore, the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has dismissed all complaints on this matter.

15 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether (a) the First Minister has or (b) other ministers have (i) entertained lunch guests in the Members’ Restaurant in the Scottish Parliament or (ii) attended a lunch in the Members’ Restaurant in the Scottish Parliament offered as a prize at an auction or raffle held at a party fundr…

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is already in the public domain. Furthermore, the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has dismissed all complaints on this matter.

15 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in view of its commitment to publishing details of engagements carried out by all ministers on a monthly basis six months in arrears, for what reason information on its website lists only engagements up until 13 March 2009 and when it expects to update these records and make them public.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to the proactive release of information. However, the collation and co-ordination of the engagement information is taking longer than anticipated and it is hoped that this information will be released in the near future.</…

5 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Direction in the Interests of National Security) Order 2002 provides ministers with express powers to revoke a direction made using that legislation and, if not, what other legal powers could be used to remove unnecessary security measures.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There is no express provision to the contrary, so the power under this Order to make a direction to revoke an existing direction is implicit. However, the power to give a direction under this 2002 Order is exercisable by Scottish ministers concurrently with t…

5 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether provision could be made by (a) ministers or (b) a variation in the determination of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to cover any costs that might be incurred by Scottish Water in the removal of security measures at Milngavie reservoir should such measures prove unnecess…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: If security measures prove to be unnecessary, there are a number of options available to Scottish Water to fund their removal depending on the level of expenditure likely to be incurred. The Water Industry Commission for Scotland could consider making funds a…

5 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it has not responded to Scottish Water’s application of April 2009 for authority to remove many of the security measures put in place at Milngavie reservoir on national security grounds.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: My officials have responded to a confidential memo that Scottish Water sent to them in April 2009 asking for clarification on the steps required to be taken to carry out changes to the security measures at Milngavie. We are not aware of any other application.…

5 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the commissioning of the new Milngavie water treatment works has rendered unnecessary a number of security measures put in place following a direction by the Home Secretary in 2003 under the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Direction in the Interests of National Security) Order…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Water has agreed with the government security adviser what changes can take place to the security measures following the commissioning of the new works.

5 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review in conjunction with Home Office ministers the continuing need for security fences at Milngavie reservoir on national security grounds.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A review of the existing security measures has already taken place and Scottish Water has agreed in principal with the Government security adviser on what changes can be made. My officials have asked Scottish Water to estimate the cost of these changes and to…

5 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been made to (a) ministers and (b) Scottish Water requesting the removal of fences around Milngavie reservoir erected following a direction by the Home Secretary in 2003 under the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 (Direction in the Interests of National Security…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We are not aware of any such requests that have been made to Scottish ministers. We understand that you made representations to Scottish Water about the removal of the fences in October 2006, September 2008 and December 2009. East Dunbartonshire Council raise…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that career guidance practitioners responsible for the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence receive the necessary training.

Answer · Michael Russell: Career Guidance Practitioners are well placed to support young people to develop the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence. Skills Development Scotland (SDS), the main employer of Career Guidance Practitioners in Scotland, represent the interests of Ca…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that work-based learning providers responsible for the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence receive the necessary training.

Answer · Michael Russell: Skills Development Scotland has been tasked to work with training providers to ensure that all provision enables young people undertaking a national training programme to develop the four capacities of Curriculum for Excellence. Key documents have …

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that university staff responsible for the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence receive the necessary training.

Answer · Michael Russell: Universities are autonomous institutions with responsibility for ensuring that their staff are fully equipped to undertake the duties that will support Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). To ensure that universities are able to best prepare their staff, the sect…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that college staff responsible for the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence receive the necessary training.

Answer · Keith Brown: Colleges are autonomous institutions with responsibility for ensuring that their staff are fully equipped to undertake the duties that will support Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). Colleges are committed to the adoption of CfE, and are actively represented on…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that librarians supporting the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence outwith schools receive the necessary training.

Answer · Michael Russell: Staff in libraries, outwith educational institutions as well as in them, are well placed to support the personalised learning at the heart of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). Local authorities, which manage a substantial proportion of library provision, are w…

2 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that community learning and development staff responsible for the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence outwith schools receive the necessary training.

Answer · Keith Brown: The approach taken by community learning and development (CLD) staff and their skill set align closely with those needed for Curriculum for Excellence. CLD is represented on the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Management Board by Duncan Simpson, Chair of the …