Parliamentary questions
George Foulkes
1,927 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the supplementary to question S3O-5175 by Kenny MacAskill on 11 December 2008 (Official Report c. 13360), whether it will answer the specific issues raised of whether any ministers were involved in discussions with Mr Osama Saeed or other representatives prior to…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15009 on 3 September 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.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion or contact it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) Office of Communications regarding public service broadcasting.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government has regular contact with the UK Government and Ofcom on a number of broadcasting issues. I recently met with Lord Stephen Carter, the new UK Government Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting and public service broadca…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to implement cognitive psychotherapy in the NHS.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are working closely with NHS Education for Scotland and NHS boards to develop a range of initiatives to support the development around our commitment to increase access to and availability of evidence-based psychological therapies, including cognitive beha…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many formal complaints or allegations of bullying the Scottish Government and its agencies have received since May 2007 and what action has been taken.
Answer · John Swinney: In the period since May 2007, there have been 10 formal complaints of bullying raised by employees of the Scottish Government and its agencies.</p> <p >These complaints were investigated under the Scottish Government''s formal dignity at work procedure. Of t…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the policy of the Scottish Government and its agencies is in relation to dealing with allegations of bullying.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government''s aim is to ensure that all members of staff are able to work in an environment that is free from bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation and to feel safe and secure either in the workplace, or during work-related activ…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from Edinburgh University Students’ Association regarding higher education and student funding and what action it is taking as a result.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has received five letters from Edinburgh University Student''s Association (EUSA) with regards to student funding and in particular issues relating to student hardship.</p> <p >EUSA were also represented at the student summit which I …
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Consumer Credit Counselling Service regarding the extension of its services to help people in debt.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I am aware of the work of the independent charity, Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) and my officials are in regular contact with CCCS. They have had no proposals from, or specific discussions with, CCCS about extending its services.</p>
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has to direct the police in relation to the investigation of alleged criminality.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: None. How investigations are carried out is a matter for the police, and it would be inappropriate for ministers to seek to influence the way in which an investigation is conducted.</p> <p >The operational independence of the police is enshrined in law. I b…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will initiate discussion with Camelot regarding the production and sale of scratchcards to raise funds for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has consistently objected to the diversion of £150 million lottery funds from Scottish good causes and the Minister for Communities and Sport has written to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with a bid to support the …
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) male and (b) female (i) prisoners and (ii) prison places it anticipates there will be in each of the next five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >Scottish prison population projections for each year from 2007-08 to 2017-18 are published in the November 2008 issue of the Scottish Gove…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of employees are women in the (a) Crown Office and (b) Scottish Executive senior civil service grades.
Answer · John Swinney: The total number of Senior Civil Servants in the Scottish Government* and in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) at 30 November 2008 and the percentage who are women is shown in the following table:</p> <p >Senior Civil Service Staff Numb…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the position is of each bus operator in relation to compliance with statutory provisions for wheelchair users.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Legislation in relation to wheelchair accessibility on buses is reserved to Westminster. The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging bus operators to meet all relevant regulations within the timetables set although ultimately this is a matter for indi…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provided to the Scottish Islamic Foundation for its national conference in Glasgow on 6 December 2008 and whether this was additional to the funding it provided for Islamfest.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government did not provide any additional funding to the Scottish Islamic Foundation for its national conference in Glasgow on 30 November 2008. All funding provided by the Scottish Government to the Scottish Islamic Foundation is subject to norm…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities since May 2007 regarding the employment of probationary teachers.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The arrangements for allocating probationary teachers to local authorities are jointly administered by the Scottish Government and the General Teaching Council for Scotland. Any year-on-year adjustments to the arrangements, including arrangements relating to …
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with representatives of teaching unions regarding the availability of jobs for probationary teachers.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The employment of teachers is a matter for local authorities. No meetings have been sought or held with representatives of teaching unions regarding the availability of jobs for probationary or post probationary teachers. Teaching unions were represented on t…
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many places were available on teacher training courses in each of the last five years, broken down by institution.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The information requested is set out in the following table. The latest year for which data is available is 2006-07.</p> <p >Students studying a course at Scottish Institutions that lead to teacher qualifications by academic year and Institution, 2002-03 to …
11 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many probationary teachers have been without a permanent position for 12 months or more and how and by whom that information is recorded.
Answer · Maureen Watt: All probationary teachers are given the opportunity to join the Induction scheme which guarantees them 10 months employment. We do not continually track the employment status of each teacher throughout the year.</p>
10 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has paid Sandi Thom, directly or through an agent, for attending or performing at Scottish Government-supported events, broken down by individual payment and including expenses.
Answer · Michael Russell: Sandi Thom has not accepted a performance fee for any of the Scottish Government“supported events she has participated in.</p> <p >Expenses paid to Sandi Thom are as follows for 2008:<b></b></p> <p >St Andrew''s DO at West Princes Street Gardens “ Hotel ac…
10 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times since he took office the First Minister has met Sandi Thom.
Answer · John Swinney: The First Minister has met Sandi Thom on four occasions while undertaking government business.</p>
5 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it ensures that the registered interests of members, including chairs, of recently established government commissions or bodies are available to the public and, if so, by what means.
Answer · John Swinney: Public bodies listed in Schedule 3 of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Act 2000 are required to set up, maintain and make available for public inspection a register of interests as required by its members'' Code of Conduct. The Standards Co…
5 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors (a) the financial interests of senior civil servants and (b) companies whose work relates to the work of the division in which they are employed and, if so, by what mechanism.
Answer · John Swinney: In line with the principles of the Civil Service Management Code, the Civil Service Code of Conduct and the Financial Reporting Manual all Senior Civil Servants in the core Scottish Government are required to record financial interests on the e-HR self-referr…
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were charged with rape in each of the last four years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Statistics on persons charged by the police are not collected centrally.</p>
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were prosecuted for rape in each of the last four years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The number of people prosecuted in Scottish courts for the crime of rape in the four years 2003-04 to 2006-07 was 81, 94, 91 and 65 respectively.</p>
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were convicted of rape in each of the last four years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The number of people convicted in Scottish courts for the crime of rape in the four years 2003-04 to 2006-07 was 39, 46, 41 and 27 respectively.</p>
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dwellings there were with a single adult discount in each of the last five years.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is as follows:</p> <p >Number of Dwellings with a Single Adult Discount</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=74 valign=top > <p align=center > </p> </td> <td width=70 valign=top > <p …
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dwellings there were in each of the last five years.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is as follows:</p> <p >Number of Dwellings </p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=74 valign=top > <p align=center > </p> </td> <td width=81 valign=top > <p align=center >2004</p> </…
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what overseas official visits the First Minister plans to make in the next six months.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: A number of international visits are being considered at the moment. Ministerial diaries are subject to parliamentary and other pressures and therefore often subject to change. Details of each visit will be announced in due course.</p>
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any planned visits by civil servants to (a) Iceland, (b) Norway, (c) Ireland and (d) Denmark in 2009.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: It is currently planned that in 2009 officials of the Scottish Government and its agencies will undertake the following visits as set out in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p >…
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants visited (a) Iceland, (b) Norway, (c) Ireland and (d) Denmark in 2008.
Answer · John Swinney: The numbers below show how many Scottish Government civil servants visited these countries to end November 2008:</p> <p >Iceland: 3</p> <p >Norway: 28</p> <p >Ireland: 65</p> <p >Denmark: 26.</p>
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants will be on official visits during the Christmas period.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p>