Bill Butler

15 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons it has not published responses to its consultation on marches and parades and when it will do so.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Nineteen responses to the consultation into marches and parades in Scotland were published in the Scottish Government library on 12 November. Six respondents withheld permission for their responses to be made public.</p>

15 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it has received to its consultation on marches and parades.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The consultation into marches and parades in Scotland received 25 responses.</p>

15 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the student drop-out rate was for each university in the 2007-08 academic year.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) annually publishes higher education performance indicators for all higher education institutions in the UK, including estimates of non-continuation rates. The most recently published performance indicators relate …

15 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support shopworkers recently made redundant as a result of the closure of several leading high street stores.

Answer · Maureen Watt: <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/sor0115-01.htm">http://www.scottish.p…

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals were successfully prosecuted under section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 in 2007-08, broken down by procurator fiscal area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The following table gives the number of persons with a charge in Scottish courts in 2006-07 (the latest year available) where a religious aggravator was recorded, broken down by approximate procurator fiscal area.</p> <p >Data for 2007-08 is still being proc…

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it is making available to assist in providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Both the Deputy First Minister and I made it clear during the recent debate on Gaza, that the Scottish Government stands ready to respond favourably to any requests for humanitarian assistance to Gaza.</p> <p >In addition, ministers have indicated that the N…

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has committed to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: No specific amount has been allocated as yet. At this stage we are assessing what type of assistance is required and how we can best target our support.</p> <p >I have arranged to meet those Scottish based organisations involved in Gaza to hear first hand ab…

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it has in place with credit unions for the purpose of offering services to Scottish Government staff.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has an arrangement in place with Capital Credit Union. This allows any member of Scottish Government staff to join the union and:</p> <p >Make payments direct from salary “ with deductions from £1 per week with no upper limit</p> <p …

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18765 by Stewart Maxwell on 18 December 2008, which local authorities it designates as being within the Glasgow travel-to-work area and therefore eligible to apply for grants from Sense over Sectarianism.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government does not set the boundaries for areas eligible to apply for grants from Sense over Sectarianism. This is entirely a matter for Sense over Sectarianism.</p>

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many towns and cities have obtained Fair Trade status since 2004, broken down by year.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: All of Scotland''s six cities have achieved Fair Trade status. The breakdown by year is as follows:</p> <p >2004:  four cities achieved Fair Trade status</p> <p >2006:  two cities achieved Fair Trade status.</p> <p >In addition, there are many towns in Sco…

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Welsh Assembly Government in respect of securing Fair Trade nation status.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Scottish Government officials have had regular discussions with contacts in the Welsh Assembly Government regarding the issue of Fair Trade and securing Fair Trade Nation status.</p> <p >Additionally, both the Scottish and Welsh Fair Trade Forums engage on a…

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times ministers have met with fishing co-operatives since 17 May 2007, broken down by (a) date and (b) co-operative.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47390).</p>

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16622 by Maureen Watt on 24 October 2008, whether it can confirm the exact date on which the teachers census will be published.

Answer · Maureen Watt: No. The date of publication will be announced on the government website next month. The latest information on all forthcoming statistical publications can be found each month using the following link <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Searc…

16 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that Show Racism the Red Card’s Islamophopia educational resource is made available to every school in Scotland.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Learning and Teaching Scotland are seeking discussions with Show Racism the Red Card with the intention of arranging to put the resource on to Glow, Scotland''s national intranet for education, so that schools can access it. In addition, the Scottish Governme…

15 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when estates staff employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde can expect their Agenda for Change review process to be completed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Reviews are being conducted locally in partnership. I understand that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde plan to conduct reviews grouped according to job family mirroring the order in which these groups were assimilated. The board anticipate that reviews for the S…

15 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when pharmaceutical staff employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde can expect their Agenda for Change review process to be completed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Reviews are being conducted locally in partnership. I understand that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde plan to conduct reviews grouped according to job family mirroring the order in which these groups were assimilated. I am informed that Health Sciences, of whic…

11 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18386 by Stewart Maxwell on 9 December 2008, whether during its discussions with COSLA it will propose that the £7.5 million to support the poverty framework is targeted at delivering services in the 5% most deprived areas, as identified by the Scott…

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Our approach to tackling poverty, as set out in Achieving Our Potential, is people, rather than area, based. While we remain open to the views of stakeholders, including COSLA, on how best to focus our investment to achieve maximum impact, it is unlikely that…

10 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much financial support Sense over Sectarianism receives from its partner organisations.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: This information is not held centrally.</p>

10 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the report in The Herald on 10 December 2008, whether the award of £412,731 to Sense over Sectarianism includes money already awarded for 2008-09.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Sense over Sectarianism were provided with £42,000 between January and June 2008 to deliver a number of specifically identified community projects. The £412,731 funding award was made from the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream and, in comm…

10 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides funding for sectarianism-awareness projects or campaigns in further and higher educational establishments.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The funding of Scotland''s further and higher educational establishments is the responsibility of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council. It is for colleges and universities themselves to determine the learning activity which is offered to …

10 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to develop new sectarianism-awareness campaigns in further and higher educational establishments.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has no current plans to develop new sectarianism-awareness projects or campaigns in further and higher educational establishments.</p> <p >The funding of Scotland''s further and higher education establishments is the responsibility of…

10 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed on a full-time basis with anti-sectarianism organisations, broken down by organisation.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Information on the number of staff employed by organisations which are involved in tackling sectarianism is not held centrally.</p>

10 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether applications for grants from the £150,000 awarded to Sense over Sectarianism for 2009-10 can be made by projects from all local authority areas.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Sense over Sectarianism funds projects within the Glasgow and travel-to-work area. This includes Glasgow City Council and a number of surrounding local authority areas.</p>

9 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to improve early detection rates of oesophageal cancer.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In June 2006, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) published a clinical guideline, <i >Management of Oesophageal and Gastric Cancer</i>, which provides comprehensive guidance to health care professionals on the recognition, management and fo…

9 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to raise awareness among GPs of oesophageal cancer.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Awareness of oesophageal cancer among GPs is raised through a number of different routes at both a national and local level. These include the development of patient care and referral pathways by Managed Clinical Networks and the dissemination of relevant cli…

9 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fishing co-operatives operate in Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are aware of 16 fishing co-operatives operating in Scotland.</p>

9 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to promote fishing co-operatives.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are committed to ensuring that Scotland has a vibrant, confident fishing industry, which supports the communities dependant on this industry.</p> <p >Support is available under the European Fisheries Fund to organisations, such as fishing co-operatives to…

9 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement in a press release by the Minister for Communities and Sport on 8 December 2008, when individual money and welfare advice agencies will be able to apply for funding from the approximately £1 million of Barnett consequential money to provide free financial advi…

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We have decided to allocate the funding to Citizens Advice, through Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS), which has advised bureaux of the timescale for applying for funding. Bids to deliver increased capacity in both 2008-09 and 2009-10 are to be submitted by mid-…

9 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement in a press release by the Minister for Communities and Sport on 8 December 2008, when it expects to complete discussions with key partners in respect of how best to spend the approximately £1 million of Barnett consequential money to provide free financial adv…

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We completed our initial discussions with key stakeholders and reached broad agreement on the way forward on 22 December 2008. My officials will continue to discuss the detailed arrangements with stakeholders during January.</p>

1 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will provide to deliver the commitment made in Achieving our Potential policy framework to “increase availability and usage of money advice services and ensure they are appropriately targeted at and accessible to people from minority ethnic and faith communities”, broken d…

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18387 on 11 December 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/Ap…