Parliamentary questions
George Foulkes
1,927 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the director of the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) Forensic Services stated a preference to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice for any of the options in the SPSA modernisation options paper prior to being informed of the recommended option in September 2010.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The provision of forensic science services is the responsibility of the SPSA. It was the SPSA board which took the decision about which of the options, set out in the SPSA forensics modernisation option paper, it would recommend to me in its letter of 30 Sept…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Justice had with (a) each chief or deputy chief constable, (b) each police board and (c) the director of the Scottish Police Services Authority to discuss the future of forensic services in Scotland prior to a decision being made.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I meet regularly with chief constables and conveners of police boards to discuss a range of matters. I chair the Scottish Policing Board which is attended by chief constables and conveners. In April 2010, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Police Services Au…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Justice met the Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders Police to discuss the future of forensic services in Scotland before a decision was reached and whether the cabinet secretary asked the chief constable to meet him.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I has regular one to one meetings with the Chief Constables of all eight forces to discuss a range of matters.</p> <p >I gave careful consideration to the written submissions received from all eight forces in response to the Scottish Police Services Authori…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can provide assurances that any future changes to police support services, such as the Scottish Police Services Authority, will be made in consultation with police boards and the procurator fiscal.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government launched a consultation on the future of Scottish policing on 10 February 2011 in order to widen the debate and build consensus about how we can maintain our excellent police service in the face of unprecedented cuts from Westminster. …
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) agencies, (b) organisations and (c) public bodies and services it has provided with literature and other products for the purpose of encouraging a sense of national identity since 2007 and what the total cost was.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As covered in the answer provided to question S3W-39227 on 25 February 2011, taking pride in a strong, fair and inclusive national identity is one of the Scottish Government''s National Outcomes. It is supported by a wide-ranging and complex set of policies, …
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) agencies, (b) organisations and (c) public bodies and services it provided with literature for the purpose of celebrating St Andrew’s day 2010.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Executive has transferred operational responsibility for the delivery of St Andrew''s day and winter festivals commitments to EventScotland from 2010 onwards. I have asked EventScotland to respond. Its response is as follows:</b></p> <p >EventSc…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) agencies, (b) organisations and (c) public bodies and services it has provided with Saltire flags for purposes other than celebrating St Andrew’s day in each of the last four years and what the total cost was.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Saltire is Scotland''s national flag and dates back to the 12th century. It is one of the most recognisable symbols of Scotland and encourages a sense of pride amongst Scots. Therefore it is natural that the Scottish Government uses it for promotional pur…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an estimate of how much students from England who have attended Scottish universities and colleges have paid in council tax in each of the last four years.
Answer · Michael Russell: Students are exempt from paying council tax in Scotland, where they met the following criteria: aged either under or over 20 and are enrolled at a prescribed educational establishment for the purpose of undertaking a specified course of education which they a…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an estimate of how much students from England who have attended Scottish universities and colleges have contributed to the economy during their studies in each of the last four years.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has no plans to make such an estimate.</p>
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many registered charity street workers there are and how many are on commission.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: This information is not held centrally.</b></p>
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations are in place regarding the conduct of charity street workers; what limitations the regulations place on their conduct, and whether it will review the regulations with the aim of ensuring that people are not pressurised to give to charity.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Public charitable collections are currently regulated by section 119 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, and the Public Charitable Collections (Scotland) Regulations 1984, as amended. Local authorities are responsible for issuing licences for street …
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) 25 to 50 and (b) 51 to 75 have been convicted of dangerous driving in each of the last five years in the Lothian and Borders Police force area; how many have (i) received a lifetime ban and (ii) had their licence removed, and what the average period of disqualific…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >There were no disqualifications for life during this period.</p> <p >Persons Convicted of Dangerous Driving in Lothian & Borders<sup>1</sup>, 2005-06 to 2009-10</p> <table border=1 cel…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) 25 to 50 and (b) 51 to 75 have been convicted of causing death or serious injury through dangerous driving in each of the last five years in the Lothian and Borders Police force area; how many have (i) received a lifetime ban and (ii) had their licence removed, an…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >There were no disqualifications for life during this period.</p> <p >Persons Convicted of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving<sup>1</sup> in Lothian and Borders, 2005-06 to 2009-10</p> <tabl…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) 25 to 50 and (b) 51 to 75 have been convicted of dangerous driving in each of the last five years; how many have (i) received a lifetime ban and (ii) had their licence removed, and what the average period of disqualification was.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons Convicted of Dangerous Driving in Scottish Courts<sup>1</sup>, 2005-06 to 2009-10</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=top > <…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) 25 to 50 and (b) 51 to 75 have been convicted of causing death or serious injury through dangerous driving in each of the last five years; how many have (i) received a lifetime ban and (ii) had their licence removed, and what the average period of disqualification…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table.</p> <p >There were no disqualifications for life during this period. </p> <p >Persons Convicted of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving<sup>1</sup> in Scottish Courts, 2005-06 to 2009-10</p> <table …
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a policy of encouraging a sense of national identity among young children; whether it has provided schools with literature or guidelines to achieve this end, and, if so, at what total cost.
