Parliamentary questions

George Foulkes

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

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what land is owned by Transport Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government in the vicinity of the Forth Replacement Crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland do not own any land on behalf of the Scottish Government, land is owned outright by the Scottish Ministers. Details of all land owned by Scottish ministers in the vicinity of the Forth Replacement Crossing can be found in the Book of Refere…

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further consultations it is planning in connection with the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government, continues to engage with the public, affected parties and stakeholders on matters relating to the design of the proposed scheme, and the provisions included in the Forth Crossing Bill and its accompany…

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what revisions have been made to the proposed Forth Replacement Crossing project as a result of consultations.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The main features of the scheme which have been shaped and amended through consultation include: the inclusion of north and southbound public transport slip roads onto the A90 at South Queensferry were added to the design to give access to and from …

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to proposals for a Forth crossings visitor centre at the site of the former Forth Bridges Motel.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: None as yet. We are currently considering the location of a temporary visitor centre for training and organised visits during the currency of the work.

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what visits Scottish ministers have made to areas affected by the Forth Replacement Crossing project since May 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Ministers have visited areas affected by the Forth Replacement Crossing on a number of occasions.

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation meetings have been held with (a) MSPs, (b) consultants and (c) local groups since 16 July 2009 regarding the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Forth Replacement Crossing Consultation and Engagement Report published in November 2009 explains the approach to consultation and engagement that was adopted by Transport Scotland, how this was implemented and how feedback received through the pr…

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a visual impact report for the Forth Replacement Crossing project will be produced that includes gantry, road and associated developments.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A visual impact assessment which includes gantry, road and associated developments has been undertaken and is reported in Chapter 13 (Visual) of the Environmental Statement to the Forth Crossing Bill.

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many compulsory purchase orders (a) have been and (b) are expected to be issued in connection with the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No compulsory purchase orders have been or will be issued in connection with the Forth Replacement Crossing project. The Forth Crossing Bill will provide the necessary powers for the compulsory purchase or occupation of land required for the proposed scheme.<…

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what listed buildings will be affected by the Forth Replacement Crossing project and what action is planned to (a) protect them or (b) lift their listed status.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following listed buildings will be affected by the Forth Replacement Crossing project: St. Margaret''s Hope (including Gatelodge, Piers, Boundary Walls, Walled Garden to South and Arch); Ferry Craig, South Queensferry; Hope…

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place since May 2007 between (a) Transport Scotland officials and (b) the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change and groups from South Queensferry regarding the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates has been spent on the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Since December 2007, when I announced to Parliament the decision to proceed with a replacement bridge, approximately £43 million has been spent on the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

13 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to carry out a broader inquiry into the competitive tendering process for care and support of vulnerable adults that would examine whether the City of Edinburgh Council has met the relevant recommendations in its 2008 Social Work Inspection Agency performance report and c…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Social Work Inspection Agency undertook a follow-up inspection of City of Edinburgh Council in October 2009 to monitor progress made by the council in implementing the recommendations made in the 2008 performance inspection report. The report of the follo…

13 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the leader of the City of Edinburgh Council on 2 December 2009 of an independent evaluation into the competitive tendering process, whether it has approached the council regarding the evaluation and, if so, what representations it has made on whether the ev…

Answer · Shona Robison: The procurement of social care services is a matter for individual Councils; it would not be appropriate for ministers to intervene in local decision-making. We have, however, developed draft guidance on social care procurement, on which we are currently cons…

13 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were incurred by Elaine C Smith as a consequence of her radio recordings for Weather Wise.

Answer · John Swinney: I regret that, under the Data Protection Act 1998, Section 7 (4) and (6), I am unable to release the information requested by the member. Ms Smith has confirmed that she will be using her fee to fund her support for a range of charities.

8 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is playing a part in the review of funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England for university museums and galleries being led by Sir Muir Russell.

Answer · Michael Russell: The review to which the question refers is being undertaken by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and concerns it''s funding for university museums and galleries in England. The Scottish Government is therefore not involved.

8 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it calculates the average cost of answering a written parliamentary question.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The methodology for calculating the average cost of answering a written parliamentary question is set out in the Scottish Government Finance Study, published on 2 October 2008, copies of which were placed in The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. nu…

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders (a) subject to a community service order and (b) in detention were deployed to help in communities affected by adverse weather conditions on each day since 18 December 2009.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information for the full period requested is not held centrally. In response to a request for information on numbers of offenders on community service involved in work to combat the winter weather in the week 5 to 12 January, however, 29 out of 32 local autho…

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions or meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and local authority education officials since May 2007 about the principles and procedures for school closures in adverse weather conditions.

Answer · Michael Russell: No such discussions or meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary and council education officials. There has been and continues to be, especially during the current period of severe weather, appropriate and close liaison between Scottish Governme…

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings or discussions took place between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and chief officers of NHS boards between 18 December 2009 and 6 January 2010.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Officials in the Scottish Government Health Directorates have maintained daily contact throughout the period with the senior management teams of all NHS boards, including the Scottish Ambulance Service and NHS 24, to discuss a range of current issues. In view…

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what occasions the Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Executive was at work in his office between 18 December 2009 and 6 January 2010.

Answer · John Swinney: Between 18 December and 6 January, the Permanent Secretary was at work in his office on: Friday 18 December 2009 Monday 21 December 2009 Tuesday 22 December 2009 Wednesday 23 December 2009 Tuesday 29 December …

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what journeys have been undertaken by public transport by ministers since 18 December 2009.

Answer · John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50056).

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional finance will be made available to local authorities to deal with the consequences of the extended period of snow and low temperatures.

Answer · John Swinney: In line with the partnership working set out in the concordat, the Scottish Government is in regular contact with our local government partners to discuss a range of financial pressures on their budgets, including the recent severe winter weather, and conside…

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the Scottish Government Resilience group and on how many occasions it has met since 22 December 2009.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As of 14 January 2010, the Cabinet Sub-Committee SGoRR had met 10 times during the current period of severe winter weather. The committee has been chaired by the First Minister and attendance has included a number of cabinet secretaries and ministers dependin…

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the respective legal responsibilities are of the householder and local authority where an accident occurs on a pavement cleared of snow by the householder.

Answer · John Swinney: Any legal responsibility for an accident would depend on the particular circumstances and ultimately a court would determine whether any person had acted reasonably or had caused or contributed to the accident through their careless or reckless action. Househ…

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements were undertaken by (a) the First Minister, (b) each cabinet secretary and (c) other ministers between 18 December 2009 and 6 January 2010.

Answer · John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50055).

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will write to provide the information requested in S3W-21590 in line with his holding response of 20 March 2009.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested in S3W-21590 was not available in time to meet the original deadline and a holding response was issued on 20 March 2009. I wrote to the member on 15 January 2010 with this information and an apology for the delay in its provision. A …

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will write to provide the information requested in S3W-27400 in line with his holding response of 29 September 2009.

Answer · John Swinney: I wrote to the member on 3 March 2010. A copy of the letter was also placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49262).

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-27408, which received a holding reply on 30 September 2009.

Answer · John Swinney: A substantive answer to question S3W-27408 issued on 24 March 2010.

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many classroom assistants are employed in special education in each local authority and how this compares with the figure for each of the last five years.

Answer · Michael Russell: Information on the number of classroom assistants employed in special education in each local authority in 2009 can be accessed at table 9.9 in the statistical bulletin Teachers in Scotland published on 27 November 2009. A link to the table is set out below:<…

17 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many officials accompanied the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on his visit to Copenhagen for the UN Climate Change Conference; what the mode and class of travel was in each case, and what the total cost was.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29975 on 17 March 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/Apps2/…