Parliamentary questions
Claire Baker
1,724 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
31 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that local government continues to deliver “the full range of quality services that can be reasonably expected by our citizens”, as set out in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, when these services, such as social care services for adults, do not directly relate to …
Answer · John Swinney: The <i >Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007</i> said that: there will be over-riding obligations [on local government] to deliver value for money across all activities and to deliver the full range of quality services that can reasonably be expected by our …
31 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6664 by John Swinney on 17 December 2007, how members of the public and others can hold local authorities to account for the provision of services not directly linked to national outcomes yet still of vital importance to many people, such as social c…
Answer · John Swinney: Under the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, councils currently have, and will continue to have, a duty to make arrangements for reporting to the public on the performance of their functions.</p> <p >The national outcomes and indicators do not take the p…
31 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is collecting statistics on class sizes from local authorities, in addition to the annual census of class sizes, as part of its funding for 300 additional teachers announced on 20 June 2007 (Official Report, c. 880) and, if so, when these statistics will be made available.
Answer · Maureen Watt: No. The returns we will shortly be receiving from individual local authorities in respect of their share of the £6 million made available in 2007-08 through the National Priorities Action Fund for the employment of 300 additional teachers are designed to show…
31 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of primary 1 to primary 3 pupils in Fife Council primary schools were in class sizes of (a) 18 and under, (b) 19 to 25, (c) 26 to 30 and (d) over 30 in each school year from 2003-04 to 2007-08.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Information for the 2007 census is due to be published on 26 February 2008. Data for the previous years are shown in the following table:</p> <p align=left >Percentage of P1-P3 Pupils in Fife Council Primary Schools, by Size of Class</p> <table border=1 c…
31 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what average class sizes are in the Fife Council area, broken down by year group.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The latest available information on average class sizes by year group and local authority is set out in table 6.4 of the Statistical Bulletin <i >Pupils in </i><i >Scotland</i><i >, 2006</i> which can be accessed using the following hyperlink:</p> <p ><a hre…
30 Jan 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure the future success of the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe and what discussions the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture has had with the Cabinet Secretary for Justice about future public safety at the Festival and Fringe.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: A high-level Festivals Forumhas been established and is currently implementing the first of the 14 recommendationsfrom the <i>Thundering Hooves</i> report. In addition to this, Festivals Edinburghwas created by the Director’s of Edinburgh’s 12 major festivals…
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Forth Ports plc.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Officials of the Scottish Government last met representatives of Forth Ports on 30 January.</p>
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to have completed the work with Forth Ports plc on its assessment of proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Forth Ports'' assessments of the proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth can be accessed on <a href="http://www.forthports.co.uk/ports/marine/shiptoship/">http://www.forthports.co.uk/ports/marine/shiptoship/</a>.</p> <p >SNH have provi…
29 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: On February 1 Forth Ports plc announced it would not be proceeding with its proposals for ship to ship oil transfers in the Forth of Forth.</p> <p >Forth Ports news release can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.forthports.co.uk/ports/uploads/press/Pr…
28 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will confirm the future of the drug courts in Fife and Glasgow beyond their current funding terms.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Funding provision for the existing drug courts in Fife and Glasgow has recently been included in the 2008-09 grant allocations for the relevant Community Justice Authorities. Future funding will be reviewed in spring 2009 against the progress made with the su…
28 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will outline its proposals for drug courts beyond Fife and Glasgow.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The position of the existing drug courts in Fife and Glasgow is due to be reviewed in spring 2009 against the progress made with the summary justice reforms. Meantime, there are no plans for further drug courts.</p>
28 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, when it expects to agree a single outcome agreement with Fife Council and when the agreement will be published.
Answer · John Swinney: We are working to prepare single outcome agreements by 1 April 2008 and expect to have them in place with all councils by early summer 2008. We expect them to be made publicly available shortly thereafter.</p>
28 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, when it expects to agree the single outcome agreements with local authorities and when such agreements will be published.
