Parliamentary questions
Bill Butler
673 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions Co-operative Development Scotland has had with co-operative businesses regarding their participation in the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2012.
Answer · Jim Mather: Planned discussions will be taken forward by Co-operative Development Scotland, from spring 2011, including consulting with co-operative businesses, on the participation in the UN International Year of Co-operatives 2012.</b></p>
28 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage co-operative business participation in the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2012.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39059 on 7 February 2011. 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/Apps…
23 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provided to the Energy Saving Trust in 2010-11.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has allocated a total of £28.1 million to the Energy Saving Trust for financial year 2010-11. Actual spend may differ from this due to in-year variances.</p> <p >This funding covered services delivered on behalf of the Transport, Hous…
23 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding to the Energy Saving Trust in 2011-12.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government will provide funding to the Energy Saving Trust in 2011-12 to support the delivery of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan. Budgets have yet to be confirmed.</p>
9 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-39060 by Fergus Ewing on 8 February 2011, how much of the funding detailed in the table was provided via the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund, broken down by (a) organisation and (b) year of award.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The funding to the Youth Community Support Agency was provided through the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream 2008-11. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-39060 on 8 February 2011 which already provides a breakdown by financial…
26 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37988 by Alex Neil on 13 December 2010, what payments have been made from the Achieving our Potential budget since it was introduced, broken down by (a) award, (b) receiving organisation and (c) payment date
Answer · Alex Neil: The following payments have been allocated from the Achieving our Potential programme budget since the answer to S3W-37988:</b></p> <p >£28,000 to Glasgow Works in January 2011 to embed financial inclusion into employability practice.</p> <p >£10,200 to APS…
26 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many anti-sectarianism projects it has funded from the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund since 2008, broken down by (a) project and (b) amount
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government funds a wide range of organisations to deliver projects to tackle sectarianism and all forms of religious intolerance. These include work focusing on schools, communities, the workplace, football supporters and adult offenders:</p> <t…
26 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S3O-11582 by John Swinney on 7 October 2010 (Official Report, c. 29467), what progress has been made regarding its participation in the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2012.
Answer · Jim Mather: As stated in my previous answer, the Scottish Government would look to Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS) to structure any participation in the UN International Year of Co-operatives 2012. I am advised that CDS aim to start the planning process in spring…
26 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role Skills Development Scotland will play in the future training of jockeys
Answer · Angela Constance: As in my answers to questions S3W-39056 and S3W-39057 on 7 February 2011, I have asked officials to speak to the relevant Sector Skills Councils to ensure that they are meeting the demands of Scottish employers in this sector. I will ensure that Skills Develo…
26 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with training providers regarding the future training of jockeys
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with training providers and their representative bodies regarding future provision of training. No training provider has approached the Scottish Government seeking to discuss the future training of jockeys.</p> …
26 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is in place for the training of jockeys
Answer · Angela Constance: Until recently this training was funded by the Learning and Skills Council. I have recently been made aware that as a result of the transfer of responsibilities from the Learning and Skills Council to the Skills Funding agency in England, only individuals fro…
25 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-36115 and S3W-37229 by John Swinney on 21 September and 18 November 2010, when it expects to provide the information requested.
Answer · John Swinney: I shall reply shortly. A copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51647).</p>
25 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33340 by Kenny MacAskill on 22 April 2010, how many individuals were successfully prosecuted under section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 in 2009-10, broken down by procurator fiscal area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The latest available information is given in the following table.</b></p> <p >Persons with a Charge Proved for an Offence where a Religious Aggravator was Recorded by Approximate Procurator Fiscal Area<sup>1</sup>, 2009-10</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0…
12 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it can do to support the Scottish Fair Trade Forum in its Countdown Campaign and whether it will encourage local authorities who have not made a commitment to fair trade to do so.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Fair Trade Forum (SFTF) receives core funding from the Scottish Government to drive forward this Government''s commitment to become one of the world''s first fair trade nations.</b></p> <p >My officials work closely with the SFTF and Scottish Go…
12 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote Fairtrade Fortnight 2011 to public bodies.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Fair Trade Forum (SFTF) receives core funding from the Scottish Government to drive forward this government''s commitment to become one of the world''s first Fair Trade Nations.</p> <p >During previous Fairtrade Fortnights, I and other ministeri…
12 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to support smallholder producers in Malawi through its procurement policies and international development funding.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Under the Sustainable Economic Development strand of the Scotland Malawi Co-operation Agreement, the Scottish Government has provided funding to a number of organisations to support smallholder producers in Malawi. Details of these projects can be found on th…
12 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has issued to local authorities and other public bodies in relation to fair trade in procurement.
