Parliamentary questions

Bill Butler

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

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains on course to implement its sustainable procurement action plan and what progress has been made toward its goal of implementing guidance on supporting fair and ethically traded products by 30 November 2010.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan was issued to the public sector in Scotland in October 2009. The Scottish Government has achieved its target dates to 28 February 2010 and is on course to meet the remaining target dates in the Action Plan. Tar…

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to promote fair trade in schools through the curriculum and procurement.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Through Curriculum for Excellence there is a strong emphasis on developing responsible, global citizens able to make informed, ethical choices with an understanding of the world and Scotland''s place in it. Fair trade provides an excellent context for learnin…

24 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it spent on Fairtrade products in 2008-09 and what proportion of overall spending on catering services this represents.

Answer · John Swinney: Customer spend on Fairtrade and ethically traded products through the Scottish Government''s catering contract was £211,330 in financial year 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009. This equated to 10% of the total customer spend.

22 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many members of staff it employs in its recruitment section.

Answer · John Swinney: There are 11.8 full-time equivalent staff in the Central Resourcing Unit (CRU) within the Scottish Government''s HR Shared Service Centre. This team is responsible for managing all internal vacancies and external recruitment for the core Scottish Government a…

22 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any correspondence between it and faith communities sent since 1 June 2007 regarding encouraging the twinning of denominational and non-denominational schools.

Answer · Michael Russell : A copy of a letter dated 24 August 2007, from the Scottish Government to all headteachers in Scotland, including headteachers of denominational schools, inviting applications to the 2007-2008 Anti-Sectarianism in Education Project Fund has been placed in the …

22 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many GP practices use premium rate telephone numbers, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As at 24 February 2010 there were 43 GP practices in Scotland using 084 telephone numbers. The following table records the number by individual NHS board: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=190 valign=top > <…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what payments have been made to consultants by the Scottish Futures Trust since 1 September 2009, broken down by (a) consultant, (b) amount and (d) date of payment.

Answer · John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust to respond. His response is as follows: SFT engages external assistance where necessary to help deliver and support the £5.5 billion of projects in our portfolio and to meet the…

1 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30951 by Nicola Sturgeon on 1 February 2010, which NHS boards have, as of 1 February 2010, yet to respond regarding their planned investment for the next three to five years in respect of insulin pumps and the associated structured education.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Every NHS board has now provided a response.

1 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28742 by Shona Robison on 19 November 2009, whether it will consider using the £70,000 returned to it by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to fund a healthy living centre that applies prior to 31 March 2010 with the support of local community planning pa…

Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government transitional funding is available to all eligible Healthy Living Centres for financial year 2009-10 provided that an application is made by the relevant NHS board in accordance with the terms and conditions that apply. There are c…

1 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30032 by Fergus Ewing on 13 January 2010, whether it plans to second any of its staff to anti-sectarianism projects in Scotland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: There are no plans to second Scottish Government staff to any of the organisations delivering anti-sectarian projects in Scotland. Our approach is to develop anti-sectarian activity through partnerships which bring together the organisations working in this a…

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it has issued to GP practices regarding their charging policy for letters to social work departments that have requested information on patient medical requirements.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We have not issued detailed guidance to GP practices on the above. We have however, advised Medical Practioners that fees for letters etc are no longer negotiated at national level and that they should approach the local authority to establish and ag…

29 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29577 by Alex Neil on 21 December 2009, when it expects to announce its decision on the reallocation of the £128,000 paid back by the Scottish-Islamic Foundation.

Answer · Alex Neil: The recovered funds will be utilised to meet expenditure priorities for the Scottish Government in the normal way.

