Parliamentary questions
Claire Baker
1,724 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many bills from small businesses are paid within 10 days and how many are not.
Answer · John Swinney: We do not currently hold this information, as our payment system does not classify suppliers according to business size. It would be disproportionately expensive to gather this information.</p>
10 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value of public procurement is with small businesses in Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: Information concerning the total value of public procurement with small businesses in Scotland is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, based upon information held in the Scottish Procurement Information Hub relating…
10 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses and charities will benefit from its 10-day target for paying its bills from small businesses, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · John Swinney: The improvements to the Scottish Government''s systems and processes will improve payment performance to all suppliers.</p> <p >I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17031 on 5 November 2005. Our payment system does not distinguish between smaller…
10 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16575 by Shona Robison on 8 October 2008, whether it will publish the routine monitoring by each NHS board that suggests that an increasing number of GPs are participating in the human papilloma virus vaccination programme.
Answer · Shona Robison: No. This information is routinely monitored at board level as each contract is between the board and the GP practice. It is not centrally collected for the whole of Scotland.</p>
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what month it expects the final report of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities to be published.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities had a constructive and positive final meeting last month. The Scottish Funding Council are now discussing with Universities Scotland the details of the new funding arrangements in the context of <i >New Hori…
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not yet reached a decision on the Fife Structure Plan.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In line with our public announcement in August on progress with the Fife Structure Plan, a decision has not yet been reached, as Scottish Government is considering draft modifications and progressing the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of their envir…
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will agree to Fife Council’s proposals to reduce the number of homes planned to be built in Fife by 4,270.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In line with our public announcement in August on progress with the Fife Structure Plan, a decision has not yet been reached, as Scottish Government is considering draft modifications, and progressing the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of their envi…
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13507 by Stewart Stevenson on 9 June 2008, when ministers will make a decision on whether to approve the Fife Structure Plan.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In line with our public announcement in August on progress with the Fife Structure Plan, Scottish Government is currently drafting modifications to the plan and progressing the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of their environmental effects, with a vi…
25 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of GPs have agreed to take part in the Scottish Government's human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Shona Robison: Practice level data is not held centrally, but routine monitoring at board level suggests that an increasing number of GPs are participating in the HPV programme.</p>
25 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on national negotiations over GP involvement in delivering the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme.
Answer · Shona Robison: The arrangements for contracting with GPs to deliver the HPV immunisation programme are being taken forward through local negotiations at NHS board level. On 16 July 2008, the Scottish Government circulated a model locally enhanced service for boards to use i…
25 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many part-time students there are at college or university studying at 50% or more of the time needed to complete a full-time HNC, HND, or undergraduate degree (SCQF Level 7 to 10).
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The number of students studying for an undergraduate higher education qualification (SCQF level 7 to 10) in part-time mode (50% or more of a full-time equivalent) at Scottish institutions was 25,810. Of these 8,640 studied at colleges and 17,170 at higher edu…
25 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many student nurses have benefited from the one year job guarantee scheme.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Between 2002, when the initiative was introduced, and 29 September 2008, 53 full and part-time newly qualified nurses and midwives benefited from the one year job guarantee scheme. This is broken down as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpaddi…
22 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-4193 by Stewart Stevenson on 18 September 2008, what it regards as low cost improvements and up to what value such improvements could reach.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Low cost improvements in this context would include measures aimed at improving the operation and safety at these junctions, for example signing, road markings, lighting, and visibility. I have asked the operating company, BEAR Scotland Ltd, to look at how bo…
22 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-4193 by Stewart Stevenson on 18 September 2008, when consideration of further possible low cost improvements in the vicinity of the Cadham and Tullis Russell junctions will be completed.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have instructed the operating company, BEAR Scotland Ltd, to undertake this study, which will include consultation with the Glenrothes Area Futures Group. I expect the report to be concluded by mid-January 2009. In addition, the study will also consider the…
22 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-4193 by Stewart Stevenson on 18 September 2008, when it expects the feasibility study looking at the provision of traffic signals at Cadham junction to be completed.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I expect the traffic signal feasibility study at Cadham to be finalised by the end of October 2008.</b></p>
18 Sep 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on improvements to the Balfarg and Cadham junctions on the A92.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Improvements have already been carried out at these junctions and a feasibility study looking at the provision of traffic signals at Cadham is nearing completion. I have also asked my officials to consider further possible low cost improvements in the vicinit…
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds it has assigned to independently research whether universities’ publicly-funded activity makes a significant contribution to achieving the Scottish Government’s Purpose, as referred to in New Horizons: responding to the challenges of the 21st century, the interim report of the …
