Parliamentary questions

George Foulkes

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

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work is undertaken for it, its agencies and bodies for which its is responsible by private security companies.

Answer · John Swinney: There is no outsourced physical guarding at the Scottish Government''s premises as this service is provided in-house. However, the Scottish Government has a contract for security guarding services at certain Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service''s sites…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any appointments equivalent to parliamentary private secretaries in the UK Parliament have been made in the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Under the terms set out in paragraphs 4.6 to 4.11 of the Scottish Ministerial Code, the First Minister has appointed Parliamentary Liaison Officers (PLOs). Details of these appointments can be found in the answer to question S3W-11317 on 27 March 2008. All an…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which MSPs who do not hold ministerial positions are authorised to speak for the Scottish Government and on what authority this has been agreed.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: No MSPs who do not hold ministerial positions are authorised to speak for the Scottish Government. As set out in the answer to question S3W-11317 on 27 March 2008, the First Minister has appointed 14 Parliamentary Liaison Officers (PLOs) who have a role in co…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with officers of the British Transport Police Authority and the British Transport Police; who was in attendance at such meetings; what topics were discussed, and what the outcomes were.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers meet regularly with the British Transport Policy Authority (BTPA) and British Transport Police (BTP) with attendance from relevant BTP/A and Scottish Government officials. Topics discussed at these meetings cover a range of issues of mutual…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of changing the public title of the Scottish Executive to Scottish Government.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4381 on 19 September 2007. 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/web…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of the First Minister’s office in 2007-08, also broken down by different components, including staff, travel and entertainment costs.

Answer · John Swinney : The total spend for the First Minister''s office for 2007-2008 was £523,862. These are broken down as follows: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=125 valign=top > Staff </td> <td width=90 valign…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contracts have been let for highways and related projects since May 2007; what the procedure was, and who the successful contractor was in each case.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson : Details of the 62 contracts for works, supplies and services in relation to trunk roads awarded since May 2007 are set out in the following tables : 1. Works Contracts (i) Above EU threshold of £3,497,313.00 (‚¬5,150,000.00) <table bor…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in widening the basis of judicial appointments to include more women and people from ethnic minority groups since May 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Since May 2007, five Senators of the College of Justice have been appointed, of whom one has been female. Seven sheriffs have been appointed in the same period, of whom two have been female. Information on the ethnic composition of recent judicial appointment…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on which occasions since May 2007 Scottish police forces have pursued suspects or carried out investigations beyond their areas of operation and under what authority such action was taken.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the First Minister has made to BBC Scotland in the last year and which of these related to contributors to radio and television programmes, including Mr Iain Macwhirter.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16541 on 22 October 2008. In addition, the First Minister sought confirmation that BBC Scotland upholds the principle of any individual being able to express their view to government appointed bodies without pr…

15 Oct 2008 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will give details of the commissioners for which it is responsible, also indicating their terms of office and when they are scheduled to be renewed or replaced; what consideration is being given to rationalising the system of commissioners, and whether it wil…

Answer · Mike Pringle: The SPCB is responsible for funding and setting the terms and conditions for the following officeholders: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td width=244 valign=top > Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (Professor Alice Bro…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to celebrate St Andrew’s Day 2008.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government has committed up to £434,000 to support St Andrew''s Day activity all across Scotland, including sponsorship of public events in Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Glasgow, Stirling, St Andrews and Blairgowrie, as well as delivering the St A…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who initiated the contact between it and the Qatar Government; what meetings have taken place, and what was discussed.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Development International (SDI) initiated contact with the Qatar government and has developed relationships over many years based on opportunities in trade and investment. A number of meetings have taken place between SDI and Scottish minist…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of its officials have received security clearance.

Answer · John Swinney: On national security grounds and for data protection reasons, information on officials who have received security clearance cannot be provided. However, I can confirm that The Scottish Government adheres to the UK Government national security vetting policy e…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish ministers and junior Scottish ministers have received security clearance.

