Parliamentary questions
Ken Macintosh
1,334 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what emphasis it places on the views of local residents when considering an application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.
Answer · Jim Mather: All representations made by members of the public, including the views of local residents, are taken into account before ministers determine an application under section 36. In addition, the views of local community councils are an important consideration for…
8 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether waste disposal and electricity generation plants applying for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 require planning permission.
Answer · Jim Mather: Consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act can be granted only for electricity generating stations and functions on-site which are directly ancillary to electricity generation. Any function on-site which is not ancillary to electricity generation will re…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance will be published on how many exams pupils will sit in S4 under the Curriculum for Excellence and, if so, when.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38794 on 25 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliam…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been reached on how many exams most pupils will be expected to sit in S4 under the Curriculum for Excellence.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38794 on 25 January 2011. 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…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been reached on how many exams pupils will be able to sit in S4 under the Curriculum for Excellence.
Answer · Michael Russell: As the member is aware, there are no national prescriptions for the number of subjects pupils should be examined for in S4. The precise number and range of qualifications on offer, as well as when they are taken, will be a decision for schools to take in cons…
13 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the minutes of the December 2010 Curriculum for Excellence Management Board will be published.
Answer · Michael Russell: The minutes of Curriculum for Excellence Management Board meetings are published when they are agreed by the board. The minutes of the December 2010 meeting will be considered at the board''s next meeting which is scheduled for 10 February 2011.</p>
21 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the equivalent funding in Scotland to match the up to £2 million announced by the UK Government to improve security at Jewish faith schools in England.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is mindful of the importance of school security for pupils and staff at all schools across Scotland. The resources provided within the local government settlement reflect the need for school security measures, although it is for each a…
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35141 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 August 2010, whether it will assess the impact of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38309 on 12 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\…
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35141 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 August 2010, whether it is monitoring the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-38309 and S3W-38312 on 12 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="file:///C:\D…
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35141 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 August 2010, what information it plans to collect on the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38309 on 12 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\…
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35141 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 August 2010, whether any sunbed salons have closed as a result of the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38309 on 12 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\…
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35141 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 August 2010, how many fines have been issued against sunbed salons since the implementation of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38309 on 12 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\…
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35141 by Nicola Sturgeon on 3 August 2010, whether it has surveyed local authorities on their enforcement of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009.
Answer · Shona Robison: In December 2010, the Scottish Government commissioned Health Protection Scotland to survey local authorities on the enforcement of the Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Sunbed) Regulations 2009 and the results will be made available by the end April 20…
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the contractual obligation on Eaga is to rectify problems with central heating systems installed under the Scottish Government’s Central Heating Programme
Answer · Alex Neil: The contract with Eaga provided for all components and workmanship relating to the installation of a heating system under the Central Heating Programme to be covered with a 12 months parts and labour guarantee, including a free service at the end of that peri…
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many older people who had a central heating system installed by Eaga under the Scottish Government's Central Heating Programme have experienced problems during the recent cold spell
Answer · Alex Neil: Eaga''s contract to install central heating systems under the Central Heating Programme ended on 31 August 2006. We do not hold information on the performance of individual systems.</b></p>
13 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any problems with the maintenance provided by Eaga to central heating systems installed under the Scottish Government's Central Heating Programme
Answer · Alex Neil: Under the Central Heating Programme, responsibility for maintaining the central heating system rests with the householder. As a result we do not hold information on individual maintenance issues.</b></p>
10 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14190 by Maureen Watt on 25 June 2008, what further action has been taken to encourage global citizenship in schools and ensure that children’s education has a European and international dimension.
Answer · Michael Russell: Since June 2008, considerable progress has been made to encourage global citizenship in schools and ensure that children''s education has an European and international dimension. Global citizenship is encouraged and promoted in a variety of ways and many outs…
10 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations have taken place of the option of elective time in the school week for (a) vocational opportunities and (b) arts, community volunteering or sport.
Answer · Michael Russell: Decisions on elective time in the school week for specific learning activities are the responsibility of curriculum planners at the local level.</b></p> <p ><i >Building the Curriculum 3: A framework for learning and teaching </i>supports curriculum planning…
10 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6265 by Adam Ingram on 27 November 2007, what progress has been made on improving (a) services for children with additional support needs and (b) continuing professional development for every teacher.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government has amended the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 to create a stronger system for supporting children''s learning. The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 commenced on 14 Novemb…
10 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in relation to reviewing the implementation of mainstreaming children with additional support needs.
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where the national event in Scotland to commemorate Holocaust Day 2011 will be held.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37970 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/App…
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to commemorate Holocaust Day 2011.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish National Holocaust Memorial Day Commemorations 2011 will take place in Craigroyston High School in Edinburgh on 27 January 2011. As well as working with the school, the event is being developed and delivered by the Scottish Government in partners…
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37308 by Adam Ingram on 18 November 2010, whether a pre-qualification questionnaire was used before inviting interested parties to complete the tendering process.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 places a legal duty on Scottish ministers to secure the provision of an advocacy service to be available on request and free of charge to support parents and young people in tribunal proceedi…
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37310 by Adam Ingram on 18 November 2010, what was discussed at the meeting between it and the new service providers on 21 October 2010.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The new Additional Support Needs National Advocacy Service will be delivered by a partnership between Barnardo''s and the Scottish Child Law Centre.</p> <p >Barnardo''s, which submitted the application on behalf of the partners, was informed that the applica…
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37308 by Adam Ingram on 18 November 2010, whether the costs of this contract for advocacy services are higher than the EU procurement threshold at which such contracts should be publicly advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 places a legal duty on Scottish ministers to secure the provision of an advocacy service to be available on request and free of charge to support parents and young people in tribunal proceedi…
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37308 by Adam Ingram on 18 November 2010, how much over £40,000 and how much under £100,000 are the Government’s estimated provisional costs for this new service.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 places a legal duty on Scottish ministers to secure the provision of an advocacy service to be available on request and free of charge to support parents and young people in tribunal proceedi…
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration was given to the transfer of undertakings (protection of employment) regulations (TUPE) obligations prior to appointing a new provider of advocacy services under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 Act.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37941 on 14 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/App…
30 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in changing the providers of the national advocacy service from ISEA (Scotland) to the new provider of advocacy services commissioned under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009, whether the transfer of undertakings (protection of employment) regulations (TU…
Answer · Adam Ingram: The issue of whether the transfer of undertakings (protection of employment) regulations (TUPE) applies is a matter of law to be determined by the relevant parties or failing that by an employment tribunal.</p>
24 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34777 by Fergus Ewing on 21 July 2010, whether it considers that the conviction of Mohammed Sandia for posting anti-Semitic material on The Scotsman website is sufficient evidence that anti-Semitic graffiti at Glenduffhill Jewish cemetery was not an …
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are aware of the recently reported conviction of an individual, following the posting of comments on newspaper websites. We are not aware of any connection between this incident and the incident referred to in S3W-34777.</p> <p >However, the Scottish Gove…
5 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the procurement process for the new national advocacy service contract for additional support needs took until the end of October 2010 to come to a decision when applicants were informed that this would be made in July 2010.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2009 places a legal duty on Scottish Ministers to secure the provision of an advocacy service to be available on request and free of charge to support parents and young people in Tribunal proceedi…