Parliamentary questions
George Foulkes
1,927 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17820 by John Swinney on 27 November 2008, when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth expects to provide the information requested.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the letter issued on 21 April 2009. A copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47030).</p>
9 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17901 by John Swinney on 27 November 2008, when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth expects to provide the information requested.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the letter issued on 21 April 2009. A copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47031).</p>
9 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18018 by John Swinney on 5 December 2008, when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth expects to provide the information requested.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the letter issued on 21 April 2009. A copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47096).</p>
9 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the 71 school projects that have been taken forward during the First Minister’s term in office, as referred to by him on 8 January 2009 (Official Report c. 13820), also showing the (a) responsible local authority, (b) date on which the work was commissioned, (c) date …
Answer · Maureen Watt: The list of 71 schools that were completed or substantially refurbished during 2008, financially supported by the record capital and revenue funding made available by this government in the local government settlement, is provided in the following table. It i…
9 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has paid in fees to public relations agencies since May 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The information sought is set out in the following table. The data relates to campaigns that fall under the remit of the Scottish Government Marketing Unit. Information for individual portfolios/directorates is not available.</p> <p >The figure for 2008-09 …
9 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total costs have been of employing its Communications Officers since May 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The total employment costs, (which includes staffing and associated running costs), for Communications Officers employed in the Scottish Government Communications Directorate over the period 1<sup> </sup>May 2007 to 31<sup> </sup>December 2008 are £4,106,157.…
9 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many press releases have been issued by its Communications Directorate in each month since May 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The information sought is set out in the following table. The figures show both the national and local news releases issued each month.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=120 valign=top > <p align=center >Pe…
6 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the average waiting time is between order and execution of measures to improve energy efficiency through (a) cavity and (b) roof insulation in schemes supported by public funds.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The managing agent has indicated that, in the private sector, the average waiting time for the installation of Warm Deal measures is currently around 80 days.</p> <p >Information is held for the scheme as a whole, not for the installation of various individu…
6 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution it will make to the purchase of the Titian painting from the Duke of Sutherland and from which budget.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government will make an announcement about its funding contribution towards the purchase of Titian''s <i >Diana and Actaeon</i>, and the consequent continued public access to the world-renowned Bridgewater Collection, once the arrangements for th…
19 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the publications that it has issued since 1 June 2007, showing the title, circulation and cost of each.
Answer · John Swinney: Data relating to 1 June 2007 to 31 December 2007 can be found in the answer to question S3W-10469 on 6 March 2008.</p> <p >There is currently no central record held on the circulation of each publication and this could only be obtained at disproportionate c…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultants were employed or commissioned by Transport Scotland in 2007-08 and at what total cost.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland employs number of suppliers to provide a wide range of services including consultancy. It is not possible to separate out the cost of consultancy work from the wider service provision.</p>
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what Transport Scotland’s budget was for (a) participation and (b) public relations in 2007-08.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Separate figures for participation and public relations are not available. The costs are mainly subsumed within the Transport Scotland budget for communications which amounted to £115,000 in 2007-08.</p>
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what methods of transport were used by directors of Transport Scotland when making official visits in 2007-08 and at what cost.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The methods of transport and associated costs of official visits by Transport Scotland Directors in 2007-08 are set out in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=left >Rail</p> </td> …
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what overseas visits have been undertaken by directors of Transport Scotland since May 2007 and at what cost.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the overseas visits taken by Directors of Transport Scotland since May 2007 and their respective costs:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=133 valign=top > <p align=center >Directo…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the value of each contract over £1 million let by Transport Scotland since May 2007, also showing which contracts were let by decisons of the (a) Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change and (b) board of Transport Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Details of the contracts awarded by Transport Scotland on behalf of the Scottish ministers since May 2007 are set out in the following table.</p> <p >All contract award decisions were made on the basis of a programme of works agreed with the Minister for Tra…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of decisions is devolved to Transport Scotland by ministers.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The chief executive is the accountable officer for Transport Scotland and has direct responsibility for the operational management of Transport Scotland and for the efficient and effective management of its resources. The detailed financial delegations are se…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures Transport Scotland follows in the provision of information to ministers to enable them to make decisions.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Chief Executive of Transport Scotland is directly accountable to the Minister for Transport and is responsible for keeping the minister regularly informed and updated on all issues which fall within Transport Scotland''s remit. Detailed provisions are set…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent staff are employed by Transport Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As at December 2008, Transport Scotland has 291 employees, 22 of whom work part-time. The full-time equivalent is 283.79. This figure does not include consultants or agency workers.</p>
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vehicles are owned or leased by Transport Scotland and what action is being taken to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland does not own or lease any vehicles. The agency has three cars on a one year hire contract.</p>
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the arrangements are for appointment of non-executive directors of Transport Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Appointments of Transport Scotland non-executive directors are conducted in line with public appointment policies and procedures as set out in the Framework Agreement which can be accessed at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/20114707/4…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the board of Transport Scotland will meet next and what subjects will be discussed.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Transport Scotland Board will next meet on 20 February; the agenda has yet to be finalised.</p>
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current term of office is of the chief executive of Transport Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: The Chief Executive of Transport Scotland was appointed on 8 August 2005. While he has given notification of his intention to retire, the date when this will take effect is under discussion.</p>
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions non-executive directors have been excluded from decisions of Transport Scotland and for what reasons.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Non-executive directors play a full part in the Transport Scotland Board and have not been excluded from any decisions taken by the board.</p>
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many board meetings of Transport Scotland there have been since May 2007 and what subjects were discussed at each meeting.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There have been 20 meetings of the Transport Scotland Board since May 2007. The following table provides dates and the agenda items discussed.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=132 valign=top > <p align=cen…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it to be reconcilable with principles of good governance that the chief executive of Transport Scotland also chairs its board.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. Transport Scotland is an executive agency and its board is purely advisory; it has no statutory role. It is normal practice for the chief executives to chair the boards of executive agencies.</p>
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the remuneration package is for the chief executive of Transport Scotland, including any payments towards pension schemes, for 2008-09.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The remuneration package for the Chief Executive of Transport Scotland, including payments towards pension schemes is available in the Transport Scotland Annual Report and Accounts on the Transport Scotland website at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.transports…
12 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the occasions since May 2007 when a minister has had the services of a police escort or outrider, showing the (a) minister, (b) nature of the event or journey and (c) total cost of the operation.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.</p>
12 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many senior civil servants there are in the Scottish Government.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18838 on 14 January 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…
12 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18587 by John Swinney on 12 December 2008, how many senior civil servants have registered financial interests on the e-HR self-referral IT facility.
Answer · John Swinney: As of 13 January 2008 five Senior Civil Servants have recorded financial interests on the e-HR self-referral IT facility.</p>
12 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18552 by John Swinney on 12 December 2008, how many Scottish Government staff took Monday 1 December 2008 as a holiday and what that figure represents as a percentage of its staff.
Answer · John Swinney: From the information available, approximately 6,900 staff in the Scottish Government Main bargaining unit and in the Senior Civil Service took Monday 1 December 2008 as a holiday. This represents 93% of staff.</p>