Parliamentary questions

Bill Butler

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

3 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is prepared to fund new approaches to waste management which will be required from local authorities, as outlined in the Zero Waste Plan.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government has provided local government in Scotland with record levels of funding, £23 billion over the period 2008-10. Local authorities have a responsibility to fulfil their statutory obligations and agreed national and local priorities.…

1 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive at how many railway stations parking charges are applied, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Twenty-five stations in Scotland have car parks where charges are applied: <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > Station </td> <td nowrap valign=bottom > Local Authority </td> </t…

31 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23897 by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 May 2009, how many NHS boards have now completed the Agenda for Change review process for health sciences, broken down by board and date of completion.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As I explained in my previous reply, decisions on how the review process is progressed, such as the order in which each job family is dealt with, are taken in partnership at local level. Different boards will, therefore, be dealing with the Healthcare Science…

7 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions ministers have held with local authorities outwith Glasgow to encourage them to enter into contracts with the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) since 17 May 2007, broken down by (a) date and (b) minister and local authority.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Glasgow City Council are the only local authority in Scotland to take up a contract with the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). The contracts are between local authorities and UK Border Agency (UKBA). Therefore no discussions have taken place with local…

7 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions ministers have held with the UK Government with regard to local authorities outwith Glasgow entering into contracts with the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) since 17 May 2007, broken down by date and minister.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Glasgow City Council are the only local authority in Scotland to take up a contract with the National Asylum Support Service (NASS). The contracts are between local authorities and UK Border Agency (UKBA). No discussions have taken place with Scottish ministe…

7 Aug 2009 · Written Question

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

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Information on the number of agricultural co-operatives in Scotland is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. However, the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) is the key umbrella body for agricultural co-operatives in Scotland with 73 co…

7 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to write to directors of education to ask how local authorities plan to encourage the promotion of fair trade during school year 2009-10.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 requires local authorities to consider sustainable development guidance when procuring food and drink or catering services for schools. In 2004 guidance was issued to local authorities with advi…

7 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhat financial support it has awarded to food co-operatives since 1 April 2008, broken down by individual award and co-operative involved.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Since April 2008, £1.5 million has been awarded to organisations to support co-operative activity in the food sector. Details of these awards can be found at: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Food-Industry/granttimetable/p…

13 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19610 by Linda Fabiani on 15 January 2009, what resources it made available to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza in the first six months of 2009.

Answer · Michael Russell: Further to my answer to the question S3W-25764 on 6 August 2009, no further requests were made for resources in addition to the funding already provided. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the …

13 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19609 by Linda Fabiani on 15 January 2009, how much money it made available to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza in each of the first six months of 2009, broken down by (a) agency and (b) purpose of award.

Answer · Michael Russell: The money made available to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza was announced on 15 February 2009 and all funds were transferred to organisations on 1 April 2009. Details are available on the Scottish Government''s website at the following …

13 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial awards it made to credit unions in 2008, broken down by (a) award, (b) credit union and (c) funding stream.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government made 17 awards totalling £126,840 to the following credit unions in 2008 through the Scottish Credit Union Assistance Fund. Cowie Community Credit Union - £8,040. Ruchill Credit Union - £6,500. Ruchazie, Gart…

13 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were declared bankrupt in each month of 2008, broken down by sheriffdom.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The tables below show all bankruptcies by month from January 2008 to December 2008. Up until 1 April 2008 all debtor and creditor petitions for bankruptcy were considered by the courts. Since that date, debtor applications for bankruptcy have been considered …

13 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were declared bankrupt in each of the first six months of 2009, broken down by sheriffdom.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The table below show all bankruptcies by month from January 2009 to June 2009. As all debtor applications are now received by the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB), the debtor application figures are not allocated to individual sheriff court areas but are given …

13 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees in each NHS board were awaiting resolution of Agenda for Change pay rates as at 1 July 2009.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Our records show that as at 1 July 2009, there were 22 staff still to assimilate around the country. However, it may be more helpful if I provide information based on the most recent available data which is from 31 July 2009. This shows that, barring those st…

13 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to issue guidelines to NHS boards in respect of ending charges for inpatient telephone use and, if so, when.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are no plans to issue guidelines to NHS boards in respect of ending charges for inpatient telephone use. NHS boards have, however, been reminded of the need to ensure that patients have access to public and portable payphones. I refer the memb…

3 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) which consultants are currently being used by the Scottish Futures Trust, (b) for what purpose each is contacted and (c) the duration of each contract.

Answer · John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust to respond. His response is as follows: The Scottish Futures Trust is currently employing the consultants detailed in the following table: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cel…

3 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on hiring consultants to oversee the recruitment process for each Scottish Futures Trust post advertised in Scotland on Sunday on 21 June 2009.

Answer · John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust to respond. His response is as follows: The costs associated with hiring consultants to carry out the recruitment of Scottish Futures Trust staff will not be known until the recr…

3 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it next plans to review membership of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum reviewed its membership at its meeting on 19 January 2009. A note of that meeting is available at: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/access/FP/FPFMOMJan">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/To…

3 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum will next meet.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum last met on 7 July 2009 and will hold its next meeting on 27 October 2009.

3 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22058 by Alex Neil on 30 March 2009, what progress has been made in respect of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum’s recommendation that interest-free loans be made available to applicants who do not qualify for the Scottish Government’s central heating …

Answer · Alex Neil: An announcement on the government''s domestic energy efficiency loans scheme will be made in October this year

3 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the vitamin D and folic acid research report.

Answer · Shona Robison: The report that you refer to is based on research that Health Scotland are carrying out. The final report is expected to be published by Health Scotland towards the end of August 2009.