Answer · Michael Russell: Taking pride in a strong, fair and inclusive national identity is one of the Scottish Government''s national outcomes. This is supported by a range of policies, programmes and initiatives across sectors and in partnership with a range of organisations.</p> <…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) agencies, (b) organisations and (c) public bodies and services it has provided with literature and other products for the purpose of encouraging a sense of national identity and at what total cost.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Taking pride in a strong, fair and inclusive national identity is one of the Scottish Government''s National Outcomes. It is supported by a wide-ranging and complex set of policies, programmes and initiatives across sectors. For example, the quality of our la…
1 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned any (a) agencies, (b) organisations or (c) services to produce Scottish history books or books containing elements of Scottish history for young people and, if so, what the titles are; whether it provided guidelines as to the content, and what the total cost wa…
Answer · Michael Russell: No such books have been commissioned by the Scottish Government. Online resources on Scotland''s History have been developed by Learning and Teaching Scotland in partnership with a wide range of organisations and professional historians.</p>
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider permanently reducing the ceiling for (a) starting salaries and (b) performance payments for senior civil servants.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government follows Cabinet Office guidance on setting starting salaries. In the majority of cases, these are set at or near the minimum of the pay range. On some occasions, a higher starting salary is offered, where this is required to attract a …
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Public Health and Sport will commission research into the impact of negative role models in football on young people who play football.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the very positive role football clubs and players have in their communities across Scotland in helping to inspire young people to participate in not just football but all sports. That is why we are investing in a range of in…
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish on its website (a) detailed job descriptions of each member of the Infrastructure Investment Group, (b) details of what each member has done in relation to their role on the group, (c) the number of hours that each member spends on infrastructure investment busines…
Answer · John Swinney: My responses to the four separate points are as follows:</p> <p > (a) Civil Servants agree with their managers objectives at the start of every reporting year (which runs 1 April to 31 March) as part of the annual performance management arrangements. Their …
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37254 by John Swinney on 22 November 2010, whether it will publish in its staff directory the specific functions of each director and deputy director on the Infrastructure Investment Group.
Answer · John Swinney: Following a major restructuring exercise within the Scottish Government, the Scottish Government''s Business Directory has been extensively updated and staff at all grades have been asked to ensure that their functions are accurately recorded on the business …
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38496 by Michael Russell on 20 January 2011, whether it will provide a response that addresses the specific issues raised in the question.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has already provided an answer to question S3W-38496. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Busi…
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its (a) director generals, (b) directors and (c) deputy directors have received non-consolidated performance payments and what the total amount was in each of the last four years.
27 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many senior civil servants received non-consolidated performance payments and a pay increase in the same year and what the total amount was in each of the last four years.
26 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has (a) estimated the cost of operating and (b) researched the logistics of establishing armed forces should Scotland become independent
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As set out in the Scottish Government''s White Paper <i >Your Scotland, Your Voice</i>, published on 30 November 2009, there would be a range of choices for an independent Scotland''s defence policy and defence capability, the logistics and costs for which wo…
25 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38473 by Fiona Hyslop on 24 January 2011, whether it will provide the cost of the activity when it is correlated.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has transferred operational responsibility for the delivery of St Andrew''s Day and Winter Festivals commitments to EventScotland from 2010 onwards.</b></p> <p >EventScotland will provide the cost of the activity once it has been corr…
24 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many instances of dangerous driving by people under 25 were recorded in the Lothian and Borders Police force area in 2010.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally. The police recorded crime data collected centrally is based on an aggregate return from each of the eight police forces in Scotland and does not include the ages of perpetrators.</b></p>
24 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under 25 convicted of dangerous driving in the Lothian and Borders Police force area in each of the last five years have (a) received a lifetime ban, (b) had their car confiscated, (c) had their car seized and (d) had their licence removed.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information on persons disqualified from driving for dangerous driving in 2005-06 to 2009-10, in the Lothian and Borders police force area, is given in the following table.</b></p> <p >There were no disqualifications for life during this period…
24 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under 25 were convicted of causing death or serious injury through dangerous driving in the Lothian and Borders Police force area in 2010 and how many (a) received a lifetime ban, (b) had their car confiscated, (c) had their car seized and (d) had their licence removed.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There were no convictions of persons under 25 for causing death through dangerous driving in Lothian and Borders police force area in 2009-10.</b></p>