Parliamentary questions
Jeremy Purvis
909 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what regulatory regimes exist for the scrutiny of financial management of care homes for elderly people.
Answer · Shona Robison: Under the Regulation of Care(Scotland) Act 2001 (the act) and its associated regulations, a care home serviceis required, as part of its application for registration, to provide the Care Commissionwith a business plan and cash flow statement, and where availa…
28 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that organisations representing the interests of parents of children with additional support needs, such as the National Deaf Children's Society, are kept informed of any changes to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 as a result of the r…
Answer · Adam Ingram: Any review of theEducation (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 would include an extensive stakeholder consultation exercise,which would encompass organisations representing the interest of parents ofchildren with additional support needs.</p>
28 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will seek to ensure that parents of deaf children with additional support needs can continue to make placing requests to schools that they feel best meet the needs of their children, regardless of the location of such schools, following the ruling of the Court of Session on 11 Octo…
Answer · Adam Ingram: We will takewhatever steps are necessary to ensure that the parents of children withadditional support needs are able to make placing requests to schools outwiththeir local authority area.</p><p>It is our clearunderstanding that this Court of Session decision…
28 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the ruling of the Court of Session delivered by Lord Macphail on 11 October 2007, whether it has issued guidance to local education authorities on how to deal with placing requests from parents of deaf children with additional support needs to have their children educated in sc…
Answer · Adam Ingram: We have not yetissued guidance to local education authorities as it is our clear understandingthat this decision will now be appealed to the House of Lords.</p>
16 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the changes are from the 2007-08 baseline for each proposed budget line at levels (a) one, (b) two and (c) three of the Education and Lifelong Learning portfolio resulting from Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, expressed in real (i) cash and (ii) percentage terms for each year o…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The information requestedfor levels one and two is given in <i>Draft Budget 2008-09: Real Terms Analysis</i>,a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib.number 44133).</p>
31 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers are deployed in community policing.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The numbers of officersdeployed on community policing is an operational matter for Chief Constables, andmay vary due to other daily policing challenges. The Scottish Government is committedto working with Chief Constables and Joint Police Boards to deliver 1,…
31 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the baseline figure is for the number of police on the streets which the Scottish Government is committed to increase by 1,000.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-5168 on 29 October 2007. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, thesearch facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
31 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what power it has to instruct chief constables to deploy officers in community policing.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-5892 on 8 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…
26 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has made of the tonnage of hen manure likely to be deposited by free range hens in the fields of Blythbank between 1 November and 31 March each year once the 250,000 free range egg enterprise is fully operational and what est…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: This information isnot held centrally, but is an operational matter for the Scottish Environment ProtectionAgency. I invite you to write to the agency’s chief executive, Dr Campbell Gemmell,about this matter.</p>
21 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on special advisers from June to September (a) 2006 and (b) 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: From 1 June to 30 September 2006 the amount spent on special advisers salaries, ERNICand employer pension contributions was £284,212. The figure for 1 June to 30 September 2007 was £210,973. In addition £21,487 relating toresidual costs for the special advis…
21 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which special advisers have attended meetings of the Cabinet since May 2007 and on how many occasions each has attended.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Governmentdoes not disclose details of attendance at individual Cabinet meeting. However,it has always been the case that special advisers may attend Cabinet meeting atthe invitation of the First Minister.</p>
14 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund screening for people with a family history of heart disease.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As part of the currentrevision of our Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Strategy, we are considering theemerging research evidence associated with the screening of the families of thosewith premature coronary heart disease.</p><p>Close relatives ofthose with …
14 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact assessment has been made of the effects on local media of the creation of the two new public websites by the Scottish Improvement Service.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Governmentand its public sector partners has an obligation to provide value for money in publicservice delivery. A full analysis of recruitment and public notice advertising spendwas undertaken by the Scottish Executive in 2005-06 confirming over…
13 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the part privatisation of blood testing products for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service through the sale of Alba Biosciences.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4287 on 20 September 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/…
13 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what ongoing funding is available for the Youth Work Facilities Improvement Fund.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The ScottishGovernment awarded £5 million to the youth work sector through the Youth WorkFacilities Improvement Fund in 2007-08, as part of the Year of Action resultingfrom the National Youth Work Strategy. Funding has been awarded to bids forresources which …
13 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to paragraph 14 of the consultation document on the abolition of the graduate endowment fee in respect of the forgoing of £15 million per annum in income, what the current budget is in the education department to meet in-year pressures.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The current budget,based on the previous administration’s departmental structures, can be found inthe Budget (Scotland) (No.4) Bill Supporting Document (SE 2007/02) which can befound in the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre (Bib. number 43697).</p>
12 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the acquisition of Alba Biosciences by Quotient BioResearch.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The majority of AlbaBiosciences business and income, over a number of years, has been derived from overseasmarkets outside the NHS. It was not, therefore appropriate to retain Alba Bioscienceas part of NHS Scotland, with responsibility for investment and asso…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current take up is of free school meals in the areas selected by it for pilot funding, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Adam Ingram: This information ispublished in table 8 of School Meals in Scotland 2007, which is available on the Scottish Government website:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/06/04134749/0">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/06/04134749…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average primary 1 to primary 3 class size is in schools in areas selected by it for free school meal pilot funding, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Maureen Watt: This information iscontained in table 6.6 of the Statistical Bulletin <i>Pupils in </i><i>Scotland</i><i>, 2006</i>, which can be accessed by using the following hyperlink:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/78">http://www.…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of nurseries operate without the services of a qualified teacher, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4165 on 4 October 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.…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurseries operate without the services of a qualified teacher, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4165 on 4 October 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.…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the cost would be to provide resources for every nursery to employ a qualified teacher.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4165 on 4 October 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.…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers require to be recruited in order to deliver access to a fully qualified nursery teacher for every nursery age child.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to questionS3W-4165 on 4 October 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.…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it estimates will be required in each year of the next spending review to meet the SNP manifesto pledge to deliver access to a fully qualified nursery teacher for every nursery age child, starting with children in deprived communities.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4165 on 4 October 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.…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers require to be recruited in order to meet the SNP manifesto pledge to deliver access to a fully qualified nursery teacher for every nursery age child, starting with children in deprived communities.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The latest statisticsshow that 55% of pre-school education centres have at least one General TeachingCouncil for Scotland (GTCS) registered member of staff. The figures vary acrossthe country and between types of provider. On purely numerical grounds, approxi…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it believes need to be met in the proposed free school meal pilots in primary 1 to primary 3 before extending free school meals to all schools.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Governmentwill take into account the findings of the evaluation of the trial including thechange in uptake of free school meals by primary 1 to 3 pupils and any other changesin attitudes and behaviours in relation to free school meals and healthy…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to measure the impact of its proposed free school meal pilots in primary 1 to primary 3.
Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4071 on 19 September 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/…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average class size in primary 1 to primary 3 is in schools in areas of multiple deprivation.
Answer · Maureen Watt: There are a rangeof ways we might define schools as being in areas of multiple deprivation, suchas free school meal entitlement and the numbers of pupils living in the 10%, 15%, etcmost deprived areas using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. It is no…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to measure the success of reducing class sizes to a maximum of 18 in primary 1 to primary 3.
Answer · Maureen Watt: By assessing the progresstowards and achievement of classes of 18 and the improvements in teaching and learningfrom teachers having more time to spend with each pupil.</p>
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the SNP manifesto commitment to maximum class sizes of 18 in primary 1 to primary 3 does not appear in the Government’s Programme for Scotland.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The government’s intentionto drive down class sizes and the early action taken to help deliver this is featuredon page 13 of the Government’s Programme for Scotland.</p>