Parliamentary questions
Bill Butler
673 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been received by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland for rectification of the Land Register of Scotland since 1999 and how many such applications were granted in each of those years.
Answer · John Swinney: The Keeper advises that he has considered and undertaken rectification of the Land Register as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=528 > <thead> <tr > <td width=76 valign=top > <p align=center >Year</p> </td> <td …
25 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many mapping errors have been made by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland in each year since 1999.
Answer · John Swinney: The Keeper of the Registers of Scotland issues a Land Certificate for all properties registered in the Land Register. The Land Certificate includes a plan showing the extent of the property''s title area on an Ordnance Survey map.</p> <p >The Keeper has prov…
25 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19628 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 January 2009, whether the data for 2007-08 are available and, if so, whether it will now provide that information.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The court proceedings data for 2007-08 is being published on 28 April 2009. I will write to the member with the required information as soon as possible after that date. A copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliamentary Information Centre (Bib. number 47924…
18 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce its definitive response regarding the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum’s suggestion that interest-free loans be made available to applicants who do not qualify for the Scottish Government’s central heating programme.
Answer · Alex Neil: Proposals for low interest loans, interest-free loans or equity release schemes for a range of purposes, including investing in home energy efficiency measures, will come forward later in the year.</p>
18 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum’s suggestion that interest-free loans be made available to applicants who do not qualify for the Scottish Government’s central heating programme.
Answer · Alex Neil: The issue of providing low interest loans, interest-free loans or equity release schemes for a range of purposes, including investing in home energy efficiency measures, is being considered in detail.</p>
18 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what institutions comprise the Scottish Centre for Financial Education (SCFE) Advisory Group and what institutions were represented at the Financial Education Conference 2008, organised by SCFE, in December 2008.
Answer · Keith Brown: The remit of the Scottish Centre for Financial Education Advisory Group is to share information and good practice with a wide range of organisations in the financial sector and elsewhere.</p> <p >Organisations Represented on the Scottish Centre for Financial…
18 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what institutions comprise the Scottish Centre for Financial Education.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Centre for Financial Education (SCFE) is part of Learning and Teaching Scotland. Its remit is to assist local authorities, schools and teachers to provide high quality financial education for all young people. The SCFE works strategically with it…
18 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding the Scottish Centre for Financial Education received from its sponsoring agencies, including Clydesdale Bank, the Financial Services Authority, Prudential, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Standard Life and Stirling Park, in 2007-08 and has received in 2008-09, broken down by …
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22050 on 1 April 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/Apps2/B…
18 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding the Scottish Centre for Financial Education received from it and the Financial Services Authority in 2007-08 and has received in 2008-09.
Answer · Keith Brown: Details of funding received by the Scottish Centre for Financial Education in 2007-08 and 2008-09 are set out in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=325 nowrap valign=top > <p align=cente…
16 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many care homes were issued with warnings by the Care Commission in 2008, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Care Commission has a range of enforcement powers which it can use if a care service does not meet the requirements set out in legislation and the National Care Standards. These include making recommendations, placing requirements on the service, and issu…
16 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde stroke patients was admitted to a specialist unit within 24 hours in 2008.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Stroke Care Audit Survey data for 2008 are not yet available. Information provided by the stroke Managed Clinical Network in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde indicates, however, that across the board''s area in 2008, 52% of stroke patients were admi…
12 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to museums and art galleries in Glasgow.
Answer · Michael Russell: <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/sor0312-01.htm">http://www.scot…
11 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations it has met to discuss the need to raise awareness of oesophageal cancer.
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/sor0312-01.htm">http://www.scott…
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has provided to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations since 17 May 2007, broken down by (a) award and (b) date of award.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has made the following grant awards directly to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), which includes both core funding and funding for specific initiatives. Funding has been awarded across a number of themes includin…
17 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20076 by John Swinney on 5 February 2009, (a) how many and (b) what percentage of community councils had registered for the Directorate for the Built Environment’s e-alert system as at 1 February 2009, broken down by local authority.
