Parliamentary questions
Mr Frank McAveety
121 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who will be involved in selecting an appropriate candidate for the position of Chair of the newly merged board of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Sportscotland in its capacityas a non-departmental public body falls under the auspices of the Office of theCommissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland (OCPAS). The process to fill theposition of chair must therefore comply with OCPAS’s Code of Practice.…
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed merger of the boards of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport will take effect.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: It is intended that the separatecompany that is currently the Scottish Institute of Sport will cease to exist afterthe 31 March 2008.</p><p>There are three vacancies arisingon the sportscotland board this year. These vacancies will be filled under the auspice…
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to ensure that Scotland’s elite athletes are not disadvantaged by any recent disruption and uncertainty surrounding the Scottish Institute of Sport.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Support for Scotland’s elite athletes will continue asnormal, but under the new arrangements the Institute of Sport that supports themwill have more secure and stable funding as a result of moving to government fundingrather than the unstable lottery funding …
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the announcement to remove the Chairs of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport from their posts was not included in the ministerial statement on 9 January 2008.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: It was always intended thatthe chairs of both organisations would stand down, however it was notappropriate to have those discussions prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008.</p><p>Both chairs were informed on15 January 2008 of the decision to…
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any correspondence, email or telephone records in respect of discussions held with the Scottish Institute of Sport (SIS) on the future of sportscotland and the SIS.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We have contactedall stakeholders involved with the review of sportscotland including SIS seekingpermission to release all available correspondence subject to freedom ofinformation legislation.</p><p>The Scottish Governmentwill not be able to publish or relea…
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation the Minister for Communities and Sport undertook before making the decision to ask the Chairs of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport to resign.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Once the decision had beenmade to merge the organisations into a single body under one board, it wasobvious only one chair would be required.</p><p>It was always intended toask both chairs to stand down.</p>
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was made to remove the Chairs of sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport from their posts.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Once the decision had beenmade to merge sportscotland and the Scottish Institute of Sport into oneorganisation it was always intended that the two chairs would be asked to standdown. It was however not appropriate to have those discussions prior to theformal …
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the responses to its internal review on the future of sportscotland called for the absorption of the Scottish Institute of Sport into sportscotland.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The majority of responsescalled for the retention of a single national agency for sport, a simplificationof the delivery structures and identified concerns over duplication andintegration. More specifically a number of the major Commonwealth and Olympicsports…
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with the board of the Scottish Institute of Sport about its abolition prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Prior to the ministerialannouncement on 9 January 2008 the Scottish Government had discussions directlywith Executive Director Mr Mike Whittingham at a series of meetings.</p><p>To ensure consistency the Scottish Government contacted the Chief Executives of b…
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which individuals at the Scottish Institute of Sport (SIS) were consulted prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008 that SIS would be merged with sportscotland under one board.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government consultedthe Executive Director and the Chair of the Scottish Institute of Sport, on themerger, prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008.</p>
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with the Chair of sportscotland prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008 relating to its future.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Prior to the ministerial announcementon 9 January 2008, the Scottish Government held meetings with Ms Bracewellto discuss the future of sportscotland.</p>
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with the Chair of the Scottish Institute of Sport prior to the ministerial announcement on 9 January 2008 relating to its future.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Prior to the ministerial announcementon 9 January 2008 the Scottish Government had discussions with the Chairof the Scottish Institute of Sport via email exchanges. In addition the Ministerfor Communities and Sport met Mr Donnelly on 22 November 2007 to discu…
22 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the responses it received to the internal review it carried out on the future of sportscotland.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We have contacted the stakeholdersinvolved with the review seeking permission to release all available correspondencesubject to freedom of information legislation.</p>
9 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Minister for Communities and Sport’s ministerial statement on the future of sportscotland on 9 January 2008, what the overall costs will be of the relocation and dispersal of sportscotland’s staff to the Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Aberdeen hubs.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The previous Executive’s planfor the relocation of sportscotland is estimated at a cost of £15 million at today’sprices. No money was identified in the previous administration’s budget to coverthe costs of this relocation.</p><p>The cost of sportscotland’s re…
9 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Minister for Communities and Sport’s ministerial statement on the future of sportscotland on 9 January 2008, what the proposed timescale is for the relocation of sportscotland’s headquarters to Glasgow and, if the relocation is to occur before the completion of the Nationa…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: It is intended to initiate thismove as soon as possible. The new organisation will be expected to identify a temporarylocation in Glasgow, until it moves to the site of the new indoor arena.This is likely to be in 2011.</p><p>These moves will be managed sotha…
9 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Minister for Communities and Sport’s ministerial statement on the future of sportscotland on 9 January 2008, how many existing sportscotland jobs will be (a) relocated to the new headquarters in Glasgow and (b) dispersed between the Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Aberdee…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The majority of jobs will berelocated to Glasgow, it is anticipated that approximately:</p><p>80 to 100 jobs will go to Glasgow</p><p>30 to 35 jobs will remain inEdinburgh</p><p>five to 10 jobs will go to Aberdeen</p><p>five to 10 jobs will go to Stirling.</p…
13 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the start date will be for the M74 extension and whether it will guarantee that the completion date will still be 2011.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-6230 on 10 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
7 Nov 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the outcome of the 2014 Commonwealth Games decision, what commitments it will give to the city of Glasgow that it will continue plans for regeneration through infrastructure investment and sport to tackle deprivation, particularly in the east end.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Glasgow 2014 CommonwealthGames have great potential to act as a catalyst for regeneration, particularly inthe East End of Glasgow. The athletes’ village, National Indoor Sports Arena andVelodrome will be constructed in Dalmarnock, in the heart of the Clyd…
26 Sep 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of Glasgow¿s cultural performance, whether it will consider providing additional metropolitan funding for the city to ensure that it has sufficient resources to provide the best culture and entertainment in the longer term.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Funding for cultureis currently being considered as part of Strategic Spending Review 2007. We willannounce the outcome in late autumn 2007 when spending plans will be set for thenext three years.</p>
23 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Government expects to meet the SNP manifesto commitments of two hours of physical education per week and year-round access to council swimming pools for children in the current parliamentary session.