Answer · John Swinney: We are working to prepare single outcome agreements by 1 April 2008 and expect to have them in place with all councils by early summer 2008. We expect them to be made publicly available shortly thereafter.</p>
23 Jan 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will safeguard economic and transport links between Fife and the Lothians from now until the new Forth Bridge is completed.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Detailed planningwork is being undertaken by officials from Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, and the Forth Estuary Transport Authority to maintaineffective cross-Forth transport links across all travel modes which will supportand sustain economic acti…
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made from the efficiency savings from combining the Community Regeneration, Working for Families, Changing Children’s Services (social inclusion element), Community Voices, Financial Inclusion, Workforce Plus and More Choices, More Chances funds into the Fairer Scotl…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: <em>The replacement of seven individual funds, each with its own individualmonitoring regime, with the Fairer Scotland Fund will bring real benefits forCommunity Planning partners in terms of reduced bureaucracy, and monitoring andreporting requirements. Cons…
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis funds were distributed to each local authority area under the (a) Community Regeneration, (b) Working for Families, (c) Changing Children’s Services (social inclusion element), (d) Community Voices, (e) Financial Inclusion, (f) Workforce Plus and (g) More Choices, More Chanc…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: These fundingprogrammes did not share a common allocation methodology. Each was allocated basedon the key principle of up-to-date objective evidence of levels of need inlocal areas.</p>
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis the Fairer Scotland Fund will be distributed to each local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Allocations of the Fairer ScotlandFund are based on levels of need in each local authority area, identified by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2006, and have been calculated in a transparentand equitable way. Allocations reflect both concentrations…
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive much funding will be provided to each local authority area through the Fairer Scotland Fund over the next three financial years.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Allocations of the Fairer Scotlandfund to each local authority area for 2008-09 – 2010-11 are as follows.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=160 valign=top> <p>Local Authority Area</p> </td> <td valign=bottom> …
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been provided in each of the last three years to each local authority area under the (a) the Community Regeneration, (b) Working for Families, (c) Changing Children’s Services (social inclusion element), (d) Community Voices, (e) Financial Inclusion, (f) Workforce Plu…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The funding to each local authorityarea for each of the last three years for each of the named funds are shown in thetables below.</p><p>2005-06 Allocations (£ Million)</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=160 valign=top>…
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when funding will be available for Fife Council through the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8469 on 22 January 2008. 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…
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Fife Council regarding the building of new schools in Fife.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Governmenthas periodic meetings with all local authorities to discuss their school estatemanagement and investment plans detailed decisions on the deployment of capitalresources and plans for new schools are matters for the local authorities.</p>
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide access to funding over and above its three-year settlement to Fife Council for new school buildings in each of the next three financial years.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The concordat signedwith COSLA on 14 November 2007 set out the resources being made availableby the Scottish Government to local authorities over the next three years. Underthe terms of the concordat, we will be providing local authorities with almost £3billi…
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to question S3F-191 on 4 October 2007 indicating the Executive’s commitment to match the previous administration’s school building programme brick for brick and not to use the private finance initiative for this purpose (Official Report c. 2465), how it intends to …
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Budget and the concordatsigned by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authoritiesprovide revenue resources which include support for PPP projects, as well as significantgrowth in the capital resources being made available…
16 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5123 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 November 2007, whether Fife Council has submitted its proposed revisions to the Fife Structure Plan and, if so, when it did so.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Proposed housing modifications to the Fife Structure Plan were submitted to Scottish ministers on 27 December 2007.</p>
16 Jan 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in addressing antisocial behaviour.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Much progress has been made bylocal partnerships to address antisocial behaviour since the Antisocial Behaviour(Scotland) Act was introduced in 2004. We are currently reviewing the national strategyto see where it can be strengthened, and will report our find…
4 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on advertising Project Scotland during the recent festive period.
Answer · Jim Mather: ProjectScotland is a companylimited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives are topromote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population in Scotland by encouragingand assisting young people to provide their skills and services …
5 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture’s Ministerial Statement on Creative Scotland and Cultural Policy on 7 November 2007 (Official Report, c. 3072-88), what resources will be provided to voluntary organisations in the arts and crafts sectors to enable them to …
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Community planningalready entails local engagement with individuals and organisations in the areaof each partnership, including the voluntary sector. As I mentioned in my parliamentarystatement, the Scottish Government will provide community planning partners…
5 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing’s statement on housing on 31 October 2007 that she would “encourage Fife Council—as I will any other council in the country—to increase the supply of land” (Official Report, c. 2842), whether Fife Council’s Structure Plan will be …
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The <i>Fife StructurePlan</i> was submitted to ministers in June 2006. Their consideration of the planhas been delayed whilst Fife Council re-appraise the housing allocations. It isexpected that the council will submit proposed housing amendments to the plan …
1 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-4700 which received a holding reply on 25 October 2007.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: A substantive answerwas given to question S3W-4700 on 21 November 2007.</p><p>All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, what powers and assets will be transferred from Scottish Enterprise Fife to Fife Council.
Answer · Jim Mather: Localregeneration activity and management of the Business Gateway contract willbecome the responsibility of the local authority. This will mean somereallocation of funds from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities but thedetail of this will be decided when …