Parliamentary questions
Christina McKelvie
318 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish assessment plans for the Curriculum for Excellence.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Today in a speech to the Scottish Learning Festival in Glasgow, I will set out the Scottish Government''s Assessment Strategy. A copy of the strategy has been placed in Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49254). Additionally, we will publish …
10 Sep 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments it has received from the UK Treasury about allowing a further acceleration of capital spend to help address the threat to Scotland’s economy identified by the latest OECD projections that indicate that the United Kingdom is facing zero growth.
Answer · John Swinney: There are no current commitments from HM Treasury about the scope for further acceleration of capital expenditure. The Scottish Government is in regular dialogue with the UK Government about a range of financial issues, and we are making representations about…
17 Jul 2009 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S3W-25373 by Alex Fergusson on 16 July 2009, from which budgets the costs to it of the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution were met.
Answer · Alex Fergusson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25927 on 11 August 2009. 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/App…
17 Jul 2009 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S3W-25373 by Alex Fergusson on 16 July 2009, whether it will provide further breakdowns of the costs to it of the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution.
Answer · Alex Fergusson: The breakdown of costs to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body of the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution are as follows: the secondment of a clerk team leader for 14 months - £84,500; official reports of evidence sessions “ £17,181; events team (u…
25 Jun 2009 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has projected the cost to the Parliament of being involved in a steering group arising from the recommendations of the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution and, if so, how the costs would be incurred.
Answer · Alex Fergusson: The SPCB has not yet established any projected costs arising from motion S3M-4490 agreed to by the Parliament on 25 June 2009. As with the support provided to the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution, regular reports will be made to the SPCB.</p>
25 Jun 2009 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the cost to the Parliament was of the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution.
Answer · Alex Fergusson: The final cost to the SPCB of fulfilling the direction contained in motion S3M-976 to support the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution are as follows “ £111,161.87 on staff time (seconded Clerk Team Leader for 14 months, broadcasting contractors, SPICe su…
23 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing additional training capacity for clinical dental technicians.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is a strategic goal of this administration to increase clinical dental technician (CDT) capacity within the NHS in Scotland for the benefit of patients.</p> <p >I have listened also to the concerns of members of the Association of Cosmetic Dental Speciali…
18 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21047 by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 March 2009, whether the wallabies on Inchconnachan Island are in the same position as the beavers referred to in the answer.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Both the beavers referred to in the answer to question S3W-21047 and the wallabies on Inchconnachan Island are considered to be living outwith their natural range but for different reasons. In the case of the beavers this is because, although the species was …
17 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether wallabies are protected under EU habitat directives.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No.</p>
17 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the issues raised by the managers of Inchconnachan Island concerning the growth in the wallaby population.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24952 on 2 July 2009. 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/Apps2/Bu…
17 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the wallaby population on Inchconnachan Island does not negatively impact on the environment and other species.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority along with the Deer Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage are engaged in advising Luss Estates, who are responsible for the management of Inchconnachan Island and who are working to produce a conservati…
17 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to protect the wallaby population in Scotland.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Animal welfare legislation would apply to wallabies as it does to other species. The Scottish Government is not taking any other steps to protect the wallaby population in Scotland.</p>
17 Jun 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for local employment partnerships between NHS boards and other agencies during the current economic climate.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0625-01.htm">http://www.scot…
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the Joint Independent Inquiry on Kerelaw Residential School and Secure Unit will be published.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Report of the Independent Inquiry on Kerelaw Residential School and Secure Provision is published today. A copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48089).</p> <p >The Scottish Government welcomes the thorough and c…
19 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on ensuring that the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow will produce a lasting legacy.
Answer · Shona Robison: Together with a wide range of partners from the public, private and third sector, we are building a legacy plan from the 2014 Commonwealth Games - and other major events - which aims to benefit individuals, groups, clubs, communities and organisations across …
12 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve support for postgraduate and second degree studies.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland is the only country in the UK which directly funds taught postgraduate students. I announced yesterday arrangements for the establishment of a pilot initiative in academic year 2009-10 which will benefit up to 150 part-time postgraduate students stud…
10 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many school building or refurbishment projects that were completed after May 1997 were planned before May 1997.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Office did not collect information relating to the planning dates of school building or refurbishment projects. These were matters for local authorities.</p>
10 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools have had minor refurbishments since May 2007.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not collect information relating to minor refurbishments of schools. These are matters for local authorities.</p>
10 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools have been substantially refurbished in each year since 1992.
Answer · Keith Brown: The following table sets out the number of schools substantially refurbished between 1999 to 2008. Information relating to the years prior to 1999 is not available.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <…
10 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new-build schools have been completed in each year since 1992.
Answer · Keith Brown: The following table sets out the number of new-build schools completed for each year between 1999 to 2008. Information relating to the years prior to 1999 is not available.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=to…
25 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to offer to facilitate improvements in relations between Japanese and Chinese cultural organisations and tertiary education institutions.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Tertiary education institutions are autonomous organisations and, while it is ultimately their decision whether or not to engage with Chinese and Japanese cultural organisations, we do encourage our institutions to look more widely at engagement with other co…
25 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to support Japanese studies and Chinese studies in universities.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21323 on 6 March 2009. 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/Apps2/B…
25 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure adequate teaching of the languages of China and Japan in tertiary education.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Subject provision in tertiary education is a matter for individual institutions as autonomous bodies.</p>
25 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Funding Council on the teaching of the languages of China and Japan.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with the Scottish Funding Council on the teaching of the languages of China and Japan.</p>
17 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish and maintain a forward-look diary of public appointment vacancies to aid potential applicants.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government currently issues a forecast of forthcoming public appointment opportunities twice a year to people who have registered their interest in public appointments. This is in addition to publicising vacancies on the Scottish Government websi…
17 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-departmental public bodies there are and how this compares to the number in May 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: On taking office, the Scottish Government published a baseline list of 199 significant national public organisations for which it was responsible and could reform. It committed to reducing this by 25% by 2011 through its simplification programme. The publishe…
17 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution has offered the evidence it has gathered as a submission to the National Conversation and, if not, whether it will be invited to do so.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Commission on Scottish Devolution has not formally offered its evidence to the National Conversation. The Scottish Government has consistently said that the Commission might make a useful contribution to the National Conversation, although this will neces…
17 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be able to announce details of the Chinese summer school being negotiated with the Chinese authorities by Learning and Teaching Scotland and British Council Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning announced on Friday 20 February that a study visit for 51 pupils and nine teachers from Scottish schools will take place this summer. The visit will last for about two and a half weeks and involve pupi…
17 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish an analysis of progress made under The Scottish Government’s Plan for Engagement with China, published in May 2008.
Answer · Michael Russell: The targets and objectives within the China Plan run until 2011. There are no plans at present to publish an analysis on progress. In developing inputs under this plan we are clear that we are developing a long-term relationship with China which requires long…
17 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will produce a Scots translation of Choosing Scotland’s Future: A National Conversation: Independence and responsibility in the modern world.
Answer · Michael Russell: A summary of <i >Choosing </i><i >Scotland</i><i >''s Future: A National Conversation: </i><i >Independence</i><i > and responsibility in the modern world</i> has been translated into Scots and can be found on the Scottish Government website: </p> <p ><…