Parliamentary questions

George Foulkes

1,927 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the accountable officer is for the expenditure incurred in relation to (a) Homecoming Scotland and (b) the Gathering 2009.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government''s Director-General Economy is the accountable officer responsible for expenditure incurred in relation to Homecoming Scotland 2009. The Scottish Government''s Permanent Secretary is the accountable officer responsible for exp…

22 Jun 2010 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the cost of all additional security measures at the Scottish Parliament is in the last three years.

Answer · Alex Johnstone: The Parliament has spent £2,314,000 in the last three years on additional security measures which can be broken down as follows: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=255 valign=top > Project </td> …

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated additional cost is of the reduction in prescription charges in 2010-11.

Answer · Shona Robison: The latest reduction in prescription charges from 1st April 2010 means patients now pay £3 per item when they pay for individual prescribed items or £28 and £10 for a 12 month and 4 month Prescription Pre-payment Certificate, respectively. The cost of the lat…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage uptake has been of free school meals in the last 12 months for which information is available.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The latest information on free school meal uptake is given in table 3 of the national statistics publication School Meals in Scotland, 2010. This can be found on the Scottish Government website at: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publicat…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual increase in cost would be to provide free school meals for all children.

Answer · Adam Ingram: It is estimated that to provide free school meals to all children currently in publicly funded schools (Primary, Secondary and the Special sector) would cost an additional £240 million each year. This figure does not include any costs associated with…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average total saving is on a house in each council tax band in the City of Edinburgh local authority area as a result of the freeze in council tax.

Answer · John Swinney: The council tax freeze relative to income benefits those council tax payers on lower incomes the most. The average total saving over the three year period of the freeze in each council tax band in the City of Edinburgh is given in the following table. The fig…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what prisoners have been released on compassionate grounds in the last 12 months.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Three prisoners have been granted early release on compassionate grounds in the past 12 months. Where the terms of the Data Protection Act allow, their details are provided in following table: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td …

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibilities have been allocated to Alex Bell as a special adviser.

Answer · John Swinney: Alex Bell''s responsibilities include advice on renewable energy issues, the relationship between constitutional progress for Scotland and economic success, and general preparation for questions and speeches.

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what changes in special advisers have been made in the last six months.

Answer · John Swinney: In April 2010 Stephen Noon and Stuart Nicolson resigned to participate in the UK General Election. Stephen Noon chose not to return but Stuart Nicolson returned to his Special Adviser role on 17 May 2010. Alex Bell was appointed as a Special Adviser…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to a further examination of the Forth Road Bridge to reconsider whether extra remedial work might extend its safe use for all vehicles.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland routinely liaise with the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) in relation to the condition of the Forth Road Bridge and will continue to do so. These discussions were well summarised publically during a re…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the savings would be in (a) annual revenue expenditure for the next five years and (b) total capital expenditure if the Forth Replacement Crossing project were cancelled.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As outlined the Financial Memorandum which accompanied the Forth Crossing Bill, the estimated capital expenditure (in outturn costs) in this year and the next five years (2010-11 to 2015-2016) is £1.792 billion, there is no forecast revenue expenditure for th…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further expenditure would be incurred if the Forth Replacement Crossing were cancelled immediately.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is estimated that up to £22 million pounds of expenditure would be incurred if the Forth Replacement Crossing project were cancelled immediately. This is in relation to contingent liability costs and work already committed. This figure does not include any…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimated expenditure on publicity is for the first quarter of 2011 and how this compares with the equivalent period in each of the last three years.

Answer · John Swinney: The seasonal nature of some of the Scottish Government public information campaigns means that the majority of activity takes place over the winter and into the spring. This is a pattern consistent with previous years, both under this and the previous adminis…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of the summer Cabinet programme that is scheduled to be held in different towns in 2010.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Previous summer programme costs can be found on the summer cabinet programme website which can be found at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/14944/costs">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/14944/costs</a>. As in previous years, this year''s cos…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been taken as to who will attend the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi on its behalf and, if so, (a) who this will be and (b) at what estimated cost.

Answer · Shona Robison: As Scotland will be the next host of the Commonwealth Games both the First Minister and the Minister for Public Health and Sport will attend part of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, although not concurrently. At this point it is not possible to calculate…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representatives officially attended any games on its behalf at the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa.