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: <i >New Horizons</i> is clear that universities should demonstrate through robust evidence <i >how their activities align closely with the Government''s Purpose and Strategic Objectives.</i></p> <p >The Scottish Government has not directly assigned any funds…
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what activity the Scottish Funding Council carries out in its work to regulate universities.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) does not regulate autonomous higher education institutions (HEIs). Rather, the SFC sets out its formal relationship with institutions through its Financial Memorandum.</p> <p >Amongst the SFC''s roles, as set out in the me…
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish Funding Council activity it is considering cutting as part of the new lighter-touch approach to regulating universities announced in New Horizons: responding to the challenges of the 21st century, the interim report of the Joint Future Taskforce on Universities.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Following publication of <i >New Horizons</i>, John McClelland, Chair of the Scottish Funding Council, agreed to lead a review of the funding council''s processes and procedures in readiness for its future new role in relation to the governance of and funding…
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to offer staff or student representatives a place on the tripartite advisory group announced in New Horizons: responding to the challenges of the 21st century, the interim report of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15197 on 14 August 2008. The Taskforce has agreed to establish a tripartite advisory group comprising representatives from the government, universities and the funding council to provide advice on the proposed …
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who will be represented on the tripartite advisory group announced in New Horizons: responding to the challenges of the 21st century, the interim report of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities, and how those people will be chosen and appointed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The taskforce members agreed that the tripartite advisory group will comprise representatives from the government, universities and the funding council. The taskforce did not prescribe how the individual members of the group would be chosen and appointed.</p>…
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be a level of public resources that will keep universities nationally and internationally competitive.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The interim report of the Joint Futures Thinking Taskforce on Universities recognises there are a number of factors which contribute to keeping universities nationally and internationally competitive. While public resource is one, this includes not just fundi…
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what public funding levels (a) have been in each of the last three years and (b) will be in each of the next three years, and what student numbers (i) were and (ii) are projected to be for the same periods.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15194 on 15 August 2008. It has been assumed information is being requested on the public funding of higher education.</p> <p >(a) The resources provided through the Scottish Funding Council for higher educat…
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what levels of public funding per student, as referred to in New Horizons: responding to the challenges of the 21st century, the interim report of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities, (a) have been over the last three years and (b) are projected to be over the next three y…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14243 on 10 July 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/webapp/…
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14485 by Maureen Watt on 10 July 2008, how much financial support was provided to students excluding non-means tested loans and tuition fees (or tuition fee loans if studying elsewhere in the United Kingdom) in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2006-07, (c) 2005-06 a…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table shows higher education students who are receiving support, other than non-means tested maintenance loan, tuition fees or tuition fee loans, from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) and the amount of such support received broken d…
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14483 by Maureen Watt on 10 July 2008, how many students will receive financial support from the Scottish Government excluding non-means-tested loans and tuition fees (or tuition fee loans if they are studying elsewhere in the United Kingdom) in each…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table shows the number of Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) supported Scottish students receiving some form of support other than non-means tested loans or tuition fees (or tuition fee loans if they are studying elsewhere in the UK) bro…
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the higher education participation rate would need to be to place Scotland in the top quartile internationally, as outlined as a challenge in New Horizons: responding to the challenges of the 21st century, the interim report of the joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities, and…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Each year the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) publish international indicators on participation rates in tertiary education (degree level and above) in their publication Education at a Glance. The most recent figures, published i…
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of GDP Scotland would have to invest in universities to place it in the top decile internationally for national investment in research, development and innovation, as outlined as a challenge in New Horizons: responding to the challenges of the 21st century, the interim rep…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: International comparable data on higher education expenditure on research and development (HERD) are only available for the 30 OECD countries. The latest available figures relate to 2005.</p> <p >Scottish HERD in 2005 was £688,000, which was 0.7% of GDP and…
24 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of GDP is invested in universities; how much this is in cash terms, broken down by (a) government funding and (b) other funding, and how this compares with other OECD countries.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There are various methods to calculate what percentage of GDP is invested in universities and in particular how public and private spending is defined and what is included in the calculation. This means that results may differ and will not be directly compara…
20 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13905 by Fiona Hyslop on 16 June 2008, how much financial support was provided to students excluding non-means tested loans in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2006-07, (c) 2005-06 and (d) 2004-05, broken down by (i) household income and (ii) numbers of students in …
Answer · Maureen Watt: The following table shows higher education students who are receiving support, other than non means tested maintenance loan, from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) and the amount of such support received broken down by parental/spousal income for …