Parliamentary questions

Richard Baker

2,136 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

30 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the staff of non-departmental public bodies are being consulted on the effect that its review of such bodies will have on them.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-5818 on 7 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

30 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it will make of how local areas may be affected by the proposed relocation or abolition of non-departmental public bodies.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-5816 on 7 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

30 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to assess the economic impact of any reduction in the number of non-departmental public body offices in Aberdeen and Grampian.

30 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will be consulted as part of its plans to reduce the number of non-departmental public bodies.

Answer · John Swinney: We are committed tosimpler, more effective public services in Scotland. Work is underway to consider specific proposals to streamline the landscapeof public sector organisations. Further details will be announced later this year.We will involve organisations,…

30 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its plans as to how and when it will reduce the number of non-departmental public bodies.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5818 on 7 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

30 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor the geographical spread of its public agencies after its review of the structure and number of non-departmental public bodies is concluded.

Answer · John Swinney: We are committed toa simpler, more effective public sector in Scotland. This is a positive step to improving Scotland’s competitiveness and overalleconomic performance. Work isprogressing to consider specific proposals to streamline the existing landscapeand …

5 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the Accounts Commission on reviewing the commission’s advice that a 60% capacity in schools should be a criterion used by local authorities in decisions to place the future of schools under review.

Answer · Maureen Watt: There have been discussionswith representatives of the Accounts Commission around the interpretation and useof the 60% occupancy figure which was referred to in the Commission’s 1995 reportRoom for Learning – Managing Surplus Capacity in School Buildings</…

5 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that 60% capacity is an appropriate criterion for local authorities to use to place schools under review which could conclude with the schools being closed or amalgamated.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Governmentrecognises that there are many potential factors which may prompt an authority toconsider a school’s future. We entirely endorse the views of the Accounts Commissionand Audit Scotland that occupancy levels alone should not determinewhat…

5 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it believes should be used by local authorities when considering whether to close or amalgamate schools.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We re-issuedguidance to local authorities on proposals for changes to the school estate on11 October. A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib.number 43920). The guidance makes clear our expectation that, in consulting anddecidin…

4 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who was consulted as part of any consultation undertaken prior to the decision not to continue carrying out major surgical procedures for cleft lip and palate treatment in Aberdeen.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5136 on 30 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

4 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale was of any consultation undertaken prior to the decision not to continue carrying out major surgical procedures for cleft lip and palate treatment in Aberdeen.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Consultation withparents and staff was an essential part of the review, which took place betweenOctober 2005 and May 2006.

4 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken prior to the decision not to continue carrying out major surgical procedures for cleft lip and palate treatment in Aberdeen.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The decision wasbased on the recommendations of a detailed review of the service which wascompleted in May 2006. The review involved consultations with the parents ofchildren with cleft lip and palate, in particular the Cleft Lip and PalateAssociation, lookin…

4 Oct 2007 · Written Question

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available informationis given in the following table. Data for 2006-07 is due to be published in March2008.Persons Receivinga Custodial Sentence of Six Months or Less for Drink-Related Offences1,2,2003-04 to 2005-06<table border=1 ce…

4 Oct 2007 · Written Question

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available informationis given in the table below. Data for 2006-07 is due to be published in March 2008.Persons Receivinga Custodial Sentence of Six Months or Less for Drug Related Offences1,2003-04 to 2005-06<table border=1 cellspac…

4 Oct 2007 · Written Question

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The availableinformation is given in the following table. Data for 2006-07 is due to bepublished in March 2008.Persons Receivinga Custodial Sentence of Six Months or Less for all Offences1 in theGrampian Police Force Area, 2003-04 to 2005-06…

4 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what activities will be considered to be special additional duties when it reviews police funding arrangements for such activities.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5131 on 29 October 20007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

4 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will conclude its deliberations in respect of additional funding for police forces for special additional duties.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We are in regularcontact with the Associationof Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) about new and emerging police funding pressures which could notnormally be expected to be absorbed into the general funding available to forces.These are considered on a…

