Parliamentary questions
Johann Lamont
1,407 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16025 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, on what date the First Minister’s approval in principle of the funding for IslamFest was minuted under normal procedures.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The First Minister''s approval in principle was minuted on 30 January 2008, the day the meeting took place.</p>
3 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which voluntary organisations have been allocated monies from the current third sector funding package and how much they have received in each case.
Answer · John Swinney: The current Third Sector funding package provides £93.6m for the sector over three years. The package provides: investment funding for the sector through the Scottish Investment Fund (£30 million) and the Enterprise Fund (£12 million); activities to support e…
2 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of school pupils has benefited from the extension of the clothing grant scheme.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of school clothing grants in assisting families with the expenses involved in ensuring children have adequate and suitable clothing to take full advantage of local authority school education. We set up a worki…
2 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of school pupils has benefited from the extension of the free school meals scheme.
Answer · Adam Ingram: As yet there has been no extension to the free school meals scheme. There are two commitments in the concordat about extending entitlement to free school meals:</p> <p >To extend entitlement to free school meals to all primary school and secondary school pu…
2 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many adults living in families with an annual income of less than £16,000 have benefited from the reduction in prescription charges.
Answer · Shona Robison: We estimate that around 600,000 adults living in families with an annual income of less than £16,000 will benefit from the reduction in prescription charges when they buy prescriptions. We do not know how many have benefited since the charge was reduced on 1 …
25 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many indicators explicitly referring to tackling child poverty are included in single outcome agreements, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Single Outcome Agreements (SOA) reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each council and include relevant supporting indicators and targets. Copies of all 32 SOAs which were agreed with local authorities on 30 June can be obtained via the Improveme…
25 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many indicators explicitly referring to tackling homelessness are included in single outcome agreements, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Local authorities address homelessness through a wide range of approaches which will often extend beyond specifically housing issues. As such, there will be a number of indicators which local authorities would see as contributing to addressing and tackling ho…
25 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many indicators explicitly referring to violence against women are included in single outcome agreements, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The single outcome agreements (SOA) reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each council and include relevant supporting indicators and targets. Copies of all 32 SOAs which were agreed with local authorities on 30 June can be obtained via the Improveme…
18 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15726 by Stewart Maxwell on 17 September 2008, how much of the additional Scottish Government spending on housing in 2008-09 will be allocated to support for first-time buyers.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: From the accelerated funding we are planning to prioritise bringing forward new construction but will also spend on off the shelf units and land acquisitions for future development. Some of the units provided or to be developed will be for the Low-cost Initia…
18 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15726 by Stewart Maxwell on 17 September 2008, how much of the additional Scottish Government spending in 2008-09 will be allocated to the Homeowners’ Support Fund.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We have no plans to allocate any of the accelerated funding to the Homeowners Support Fund. At the end of June 2008, we announced a package of major reforms, which included £25 million between 2008-10 to support the Homeowners Support Fund.</p>
11 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16026 by John Swinney on 11 September 2008, whether it will detail all funding applications from voluntary organisations since May 2007 that were agreed in principle by the First Minister and subsequently agreed by officials.
Answer · John Swinney: The information sought could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p>
11 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15405 by John Swinney on 2 September 2008, whether the review of policy directions informing the priorities for distribution of funding in Scotland by the Big Lottery Fund will be the subject of public consultation.
Answer · John Swinney: A public consultation exercise will be undertaken by UK Big Lottery Fund and an accompanying Scotland document will offer the opportunity to gather input to the revision of Scottish Policy Directions. This will assist the Scottish Government shape the new pol…
11 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15405 by John Swinney on 2 September 2008, which body will conduct the review of policy directions informing the priorities for distribution of funding in Scotland by the Big Lottery Fund
Answer · John Swinney: The review of policy directions will be undertaken by Scottish ministers drawing on the outcome of the consultation exercise undertaken by the Big Lottery Fund.</p>
11 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned by the analysis of the Fairer Scotland Fund in Third Force News on 29 August 2008, which stated that “the voluntary sector is being squeezed out of the social inclusion process.”
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The voluntary sector is a valued partner in tackling poverty, inequality and deprivation in Scotland. The Scottish Government would be concerned if voluntary organisations were being denied involvement in dialogue aimed at reducing inequality.</p> <p >Volun…
11 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned by the analysis of the Fairer Scotland Fund in Third Force News on 29 August 2008, which stated that over 10% of the fund is going directly to public sector posts.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has provided each community planning partnership with an allocation from the Fairer Scotland Fund to assist delivery of priority outcomes for disadvantaged communities and people in their area.</p> <p >It is for each individual partne…
11 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned by the analysis of the Fairer Scotland Fund in Third Force News on 29 August 2008, which stated that “most of the money is going to programmes delivered – or, at the very least, led by – public sector agencies.”