Answer · John Swinney: Guidance on fair trade and procurement was issued by the Scottish Government to local authorities and the wider public sector in October 2009 as part of the Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan. The advice explains the scope for encouraging and suppor…
12 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many GP practices used premium rate telephone numbers as of 1 November 2010, broken down by NHS board area.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As of 1 November 2010, 40 GP practices were using premium rate telephone numbers. This represents around 4% of the total GP practices in Scotland. The geographic breakdown across health board area is detailed in the following table. </p> <table border=1 cel…
12 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37987 by Jim Mather on 22 December 2010, when it expects the chief executive of Scottish Enterprise to provide the information requested.
Answer · Jim Mather: I understand that the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise wrote to the member on the 17 January 2011 in response to the question on the provision of private medical care to Scottish Enterprise staff.</b></p>
6 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to respond to the report that it commissioned on future museum strategy.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The report by the Museums Think Tank and my response were published on 12 December 2010.</p> <p >The report and my response are available on the Scottish Government website at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/12/06145220/0">ht…
6 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the report that it commissioned on future museum strategy.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38099 on 14 December 2010. 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/App…
6 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many physical education specialist instructors have qualified in Scotland in each year since 1999.
Answer · Michael Russell: Table 1 shows the number of higher education qualifiers who gained a teaching qualification in physical education since the 1999-2000 academic year.</p> <p >Table 1. Higher Education Qualifiers Gaining Teaching Qualifications in Physical Education: 1999-2000…
1 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37117 by Alex Neil, on 8 November 2010, when the decision will be taken to commit the remainder of its Achieving our Potential budget for 2010-11.
Answer · Alex Neil: It is intended that decisions to commit the remainder of the Achieving our Potential budget will be made by the end of December 2010, with allocations being made very shortly thereafter.</p>
1 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5068 by Jim Mather on 1 November 2007 and discussions with Scottish Enterprise, whether Scottish Enterprise continues to use public money to provide private medical care to staff.
Answer · Jim Mather: The provision of benefits to staff is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.</p> <p >I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to write to the member on this matter.</p>
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36953 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 November 2010, how much it will receive in Barnett consequentials resulting from the £200 million per year cancer drug fund.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As I stated in my response to question S3W-36953 the Scottish Government will receive consequentials on the full NHS (Health) settlement in England, and these consequentials will be passed on in Scotland. These consequentials are allocated to the Scottish Gov…
25 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36953 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 November 2010, whether it will commit to using the Barnett consequential funding resulting from the £200 million per year cancer drug fund for cancer drugs.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The consequentials on the full NHS (health) settlement in England are allocated to the Scottish Government on a total budget basis with no specific policies ring-fenced. The Scottish Government will give due consideration to the Department of Health cancer dr…
22 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it did not place information regarding its decision to suspend its right to exercise the Scottish variable rate on its website.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. 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/Apps…
22 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whom it consulted prior to its decision to suspend its right to exercise the Scottish variable rate.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. No suspension of the power to vary the SVR has taken place. The power remains in statute.</p> <p >All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s we…
22 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its decision to cease payments to HM Revenue and Customs to maintain the database required to implement the Scottish variable rate was discussed at Cabinet and, if so, on what dates.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. All decisions on this question were mine.</p> <p >All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be foun…
22 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it sought the advice of the Council of Economic Advisors prior to suspending its right to exercise the Scottish variable rate and, if so, whether it will publish this advice.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. There was no need to seek advice from the Council of Economic Advisors on this issue.</p> <p >All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s websit…