Parliamentary questions

George Foulkes

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

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to non-departmental public bodies regarding salary levels in 2010-11.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government''s public sector pay policies for staff pay remits and for senior appointments are revised annually. The 2009-10 pay policies were published in May 2009. The staff policy applies to pay settlements with effective dates from 1 May 2009…

28 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities regarding salary levels of chief officers; what action it proposes regarding any excessive increases in such salaries; whether it will make a statement on the matter, and, if so, when.

Answer · John Swinney: Chief officers salary levels are a matter for local authorities themselves as independent corporate bodies.

14 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers may agree expenditure only where such expenditure is included in the budget approved by the Parliament.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Public Finance Manual provides details of the circumstances under which the Scottish Government may undertake expenditure without the authority of a Budget Act. The relevant section is headed Expenditure Without Parliamentary Authority.</p…

14 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what account it takes of decisions of the Parliament that are critical of the actions of ministers.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government takes careful account of all decisions of the Parliament.

13 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to any precedent arising from the publication of former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith’s legal opinion on Iraq to the UK Government for making public legal opinions obtained by the Scottish Government on the proposed Referendum Bill.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27103 on 6 October 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/Ap…

13 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether legal opinion on the proposed Referendum Bill was sought from the late Professor Neil MacCormick QC.

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis the Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution expects that an independent Scotland would be a net contributor to the European Union, as stated by him to the Europe and External Relations Committee on 29 September 2009 (Official Report c. 1222).

Answer · Michael Russell: Annex B of the recently published National Conversation paper on Europe and Foreign Affairs sets out the background and methodology. This paper is available on the publications section of the Scottish Government website at: <a href="http://www.scotla…

2 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27398 by John Swinney on 29 September 2009, what responsibility it has in relation to the appointment of trustees of the Lothian Pension Fund

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no responsibilities in relation to the appointment of trustees for the Lothian Pension Fund. This is a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council.

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21592 by John Swinney on 20 March 2009, on what occasions it has been described as the SNP Government in official publications and press releases since May 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: The search facility on the corporate website indicates the term SNP Government has been used in seven official publications and two press releases since May 2007.

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27403 by Kenny MacAskill on 24 September 2009, whether the Scottish Ministerial Code precludes ministers from detailing the cost of any legal advice sought since May 2007 and, if not, whether it will provide that information.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Ministerial Code does not preclude ministers from detailing the cost of any legal advice sought since May 2007. Since that date the Scottish Government and its agencies have spent the following sums on legal representation and advice: <table…

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27349 by Bruce Crawford on 28 September 2009, on what occasion written briefs have been provided by it to SNP MSPs but not to MSPs from other political parties.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Information and briefing is provided to MSPs by the Scottish Government in accordance with the ministerial code.

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27397 by John Swinney on 29 September 2009, how many of its civil servants are members of the Lothian Pension Fund.

Answer · John Swinney: The pension arrangements that operate for Scottish Government civil servants are provided through the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme. No civil servants within the Scottish Government are current members of the Lothian Pension Fund.

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27347 by Kenny MacAskill on 24 September 2009, what the cost was of recent advertisements seeking applications for membership of prison visiting committees and how such members will fit into the new committees.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The cost of the recent advertisements seeking applications for membership of prison visiting committees to fill expected vacancies at the…

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27348 by John Swinney on 29 September 2009, on how many occasions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has met the President of COSLA when no other COSLA member was present and what subjects were discussed.

Answer · John Swinney: There have been no formal meetings between the President of COSLA and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth that have not also been attended by one or more others. Since 2007, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has had…

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the number of staff employed by Procurement Scotland in each of the last five years.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27909, on 21 October 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/App…

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the annual budget and running costs of Procurement Scotland in each of the last five years.

Answer · John Swinney: Procurement Scotland was officially launched in March 2008, with the task of developing and implementing procurement strategies for national Category A commodities on behalf of all Scottish public bodies. It was established as part of the Public Procurement R…

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the number of consultation exercises in relation to its legislation since May 2007, detailing in each case the (a) length of the consultation, (b) expenditure on publicity and (c) expenditure on events and promotion.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Details of the consultation activity on Scottish Government bills can be found in the policy memorandum which is submitted with each bill. The following table details the information relating to primary legislation introduced since May 2007. <table bord…

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it promotes the Scotland Performs website internally and to its agencies and what the annual cost of doing so is.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14246 on 16 July 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/Apps2/B…

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has budgeted to spend on advertising the Scotland Performs website to the public.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer to the member to the answer to question S3W-14246 on 16 July 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…

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost (a) was to build and (b) is to maintain its Scotland Performs website.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-14245 and S3W-14246, on 16 July 2008. 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.sc…

1 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will define what it means by substantially refurbished in the context of the school estate.

Answer · Keith Brown: As set out in the footnote to table 4 of the School Estate Statistics 2009 publication (<a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/10/08104324/0">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/10/08104324/0</a>), a school is recorded as having been s…

18 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S3W-27398 by John Swinney on 29 September 2009, what responsibility it has in relation to the appointment of trustees of the Lothian Pension Fund.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: At the time of transfer from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to Transport Scotland (May 2008) the combined costs for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link incorporating Paisley Corridor (signalling) Renewal project were estimated at £326 million out turn.