Answer · John Swinney: As at 1 February 2009, there were 70 community councils registered as subscribers to the Directorate for the Built Environment''s e-alert system, representing 6.1% of the total number of community councils across Scotland. See the following table for local au…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times it has met the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd to discuss the promotion of money management in schools since 17 May 2007 and on what dates.
Answer · Keith Brown: Since May 2007, the Scottish Government has had no meetings with the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd to discuss the promotion of money management in schools.</p> <p >The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that money management is an integr…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times it has met Citizens Advice Scotland to discuss the promotion of money management in schools since 17 May 2007 and on what dates.
Answer · Keith Brown: Since May 2007, the Scottish Government has had no meetings with Citizens Advice Scotland to discuss the promotion of money management in schools.</p> <p >The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that money management is an integral aspect of every y…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times it has met the Scottish Centre for Financial Education Advisory Group to discuss the promotion of money management in schools and on what dates.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Centre for Financial Education (SCFE) is funded by the Scottish Government and the Financial Services Authority. It has a remit to produce financial education teaching resources for schools and to support continuing professional development of te…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides to Glasgow museums, broken down by award.
Answer · Michael Russell: Provision for cultural services is included as part of the overall general resources the Scottish Government provides through the Local Government Finance settlement. It is a matter for local authorities themselves to decide how to allocate its resources for …
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding sportscotland provides to golf clubs, broken down by award.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20792 on 3 March 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/Apps2/B…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides to golf clubs, broken down by (a) award and (b) funding stream.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested for funding to golf clubs, broken down by award and funding stream, is a matter for the delivery body - sportscotland. As such this information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.</p> <p >Funding for golf is routed thr…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20048 by John Swinney on 30 January 2009, what timescale it has set for the implementation of its accelerated undisputed-invoice payment target of 10 working days by non-departmental public bodies.
Answer · John Swinney: As noted in the response to S3W-20048, the Scottish Government is committed to supporting business in the current economic situation by paying bills more quickly and the intention is to achieve the target across all public bodies.</p> <p >The target, and the…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20048 by John Swinney on 30 January 2009, what procedures it has put in place to ensure that its accelerated undisputed-invoice payment target of 10 working days is met by non-departmental public bodies.
Answer · John Swinney: As noted in the response to S3W-20048, the payment target has been communicated to all non departmental public bodies.</p> <p >Public bodies who do not use the Scottish Government''s financial systems are responsible for their own systems and processes and, …
22 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it wrote to community councils regarding the launch of its Householder Permitted Development Rights: Consultation Paper.
Answer · John Swinney: Officials did not directly write to all Community Councils to advise them of this consultation.</p> <p >An alert advising of the publication of the Householder Permitted Development Rights consultation paper was sent to all those community councils who have …
22 Jan 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the staff of Forestry Commission Scotland and their trade unions over the future of Scotland’s forests.
Answer · Michael Russell: <i> This PQ 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/sor0122-01.htm">http://www.scottish.pa…
21 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure payment of undisputed invoices by all non-departmental public bodies within a 30-day period.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting business in the current economic situation by paying bills more quickly. The intention is to achieve payment of all undisputed invoices within 10 working days, across all public bodies.</p> <p >Within the S…
21 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many invoices it received in 2008 that have been disputed, also expressed as a percentage of the total number of invoices received.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government processed a total of 94,975 invoices in the calendar year 2008, of which 1,222 were disputed. This equates to 1.3% of invoices paid during the year.</p>
21 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has for the payment of undisputed invoices following receipt of goods and services or presentation of a valid invoice.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government''s target, announced by the First Minister on 9 October 2008, is to pay all suppliers within 10 working days of receipt of a valid invoice.</p>
21 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all of its business suppliers’ invoices are paid on time.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to helping businesses by paying invoices early and, to that end, the First Minister announced on 9 October 2008 the Scottish Government''s intention to pay all suppliers within 10 working days.</p> <p >During the month of…
21 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many undisputed invoices it paid within (a) 30, (b) 21, (c) 14 and (d) seven days of receipt in 2008, also expressed as a percentage of all undisputed invoices.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government monitors payment performance against suppliers'' terms, which are typically 30 days, and, since October 2008, against its commitment to pay all suppliers within 10 working days. Statistics for payment of undisputed invoices at other in…