Parliamentary questions

Michael Matheson

1,154 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

3 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the estimated completion date for the Sighthill Park municipal stadium in Edinburgh has moved from May 2009 to June 2011 and whether it expects any further delay to this project.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The start and completion dates for the Sighthill Park municipal stadium project were based onprojections from City of Edinburgh Council which have proved to be unrealisticas the project has progressed. A contributory factor in the delay of thisproject was du…

3 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the estimated completion date for the Forthbank curling academy and sports hall in Stirling has moved from October 2007 to April 2008 and whether it expects any further delay to the project.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The start and completion datesfor the Forthbank project were based on projections from Stirling Council whichhave proved to be unrealistic as the project has progressed. A contributory factorin the delay of this project has been the difficulty Stirling Counci…

3 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the estimated completion date for the regional indoor football facility at Westfield Stadium in Falkirk has moved from March 2007 to April 2008 and whether it expects any further delay to the project.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The start and completiondates for the Westfield Stadium project were based on projections from FalkirkCouncil which have proved to be unrealistic as the project has progressed. Acontributory factor in the delay of this project was due to a delay inobtaining p…

2 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it provides to each local authority for the provision of Dial-A-Journey services.

Answer · Tavish Scott: No funds are provided tolocal authorities specifically for dial-a-journey services. All Scottish localauthorities except the four city Councils receive grants under the Rural PublicPassenger Transport Grant Scheme which they are free to spend as they see fit …

2 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the installation specification for the central heating programme, previously administered by Eaga Partnership Ltd, has changed since the contract was awarded to Scottish Gas.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:As part of the re-tendering processthe opportunity was taken to update and improve the specification for delivery of the central heating and W…

14 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to change the regulations which make provision for sprinklers in residential care homes.

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard,Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. Hisresponse is as follows:The SBSA has no plans to changethe regulations on automatic life safety fire suppression systems, which were introduce…

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26022 by Patricia Ferguson on 1 June 2006, when sportscotland will publish statistics on participation for the period up to 2005.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Data on participation for theperiod 2003 to 2005 is at present subject to analysis by sportscotland. Thefinal figures will be released and published on <ahref="http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/">www.sportscotland.org.uk</a> once the finalanalysis has be…

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what average annual budget that was allocated to individual Active Schools co-ordinators in each of the last three years and what proportion of this funding was provided by (a) sportscotland and (b) local authorities.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Information on the totalActive Schools Co-ordinators annual budgets is not held centrally.Funding allocations from Sportscotlandto Active Schools Co-ordinators for annual budgets are made via the ActiveSchools Manager in each local authority are…

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much investment there has been in the Active Schools project in each local authority area in each of the last three years.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Sportscotland provides funding directly to localauthorities for the delivery of the Active Schools Programme. The following tabledetails the allocation of funding for Active Schools to each local authority areain Scotland over the last three financial …

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Active Schools co-ordinators are employed in each local authority area.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson:  <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=116 valign=top> Local Authority </td> <td valign=top> No. of Managers </td> <td valign=top> No. of ASCs Prim…

31 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of each of the projects that have been supported under the National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy; how much exchequer funding is being provided for each project; how the remaining funding will be provided; what the timescale is for the completion …

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Executive and sportscotlandwill be contributing £49.5million (£28.8million Exchequer and nearly £21millionfrom the Lottery Sports Fund) to the ten projects approved at Stage One of the National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy. As stated in …

30 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how sportscotland has supported and developed sport in 2005-06; which projects were recipients of such support at grassroots level, and how much each project received.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Sportscotland has supported and developed sport in 2005-06in line with its corporate plan which takes forward Scottish ministers policiesand priorities for sport in Scotland. Details on projects supported at grass rootslevel are not held centrally and …

30 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15179 by Patricia Ferguson on 22 March 2005, how much funding each project has received and what the timetable is for completion of each project.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The allocation to each projectwill be confirmed on approval of the related Stage Two application. Following continuedwork with lead councils and their partners to help finalise the development of theirrespective projects, the Executive and sportscotlan…

25 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the cost of purchasing a rod licence to fish in the River Esk.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Environment Agency website,<a href="http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/">http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk</a>,lists the cost of purchasing a rod licence for all rivers that they haveresponsibility for as follows;<table border=1 cellspacing=0 ce…

25 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to introduce consistency into the management of rivers bounding Scotland and England.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Each river catchment requiresdifferences in management to reflect local circumstances; the border rivers areno different in that respect. The legislative basis for the management of the borderrivers has been consistently applied since 1865.

