Parliamentary questions
Jeremy Purvis
909 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
31 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its public sector pay policy for senior appointments allows it to stipulate that no bonuses should be paid.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government''s Pay Policy for Senior Appointments allows for non‘consolidated performance payments for exceptional performance, though not all chief executives'' contracts include provision for this. Where they do, any proposal to make such a paym…
31 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the chamber on 25 March 2010 (Official Report c. 25132) that “We have reviewed a number of the contracts that are in front of us, and some bonus arrangements have been changed”, for what reason t…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32989 on 7 May 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
31 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the chamber on 25 March 2010 (Official Report c. 25132) that “We have reviewed a number of the contracts that are in front of us, and some bonus arrangements have been changed”, for what reason i…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32989 on 7 May 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
31 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the chamber on 25 March 2010 (Official Report c. 25132) that “We have reviewed a number of the contracts that are in front of us, and some bonus arrangements have been changed”, for what reason i…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32989 on 7 May 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
31 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the chamber on 25 March 2010 (Official Report c. 25132) that “We have reviewed a number of the contracts that are in front of us, and some bonus arrangements have been changed”, which bonus arran…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32989 on 7 May 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
31 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the chamber on 25 March 2010 (Official Report c. 25132) that “We have reviewed a number of the contracts that are in front of us, and some bonus arrangements have been changed”, what form these r…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32989 on 7 May 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
31 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the chamber on 25 March 2010 (Official Report c. 25132) that “We have reviewed a number of the contracts that are in front of us, and some bonus arrangements have been changed”, when these contra…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32989 on 7 May 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/P…
31 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the chamber on 25 March 2010 (Official Report c. 25132) that “We have reviewed a number of the contracts that are in front of us, and some bonus arrangements have been changed”, which contracts i…
Answer · John Swinney: Chief executives are employees of public bodies and the contractual relationship is between the chief executive and the public body that employs them.</p> <p >There are a number of circumstances where a public body might wish to review their chief executive'…
10 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is legally required to fund the Borders railway project to completion.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The terms of the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Act 2006 require that Scottish ministers, having commenced the Authorised Works, must complete the whole railway. It would not be possible to meet this obligation without funding.</p>
9 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of public sector contracts was awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises in 2009, broken down by value of contract.
Answer · John Swinney: We do not hold information on the number of contracts awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Scottish Procurement Information Hub does however hold information on the proportion of public procurement spending with SMEs. In 2007-08 (the most…
4 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Independence Advocacy: A guide for commissioners is an official publication of the Scottish Government.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As agreed by the Scottish Government Health Directorates the guide has been produced and published as part of the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance programme of work to assist Commissioners to engage with local advocacy planning and service user groups. …
4 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Code of Practice published in 2005 is the most recent Scottish Government code of practice for that Act.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I can confirm that the <i >Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 Code of Practice</i> (statutory guidance) which was published on 21 September 2005 is the most recent Scottish Government code of practice for that act. </p>
4 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provided to the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and has provided in 2009-10 and for what purpose.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) has received core funding of £230,000 in 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 from the Scottish Government''s Health Directorates. The SIAA has also received small additional amounts of funding for specific projects t…
22 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed in (a) third sector organisations and (b) social enterprises in each of the last three years.
Answer · John Swinney: The number of people employed in (a) third sector organisations and (b) social enterprises is not available from official statistical sources.</p> <p >Information from the Labour Force Survey for the October to December Quarter in each of the three years 20…
22 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) third sector organisations and (b) social enterprises contributed to the economy in each of the last three years.
Answer · John Swinney: The economic contribution of (a) the third sector and (b) social enterprises are not available from official statistics sources. However, statistics are available to monitor the social economy turnover in Scotland in relation to National Indicator 18.</p> <p…
22 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is evaluating the success of business support for third sector organisations.
Answer · John Swinney: Business support to the third sector will be evaluated through the forthcoming report <i >Third Sector Investment and Support Evaluation</i>. This is due to be published in the summer.</p>
22 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is evaluating value for money regarding business support for third sector organisations.
