George Foulkes

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how patients from England with long-term conditions requiring regular medication will have their prescriptions issued when visiting Scotland and how much they will pay for them.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22935 on 7 May 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/Bus…

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place to issue drugs for prescriptions written in England.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22935 on 7 May 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/Bus…

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21261 by Bruce Crawford on 9 March 2009, whether it will list the 48 SNP manifesto commitments that have not yet been achieved.  

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The information requested is given in the document entitled <i >SNP manifesto 2007: It''s time,</i> a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 42576).</p>

30 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18761 by Michael Russell on 27 March 2009, how much it has paid Sandi Thom directly or through an agent for attending or performing at Scottish Government-supported events since November 2008, broken down by individual payment and including expenses.

Answer · Michael Russell: As stated in answer to question S3W-18761 Sandi Thom has not accepted a performance fee for any of the Scottish Government supported events she has participated in.</p> <p >In line with our commitment to proactively publish information we have today made av…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism has had with representatives of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Group since November 2008; who was involved, and what the outcome was in each case.

Answer · Jim Mather: Since November 2008, in addition to my attendance at Financial Service Advisory Board meetings which are also attended by Lloyds Banking Group Executives. I attended an informal dinner on 10 November 2008 hosted by Magnus Linklater, Scottish Editor of <i >Th…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has had with representatives of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Group since November 2008; who was involved, and what the outcome was in each case.

Answer · John Swinney: Lloyds Banking Group:</p> <p >Since November 2008, in addition to my attendance at Financial Services Advisory Board (FiSAB) meetings which are also attended by Lloyds Banking Group Executives, I have undertaken the following ministerial engagements:</p> <…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the First Minister has had with representatives of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Group since November 2008; who was involved, and what the outcome was in each case.

Answer · Jim Mather: Since November 2008, in addition to his attendance at Financial Services Advisory Board meetings which are also attended by Lloyds Banking Group executives the First Minister has undertaken the following ministerial engagements with RBS and Lloyds Banking Gro…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what public relations agencies have been engaged by it in (a) Scotland, (b) Hong Kong and (c) China to support the First Minister’s forthcoming visit to China and what budget has been allocated for each contract. 

Answer · Michael Russell: No public relations agencies were engaged in Scotland.</p> <p >In Hong Kong, Communique were engaged by the Scottish Government as event managers for one evening reception. Event management and logistics support were provided for Scottish Development Intern…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the First Minister’s travel to and from China was booked. 

Answer · Michael Russell: Provisional bookings were made on 20 February 2009 and confirmed bookings were made on 6 March 2009.</p>

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister’s decision to visit China was taken.

Answer · Michael Russell: The invitation to visit China was extended to the First Minister by the Chinese Consul General in Edinburgh in 2007. The decision in principle to visit China was taken in 2008 and the dates confirmed in the letter the First Minister sent to the European and E…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the First Minister or his officials have had with UK ministers in the (a) Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (b) Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and (c) Scotland Office on the objectives of his forthcoming visit to China. 

Answer · Michael Russell: Officials were in frequent contact with the Foreign &amp; Commonwealth Office about the objectives of the First Minister''s visit, in particular through the First Secretary, Scottish Affairs based within the British Embassy in Beijing.</p>

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the objectives are of the First Minister’s forthcoming visit to China. 

Answer · Michael Russell: The objectives of the First Minister''s visit to China were set out in his letter of 27 January 2009 to the European and External Affairs Committee. Copies of this letter have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47920).</p>

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the First Minister has received from the Chinese Government ahead of his forthcoming visit to China. 

Answer · Michael Russell: The First Minster and officials were in frequent contact with the Chinese Consulate General in Edinburgh in arranging the programme for his visit.</p>

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) officials and (b) special advisers accompanying the First Minister on his forthcoming trip to China are flying (i) economy, (ii) economy plus, (iii) business and (iv) first class. 

Answer · Michael Russell: All the delegation used a mixture of business class and economy class travel, in accordance with Scottish Government Travel and Subsistence rules.</p>

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the (a) officials and (b) special advisors accompanying the First Minister on his forthcoming trip to China are (i) travelling in advance of, (ii) travelling on the same flights as and (iii) returning subsequent to the First Minister and by how many days in each case for (i) a…

Answer · Michael Russell: All of the officials and special advisors travelled with either the First Minister or the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, except for the Deputy Director of International Division, and the Head of Visits and Events, who travelled to Hong…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) officials and (b) special advisors will accompany the First Minister on his forthcoming trip to China and what budget has been allocated for the visit. 

