Parliamentary questions

George Foulkes

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

3 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost would be of removing the upper age limit to the Young Students’ Bursary.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The estimated additional cash cost to the Scottish Government of removing the upper age limit to the Young Students'' Bursary would be approximately £30.1 million.

3 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what topics the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing discussed with the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police at their meeting on 21 July 2009.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: When I met with the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police on 21 July 2009 we discussed progress on increasing the number of police officers in the Strathclyde police area; alcohol-related crime, and the change in the pattern of violent crime. There are increa…

3 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to follow up the visit of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth to Japan from 20 to 23 July 2009.

Answer · John Swinney: My visit to Japan in July, focused on strengthening business links with Japan through a series of meetings with Japanese businesses, Scottish companies in Japan and academic and industry associates. I met with a range of Japanese businesses with the …

3 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what topics the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth discussed with Sir John Arbuthnott at their meeting on 15 July 2009.

Answer · John Swinney: I met with Sir John Arbuthnott at his request, to be provided with an update on progress with his independent review, which was commissioned by the Clyde Valley Partnership of Local Authorities.

3 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it reconciles freezing council tax with its guarantee to increase police numbers and maintain law and order, when Scotland’s biggest police force is reporting a cash shortfall of up to £34.7 million.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0903-01.htm">http://www.scot…

1 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason question S3W-22429, lodged on 30 March 2009, has not yet been given a substantive answer.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22429, on 17 September 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/A…

19 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements the Minister for Parliamentary Business has undertaken since 25 June 2009.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Since 25 June 2009 I have undertaken a number of official engagements. These are detailed in the following table: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=540 > <tr > <td width=108 valign=top > Date </td> <td wid…

19 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have (a) been sought and (b) taken place between Scottish and UK Government ministers since 25 June 2009.

Answer · Michael Russell: Records indicate that there have been a total of 23 meetings involving Scottish and UK Government ministers in the period since 25 June 2009. This figure includes tele- and video conferences. No record of meetings sought is held centrally.

19 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what direct representation it has made to the UK Government since 25 June 2009 on measures to tackle the rise in unemployment.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: On 25 August 2009, I met Jim Knight, Minister of State for Work and Pensions, to discuss a range of matters. I again highlighted the importance of joint working to develop and implement policies to support people into sustained work. We agreed to establish re…

19 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representation it has made to the Scottish Football Review Committee, chaired by Henry McLeish.

Answer · Shona Robison: Both the First Minister (9 June) and Deputy First Minister (15 September) have hosted meetings with Henry McLeish at which the Scottish Football Review was discussed. The Minister for Public Health and Sport has also had a detailed discussion with Mr McLeish …

19 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings ministers have had with (a) Diageo, (b) Edmington, (c) William Grants, (d) the Scotch Whisky Association, (e) the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and (f) the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) since 25 June 2009 regarding the future of the Scotch whisky industry.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish ministers have met both Diageo and Whyte and Mackay to discuss issues around their recent announcement of expected job losses in the whisky industry. Discussions have also been held with representatives of Unite and GMB trade unions. No ministerial l…

19 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have died as a result of medical negligence in Scottish hospitals in each month since May 2007.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information pertaining to the cause of deaths in Scotland is available on the General Registrars Office for Scotland web site using the following link: <a href="http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/">http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk</a>.

19 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been murdered in Scotland since May 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information is available, on a financial year basis, on the number of homicide victims, with homicide being defined as murder and culpable homicide. Information on the number of homicide victims in Scotland in 2007-08 is given in table 1 of the Stati…

19 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been killed in accidents on Scottish roads in each month since May 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of people who have been killed in accidents on Scottish roads in each month since May 2007. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > Month </td> <td nowrap val…

19 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information is not currently available to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice which prevents him from making a decision regarding Abdelbasset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I took my decisions on 19 August 2009 and announced them on 20 August.

