Parliamentary questions
Johann Lamont
1,407 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many contracts it has agreed under Article 19 of the EU procurement directive.
Answer · John Swinney: Article 19 only applies when the contract value is above the relevant EU threshold. The Government has not awarded any contracts under Article 19 and does not currently hold information on contracts with supported businesses or contracts awarded under Article…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38650 by Alex Neil on 26 January 2011, whether the fact that the accounts of the Scottish-Islamic Foundation were qualified by the auditors are sufficient grounds for the Scottish Government to seek the return of all funding granted to that organisat…
Answer · Alex Neil: The qualifications in the Scottish-Islamic Foundation''s accounts did not highlight any issues in relation to the use of Scottish Government funding. Therefore the qualifications were not sufficient grounds to seek the return of all funding granted by the Sco…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15067 by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008, whether the grant conditions attached to the funding allocation of £215,000 to the Scottish-Islamic Foundation have all been adhered to.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is satisfied that grant conditions attached to the funding were adhered to. With regard to the IslamFest project, in line with the conditions attached to the grant, unused funds totalling £128,583.90 were repaid to the Scottish Governm…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it was made aware that the auditors of the Scottish-Islamic Foundation had resigned.
Answer · Alex Neil: This is entirely a matter between the Scottish-Islamic Foundation and its auditors. There was no requirement to notify the Scottish Government.</b></p>
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all meetings between cabinet ministers and the Scottish-Islamic Foundation since 1 January 2009, including the location and those (a) participating and (b) observing.
Answer · Alex Neil: No meetings have taken place between Scottish Government cabinet ministers and the Scottish-Islamic Foundation since 1 January 2009.</p>
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the key findings of the report by For Scotland’s Disabled Children, Setting the Scene.
Answer · Adam Ingram: For Scotland''s Disabled Children (FSDC) is a lead partner, along with Scottish Government and COSLA, in a national review of services for disabled children undertaken in 2010 and due to be published shortly. FSDC''s baseline survey, <i >Setting the Scene</i>…
11 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidance to local authorities to ensure that the implementation of personalised budgets for disabled people will not lead to a deterioration in the care that they receive.
Answer · Shona Robison: The National Strategy for Self-directed Support (SDS) sets out the core values and principles of SDS. Implementation of the strategy should deliver improved outcomes for people who need support and should not lead to a deterioration in the care they receive. …
11 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has with Work Choice, the supported employment scheme for disabled people.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on the development of its Work Choice programme for disabled people. My officials will continue to liaise with DWP, Jobcentre Plus and other partners including the Prim…
10 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Islamic Foundation submitted audited accounts to the Equality Unit for (a) 2009 and (b) 2010 and, if so, whether they were found to be satisfactory.
Answer · Alex Neil: Organisations in receipt of funding are obliged to provide the Scottish Government with accounting information as part of their standard grant conditions. In line with the Companies Act 2006, the Scottish Islamic Foundation were not obliged to produce audited…
10 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made to the training of procurator fiscal staff regarding illegal money lending cases since 2007.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: Illegal money lending is an offence under section 39(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. The number of cases reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) by Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit (SIMLU) is small. From the information provi…
10 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in access to police intelligence by the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit since 2007.
Answer · Alex Neil: There have been no changes in Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit access to police intelligence since 2007. An Information Sharing Protocol between Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland and the Society of Chief Trading Standards Officers in Scotland (…
10 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff have been employed by the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit in each year since 2004.
Answer · Alex Neil: The staffing of the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit is a matter for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.</p> <
10 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been received by the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit in each year since 2004.