26 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the First Minister’s statement as reported in The Scotsman on 26 January, that “The Scottish Government has surpassed its pledge to deliver at least 250 new or refurbished schools”, whether it will publish a list of those 251 projects, broken down by (a) local authority area, …

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28634 on 16 November 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/App…

25 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how Skills Development Scotland is promoting greater understanding of co-operative business models among young people.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Co-operative Education Trust Scotland (CETS) provides a unique service to schools in Scotland called Co-operate to Succeed (CtS). CtS supports the Determined to Succeed strategy, to bring the attributes of a co-operative approach to enterprise in educatio…

21 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27581 by John Swinney on 30 September 2009, what the duration is of each contract awarded to the six consultants hired by the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust to respond. His response is as follows: This information has been provided in the following table. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td w…

21 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29581 by Nicola Sturgeon on 11 December 2009, when it will publish details of each NHS board’s planned investment for the next three to five years in insulin pumps and the associated structured education.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We will do so as soon as we have had a response from all NHS boards. The boards which have not yet responded are being reminded of the need to do so as a matter of urgency.

15 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports it has received from the Scottish Law Commission in each year since 1999; with regard to how many reports the recommendations have been implemented, and what action it has taken or proposes to take in relation to those reports with regard to which the recommendations have…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Law Commission website contains information on the reports it has submitted to the Scottish Government and the Scottish Executive since 1999, together with information on follow-up action. <a href="http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/html/publi…

14 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29268 by Michael Russell on 7 December 2009, whether it will list each organisation represented on the new review group that will work with Learning and Teaching Scotland to establish a delivery plan for financial education.

Answer · Michael Russell: Membership of the Financial Education Strategy Review Group comprises: The Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland Scottish League of Credit Unions Scottish Financial Enterprise Association of British Insurers W…

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many twinning arrangements were in place between denominational and non-denominational schools at the start of the 2009-10 school year, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Keith Brown: This is a matter for local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29198 by Fergus Ewing on 3 December 2009, when it expects to reach a decision on whether to fund the Iona Community to deliver anti-sectarianism workshops in adult prisons.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: As I announced on 17 January 2010, we are providing £20,000 to the Iona Community to allow them to run a pilot scheme to develop and deliver anti-sectarianism workshops to adult prisoners in HMP Addiewell.

6 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of any bonus schemes in place for Scottish Futures Trust staff.

Answer · John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, to respond. His response is as follows: Scottish Futures Trust has no bonus scheme for its staff.

17 Dec 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to raise awareness among medical professionals of oesophageal cancer.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Awareness of oesophageal cancer among medical professionals is raised through a number of different routes at national, regional and local levels, including the dissemination of relevant clinical guidelines such as SIGN Guideline 87 on the Management of O…

11 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set up or second a specialised unit to work on its sectarianism strategy.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This government takes a co-ordinated partnership approach to tackling sectarianism as part of our broader work on tackling all forms of religious intolerance and racism. Officials from a number of Directorates work on this important issue along with a range o…

2 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-25602 by John Swinney on 19 August 2009, what the salary scales are of the seven senior staff members employed by the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), to respond. His response is as follows: The salary scales will be made public on SFT''s website before the end of 2009.

2 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of its directorates will participate in the pilot project delivered by Nil by Mouth to tackle sectarianism in the workplace.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government funded Nil by Mouth to take forward this project on the basis that they would identify and work with organisations to deliver the project. This work is being co-ordinated by the Equalities, Social Inclusion and Sport Directorate. The S…

2 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been given insulin pumps in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area in each of the last five years.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on insulin pump availability prior to the merger of the NHS Argyll and Clyde Board with NHS Glasgow in 2006 is not available. The number of people with type 1 diabetes receiving insulin pump therapy in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area over t…

2 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated level of insulin pump provision is for each NHS board for 2010-11.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We have asked each NHS board to provide details of its planned investment for the next three to five years in insulin pumps and the associated structured education.

2 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of insulin pump provision is for each NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25079 on 15 July 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…

2 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28947 by Alex Neil on 26 November 2009, what options it is considering for reallocation of the £128,000 paid back by the Scottish Islamic Foundation.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29577 on 21 December 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/App…

2 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-28947 by Alex Neil on 26 November 2009, whether the £128,000 paid back by the Scottish Islamic Foundation must be spent before the end of financial year 2009-10.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29577 on 21 December 2009. All funding allocated for specific projects must be used within the timeframe specified in the grant offer letter. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availabl…