Answer · Jim Mather: GovernmentPipelines and Storage System (GPSS) is reserved to the UK Government and run bythe Oil and Pipeline Agency. The function of this agency is to manage theGovernment pipelines and storage system (GPSS) on behalf of the Ministry ofDefence (MoD)</p><p>In…
30 May 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reaffirm its support for the relocation of sportscotland to the east end of Glasgow.
Answer · John Swinney: We will be reviewing the roleand needs of sportscotland alongside our commitment to review the cluttered landscape of public bodies andwe will take account of location issues within this context. An announcement willbe made when appropriate.</p>
22 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the views expressed in submissions to the consultative process on Scottish Planning Policy 11.
Answer · Des McNulty: The Executive’s response to theviews expressed will be contained in the consultation report which will accompanythe publication of the finalised Scottish Planning Policy 11. We envisage that bothdocuments will be published later in the spring.</p>
6 Dec 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives have been taken to tackle truancy in schools.
Answer · Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive supportsa range of initiatives to tackle truancy in schools, including automated call systemsand home-school link staff, and has recently issued draft guidance <i>Engaged and Involved</i> which provides advice to authorities and schools…
18 Oct 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what further plans are being considered to tackle obesity in Scotland¿s population.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive istackling obesity across Scotland’s population through the implementation of our dietand physical activity strategies. Collectively they set the framework foraction to improve our diet and drive up levels of activity, an approach totac…
7 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of young people and what percentage of those aged (a) 15, (b) 16, (c) 17 and (d) 18 leaving care are not in employment, education or training.
Answer · Robert Brown: In 2004, the percentage of allpeople aged 16 to 19 years not in employment, education or training was 13.2 percent.</p><p>At 31 March 2005, of those careleavers who were receiving aftercare support and whose economic status was known,59 per cent were not in e…
17 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its decision on the future location of sportscotland’s headquarters.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I can announce today that, followingcareful consideration of this matter, Scottish ministers have concluded that <b>sport</b>scotland’sheadquarters should be relocated to Glasgow. The headquarters will be located within the new NationalIndoor Sports Arena in …
11 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the model of the Wales Epilepsy Research Network with a view to establishing a similar network in Scotland to build on the work already done in Scotland through the managed clinical networks and whether the Executive will foster collaborative research between Scot…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We would be happy toconsider the Wales Epilepsy Research Network, in the context of on-goingcross-border work on long-term conditions.</p>
10 May 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that local delivery agencies are using their powers under the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Local antisocial behaviour strategiesand outcome agreements include clear targets. Performance against these is beingmonitored by the Executive. The legislation has provided tools for the agenciesinvolved to use, in order to provide a better life in local com…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its opinion is of the academic study published in October 2005 which showed that only four of the 32 local authorities had carried out an audit of open space.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As part of an independent researchstudy, part-funded by the Scottish Executive on <i>Minimum Standards for Open Space,</i>researchers contacted all Scottish local authorities seeking information on progresstowards the preparation of open space audits and stra…
9 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority areas have conducted an audit of open space provision in their areas, as set out in Planning Advice Note 65, in the last five years.
Answer · Johann Lamont: This information is not heldcentrally. However, as part of independent research part-funded by the Executiveon <i>Minimum Standards for Open Space,</i> researchers contacted all Scottish localauthorities seeking information on progress towards the preparatio…