Answer · Alex Neil: The funding of the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit is a matter for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.</p> <
10 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many loan sharks have been (a) fined or (b) imprisoned as a result of the activities of the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit in each year since 2004.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit is funded by the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.</b></p> <p >Loan sharks that have been (a) fined or (b) imprisoned as a result of Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit activity:</p> <p >2004-05 “ (a)…
10 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many loan sharks have been prosecuted as a result of the activities of the Scottish Illegal Money lending Unit in each year since 2004.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit is funded by the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.</b></p> <p >Loan sharks prosecuted as a result of Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit activity:</p> <p >2004-05 - 0</p> <p >2005-06 - 0</p> <p >2…
10 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many loan sharks have been reported to the procurator fiscal as a result of the activities of the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit in each year since 2004.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit is funded by the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.</b></p> <p >Loan sharks reported to the procurator fiscal as a result of Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit activity:</p> <p >2004-05 - 2</p> <p >20…
10 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Etisal, the Scottish Government-sponsored event organised by the Scottish Islamic Foundation, took place in March 2010.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government provided funding to assist the development of the IslamFest which incorporated both Etisal and Salaam Scotland. While the specific Etisal event did not take place, a series of cultural events to help tackle Islamophobia were delivered …
5 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38215 by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 December 2010, by what means people can find these helpline numbers other than through the internet.
Answer · Shona Robison: That answer referred to the Care Information Scotland helpline, the Scottish Helpline for Older People and the Scottish Government''s Home Energy Scotland Hotline.</b></p> <p >These helplines are well aware their users often do not have access to the interne…
5 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many organisations applied for funding from the Third Sector Resilience Fund in 2010.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Third Sector Resilience Fund closed for applications on 4 December 2009; 189 organisations applied for funding, of which 64 were successful.</p>
5 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which voluntary organisations received funding from the Third Sector Resilience Fund in 2010 and how much each received.
Answer · Jim Mather: Details of the voluntary organisations which received funding from the Third Sector Resilience Fund in 2010, and the amount each received, may be found at: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/15300/funding/ResilienceFundStrategy1/FundGrantRecipi…
5 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to disseminate the examples of good practice in the Consumer Focus Scotland report, Consumer Engagement in Decision Making: Best Practice from Scottish Public Services.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government welcomes the recent Consumer Focus Scotland report and believes that the examples of good practice it contains should inform the work of the commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services. A copy of the report has been sent to th…
10 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for marketing and publicity of the new Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme to the (a) voluntary sector, (b) public sector and (c) general public
Answer · Adam Ingram: Since the bill was first introduced to the Scottish Parliament, the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme has been the subject of wide ranging communications and consultation activities with the voluntary, public and private sectors across Scotland.</p> …
10 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the updated code of practice for the new Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme will be ready
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Code of Practice is published by the Scottish ministers under Section 122 of the Police Act 1997. It is currently being revised for the introduction of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme in February 2011, at which point the revised Code of Prac…
10 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the proposed start date will be for the new Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme and how much advance notification will be given of the start of the scheme
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme will start in February 2011. This follows an announcement on 3 November 2010 to delay commencement of the scheme from the planned date of 30 November 2010 to February 2011. The date of 30 November 2010 was previously an…
9 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Age Scotland, WRVS and other relevant organisations regarding the needs of older and vulnerable people during severe weather.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is in regular dialogue with Age Scotland, WRVS and other organisations that represent the interests of older people. Age Concern were one of the many key stakeholders contacted over the last few weeks to check what additional help coul…
9 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S3F-2698 by the First Minister on 11 November 2010 (Official Report, c. 30366), whether it will consider the establishment of a national helpline for older and vulnerable people in the event of severe weather.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are already established helplines in operation that are funded by the Scottish Government providing information and advice to older and vulnerable people. </p> <p >For example, Care Information Scotland is a helpline and website providing information o…
9 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the (a) date and (b) time of each meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience since 1 December 2010 at which a communications strategy to meet the needs of older and vulnerable people in the event of severe weather was discussed.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The agenda for the meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience held since 1 December 2010 includes standing items on communications and on the current situation and outlook for health and community care. This allows communications …
9 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the (a) date and (b) time of each meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience since 1 December 2010 at which a communications strategy regarding the current severe weather was discussed.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The agenda for the meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience held since 1 December 2010 includes a standing item on communications issues.</p> <p >For dates and times of meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee since 1 December 201…
9 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the (a) date and (b) time of each meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience since 1 December 2010 at which the implications of severe weather for older and vulnerable people were discussed.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The agenda for the meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience held since 1 December 2010 includes a standing item on the current situation and outlook for health and community care.</p> <p >For dates and times of meetings of the …
9 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who attended the meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience held since 1 December 2010.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the question S3W-38182 answered on 15 December 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="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…