Christina McKelvie

17 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the outcomes of its meeting with representatives of Scotland’s artistic and creative communities scheduled for 18 February 2009.

Answer · Michael Russell: I met with representatives of Scotland''s creative and artistic communities at Edinburgh''s Traverse Theatre on February 18, 2009. This meeting was an initial fact-finding discussion, which gave those present the chance to hear my thoughts on the direction of…

17 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in sport, in line with the statements made on the main Arts, Culture and Sport page of its website.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Sport Legacy emerging from the 2014 Commonwealth Games focuses on building a robust infrastructure for sport at local level and developing a network of Community Sport Hubs across Scotland.</p> <p >By having a better infrastructure in place we will incr…

17 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in a diverse cultural life, in line with the statements made on the main Arts, Culture and Sport page of its website.

Answer · Michael Russell: Improving access to a diverse range of arts and cultural opportunities for the people of Scotland should start with sustaining those who produce the artistic and creative output people experience and enjoy. We are working closely with partners in local govern…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been treated at the accident and emergency departments at (a) Monklands and (b) Ayr Hospital since May 2007.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Between 1 May 2007 and 31 December 2008 there were (a) 110,782 accident and emergency attendances at Monklands Hospital and (b) 69,613 accident and emergency attendances at Ayr Hospital.</p> <p >These data are sourced from ISD Accident and Emergency data ma…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is measuring the success of the Year of Homecoming 2009.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19785 on 30 January 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/Apps…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been announced under its Cashback for Communities scheme.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has invested over £11 million to date in a range of diversionary projects for young people. This represents £2.5 million to the Scottish Football Association, £3 million to YouthLink, £1.4 million to Scottish Rugby Union, £1.7 million …

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the value is of the Titian painting, Diana and Actaeon.

Answer · Michael Russell: The purchase price of £50 million for Diana and Actaeon was negotiated between the owner, the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery London. This is substantially less than the likely open market value of the painting. Recent valuations (obta…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits have flowed from the meeting between the First Minister, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the CBI and the STUC on 21 October 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: The meeting on 21October 2008 between the First Minister, myself, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Director of CBI Scotland and the General Secretary of the STUC discussed a number of issues of importance to Scotland, including the actions…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the Scotland Office about fatal accident inquiries for Scots who have died abroad and what action it is taking as a result of any such representations.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No representations have been received from the Scotland Office about fatal accident inquiries for Scots who have died abroad except in relation to the deaths abroad of Scottish military personnel on active service, concerning which matter officials continue t…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been successful in retrieving “a substantial sum of National Lottery funding”, as called for in motion S3M-2589, which was passed unanimously on 25 September 2008.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government wrote to Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 7 November 2008 requesting the return of £150 million lottery diverted away from Scottish causes to help fund the London 2012 Games. At the time of writing we ha…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the findings of the national survey on adult literacy and numeracy to be published.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: A final report of the Scottish Adult Literacy and Numeracy Survey is scheduled for publication in January 2010, however, initial findings from the survey will be available before the end of 2009.</p>

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly rebuilt or significantly refurbished schools have been completed since May 2007.

Answer · Keith Brown: Between May 2007 and last month there have been 152 schools either newly rebuilt or significantly refurbished.</p>

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to commission research into the impact of the abolition of the graduate endowment fee.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Initial evidence on how the abolition of the graduate endowment fee has impacted on young peoples'' decision to study should be available from the Student Income, Expenditure and Debt Survey (SIEDS) which is due to be published in late spring 2009. We will co…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcomes were of the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) conference on 9 February 2009, as announced in its news release on 26 January 2009.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I will be announcing the publication of the report of the PACE Summit before the end of March. The report will contain a synopsis of the day and actions to take forward to enhance further the operation of PACE.</p> <p >One area discussed during the summit wa…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to support traditional arts and music other than through the recommendations of the Traditional Arts Working Group.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government continues to support traditional arts and music throughout Scotland. The Scottish Arts Council, as the main funding body for the arts in Scotland, supports a variety of traditional music and arts organisations through foundation, proje…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role Scotland’s artisans will play in its cultural strategy.

Answer · Michael Russell: As I stated during my meeting with representatives of Scotland''s artistic and creative communities on 18 February 2009, our cultural policy will support all creative practitioners, promote access and encourage participation.</p> <p >The Scottish Government …

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken since May 2007 to enhance the protection of birds of prey.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is implementing the recommendations of the review of the arrangements for preventing, detecting and prosecuting wildlife crime Natural Justice. Revitalising the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime and strengthening law enforc…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether beavers released into the wild in Scotland would be a protected species, meaning that it would be illegal to kill individual beavers.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Informal guidance from the European Commission has clarified their view that small populations of an animal species introduced deliberately or accidentally by man to locations to which they would not have spread naturally in the foreseeable future, should be …

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an intervention such as the release of beavers into a special area of conservation would infringe the EU habitats directive.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Any release of beavers into the wild would require a licence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended. In advising ministers on any such licence, Scottish Natural Heritage would consider the potential effects on any special area of conservation…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Knapdale Woods remains a special area of conservation and, if so, whether it is appropriate to release beavers into that area.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21044 on 10 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliam…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will press ahead with its plans to release beavers into the wild and, if so, when it will do so and how it will ensure that the animals can live in harmony with forestry.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Royal Zoological Society of Society plan to release beavers is subject to a licence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. An appropriate assessment of the proposals undertaken by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH as a r…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to secure the purchase of the Titian painting, Diana and Callisto, by 2012.

Answer · Michael Russell: The National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery London will be responsible for fundraising for Diana and Callisto, using the longer timescale to the end of 2012 to plan and implement an extensive campaign for private sector funding.</p> <p >There…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what costs it bears for student support that do not form part of the monies that students receive.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Executive bears costs for providing student support that do not form part of the monies received by students under the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) budget heading under the following budgets detailed in the table:</p> <table borde…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-ministerial events have been held in Bute House in each year since 1999 and who bore the cost of each such event.

Answer · John Swinney: Information regarding non-ministerial events held at Bute House is not held centrally.</p>

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will institute ongoing monitoring of provision of support for the Scots language in order to build on the work done in the audit of current provision for the Scots language.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Audit of Current Provision for the Scots Language was not intended to be exhaustive and could not capture every single act of provision in Scotland during the time available to the staff undertaking the research. However, the Scottish Government recognise…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to take forward the recommendations contained in the report, Audit of Current Scots Language Provision in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Russell: It is clear to me that the recommendations contained in the report of the <i >Audit of Current Scots Language Provision in Scotland</i> cannot be taken forward seriously without involving the Scots language community.</p> <p >My predecessor Linda Fabiani als…

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers it expects to be in post or to have completed training and be ready to take up a post by December 2009 and how this compares with the figure as at May 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: On 5 March Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister, announced that the Scottish Government was undertaking a police force projection study. We intend to publish the results within the next few weeks.</p>

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many modern apprenticeships have been funded by it or by predecessor bodies either directly or indirectly in each year for which figures are available.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The table below shows all modern apprenticeships starts entered to Skills Development Scotland''s Management Information system between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2008.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > …

11 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish the guidance, Safeguarding Children in Scotland who may have been Trafficked.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government has today published the multi-agency guidance <i >Safeguarding Children in </i><i >Scotland</i><i > who may have been Trafficked</i>. The guidance, which was subject to detailed public consultation in 2008, will support professionals…

5 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has provided for police and firefighters’ pensions.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: <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/sor0205-01.htm">http://www.scot…