25 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Environment Agency in respect of any plans to undertake an independent assessment of alternatives to the rod licence as a means of funding the management of rivers.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: There have been no discussionsbetween the Scottish Executive and the Environment Agency regarding the fundingof riverine management.

18 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people aged 17 to 24 took part in sport at least twice a week in each of the last three years and how this was measured.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The rolling average for the period2002-04 shows that 43% of people aged 17 to 24 took part in sport more than twicea week. These figures pre-date the introduction of Active Schools and itmust be recognised that it will take time for the programme to impact on…

18 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people aged 45 to 64 took part in sport at least twice a week in each of the last three years and how this was measured.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The rolling average for the period2002-04 shows that 43% of people aged 45 to 64 took part in sport at least oncea week which meets the Sport 21 target.The method of measurement isthe same as that set out in response to question S2W-14291 on 17 March 2…

18 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14285 by Patricia Ferguson on 17 March 2005, what percentage of children aged 13 to 17 now take part in sport outside the school curriculum and how this figure is measured.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The rolling average for the period2002-04 shows that 70% of children aged 13 to 17 took part in sport outside theschool curriculum. Participation levels for children aged 13 to 17 for the period2003 to 2005 are expected to be available during summer 2006.…

11 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many physical education teacher training places have been secured with teacher training institutions for 2006-07.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Universities which offerthe one year Professional Graduate Diploma in Physical Education have set a combinedtarget of 77 places in 2006-07.The four year Bachelor of Educationdegree course in physical education continues to have a target intake allo…

11 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Sport 21 review group will publish its recommendations.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I expect to receive the Sport21 Steering Group’s report over the summer and to be able to publish a report inthe autumn.

5 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it cancelled an announcement on the relocation of sportscotland planned for 3 May 2006 and, if so, what the reason was for the cancellation.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: This was a provisional arrangement.I would draw the members attention to the answer to question S2W-26015 on 18 May 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</…

5 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it cancelled a meeting with sportscotland planned for 2 May 2006 and, if so, what the reason was for the cancellation.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: A provisional date for a meetinghad been identified, however, the meeting was postponed because it no longer neededto be held on that date.

5 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action it is taking to help Scottish businesses to bid for contracts relating to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive hasset up an Economic Development Sub-Group of the Scottish Steering Group for London 2012 whose remit is to maximise the economic benefits to Scotland of The London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.The sub-group is curren…

5 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of Scottish-based companies that have made bids for contracts relating to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive does nothold this information.

5 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to undertake an independent economic assessment of the impact of the London 2012 Olympic Games on Scotland.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-21644 on 12 January 2006. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

5 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish companies have secured contracts relating to the London 2012 Olympic Games and what the nature and financial size are of any such contracts.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive is notaware of any Scottish companies who have, as yet, secured contracts in the postbid phase of the Olympic preparations.

5 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what independent economic assessment has been made of the impact of the London 2012 Olympic Games on Scotland.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: A report from Price WaterhouseCooper, commissioned by the UK Government, has shown the effects of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games on the rest of the UK but did not take into account theeffects of the Nations and Regions Group and the Scotti…

27 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions police search and rescue teams have been assisted by military air search and rescue services in each of the last five years.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not heldcentrally.

27 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions police and civilian mountain rescue teams have been assisted by military air search and rescue services in each of the last five years.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not heldcentrally.