Answer · Shona Robison: No Scottish Ministers or Scottish Government officials attended any games in an official capacity during the 2010 football World Cup in South Africa.

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by what means the (a) First Minister and (b) Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth travelled to and from London for the Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary and Europe) meeting on 8 June 2010.

Answer · John Swinney: After undertaking constituency business, the First Minister flew to London from Aberdeen on 7 June 2010 for an evening meeting with the Secretary of State for Scotland. After the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) Meeting on 8 June 2010, the First Minister fle…

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what official journeys have been undertaken using public transport in 2010 by (a) the First Minster and (b) each cabinet secretary.

Answer · John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as this is available. A copy of the response will be placed in the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 51387).

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cars were provided for ministerial and associated travel from (a) its car pool and (b) private car hire firms in each of the last three years and at what cost.

Answer · John Swinney: The Government Car Service in Scotland provides transport for members of the Scottish Cabinet and ministers, ministers of other UK administrations when in Scotland, the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General, a limited number of senior officials in the Scottish …

22 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what purchases there have been in the last year for government hospitality at (a) Bute House, (b) Edinburgh Castle and (c) elsewhere.

9 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the operation of its boiler scrappage scheme favours large engineering companies over small, independent engineers.

Answer · Jim Mather: The operation of the boiler scrappage scheme was aimed at companies which are members of a recognised trade association in order to provide maximum protection to householders. We do not believe this need favour large engineering companies given that the major…

9 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a time limit on the installation of a new boiler under its boiler scrappage scheme.

Answer · Jim Mather: To claim the rebate, applicants must return the completed voucher and associated documents to the Energy Saving Trust within 12 weeks. Applicants are only entitled to claim their rebate of £400 when the installation has been completed.

9 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what protections are in place for successful applicants to the boiler scrappage scheme if their engineer does not have the required accreditation or professional memberships to install the system under its rules.

Answer · Jim Mather: In order to offer maximum protection to applicants under the Boiler Scrappage Scheme, the terms and conditions state that installers must be registered with Gas Safe (for gas installations) and a recognised industry body such as the Construction Licensing Exe…

9 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what accreditations or professional memberships heating engineers must have in order to install boilers under its boiler scrappage scheme.

Answer · Jim Mather: Installers must be registered with Gas Safe (for gas installations) and a recognised industry body such as the Construction Licensing Executive (CLE), the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers'' Federation (SNIPEF) or the Oil Firing Technical Assoc…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are in relation to the police forensic services provided in Edinburgh.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The provision of police forensic science services is an operational matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). SPSA is currently undertaking a forensic modernisation project looking at all aspects of the service provided to police forces across…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the relationship is between the Scottish Policing Board and the Scottish Police Services Authority and what their respective areas of responsibility are.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There is no formal relationship between the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) and the Scottish Policing Board. The SPSA''s statutory responsibilities are set out in the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006. The role a…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost is of the administration of the Scottish Policing Board.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There have been no additional costs associated with the administration of the Scottish Policing Board. The secretariat function is provided from existing resources in the Scottish Government.

26 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations (quangos) have been wound up since May 2007; what the total net savings have been; what plans there are to reduce expenditure further on quangos, and what relevant savings are projected.

Answer · John Swinney: Since May 2007 the number of National Devolved Public Bodies has reduced from 199 to 162 and plans are in place to reduce the number further to around 120 by April 2011. Our Simplification Programme will deliver estimated savings of £123 million ove…

26 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to abandoning plans for further Homecoming events in view of any losses and the need to curb expenditure.

Answer · Jim Mather: No consideration has been given to abandoning plans for further Homecoming events. On 25 May the independent evaluation of Homecoming Scotland 2009 was published by the leading economic and social development consultancy, EKOS. This research showed that Homec…

26 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made or will make of the effect on employment of reduced expenditure by the UK Government on reserved matters in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: The UK Government has not announced how the reductions in public spending it intends to implement in 2010-11 and beyond will affect expenditure on reserved public services in Scotland. However, the previous UK Government forecast, in the March 2010 Budget, th…