Answer · John Swinney: It has been, and remains, a policy of successive governments that ministers of the Crown are not subject to security vetting.

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether members of the First Minister’s Council of Economic Advisors are required to complete a declaration of financial and business interests; where any such declarations are published, and whether such declarations will be required in the future.

Answer · John Swinney: Members of the Council of Economic Advisers are not required to complete a declaration of financial and business interests and there are currently no plans to require such declarations in the future.

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions the First Minister has met the (a) Prime Minister and (b) Secretary of State for Scotland in each month since May 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: The First Minister met with the Prime Minister on 16 July 2007 and 28 April 2008. The First Minister met with the Secretary of State for Scotland on 16 August 2007, 25 January 2008, 25 June 2008 and 21 October 2008.

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary schools classes in Edinburgh and the Lothians had more than (a) 30, (b) 25 and (c) 20 pupils at any date since the start of the school year.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The detail of information requested is not collected centrally. Information on the size of classes is collected as at the school census date in September each year. This census information is yet to be collated for 2008 and will be published early in 2009. De…

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what schools are under construction in Edinburgh and the Lothians; when (a) expenditure was approved and (b) construction began on each, and when each is expected to be completed.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The details of precisely when individual school investment projects were approved by councils and when construction started and is expected to finish, are matters for the relevant local authorities.

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when appointments of further members of the board of the Scottish Futures Trust are expected to be made.

Answer · John Swinney: I announced further appointments to the board of the Scottish Futures Trust on Friday 7 November.

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to reduce the number of police officers on suspension in the last six months.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The suspension of police officers under the Police (Conduct) (Scotland) Regulations 1996 is an operational matter for the chief constable of the relevant police force.

15 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the introduction of a single non-emergency telephone number.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is not convinced that the considerable expense in terms of funding and organisational change needed to install a single non-emergency number would be justified by the possible benefits. Our view is that the most appropriate way forward…

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all the diary engagements of the Minister of Europe, External Affairs and Culture between and inclusive of 11 and14 July 2008.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I had no official diary engagements during the period 11 and 14 July 2008 inclusive.

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister of Europe, External Affairs and Culture attended IslamExpo in July 2008; whether she asked another minister to attend in her absence, and whether officials were sent to observe on her behalf.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture did not ask another Minister to attend in her absence. One official from the Scottish Government attended the launch event for IslamExpo in July 2008.

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister of Europe, External Affairs and Culture was invited to IslamExpo in July 2008.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture was invited to IslamExpo in July 2008, but did not attend.

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15009 by Fergus Ewing on 14 July 2008, what best practice lessons it has learnt from discussions with the organisers of IslamExpo.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16901 on 29 October 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/weba…

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15009 by Fergus Ewing on 14 July 2008, whether IslamFest, to be organised by the Scottish Islamic Foundation, will be modelled on IslamExpo.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: IslamFest is a specifically Scottish event which is being developed for Scottish communities. It is expected that the organisers will draw ideas from a range of sources.

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15009 by Fergus Ewing on 14 July 2008, what the purpose was of the meeting between the Minister of Europe, External Affairs and Culture and the organisers of IslamExpo on 17 January 2008 and whether the Scottish Government will publish details of the…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This was a meeting to discuss the potential development of a Scottish-based IslamFest event. There was no formal agenda or papers tabled.

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16530 by Jim Mather on 2 October 2008, how many representations it has received regarding its policy on nuclear power generation; how many of these representations called for it to review the policy, and whether it will publish the details of the ind…

Answer · Jim Mather: As the previous answer stated, we receive a number of different representations on energy policy matters, including nuclear power. Some of these are in written form and others are oral, such as through ministerial meetings with companies and organisations.</p…

6 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15009 by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008, whether any minister or official has met with Mohammad Sawalha, President of the British Muslim Initiative, since May 2007.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the 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/webapp/wa.sea…