Parliamentary questions

Peter Peacock

1,395 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers it expects Highland Council to employ to meet class size reduction pledges.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We have signed an historic concordat with local government under which year on year progress will be made in reducing primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 18. The rate and scale of progress will vary between local authorities and it is for individua…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how Highland Council’s plans to reduce teacher numbers fit with the Executive’s commitment to reduce class sizes.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We have signed an historic concordat that commits local government to make year on year progress on reducing primary 1 to primary 3 classes to a maximum of 18 as quickly as possible by using the headroom created by broadly maintaining teacher numbers. The num…

25 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Futures Trust will have at its disposal for investment in schools.

Answer · Maureen Watt: A consultation on the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) was launched by the Government at the end of last year and this can be accessed at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations">www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations</a>. Once the consultation period ends, …

25 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Highland Council will be able to apply to the Scottish Futures Trust for funds to build or refurbish schools in its area.

Answer · Maureen Watt: A consultation on the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) was launched by the government at the end of last year and this can be accessed at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consulatations">www.scotland.gov.uk/consulatations</a>. Once the consultation period ends…

25 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to announce a further round of PPP funding for schools for which Highland Council can bid to improve or replace schools in its ownership, such as Wick High School.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The concordat signed with COSLA on 14 November 2007 sets out the principles of, and the new arrangements for, Scottish Government financial support for local authority expenditure. Allocations of the resources being made available over the next three years ar…

25 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much capital funding for schools it has allocated to Highland Council for each of the next three years.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Under the terms of the concordat signed with COSLA on 14 November 2007, almost £3 billion of capital resources will be available to authorities over three years to secure investment in schools and other infrastructure, for deployment according to authorities'…

22 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what working definition of dyslexia HM Inspectorate of Education currently uses.

Answer · Adam Ingram: In inspections, HMIE evaluates the quality of meeting learning needs and the school's approaches to achieving successful outcomes for all children. This includes additional support needs arising from any form of language or communication difficulties. There i…

22 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures HM Inspectorate of Education takes to assess whether schools make adequate provision to support young people with dyslexia.

Answer · Adam Ingram: HM Inspectorate of Education, as part of its general inspection programme, reviews and publishes reports on the effectiveness of educational provision for children with additional support needs, including those with dyslexia. Additionally, HM Inspect…

22 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts that there is a condition known as dyslexia and what impact it may have on the learning of young people.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government accepts that dyslexia is a learning difficulty and that its impact on learning can vary from mild to severe, depending on the circumstances of each particular individual.

13 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which British Legion clubs receive discretionary rates relief and what that level of relief is.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on which British Legion clubs receive discretionary relief and the level of relief received is not held centrally. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9854 on 26 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions …

13 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many British Legion clubs receive discretionary rates relief.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on the number of British Legion clubs (or any other organisation receiving discretionary relief) is not held centrally. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9854 on 26 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary quest…

13 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether British Legion clubs can attract discretionary rates relief from local authorities.

Answer · John Swinney: It is a matter for each local authority in Scotland to determine whether a business property, such as a British Legion club, is eligible for discretionary rates relief. The relevant provisions are contained in the Local Government (Financial Provisions) (Scot…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8413 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 January 2008, whether as part of the extensive dialogue with CalMac Ferries Ltd and its advisers during the tender process they were explicitly told that any part of their proposals was non-compliant.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Prior to submitting their tender bid CalMac Ferries Ltd submitted a formal tender query to establish if they could submit an Optional Variant Bid that did not comply with the tender specification. CalMac Ferries Ltd recognised at that time that this option wa…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8420 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 January 2008, what the report on the search for suitable vessels that is now with Scottish ministers revealed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The report concluded that there were no suitable vessels available to deliver a direct Mallaig to Lochboisdale service but that there might be some scope for redeploying existing services. CalMac are currently investigating whether this might be possible.

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8423 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 January 2008, whether the spending review and budget for the coming period has given him sufficient resources to fund the service described as the “optional variant bid” in the next financial year and subsequent two ye…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I can confirm that there is scope in the budget to fund such a service provided it is acceptable to all the communities concerned. <p cla

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8414 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 January 2008, whether he will invite or direct CalMac Ferries Ltd or another appropriate organisation to conduct the consultation of users referred to without delay.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9534 on 5 March 2008. 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/webapp/wa…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8421 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 January 2008, what maximum number of months per year could potentially be covered by existing vessels to deliver “summer services” and whether he is considering such an option.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Following my meeting with representatives from South Uist, I asked them to work with CalMac Ferries Ltd and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to investigate options that are affordable and that are acceptable to all the communities concerned. CalMac Ferries Limited a…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any economic development proposal equivalent in scale of investment, job creation potential and community income to the Lewis windfarm proposal currently being considered by ministers.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Lewis Windpower proposal is currently being considered by ministers. The identification of alternative solutions is an issue to be considered under the terms of European nature conservation legislation. It would be inappropriate to comment on the specific…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the greatest areas of economic potential are for the Western Isles economy at the present time.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Western Isles Community Planning Partners' Creating Communities of the Future strategy identifies a number of areas of potential economic growth and opportunities for diversification including tourism, renewable energy, landscape, history, hospitality and…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers that the rate of economic growth in the Western Isles will be over the next four years and what the principal contributors will be to any such growth.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not produce forecasts of economic growth for specific areas of Scotland but has set a target for the Scottish economy to match the growth rate of the UK economy by 2011. The Government Economic Strategy sets out our core purpose: …

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the key economic challenges for the Western Isles at the present time.

Answer · Jim Mather: The challenge for the Western Isles, as it is for Scotland as a whole, is to build on its strengths and opportunities to increase sustainable economic growth. The Government Economic Strategy sets out an approach to growth which is shared and sustai…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the strengths of the economy of the Western Isles at the present time.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Western Isles benefit from low unemployment, low crime rates, higher than average school educational attainment rates, unique scenery and habitats, an outstanding marine environment, modern telecommunications and a strong sense of community. These strengt…

30 Jan 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Highland Council and what issues were discussed.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Governmentministers and officials have met representatives of Highland Council on a numberof occasions and discussed a number of issues of mutual interest.