Parliamentary questions
Nicol Stephen
130 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has prepared draft legislation to replace the current system of student loans with grants.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am currentlyworking with officials to take forward proposals for replacing student loanswith means tested grants for Scottish domiciled students. This work includesexamining the necessary relevant legislative implications and the need for anynew powers. I w…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce a Bill to abolish tuition fees by removing the graduate endowment.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I intend to introduce legislationto abolish the graduate endowment fee in the autumn of this year. A consultationon the proposed bill was launched on 13 July 2007 and is due to close on 7 September2007.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have identified which schools can move to class sizes of 18 from 2008.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We have provided localauthorities with sufficient funding to employ approximately 300 additionalteachers from this autumn and have authorised increases of at least 300 ininitial teacher education in the coming session which will start to have animmediate impa…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has begun consultation on a patients’ rights Bill.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is committedto ensure that it builds a health service that is genuinely focused on the needsof patients. The government’s new action plan for 2008-09 and beyond, which willbe developed through widespread public and clinical consultatio…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward legislation to phase out prescription charges.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We remain committed to our pledgeto abolish NHS prescription charges and plan to inform Parliament shortly on howwe intend to deliver that commitment.</p>
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has begun consultation on new powers for reformed community councils.
Answer · John Swinney: We have begun consultingstakeholders, through the Community Council Working Group, on developing the roleof community councils. This will including identifying pilots for supporting communitycouncils to play a greater role in Community Planning and also for a…
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward proposals for a local healthcare Bill.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is my intention to begin awide ranging consultation on proposals for a local Healthcare Bill during theautumn and to engage with all those interested to help shape our final proposals.The consultation will seek views on how best to secure our objective of …
26 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward proposals for new management and monitoring arrangements for government and agencies based on the model in Virginia.
Answer · John Swinney: We are currently consideringthe appropriate performance management arrangements that should be implemented oncewe have reached final decisions on the Strategic Spending Review. Our thinking isbeing informed by the approach taken in Virginia and I recently hel…
18 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Government will access the funds held by Ofgem in the Fossil Fuel Levy account.
Answer · John Swinney: The total estimated unitarycharges for all existing PPP projects over their contractual life is £22.3billion. This covers 102 PPP projects and spans the years 1999-2000 to 2040-41,a period of 42 years.</p>
24 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There were 504 farmers andcrofters who entered into an agreement under the 2006 Rural Stewardship scheme.A total of 1,842 applications were not offered funding. The cost of fundingthese applications would have been £49.8 million.</p><p>Agri-environment fundin…