Parliamentary questions
Michael Matheson
1,154 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11099 by Patricia Ferguson on 1 November 2004, how many local authority playing fields have been in use since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
1 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13224 by Ms Margaret Curran on 31 January 2005, whether it will publish all correspondence between the office of the First Minister and the BBC in relation to Wark Clements' production, "The Gathering Place."
Answer · Margaret Curran: Following a search of ourfiles, we have found a letter dated 24 October 2003from John McCormick, BBC Scotland Controller, to the First Minister.I have placed a copy in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 35515). Theletter covered a copy of Mr McCor…
28 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been earmarked to promote Scotland as a venue for (a) television and (b) radio commercial production.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: We are committed to developing Scotland as a production centre for film, TV and new media and as a location for film-making; to encouraging and promoting wider creative industries, and to supporting the promotion of Scottish films and TV programmes overseas.<…
28 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is for promoting Scotland at a UK and international level as a venue for interactive screen programming.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: We are committed to developing Scotland as a production centre for film, TV and new media and as a location for film-making; to encouraging and promoting wider creative industries, and to supporting the promotion of Scottish films and TV programmes overseas.<…
28 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met BBC Scotland to discuss what action is being taken to promote a greater uptake of BBC Radio Scotland's programmes and to ensure the sustainability of jobs within the station.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matter. Action to increase the popularity of BBC Radio Scotland’s programmes is a matter for the BBC itself.</p>
28 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has to promote the Scottish games animation industry internationally.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise's Digital Media and Creative Industries Team are actively promoting the games animation industry internationally as part of their overall work for the creative industries sector in Scotland. Support t…
28 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage and promote the animation industry.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive, through Scottish Screen, is very supportive of the animation industry in Scotland. Scottish Screen works closely with Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design and Edinburgh College of Art, in particular, to promote and encourage…
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met representatives of BBC Scotland to discuss the recent outcome of the BBC review and its impact on BBC Scotland.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Although broadcasting is a reserved matter, we engage regularly with BBC Scotland to discuss a variety of broadcasting issues. My officials last met with Senior Managers at BBC Scotland on 21 January 2005.</p>
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is for television production in all areas of Scotland.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: We are committed to developing Scotland as a production centre for film, TV and new media and as a location for film-making; to encouraging and promoting wider creative industries, and to supporting the promotion of Scottish films and TV programmes overseas.<…
18 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the study carried out in line with the National Cultural Strategy and funded by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland into the feasibility of an institute for the languages of Scotland.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The proposal for an Institute for the Languages of Scotland was made by a group of Scottish language interest groups and universities on the basis of an opinion survey. The proposal is uncosted and assessing its feasibility and value for money would require s…
18 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, and intends to take, to implement the obligations on it arising from the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in relation to (a) Gaelic and (b) Scots.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The UK government has signed up for Part II (general principles) of the charter with regard to Scots and Gaelic and Part III which seeks to translate the general principles into specific undertakings, for Gaelic. The Scottish Executive is committed to policie…
18 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in relation to the Edinburgh International Festival in response to the announcement of a new international festival to commence in Manchester in 2007.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Executive, in partnership with the Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian, EventScotland, the City of Edinburgh Council and the Association of Edinburgh’s Festivals, had already agreed to commission a study to consider the future…
13 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7679 by Hugh Henry on 6 May 2004, what the most recent figures are for the number of advisory visits made by the fire service to registered care homes and, of these, how many were reported to the Care Commission by the fire service as being unsatisfa…
Answer · Hugh Henry: The eight Scottish Fire Brigades have confirmed that they have completed visits to all eligible registered care home premises as set out in the table.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Brigade</p> </td> <td> <p a…
6 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish all correspondence between the office of the First Minister and Wark Clements.
Answer · Margaret Curran: There are no records of any correspondence between the office of the First Minister and Wark Clements.</p>
2 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been made to the Department for Trade and Industry regarding the current review of the newspaper and magazine supply chain in the United Kingdom and whether it will publish details of any such representations.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including the current review of the newspaper and magazine supply chain. Representations between the Scottish Executive and the UK Government are conducted on a conf…
1 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to deliver its policy priority of "promoting the widest possible participation in cultural life, bringing real benefits to confidence, self esteem and diversity of communities and individuals; and celebrating and promoting Scottish art and culture at home and abroad"…
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Building on the First Minister’s speech on St Andrew’s Day 2003, the Executive is committed to providing access to cultural excellence in pursuit of its wider objective to build a better Scotland. We have therefore set ourselves targets, within the <i>Buildin…
30 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will deliver its policy priority of "protecting and developing our cultural heritage and promoting a high quality built environment" and what the timescale is for achieving this policy.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: From April 2005, Architecture and Design Scotland will become the nation’s champion for good architecture and design in the built environment, taking over and expanding the present activities of the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland. The aim of Architect…
30 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will deliver its policy priority of "fostering an environment in which creativity and the creative industries can flourish" and what its timetable is for achieving this policy.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: A wide range of strategic policies are being deployed to this end across the Executive and its cultural and enterprise agencies. In addition, the Cultural Commission has creativity as a central concern and will make its recommendations to Scottish ministers i…
30 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations are in place for the mandatory installation of thermostatic mixing valves; which types of buildings must comply with such regulations; when such regulations come into force, and how many properties have had to comply with such regulations since their introduction.
Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency, to answer. His response is as follows:</p><p>There are no regulations, at present, which cover the mandatory installation of thermostatic mixing valves.</p>
25 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it received from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the still life “Le Paté de Jambon”, prior to the publication of the spoliation advisory panel’s recently published report.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The department sent the Executive an advance copy of the panel’s report and conveyed the views which have now been published on its website (<a href="http://www.culture.gov.uk/">http://www.culture.gov.uk</a> Press Notice 155/04 of 24 November 2004).</p>
25 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from the City of Edinburgh Council or the Festival Theatre Trust in respect of the future of the Kings Theatre, Edinburgh, and, if so, how it responded.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Festival City Theatre’s Trust has both met and corresponded with the Executive at ministerial and official level in connection with the King’s Theatre. While the Executive recognises the important part that the King’s Theatre plays in the cultural life of…
22 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Cultural Commission has spent on public relations and marketing.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-12465, answered on 7 December 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parl…
22 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Cultural Commission has spent on research.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-12465, answered on 7 December 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parl…
22 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Cultural Commission has spent on travel costs.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-12465, answered on 7 December 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parl…
22 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Cultural Commission has spent on consultancy costs.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-12465, answered on 7 December 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parl…
22 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Cultural Commission has spent on staff costs.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: This is an operational matter for the commission. However, the Scottish Executive has published the Cultural Commission’s Work Plan, which contains details of the commission’s budget, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. nu…
22 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any job vacancies or consultancies at the Cultural Commission were not advertised.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-12017, answered on 19 November 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scott…
22 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how job vacancies and consultancies at the Cultural Commission were advertised.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-12017, answered on 19 November 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scott…
22 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultants are employed by the Cultural Commission.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-12457, answered on 7 December 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parl…
22 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed by the Cultural Commission.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-12017, answered on 19 November 2004. All answers to written are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…