Parliamentary questions
Stewart Stevenson
2,358 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum number is of (a) forenames, (b) characters in all forenames combined, (c) characters in surnames, (d) characters in forenames and surnames combined that computer systems can record when births are registered.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The answers are as follows:</p><p>(a) no maximum; </p><p>(b) 200 characters, including spaces;</p><p>(c) 50 characters, including spaces, and</p><p>(d) 250 characters.</p>
17 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage share of (a) male and (b) female births were children registered with (i) a single forename, (ii) two forenames, (iii) three forenames, (iv) four forenames, (v) more than four forenames and (vi) no forename in each of the last five years.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The information requested is presented in the table:</p><p>Male births registered 2000-04</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td rowspan=2> <p align=center> </p> </td> <td colspan=6> <p align=center>Number of Forenames</p>…
17 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) male and (b) female births there were in each of the last five years.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The information requested is presented in the table:</p><p>Number of Births Registered 2000-04</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p> </p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Males</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Females<…
17 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the definition of "computer system" in the European Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA of 22 December 2003 on combating the sexual exploitation of children and child pornography (Official Journal L 013/45) is more restrictive or less restrictive than its own internal d…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive does not have a single, specific definition of “computer system”. The current legislation which deals with indecent pictures of children is section 52 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. This covers pictures “produced by comput…
17 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what definition of "computer system" is used in the drafting of its legislation.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive does not use a single, specific definition of “computersystem” in the drafting of legislation. Where the term “computer” is used, the definition will normally depend on the context and the circumstances.</p>
14 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter of 18 November 2004 regarding the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003.
13 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) resource budgets, (b) staffing levels and (c) administration costs of each of its departments (i) were in each year since 2000 and (ii) will be in each year to 2007.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The resource budgets are set out in the <i>Consolidated Resource Accounts</i> for each of the years 2000-01 to 2003-04 and are available on the Scottish Executive website. The resource budgets for departments in 2004-05 are set out in the <i>2004-05 Autumn Bu…
13 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of claims was made in cash terms in respect of deficient road maintenance on trunk roads in each year since 1999.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The level of claims made in cash terms in each year from 1999 is as follows: </p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Financial Year</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Level of Claims</p> <p align=center>(£0…
13 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children left school with no qualifications in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-9895 on 3 September 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.parliament.uk/webapp…
13 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of pupils did not attain Level A within the 5-14 attainment targets by the end of primary 4 for (a) reading, (b) writing and (c) mathematics in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Due to the volume of information requested, a table showing the percentage of pupils not attaining level A for reading/writing/mathematics by end of P4, by authority: 1998-99 to 2003-04 has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34956).…
13 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of pupils did not attain Level D within the 5-14 attainment targets by the end of primary 6 for (a) reading, (b) writing and (c) mathematics in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Due to the volume of information requested, a table showing the percentage of pupils not attaining level D for reading/writing/mathematics by end of P6, by authority: 1998-99 to 2003-04 has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34955).…
13 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of pupils did not attain Level B within the 5-14 attainment targets by the end of S2 for (a) reading, (b) writing and (c) mathematics in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Due to the volume of information requested, a table showing the percentage of pupils not attaining level B for reading/writing/mathematics by end of S2, by authority: 1998-99 to 2003-04 has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34954)<…
13 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of pupils did not attain Level C within the 5-14 attainment targets by the end of primary 7 for (a) reading, (b) writing and (c) mathematics in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Due to the volume of information requested, a table showing the percentage of pupils not attaining level C for reading/writing/mathematics by end of P7, by authority: 1998-99 to 2003-04 has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34953).…
13 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policy development it is undertaking relevant to the housing of older people.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive and Communities Scotland aims to deliver good quality, sustainable and affordable housing and housing support across various tenures to all client groups, including older people. </p><p>While there are various initiatives, grant-funded …
12 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7885 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 May 2004, what percentage of full-time students held a part-time job while attending university in each year since 1999, broken down by higher education institution.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The percentage of full-time students with a part-time job while attending university in each year since 1999, broken down by specific higher education institution is not available.</p><p>However, the table below gives the proportion of full-time students at u…