4 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet representatives of Grampian Police Board to discuss funding issues.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I met with representativesof Grampian Police Board on 10 October 2007 and my officialsmet with the Convener of Grampian Police Board on 16 October. In addition, I metwith representatives of all eight police authorities on 22 October, including theConvener of …

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The number of students inhigher education at Scottish institutions, excluding the Open University in Scotland,were (a) 276,705 in 2004-05 and (b) 285,180 in 2005-06. The figures for (c)2006-07 are not yet available.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current outstanding student loan debt is of students and graduates domiciled in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The total outstandingstudent loan debt for Scottish borrowers at the 31 March 2007 was £1,953,784,457. This figure is made up of £1,845,726,000of debt held by the Scottish Government and £108,058,457 of sold debt by privatesector institutions. These figures a…

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is conducting its consultation on its plans to replace student loans with means-tested grants.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am still consideringthe full details of how this consultation will proceed. Current plans are to issuea consultation paper next year. During the consultation period my officials willlook to engage with a wide range of stakeholders on the issues raised.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which stakeholders are being consulted on its plans to replace student loans with means-tested grants.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Governmentwill consult with a wide range of stakeholders on its plans to replace student loanswith means tested grants, in particular we will seek responses from those stakeholderswho represent students and institutions.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has budgeted for the provision of discretionary funds and young students’ bursaries, including provision for inflation, rising student numbers and the ability to increase those funds in the future, given the loss of income that will result from abolishing the graduate endowment.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The abolition of thegraduate endowment fee will have no impact on the provision of discretionary fundsand young students’ bursary as the budgets for these funds are not directly relatedto graduate endowment income.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many extra places will be created at universities and colleges for students from poorer backgrounds as a result of its policy to abolish loan debt for Scottish students and those graduates who have not yet repaid their loans.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This Scottish Governmentdoes not plan to increase the number of funded places as a result of its policyto abolish loan debt for Scottish students. There is currently capacity within theexisting number of funded places to absorb anticipated increases. Creation…

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out research into the impact of abolishing the graduate endowment on the number of students from other EU countries applying to study at Scottish universities.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Governmenthas no plans to carry out specific research into the impact of abolishing the graduateendowment fee on the number of students from other EU countries applying to studyat Scottish universities.If the graduate endowmentfee is aboli…

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the cost would be of raising the maximum family income threshold at which students are eligible for the Young Students’ Bursary from £33,000 to £60,000 to bring Scotland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Due to the lack ofreadily available information on family income data for these students, it is notpossible to provide an estimate of the increase in costs with any degree of accuracy.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the cost would be of raising the minimum family income threshold at which the full Young Students’ Bursary is paid from £18,360 to £25,000 to bring Scotland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Based on current incomeprofiles, estimates suggest that the cost of raising the minimum family income thresholdat which the full Young Students’ Bursary is paid is approximately £6 million. Therest of the UK change does not come into effect until2008-09.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the amounts of the Young Students’ Bursary available at each level of family income for students domiciled in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Governmenthas no specific plans to increase the amounts of the Young Students’ Bursary. TheYoung Students’ Bursary will continue to be increased in line with inflation.I am continuing toprogress plans to replace loans with means tested gra…

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will conclude its work to take forward proposals for writing off the student loan debt of students and graduates domiciled in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am continuing towork with officials on proposals to remove burden of student debt for Scottish domiciledand resident borrowers.As set out in The Government’s Programme for Scotland, the next stage of this work will be to issue a consultationpaper nex…

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will conclude its work to take forward proposals for replacing student loans with means-tested grants for students domiciled in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am continuing towork with officials on proposals to replace student loans with means-tested grantsfor students domiciled in Scotland.As set out in TheGovernment’s Programme for Scotland, the next stage of this work will be to issuea consultation pape…