Parliamentary questions
Bill Butler
673 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will deliver the commitment made in the 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” in each local authority a…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is providing a range of funding to support money advice services and promote financial inclusion.</p> <p >The 2008-11 local government settlement allocates £5.298 million each year for money advice. We will also be providing an extra…
1 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the announced £7.5 million to support its poverty framework will be spent in each of the next three financial years, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: There has been no breakdown by local authority of the investment of £7.5 million. The Scottish Government is in discussions with COSLA and other key stakeholders on how to best utilise this funding to implement the commitments set out in the framework.</p>
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it provides to amateur boxing clubs, broken down by (a) club, (b) amount and (c) funding stream.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: In the current financial year Inverness Boxing Club has received £2,000 from sportscotland''s Exchequer funded Sportsmatch programme. Girvan Youth Trust was also awarded £10,949 from the YouthLink strand of the Cashback for Communities initiative to establish…
24 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much financial assistance is being given to registered social landlords in 2008-09 (RSL) to allow them to install sprinkler systems in their rental properties, broken down by RSL.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: From 1 May 2005 new build construction, conversions and alterations to buildings in Scotland must comply with the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004. These new regulations contain a mandatory requirement for the installation of automatic fire safety suppres…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17040 by Fergus Ewing on 29 October 2008, whether it will provide funding to Nil by Mouth for 2009-10.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has on-going constructive discussions with Nil by Mouth on a range of issues relating to tackling sectarianism. This includes looking for opportunities for the Scottish Government and Nil by Mouth to work together, and further decision…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 33 projects awarded funding from the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund on 28 July 2008 are aimed at tackling sectarianism.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The 33 projects which were awarded funding from the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream are listed on the One Scotland website. All of these projects aim to break down barriers which exist between different communities and build an inclusive…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will convene a meeting between management and trade unions in respect of Scottish Water’s imposition of a wage settlement on its workforce.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No. Scottish Water has implemented a pay deal at the maximum allowed under the staff pay remit agreed earlier this year with the Scottish Government.</p>
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with trade unions in respect of the recent Scottish Water pay offer to staff.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I met with the STUC and Scottish Water union representatives at their request on 25 September 2008 to hear their views on issues related to Scottish Water, including the 2008 pay awards.</p>
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister will next meet the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: There are no current plans for the First Minister to meet with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. However, the ministers did meet recently at the 11th Summit of the British-Irish Council hosted by the First Minister at Hopetoun …
13 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16055 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, whether the £150,000 it awarded to Football for All was provided exclusively for the development of the Kick-out Bigotry campaign.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The allocation of £150,000 to Football for All was to develop, administer and deliver the Kick-Out-Bigotry campaign, including the Weekend of Action on 24 to 25 November and the month long awareness campaign around Scottish Premier League football fixtures.</…
13 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16055 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, how much funding it has awarded in each year between April 2008 and March 2011 to (a) Nil by Mouth, (b) Sense Over Sectarianism, (c) Football for All (specifically for the Kick-out Bigotry campaign) and (d) Yo…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Current Scottish Government funding agreements will provide the following:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td rowspan=2 valign=top > <p align=center > </p> <p align=center > </p> <p align=center …
13 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16055 by Fergus Ewing on 2 October 2008, how many of the projects referred to in the answer were funded through the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund, broken down by individual project and amount awarded.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: These projects were funded by the Equality Unit from allocations to the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration team.</p>
29 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive 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 · Maureen Watt: The employment of teachers and the form of contract under which they are employed are matters for local authorities. The teacher census identifies schools without permanent head teachers. The information from the September 2008 census is due to be available i…
29 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive 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 · Maureen Watt: The employment of teachers and the form of contract under which they are employed are matters for local authorities. The teacher census identifies schools without permanent head teachers. The information from the September 2008 census is due to be available i…
25 Sep 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to raise awareness of oesophageal cancer.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government''s new cancer plan, <i >Better Cancer Care</i>, will be published soon. This will set out plans to improve the provision of information to cancer patients and carers as part of our commitment to supporting self-management and improving…
18 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to colleges and other providers of further education in Glasgow to provide courses in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11, broken down by institution.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scottish Funding Council main grants to Scotland''s colleges are not ring-fenced, therefore colleges are free to allocate funds according to their own priorities. Core grant allocations to Glasgow colleges in 2008-09 are shown in the following table. For most…
18 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was allocated to colleges and other providers of further education in Glasgow to provide courses in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) in (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08, broken down by institution.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scottish Funding Council main grants to Scotland''s colleges are not ring-fenced, therefore colleges are free to allocate funds according to their own priorities. Core grant allocations to Glasgow colleges for 2005-06 to 2007-08 are shown in the following tab…
17 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times Scottish ministers have met representatives of Scotland’s faith communities to discuss sectarianism since 17 May 2007.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish ministers have met with representatives from Scotland''s faith communities on eleven occasions since 17 May 2007 when sectarianism was a major part of the discussion.</p>
17 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times Scottish ministers have met the Scottish Football Association to discuss sectarianism since 17 May 2007.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16340 on 25 September 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/we…
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many twinning arrangements were in place between denominational and non-denominational schools at the start of 2008-09 school year, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Maureen Watt: This information is not collected centrally. However, the Scottish Government has published guidance promoting twinning arrangements between such schools and encouraging the resultant links between pupils and communities.</p>
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to produce detailed annual reports on crime aggravated by religious prejudice and develop a programme of rehabilitation for offenders convicted under section 74 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are considering the potential for the development of a rehabilitation programme aimed at addressing the behaviours of those involved in sectarian activities, and will look at this as part of the development of new activities to build on what has been achie…
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister plans to make a ministerial statement to the Parliament about sectarianism in Scotland and, if so, when.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The First Minister has regularly spoken out against sectarianism, and his support for and personal participation in efforts to tackle this problem in Scotland is well known. In the Scottish Parliament on 18 September, the First Minister reaffirmed his commitm…
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations since 17 May 2007 from the Irish Government in respect of concerns about offensive songs being sung in public places in Scotland and, if so, whether it will publish its response.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has a very positive and constructive on-going dialogue with the Irish Consulate in Scotland, and meets with them regularly to discuss a very wide range of issues covering many portfolio interests. The Scottish Government and the Irish …
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times it has met with the STUC to discuss sectarianism since 17 May 2007.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has met with the STUC on four occasions since 17 May 2007 to discuss sectarianism.</p>
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times Scottish ministers have met the Scottish Premier League to discuss sectarianism since 17 May 2007.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16340 on 25 September 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/we…
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times Scottish ministers have met the Scottish Football League to discuss sectarianism since 17 May 2007.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has on-going dialogue with the football authorities to discuss a range of issues, including sectarianism.</p>
11 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which fair trade products are used by its catering services.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government catering service offers ethically traded products whenever possible. Those currently available are:</p> <p >Fairtrade tea</p> <p >Fairtrade brown and white sugar sticks</p> <p >Fairtrade and ethically traded coffee</p> <p >Gree…
11 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to promote fair trade in schools.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government''s Curriculum for Excellence focuses on citizenship and values which supports and encourages teaching about international education and international development. Fair trade falls within this by teaching the benefits of helping produce…
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times ministers have met Cairde na h’Eireann (Friends of Ireland) since 17 May 2007.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: There have been no meetings between ministers and Cairde na h''Eireann (Friends of Ireland) since 17 May 2007, although officials have been in contact with the organisation.</p>
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times ministers have met the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland since 17 May 2007.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: There have been no meetings between ministers and the Grand Orange Lodge since 17 May 2007, although officials have been in contact with the organisation.</p>