12 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7885 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 May 2004, what the average wage earned by full-time students holding a part-time job while attending university has been in each year since 1999.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The table below gives the median basic hourly rate for full-time students at university or college who were in part-time employment for the spring quarter in years 1999 to 2004. The spring quarter runs from March to May in each year. These figures are estimat…
12 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7885 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 May 2004, what the average number of hours worked by full-time students holding a part-time job while attending university has been in each year since 1999.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The table below gives the average number of hours worked in a week by full-time students at university or college who were in part-time employment for the spring quarter in years 1999 to 2004. The spring quarter runs from March to May in each year. These figu…
12 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7885 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 May 2004, what percentage of full-time students held a part-time job during the university academic year from May 2003 to March 2004.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The percentage of full-time students holding a part-time job during the period May 2003 to March 2004 is not available. However, the proportion of full-time students at university or college who were in part-time employment for the spring quarter in 2004 is 3…
12 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it has made either directly, via the Department of Trade and Industry consultation, UK Government Consultation on ICANN and the Management of the Internet Domain Name System, or otherwise, to the consultation on the future management of the internet, as subsequently publ…
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has made no contribution either directly or via the UK Government to the ICANN Strategy Plan of 16 November 2004. This is a matter for industry rather than Government.</p>
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to comment directly, or via the Department of Trade and Industry, on plans for the future management of the internet as set out in the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Strategic Plan released on 16 November 2004.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has no plans to comment directly, or via the Department of Trade and Industry, on the ICANN Strategy Plan of 16 November 2004. This is a matter for industry rather than Government.</p>
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who the First Minister has entertained with (a) refreshments and (b) dinner in (i) Bute House and (ii) Edinburgh Castle in (1) 2003-04 and (2) 2004-05; what the total cost was of such events, and what the budget is for these purposes for 2004-05 and 2005-06.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The following tables set out the details of the events hosted by the First Minister at Bute House and Edinburgh Castle in 2003-04 and 2004 to date. The tables also include the cost of each event and the total cost for both years at each venue.</p><p>The budge…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the First Minister's official engagements were in the last year; who was present at each engagement; what the (a) date and (b) location was of each engagement, and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The table (Bib. number 35350) which has been made available in Parliament Reference Centre sets out the First Minister’s official public engagements for 2004. It includes, where readily available, information about people present at each engagement. Informati…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since 1999 departmental special advisers have travelled (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad in an official capacity; what places were visited, and how much each visit cost.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Since 1999 Scottish Executive special advisers have made over 715 journeys within the UK and 52 journeys abroad in an official capacity. The information requested about each visit is provided in the table which has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Ce…
7 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many citizens it expects will require residential care in Scotland in 2014-15.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The <i>First Report for the Range and Capacity Review: Projections of Community Care Service Users, Workforce and Costs</i>, published by The Executive in 2004 provides various projections of the number of people likely to require residential care in the futu…
7 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many bus passenger journeys it expects will be undertaken in Scotland in 2014-15.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive’s target is to increase local bus journeys by an average of 1% per year. Increases of that order would result in around 500 million bus passenger journeys being made on local bus services in Scotland by 2014-15.</p>
7 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many bus passenger journeys were undertaken in Scotland in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: There were 449 million bus passenger journeys made on local bus services in Scotland in 2003-04.</p><p>The equivalent figures for earlier years appear in Table 2.2 of <i>Scottish Transport Statistics no. 23, 2004 edition</i>, copies of which are available in …
7 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many operational passenger railway stations there are at present in Scotland and how many it expects there to be in 2014-15.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: There are currently 340 operational passenger railway stations in Scotland.</p> <p>The Scottish Executive does not at present hold comprehensive information on all proposals for new stations as these are often developed and promoted, in the first instance, by…
7 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) private vehicles, (b) commercial vehicles and (c) other powered vehicles it expects to be registered in 2014-15.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: No forecasts regarding registration of vehicles have been made for 2014-15.</p>
7 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many road miles it expects to be covered in 2014-15 by (a) private vehicles, (b) commercial vehicles and (c) other powered vehicles.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: No specific forecasts have been made for 2014-15.</p>
7 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many road miles were covered in each of the last five years for which figures are available by (a) private vehicles, (b) commercial vehicles and (c) other powered vehicles.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Estimates of the total volume of traffic on the roads of Scotland, and of other parts of Great Britain, are prepared by the Department for Transport. The latest year for which these estimates have been produced is 2003. Table 6.3 of <i>Scottish Transport Stat…