Parliamentary questions

Bill Butler

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

22 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it took legal advice regarding its decision to cease payments to HM Revenue and Customs to maintain the database required to implement the Scottish variable rate.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. In accordance with the Scottish Ministerial Code, it is not the normal practice of the Scottish Government to disclose whether legal advice has been sought in relation to a particular …

4 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-35045 and S3W-36170 by Fiona Hyslop on 23 July and 16 September 2010 respectively, on what date it plans to publish its report into museum funding.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I have yet to receive the Museums Think Tank report from its members but expect it to be published shortly. Its remit is not confined to funding but looks broadly at the contribution museums and galleries make to Scotland; how to ensure the correct balance be…

3 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36351 by John Swinney on 29 September 2010, when it expects the Scottish Futures Trust to provide the information requested.

Answer · John Swinney: The Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust provided the information requested on 5 November 2010.

3 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36115 by John Swinney on 21 September 2010, when it expects to provide the information requested.

Answer · John Swinney: I expect to be in a position to provide the information by the end of November 2010. A copy will also be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51647).

26 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-36671 and S3W-33785 by Alex Neil on 25 October and 1 June 2010 respectively, when it will announce how it will commit the remainder of its Achieving our Potential budget in 2010-11.

Answer · Alex Neil: Decisions on committing the remainder of the Achieving our Potential budget are yet to be taken.

4 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what payments have been made from its poverty framework fund as outlined in Achieving Our Potential: A Framework to tackle poverty and income inequality in Scotland, since 1 April 2010, broken down by (a) amount and (b) organisation award made to.

Answer · Alex Neil: Since the information provided in the answer to question S3W-29505 on 15 December 2009 on allocations from the Achieving Our Potential budget, one further grant has been awarded. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will receive £860,000 in 2010-11 to delive…

24 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35533 by Keith Brown on 30 August 2010, how many of the 1,000 volunteering opportunities for school leavers announced by the Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27425) had been delivered by 17 September 2010,…

Answer · Keith Brown: Since the summer, the Scottish Government has been working hard to help school leavers secure a place in learning or training. As well as the range of opportunities we previously announced, we have tasked Project Scotland to work with Skills Development Scotl…

16 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what payments (a) Scottish Futures Trust, (b) Skills Development Scotland and (c) Scottish Enterprise have made to consultants from 1st October 2009, Broken down by (i) individual consultancy firm, (ii) amount paid and (iii) date of payment.

Answer · John Swinney: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Futures Trust, Skills Development Scotland and Scottish Enterprise. I will ask the chief executive of each body to write to you with this information.

9 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35045 by Fiona Hyslop on 23 July 2010, when it will publish the recommendations of its working group on future museum strategy.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I had a positive meeting with the think tank on 12 August 2010. The report and recommendations are currently being finalised and will be published as soon as possible. I intend the Scottish Government to respond soon thereafter.

8 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its press release of 19 August 2010 on funding from Museums Galleries Scotland, how many Recognised Collections awards have been made, broken down by (a) date and (b) the body to which the award was made.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is a matter for Museums Galleries Scotland. I have asked Joanne Orr, the Chief Executive, to write directly to the member with the information requested.

8 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S3W-35534 and S3W-35535 by Keith Brown on 23 August 2010, when it expects the chief executive of Skills Development Scotland to respond

Answer · Keith Brown: I understand that the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland has now sent you the information you requested.

6 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33896 by John Swinney on 8 June 2010, how much it paid to consultancy firms during 2009-10, broken down by firm.

Answer · John Swinney: We are examining the available information and will write to the member as soon as possible. A copy will also be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51647).

2 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27425), how much it has paid to employers taking on a “Modern Apprentice who is a care leaver or other young person who might otherwise struggle to get such an opportunity”, b…

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested.

2 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27425), how many employers had taken on a “Modern Apprentice who is a care leaver or other young person who might otherwise struggle to get such an opportunity” as of 30 July …

2 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 1,000 volunteering opportunities for school leavers announced by the Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning on 17 June 2010 (Official Report c. 27425) had been delivered by 30 July 2010, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is in the process of working with stakeholders to determine the best process for supporting young people into volunteering opportunities.

21 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-34305 and S3W-34306 by John Swinney on 17 June 2010, when it expects the chief executives of Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland to provide the information requested.

Answer · John Swinney: I understand that the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland wrote to you providing the information requested on 2 August 2010, and I expect the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to write to you shortly.

30 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the recommendations of its working group on future museum strategy.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I will be discussing the recommendations with the group in August and, subject to that discussion, expect its findings to be published soon thereafter.

23 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much Scottish Water has paid Capgemini for consultancy services in the last 24 months, broken down by (a) amount, (b) date of payment and (c) service provided.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This information is not held centrally and I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply to you.

15 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has asked the Scottish Futures Trust for its estimated spend on consultants for the National Housing Trust initiative in 2010-11 and, if so, whether it will make the answer public.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Futures Trust''s (SFT''s) Business Plan (published on the SFT website at <a href="http://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/">http://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk</a>) includes a budget allocation of £750,000 in 2010-11 for the SFT''s housing rela…

15 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will spend on the Scottish Futures Trust in 2010-11.

Answer · John Swinney: The budget line for the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) approved by the Scottish Parliament in the 2010-11 Budget is £5.9 million.

15 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34105 by Alex Neil on 14 June 2010, what guidance it has issued to the Scottish Futures Trust in respect of its use of consultants for the National Housing Trust initiative and whether it has set a limit of spend per contract.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Futures Trust''s (SFT''s) policies in using consultants or other external advisors for the National Housing Trust (NHT) initiative are the same as for all other SFT projects. SFT''s Management Statement and Financial Memorandum specifies the gene…

15 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to include the Scottish Futures Trust in the guidelines on the use of consultancy outlined by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in December 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no plans to include the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) in the guidelines on the use of consultancy. The SFT Management Statement and Financial Memorandum specifies the general principles that SFT is required to adhere to in any expen…

15 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the Scottish Futures Trust is not covered by the guidelines on the use of consultancy outlined by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in December 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33581 on 21 May 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/Apps2/Bu…