Answer · Michael Russell: The visit to China was made by the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning. In support of the two ministers there was a total of six officials and two special advisers. The costs for the visit programme will be met from wi…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of the redesign and rebranding of its intranet from Inexec to Saltire. 

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government staff intranet was redesigned and re-launched as Saltire in January 2008. The total cost was £2,643.75 including VAT.</p> <p >Saltire is available to around 7,500 staff in the Scottish Government and its agencies.</p>

19 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is an imbalance in the grant allocation for faith-based organisations.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I do not believe that there is an imbalance in the grant allocations to faith-based organisations. Funding provided by the Scottish Government supports specific projects which help us to deliver our priorities and build an inclusive One Scotland based on the …

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce measures to combat the varroa mite in bee colonies.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government does not intend to introduce measures to combat the varroa mite in bee colonies. Varroa is now considered endemic in Scotland and is neither a notifiable nor reportable disease.</p> <p >The Scottish Government does have an interest in…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of tuberculosis there were in each NHS board area in the most recent year for which figures are available and how these figures compare with those for the preceding four years.

Answer · Shona Robison: In Scotland the greatest burden of tuberculosis (TB) is borne by Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board with around half of all reported cases, but in any one year individual NHS boards can have marked variation in numbers of TB cases. These local variations in …

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has delayed the purchase of vehicles for use by it or its agencies.

Answer · John Swinney: The purchasing of additional or replacement vehicles is only undertaken in order to ensure that the Scottish Government and its agencies have access to a safe and reliable fleet to support the efficient delivery of government business. Decisions about the tim…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has funds deposited or invested in offshore accounts.

Answer · John Swinney: No. The Scottish Government does not invest resources outside the public sector and does not deposit funds in offshore accounts.</p>

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether under existing legislation it can pay compensation to workers affected by short-time working during the economic downturn.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: If the purpose of any compensation payment to workers affected by short-time working relates to employment, social security benefits or macro-economics - all of which are reserved under the Scotland Act 1998 - we are not aware of any legislation which would e…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are taken to ensure that long-term prisoners are prepared for return to the community on completion of their sentences.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >All long-term prisoners are managed through an enhanced version of the SPS Integrated Case Management (ICM) process. ICM is a colla…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether piracy is an offence under Scots law and, if so, what the maximum penalty is on conviction.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Piracy is an offence at common law. The maximum penalty on conviction on indictment is accordingly life imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. The Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Act 1997 also incorporates provisions of the United Nations Convention o…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many racially motivated crimes (a) were recorded by police, (b) resulted in a police caution and (c) were prosecuted in each of the last three years, broken down by police force area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: (a) The information requested is given in Table 1 on page 10 of the Scottish Government Statistical Bulletin <i >Racist Incidents Recorded by the Police in Scotland 2003-04 to 2005-06</i> which was published in March 2007. Copies of this publication are avail…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the levels of (a) electricity and (b) gas storage and what effect the recent cold weather has had on both.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Government officials are in regular dialogue with the UK government regarding patterns in energy supply and demand, including information on storage issues. The frequency of information sharing and discussion is increased over the winter period. Curr…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase the power coefficients of wind farm generation destined for the national grid.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has no such plans.</p> <p >Technical standards for connecting generators to the National Grid are regulated by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) under legislation reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Government …

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances the national grid is unable to accept excess electricity from small wind turbines and what happens to that output.

Answer · Jim Mather: Proposals to connect small scale wind turbines are considered by the relevant Distribution Network Operator, who will, where appropriate, in conjunction with National Grid Electricity Transmission plc, the operator of the national grid, assess the impact of c…

12 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to include a question on nationality in the 2011 census; what options will be available to respondents, and whether respondents will be allowed to identify themselves separately as both Scottish and British.

Answer · John Swinney: A new question on national identity is proposed for Scotland''s 2011 Census. This will complement the question on ethnic group and allow people to express their sense of being (for example) Scottish, Indian or Polish (or any combination of national identity, …