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has provided each community planning partnership with an allocation from the Fairer Scotland Fund to assist delivery of priority outcomes for disadvantaged communities and people in their area.</p> <p >It is for each individual partne…
11 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned by the analysis of the Fairer Scotland Fund in Third Force News on 29 August 2008, which stated that the process of budget allocations is “being driven, led and dominated by local authorities.”
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government expects democratically elected local authorities to be at the heart of decision making on deployment of the Fairer Scotland Fund.</p> <p >Community planning partnerships have been awarded Fairer Scotland Fund resources to help them a…
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all funding applications since May 2007 that were agreed in principle by the First Minister and subsequently agreed by officials.
Answer · John Swinney: The information sought could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p>
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15066 by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008, whether the decision by the First Minister to grant funding of £200,000 to the Scottish Islamic Foundation was made in writing.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The First Minister''s approval in principle of the funding for IslamFest, subject to agreement by officials of a detailed proposal, was minuted under normal procedures.</p>
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15066 by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008, how many times in 2007-08 the First Minister gave approval to a funding decision by the Equality Unit.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The First Minister routinely has sight of advice relating to significant initiatives.</p>
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15066 by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008, which organisations responded to the invitation to express an interest in the proposal to organise IslamFest.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16022 on 2 October 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/webap…
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15066 by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008, how organisations were made aware of the proposal to hold IslamFest and how they might express an interest in organising the event.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Individuals originally involved in the IslamFest proposal during the term of the previous administration subsequently formed the Scottish Islamic Foundation which is developing and delivering the IslamFest events. As part of this work the Scottish Islamic Fou…
3 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the new level of Scottish Government funding will be for registered social landlords in 2008-09 as a result of the First Minister’s announcement on 19 August 2008.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Following the First Minister''s announcement on 19 August 2008, the total level and profile of up to £100 million which will be available over this and next year is being discussed with local government partners. It is intended that most or all of the accele…
3 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional Scottish Government funding there will be for registered social landlords in 2008-09 as a result of the First Minister’s announcement on 19 August 2008.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Following the First Minister''s announcement on 19 August, the total level and profile of funding up to £100 million which will be available over this and next year is being discussed with local government partners. It is intended that most or all of the acce…
21 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that the housing debts of local authorities that agreed to stock transfer were wiped out by HM Treasury.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The six Scottish local authorities that transferred all their housing stock to a registered social landlord had any residual housing debt and associated breakage costs repaid to the Public Works Loan Board. Resources to do so were provided by HM Treasury.</p>…
21 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that, as referred to in the report, Local Authority Housing Income and Expenditure: 1997-98 to 2008-09, released by the Scottish Government on 19 August 2008, the housing debt of Edinburgh City Council will amount to £14,517 per house by March 2009.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The individual level of housing debt in a local authority is a matter for the local authority itself, operating within the prudential borrowing regime. Local authorities will plan their borrowings on the basis of the need to spend to improve or add to their h…
21 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that, as referred to in the report, Local Authority Housing Income and Expenditure: 1997-98 to 2008-09, released by the Scottish Government on 19 August 2008, the housing debt of local authorities will increase for the first time for over a decade.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The projected increase in total Scottish housing debt is not an entirely new development. In 2007-08 and 2008-09 total housing debt in Scotland was reduced due to the exclusion of debt within Argyll and Bute, Eilean Siar and Inverclyde. Had the debt from thes…
21 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that, as referred to in the report, Local Authority Housing Income and Expenditure: 1997-98 to 2008-09, released by the Scottish Government on 19 August 2008, the housing debt of local authorities will increase by £92.9 million (5%) between March 2008 and March 200…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15733 on 18 September 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/we…
21 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that, as referred to in the report, Local Authority Housing Income and Expenditure: 1997-98 to 2008-09, released by the Scottish Government on 19 August 2008, local authority housing debt will total £1,934.9 million by 31 March 2009.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15733 on 18 September 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/we…
21 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that no agreement has been reached with COSLA by the Scottish Government on the proposed £40 million contribution to affordable housing announced by the First Minister on 19 August 2008.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The First Minister made clear in the Donald Dewar Memorial lecture on 19 August 2008 that, in line with the concordat, the proposed £40 million contribution from local government was subject to discussion with local government. There have been positive discus…