Parliamentary questions
Johann Lamont
1,407 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of P2 classes have 18 pupils or fewer.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The latest informationavailable is from the Statistical Bulletin <i>Pupils in </i><i>Scotland</i><i>, 2006</i>, published on 27 February 2007. At census week in September2006, 10 per cent of single stage P2 classes had 18 pupils or less.</p>
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of P1 classes have 18 pupils or fewer.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The latest informationavailable is from the Statistical Bulletin <i>Pupils in </i><i>Scotland</i><i>, 2006</i>, published on 27 February 2007. At census week in September2006, 18 per cent of P1 classes had 18 pupils or less.</p>
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice will meet the chairpersons of local licensing boards to discuss the implementation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I look forward tomeeting the chairpersons of licensing boards and the police to discuss their keyrole in implementing the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 soon.As the implementation of the act progresses, we will continue to work withlicensing boards and other s…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when guidance on the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 will be made available to local licensing boards.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Parliamentapproved the first draft guidance for Licensing Boards prepared under section 142of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 on 7 March 2007. The guidance was issued to boards on 4 April 2007 and is available at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotl…
20 Jun 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to achieve environmental justice.
Answer · Michael Russell: Delivering environmentaljustice will, of course, be part of the key cross-cutting programmes to deliverthis Government’s five strategic objectives. All communities and individuals havethe right to expect a fairer, safer, healthier and greener environment to l…
19 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will ensure that the Comprehensive Spending Review will take into account the findings of the FSB Scotland Index of Success 2007.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As the Cabinet Secretaryfor Finance and Sustainable Growth outlined in his recent statement to Parliament(Thursday 28 June 2007), the spending review represents a thorough appraisal ofall aspects of the Scottish budget and the factors that influence the deman…
19 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to the findings of the FSB Scotland Index of Success 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish governmentis determined that Scotland can and will do better.</p><p>We want to make this country a wealthier and fairer, healthierand smarter place. The performance of Norway, Iceland and Ireland demonstrates exactly what we should aspireto in Sc…
19 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that, according to the FSB Scotland Index of Success 2007, access to good quality food and sports facilities in deprived areas is necessary for Scotland to move to a higher place on the index.
Answer · Shona Robison: The FSB Scotland Index of Success 2007 includeslife expectancy which is informed by a range of health improvement measures.</p><p>Access tohealthier food at affordable prices for those living in deprived areas is apriority for the Scottish Government. Program…
19 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that, according to the FSB Scotland Index of Success 2007, an improvement of 2.8 years in life expectancy would place Scotland in ninth place out of 24 OECD countries.
Answer · John Swinney: The FSB Success Index2007 ranks Scotland 17th out of 24 advanced OECD economies. Itis not this government’s role to speculate as to where Scotland might have beenif we performed differently on some of the measures that make up this compositeindex. It is, howe…
19 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that, on the FSB Scotland Index of Success 2007, Scotland ranks eighth out of 24 OECD countries in terms of the working age employment rate.
Answer · John Swinney: The FSB Index of Successstates that Scotland ranks seventh out of 24 OECD countries interms of the working age employment rate.</p>
19 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that, on the FSB Scotland Index of Success 2007, Scotland ranks eighth out of 24 OECD countries in terms of educational attainment.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Yes.</p>
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take against any local authority not implementing private landlord registration.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: All local authoritiesare making progress in implementing private landlord registration but I would liketo see more rapid progress in some areas. The Scottish government is working closelywith local authorities to help them in this process.</p>
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that properties which do not have a registered private landlord cannot secure housing benefit payments.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The legislation governingthe registration of private landlords set out in the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 includes provision for the suspension of thetenant’s liability to pay rent where the landlord should be and is not registeredwith the l…
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings ministers have had with (a) local authorities, (b) private landlord organisations and (c) housing groups to discuss how best to secure the implementation of private landlord registration.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: There have been noministerial meetings with housing groups, local authorities or private landlordorganisations to discuss implementation of private landlord registration. However,officials meet with these groups regularly.</p>
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress each local authority has made in reaching full operation of private landlord registration.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-953 on 21 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on private landlord registration.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-953 on 21 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it expects the Parliament to have in the feasibility study on the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1158 on 29 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the Minister for Communities and Sport’s position is on the level of ambition shown by any footballing organisations or representatives that do not support a Scotland-only bid for the 2016 European football championships.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I cannot comment onthe level of ambition shown by any other organisations, including footballing organisations,that do not support a Scotland-only bid for the 2016 European football championships.</p>
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much weight will be given to the views of footballing organisations and representatives in any decision on a Scotland-only bid for the 2016 European football championships.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1158 on 29 June 2007. 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/wa.se…
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the feasibility study on the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships will cost.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1158 on 29 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether footballing organisations and representatives will have a role in the conduct of the feasibility study on the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1158 on 29 June. 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/wa.search"…
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who will conduct the feasibility study on the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1158 on 29 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long it expects the feasibility study to take on the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-1158 on 29 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the feasibility study on the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships will commence.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Discussions are stillat a very early stage and the views and advice of key stakeholders, including theSFA and EventScotland, will be sought before a feasibility study of a Scottish bidfor the 2016 European football championships is undertaken.</p><p>However, …
18 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Communities and Sport will meet footballing groups and organisations.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I do not presentlyhave meetings set up with groups and organisations but anticipate meeting a widerange of these organisations in due course.</p>
15 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to increase the percentage of schools with an anonymised system of free school meals receipt from 53% to 100%.
Answer · Adam Ingram: One of the principlesof <i>Hungry for Success</i>, the report of the Expert Panel on School Meals publishedin 2002, was eliminating stigma. A key recommendation within the report was thatschools should explore processes to protect the anonymity of those in re…
15 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-373 by Stewart Maxwell on 6 June 2007, whether its commitment to implement in full the Reaching Higher national sport strategy includes endorsement of the strategy's support for a continuing role for sportscotland.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I can confirm thatthere will be no decisions on the future of sportscotland without a full appreciationof the facts and that the future of sportscotland will be considered within thecontext of the wider review of public bodies announced by the Cabinet Secreta…
15 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-373 by Stewart Maxwell on 6 June 2007, whether its commitment to implement in full the Reaching Higher national sport strategy includes endorsement of the strategy's view that key sporting agencies can only benefit from working together and sharing e…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish governmentendorses the sport strategy <i>Reaching Higher </i>published in March 2007. Sportingagencies currently work in partnership with each other both in Scotland and across a wider UKcontext as appropriate for the benefit of their sport.</p><…
15 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of the independent scrutiny panel rejecting the revised proposals on NHS accident and emergency provision, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will abide by the decision of the panel.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As with any proposalsfor significant service change, I will carefully consider all the available informationbefore coming to a final decision.</p>
15 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations will be represented on the independent scrutiny panel on NHS accident and emergency provision.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I referthe member to the answer to question S3W-904 on 22 June 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.searc…