19 Aug 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it expects its audited accounts for 2008-09 to be published.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will publish its 2008-09 audited accounts in November 2009.

19 Aug 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the total extra expenditure has been on the Parliament building since its commencement in use by MSPs.

Answer · Alex Johnstone: The Parliament sets budgets annually for ongoing maintenance and any other works. Expenditure is reported as part of the Chief Executive''s Report to the SPCB. The Parliament does not have a budget category for extra expenditure.

19 Aug 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body for what reason it is not permitted to print the name of Members’ spouses on Scottish Parliament Christmas cards.

Answer · Tricia Marwick: : The Scottish Parliament Christmas card, for members'' use in their capacity as elected representatives, features the Scottish Parliament logo. There are specific rules in place relating to the Parliament''s logo which is an armorial bearing. These state tha…

19 Aug 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will now review its decision to close the Parliament building to the public on Sundays.

Answer · Tricia Marwick: : The SPCB decided that the Parliament building would close to general public visitors on Sundays, with effect from Sunday 10 February 2008. This change was part of the SPCB''s wider considerations on how to best use our resources to achieve the aims in our m…

19 Aug 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on what basis it has refused to publish details of the building maintenance contract for the Parliament building.

Answer · Alex Johnstone: Details of SPCB maintenance contracts, their estimated contract value and expenditure to date are published on the Scottish Parliament''s website.

19 Aug 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what estimate it has made of the cost of the further examination of the MSP expenses system by Sir Neil McIntosh.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Sir Neil McIntosh is conducting the examination of the Reimbursement of Members'' Expenses Scheme on a non-payment basis, although the SPCB will meet any travel expenses incurred by Sir Neil. There may also be some costs associated with gauging pub…

19 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why question S3W-25137, lodged on 23 June 2009, has not yet been given a substantive answer.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25137 on 10 September 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…

19 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why question S3W-25138, lodged on 23 June 2009, has not yet been given a substantive answer.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25138 on 18 September 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…

17 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26257 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 August 2009, whether it will guarantee that the setting of the reimbursement rate payable to bus operators will not result in any adverse changes in the eligibility criteria for the free bus travel scheme in the futur…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have been clear that the eligibility criteria for all those who currently benefit from the scheme will not be affected by the setting of the reimbursement rate payable to bus operators.

14 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that incandescent light bulbs will still be available to people with medical conditions affected by the use of compact fluorescent or low-energy light bulbs after 2012.

Answer · Shona Robison: Matters of product safety and consumer safety are reserved to Westminster and responses to possible health concerns related to the provisions of the European Framework Directive 2005/32/EC and the related Working document on possible ecodesign requirement…

14 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has corresponded with people with medical conditions affected by the use of compact fluorescent or low-energy light bulbs in relation to the phasing out of incandescent light bulbs.

Answer · Shona Robison: Consumer safety and product safety are reserved matters led by UK Government departments. However, the Scottish Government has responded to three letters on this issue over the last 15 months.

14 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 16, (b) 16 to 24, (c) 25 to 34, (d) 35 to 44, (e) 45 to 54, (f) 55 to 64, (g) 65 to 74 and (h) 75 and over have medical conditions affected by compact fluorescent or low-energy light bulbs.

Answer · Shona Robison: A breakdown of this information is not available. However, it is estimated that up to 2,500 people in Scotland may be affected.

5 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Islamic Federation will be required to repay all or part of the grant awarded to it over a year ago for a festival that has not yet taken place.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Islamic Foundation has repaid £128,000 of the original £200,000 grant for IslamFest to the Scottish Government.

5 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it has not updated the list of ministerial engagements on its website for six months.

Answer · John Swinney: We intend to publish this information shortly.

5 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has responded to the letter of 2 June 2009 from a member of the public regarding the accuracy of his parliamentary answer on bullying.

Answer · John Swinney: This matter is between the Scottish Government and the member of the public, who was an ex employee of the Scottish Government, and is being handled in accordance with procedures.