Answer · John Swinney: Value for money of business support will be an element of the current evaluation in the forthcoming report <i >Third Sector Investment and Support Evaluation</i>. This is due to be published in the summer.</p>
22 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action Business Gateway is taking to engage with the social enterprise sector.
Answer · Jim Mather: Delivery of the Business Gateway (BG) national website and telephone enquiry fulfilment service is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its chief executive to write to you in this regard.</p> <p >Business Gateway local delivery is an ope…
22 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what social enterprises Business Gateway has signposted to (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise since January 2008.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Business Gateway (BG) was an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise until April 2008. At that date responsibility for BG local delivery contracts, in Lowland Scotland, transferred to 12 lead local authorities. In April 2009 the BG was introduced in th…
22 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many social enterprises the aspire to enterprise consortium has signposted to Business Gateway since January 2008.
Answer · John Swinney: From the beginning of January 2008, until the end of February 2010, a total of 15 social enterprises were referred to Business Gateway from the Aspire to Enterprise Programme.</p>
22 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many social enterprises have contacted the aspire to enterprise consortium for business support since January 2008.
Answer · John Swinney: From the beginning of January 2008, until the end of February 2010, a total of 151 social enterprises have contacted the Aspire to Enterprise Programme for business support.</p>
22 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of its (a) current contracts contain and (b) previous contracts allocated in the last five years have contained community benefit clauses.
Answer · John Swinney: We published guidance on the use of community benefit clauses in February 2008. Since then, the Scottish Government has included community benefit clauses in the tender documentation for construction contracts for the Scottish Crime Campus and the managing ag…
22 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of its contracts were allocated to third sector organisations in each of the last five years and to which organisation in each case.
Answer · John Swinney: It is not currently possible to provide details of all contracts awarded to third sector organisations because the information is not held centrally.</p> <p >We have awarded a number of contracts to third sector organisations to support taking forward Enterp…
22 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it is taking to assist third sector organisations in winning procurement contracts in the (a) public, (b) private and (c) social enterprise sector.
Answer · John Swinney: We are committed to providing high quality public services and recognise the important role of the third sector in their delivery. The Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan includes provision of a wide range of support to help open markets across sectors incl…
28 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans the Scottish Futures Trust has to support the mutualisation of Scottish Water.
Answer · John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust to respond. His response is as follows: </p> <p >The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), as explained in the SFT''s current Business and Corporate Plans, is involved in working up and assessi…
28 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the funding package from the Scottish Futures Trust is for the Borders Rail project.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Borders Railway will be procured through a Design, Build, Finance Maintain Contract in line with the terms of the Scottish Government''s Non-Profit Distributing (NPD) model. The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), as a member of the Borders Railway Project Boar…
28 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that capital grant-funded schools have been designed and built to an acceptable standard.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30439 on 20 January 2010. 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/Apps…
21 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of establishing all government and regulatory initiatives in an independent Scotland.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: Scotland already has well established governmental and regulatory structures. The cost of establishing any additional structures to ensure appropriate accountability and scrutiny for matters which are currently the responsibility of the UK Government would be…
21 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29821 by Bruce Crawford on 14 January 2010, whether the £40 million stated in the answer is derived from the Scottish Government budget.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The £40 million reflects the contribution Scottish taxpayers make to the costs on a population share basis. Scotland is in surplus on current spending and is therefore in a stronger fiscal position than the UK in the most recent GERS reports. This suggests th…
20 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-30411 by Jim Mather on 14 January 2010, when the remaining 92 exchanges that provide a half a megabit per second broadband service will be upgraded.
Answer · Jim Mather: With reference to the Scottish Government''s news release of 9 December 2009 about the Exchange Activate upgrade programme, I can confirm that the Scottish Government is in discussion with BT regarding the upgrade of a small number of similar exchanges. We wi…