Parliamentary questions
George Foulkes
1,927 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many officials accompanied the First Minister 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/…
17 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive from whom the invitation to the First Minister to attend the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen was received; who the organisers were of the events that he attended in Copenhagen, and what is being done to follow up issues discussed during the visit.
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/…
17 Dec 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can confirm that the City of Edinburgh Council has received an above-inflation increase of 1.76% in its 2010-11 revenue budget and whether it expects the council to meet its concordat commitments.
Answer · John Swinney: I can confirm the increase in the City of Edinburgh Council''s provisional 2010‘11 revenue funding is 1.76%. Local government remains committed to implementing the concordat. The strength of the concordat lies in enshrining a realistic, flexible and sustainab…
16 Dec 2009 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the cost was of producing A Report to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on the Scheme for Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses, including the time of Parliament staff.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Sir Neil McIntosh undertook the examination of the Reimbursement of Members'' Expenses Scheme on a non-payment basis. The SPCB did agree to meet any travel and associated expenses incurred by Sir Neil and these amounted to £703.93.</p> <p >The public attit…
16 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on placing siblings in separate schools in order to achieve class size targets.
Answer · Michael Russell: The placing of children in schools is a matter for individual local authorities subject where possible to parental wishes.</p>
15 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make funding available to support (a) voluntary organisations and (b) faith groups to engage with civic society in the Maldives on climate change projects.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are currently no plans to make funding available to support voluntary organisations or faith groups specifically to engage with civic society in the Maldives on climate change projects.</p>
15 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its staff will be working on its climate change programme with the Maldives Government during 2010, broken down by directorate.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no specific staffing provision to work on co-operation with the Maldives Government on climate change during 2010. The Scottish European Green Energy Centre in Aberdeen is engaging with the Maldives on renewable energy, and support for this programme…
15 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments the First Minister made to the Maldives Government at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in respect of tackling climate change.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The First Minister signed a joint statement on climate change with President Nasheed of the Maldives while in Copenhagen. The text of the statement reads:</p> <p >Joint Statement on Climate Change from the Scottish Government and the Government of the Maldiv…
15 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the First Minister wrote to invite representatives of the Maldives Government to meet him to discuss climate change at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and whether it will make the invitation available on its website.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The First Minister was approached on 9 November 2009, with a request that a telephone call be set up for the First Minister and the President to discuss the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 and preparations for the UN climate change conference in Copenhage…
15 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister plans to visit the Maldives to follow up the commitments made to that country at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The First Minister hopes to visit the Maldives around the time of his trip to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, although no arrangements have been confirmed at this time.</p>
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive by which method of transport the Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Executive has travelled to London for weekly meetings on each occasion in 2009.
Answer · John Swinney: The Permanent Secretary attends weekly meetings in London as part of the leadership team of the UK Civil Service. A range of other meetings related to these responsibilities (including Permanent Secretary Sub-Group on Employee Relations, Permanent Secretaries…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what occasions (a) ministers and (b) special advisors to ministers have had (i) lunch and (ii) dinner with Campbell Gunn of the Sunday Post since May 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: No cabinet secretaries, ministers or special advisers have had a lunch or dinner specifically with Mr Campbell Gunn of the <i >Sunday Post</i>. Special advisers have shared a lunch table in the Scottish Parliament canteen with Mr Gunn, alongside other respect…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of its directorates or agencies have a policy to increase the purchase of Fairtrade goods and what the effect of such policies has been in the last two years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government''s Fair Trade policy is led by the Culture, External Affairs and Tourism Directorate. Across the Scottish Government estate, the staff restaurants sell a range of Fairtrade products and Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar is used for all i…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between ministers and officials of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution since May 2007 and what subjects were discussed.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since May 2007 the First Minister has met with representatives from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) on three occasions, in relation to the following matters. In addition, a number of specific meetings between Scottish Government officials and t…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what schools and hospitals the First Minister has visited since July 2009.
Answer · John Swinney: The First Minister has visited Montrose Academy, St Brigid''s Primary Glasgow, Cults Academy and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The Cabinet Secretary for Education has visited 16 schools and the Cabinet Secretary for Health has visited 13 hospitals since July 2009…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total financial allocation was to each local authority in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008-09 and what that allocation is for 2009-10.
Answer · John Swinney: The full details of the total grant support are issued to local authorities by circular. The most recent circulars can be found by following the link to the following Scottish Government website.</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used in deciding financial allocation to local authorities.
Answer · John Swinney: A range of needs-based indicators are used in the local government finance distribution methodology. These include indicators such as population, rurality, deprivation and road lengths, with the main indicators weighted towards population. The recent joint re…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds have been made available to individuals and organisations affected by flooding in November 2009.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Comprehensive information in the form requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government has made an interim payment to Moray Council of £141,329 under the Bellwin Scheme in respect of flooding in its area on 3 and 4 September 2009 and on 1 November 200…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers and officials visited Copenhagen at the time of the UN Climate Change Conference; what mode and class of transport they used; what meetings they attended, and what the total cost was.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The First Minister and the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change represented Scotland in Copenhagen during the UN Climate Change conference in December 2009 to promote Scotland''s world-leading targets set out in the Climate Change (Scotla…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers and officials are scheduled to attend the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Answer · Shona Robison: Discussions are taking place regarding ministerial and official attendance at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi but no decision has yet been made.</p>
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the official activities of the Permanent Secretary of the Scottish Executive to contribute to its climate change targets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29958 on 14 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…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Environment to contribute to its climate change targets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29958 on 14 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…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment to contribute to its climate change targets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29958 on 14 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…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Community Safety to contribute to its climate change targets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29958 on 14 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…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to contribute to its climate change targets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29958 on 14 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…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Children and Early Years to contribute to its climate change targets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29958 on 14 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…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning to contribute to its climate change targets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29958 on 14 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…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change to contribute to its climate change targets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29958 on 14 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…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism to contribute to its climate change targets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29958 on 14 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…
10 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been made in the ministerial activities of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth to contribute to its climate change targets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29958 on 14 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…