Parliamentary questions

Bill Butler

673 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

8 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16345 by Fergus Ewing on 16 October 2008, what progress it has made in developing a programme of rehabilitation for offenders convicted under section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We provided YouthLink Scotland with £22,000 to develop an anti-sectarian resource pack for youth workers. The resource was piloted in Polmont Young Offenders Institution (YOI) and is now used for tackling sectarian attitudes among young offenders. I acknowled…

8 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16345 by Fergus Ewing on 16 October 2008, whether it has reached a decision on producing detailed annual reports on crime aggravated by religious prejudice.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Crown Office and Procurator Service publishes annual statistics to provide a snap-shot of charges which were aggravated by religiously motivated prejudice on its website. This information can be viewed at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.copfs.gov.uk/About/D…

8 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been paid by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland in legal fees in cases involving rectification of mapping errors in the last five years, also broken down by year.

Answer · John Swinney: The following table sets out the legal fees paid out each year in connection with mapping rectifications, for the last five years. </p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=72 valign=top > <p align=center >Year</p…

8 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18009 by Fergus Ewing on 5 December 2008, how many of the 33 projects awarded funding from the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund have developed projects specifically aimed at tackling sectarianism since the award was made, broken down by or…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are supporting a range of activities to tackle intra-Christian sectarianism including providing funding Sense Over Sectarianism with £412,500 over the 2008-11 period to deliver community-based anti-sectarian projects in the Glasgow and travel to work area,…

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications it received to its Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund during 2008.

Answer · Alex Neil: One hundred and thirty-six applications were received. A full list of projects funded was provided in the answer to question S3W-15060 on 6 August 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search faci…

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will provide to support anti-sectarianism projects in schools during the 2009-10 academic year.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is investing record levels of funding in local government, £23 billion for the period 2008-10, to enable education authorities to respond appropriately to their own local needs and priorities. This includes anti-sectarianism initiative…

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16056 by Maureen Watt on 16 September 2008, what progress has been made in evaluating and sharing good practice resulting from the 69 anti-sectarianism projects rolled out in schools since 2006.

Answer · Keith Brown: Project evaluations have indicated success in raising awareness of sectarianism at a local level. Good practice examples have been shared through the anti-sectarian website <i >Don''t Give It, Don''t Take It</i> at <a href="http://ltscotland.org.uk/antisectar…

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Scottish Centre for Financial Education Advisory Group has had with credit unions since 1 January 2008.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Centre for Financial Education (SCFE) has supported a number of financial inclusion initiatives supported by credit unions in Glasgow since 2006. These have included working with:</p> <p >Pollok Credit Union</p> <p >Greater Easterhouse Money Ad…

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many ambulance car drivers were employed by the Scottish Ambulance Service as of 1 April 2009, broken down by division.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20573, on 27 February 2009. 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/Ap…

29 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what projects to assist and support asylum seekers it has funded outside the Glasgow City Council area in 2008-09, broken down by individual award and local authority area.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government did not fund any specific projects to assist and support asylum seekers outside the Glasgow City Council area in 2008-09.</p>

29 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be inviting new applications for support from its Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund in 2009-10.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream covers the period 2008-11 and provides £5.5 million to support the delivery of 33 projects. No further applications will be invited for the period of the funding stream.</p>

29 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has committed to the Fairtrade Foundation during 2009-10.

Answer · Michael Russell: None. The Scottish Government''s funds for supporting fair trade have been targeted at supporting the Scottish Fair Trade Forum, with £60,000 a year for three years (until 31 March 2010) committed from the International Development Fund.</p>

29 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times ministers met representatives of agricultural co-operatives during 2008, broken down by (a) date, (b) co-operative and (c) minister.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government ministers have regular meetings with the agriculture industry, at which representatives of agricultural co-operatives attend. However, ministers did not meet directly with representatives of agricultural co-operatives in 2008.</p>

28 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary schools shared a head teacher as of 1 April 2009, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Keith Brown: The number of primary schools that were sharing a head teacher, as at the September 2008 teacher census, is shown in the following table. Data for other times during the year are not collected centrally. The sharing of a head teacher by two schools is seen by…

23 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministerial engagements have been held in the Glasgow Anniesland parliamentary constituency since 1 January 2009, broken down by (a) ministerial portfolio, (b) date and (c) location.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is set out in the following table. No other Scottish ministers have attended engagements in Glasgow Anniesland parliamentary constituency since 1 January 2009.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > …

23 Apr 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with chief executives of NHS boards in respect of charges for inpatient telephone and audio visual use.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : <i> This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0430-01.htm">http://www.scott…

21 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many community first responders were working for the Scottish Ambulance Service as of 1 April 2009, broken down by division.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not held centrally.</p> <p >The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) website contains a section on first responders, link below, and further detail can be obtained by contacting SAS.</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottishambulance.com…

21 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many volunteer ambulance car drivers were working for the Scottish Ambulance Service as of 1 April 2009, broken down by division.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the number of Scottish Ambulance Service volunteer car drivers is held by NHS board area. The numbers as at 1 April 2009, are set out in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=186…

21 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12712 by Shona Robison on 13 May 2008, how many times ministers have met the Scottish Ambulance Service to discuss the training of volunteer ambulance car drivers since 13 May 2008, broken down by date of meeting and minister involved.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service and the Scottish Government have not met to discuss the training of volunteer car drivers.</p>

21 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12712 by Shona Robison on 13 May 2008, what progress the Scottish Ambulance Service has made in providing training to its volunteer ambulance car drivers.

Answer · Shona Robison: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. However, they have advised that following further consideration of the best way to support volunteer drivers, they can now provide training and advice, on request from volunteers, on what to do…

20 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with local authorities since 17 May 2007 in respect of supporting asylum seekers in Scotland, broken down by date, local authority and minister involved.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has regular meetings with officials from City of Glasgow Council to discuss the support available to asylum seekers as this is where the majority of asylum seekers live. In addition, officials regularly attend the COSLA Strategic Migra…

15 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivehow many hospitals provide specific zones for patients’ mobile phone use, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS Scotland bodies. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>

15 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhat guidelines it has issued to NHS boards in respect of charges for in-patient telephone and audio visual use.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No guidance has been issued to NHS boards in respect of charges for in-patient telephone and audio visual use.</p> <p >I also refer the member to the answer to question S3O-06715 on 30 April 2009. All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on…

30 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16621 by Maureen Watt on 29 September 2008, how many primary schools did not have a permanent head teacher in post at the start of the 2008-09 school year, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Keith Brown: The number of primary schools in each local authority without a substantive grade permanent head teacher at the September 2008 census is shown in the following table. In cases where there is temporarily no head teacher there will generally be an acting head.<…

30 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16622 by Maureen Watt on 24 October 2008, how many secondary schools did not have a permanent head teacher in post at the start of the 2008-09 school year, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Keith Brown: The number of secondary schools in each local authority without a substantive grade permanent head teacher at the September 2008 census is shown in the following table. In cases where there is temporarily no head teacher there will generally be an acting head…