George Foulkes

1 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the Big Lottery Fund and BBC Scotland’s Primetime programme and, if so, whether it supports the Community Service Volunteers bid for funding.

Answer · Jim Mather: Primetime was a partnership between the Big Lottery Fund and BBC Scotland. Members of the public voted on projects for older people in each of the six regions of Scotland. The programme ended in September 2008. It would not have been appropriate to give suppo…

1 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received about the funding of organisations organising and promoting the recruitment of volunteers.

Answer · Jim Mather: We engage regularly with organisations concerned with volunteering, in the course of which funding is a normal topic. Most volunteering is a local activity and the focus on community planning partnerships we have agreed with local authorities offers opportuni…

1 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it is giving to organisations promoting activities by volunteers in the current financial year and which organisations benefit.

Answer · Jim Mather: Organisations that support volunteering are supported across all directorates within government. The Scottish Government retrospectively publishes annual details of its direct and indirect support for third sector organisations, so full details of support dur…

1 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to recognise the 20th anniversary of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme of Community Service Volunteers.

Answer · Jim Mather: We join with many others in marking the 20 years since the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme started in England. The older volunteer is a cornerstone of our communities and we warmly recognise the contribution they make. As local authorities and communit…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of its officials are authorised to make official statements to the media on its behalf and what record is kept of such statements.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Government official statements are issued by officials in the Communications Directorate, usually in the form of news releases but also in response to individual media enquiries, or in answer to questions put at the daily briefings for parliamentary …

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of its officials are responsible for liaison and oversight of the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: Work by Scottish Government officials to support the establishment of the Scottish Futures Trust is overseen by the Director of Finance, Alyson Stafford, and by the Director General of Finance and Corporate Services, Stella Manzie. A number of individual offi…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what occasions it is permissible for ministers to travel to party political events in official transport.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Government ministers base their use of the Government Car Service on clear guidance which has applied to all administrations since devolution. They are assiduous in doing so.</p>

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements exist to ensure that official statements by ministers are free from party political content.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Guidance relating to the conduct of ministers is set out in the Scottish Ministerial Code. The code can be accessed on the Scottish Government website through the following link: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/14944/684">http://www.scotla…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms exist for official complaints by ministers to the broadcasting authorities in Scotland and what representations have been made since May 2007 on behalf of which ministers.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: No specific mechanisms exist for ministers to make official complaints to the broadcasting authorities in Scotland. Ministers meet or contact broadcasting authorities to discuss relevant issues for Scotland with those bodies when it is appropriate to do so.</…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the First Minister has made to BBC Scotland since May 2007.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The First Minister has met formally with both BBC Scotland and the BBC Trust once since May 2007. In addition, he has spoken to senior executives at the BBC on a number of occasions, for example at the launch of the Broadcasting Commission and at the Royal Te…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its officials receive any extra financial assistance from it to enable their children to attend private schools.

Answer · John Swinney: No UK-based Scottish Government officials receive assistance to pay for private school fees. Scottish Government staff posted abroad with accompanying children are eligible to receive financial assistance for educational costs. The amount of assistance is cal…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are proposed for the appointment of further members of the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: I intend to appoint non-executive Directors to the Board of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) to support Sir Angus Grossart in his role as Chairman as soon as possible. These initial appointments will “ along with Sir Angus'' appointment “ be for a one year pe…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what remuneration and other benefits are provided to persons appointed as Chair of the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16268 on 24 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/w…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place for assessing the performance of its senior officials; whether any have failed such assessment in the last financial year, and what action has been taken.

Answer · John Swinney: The performance of all senior civil servants (SCS) is planned, managed and assessed using a common, service-wide framework which has been provided by the Cabinet Office.</p> <p >The performance management process for the SCS includes individual reviews in th…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the policy is regarding the class of travel by air for different flight durations for Scottish ministers and accompanying officials.

Answer · John Swinney: When travelling on official business, Scottish Government ministers and civil servants are required to consider if a journey is necessary in every instance. They are also required to travel in the most cost“effective and time efficient method available at the…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the cost of the use of official cars by civil servants was in (a) 2007-08 and (b) each of the preceding three years.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16534 on 9 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/webap…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the journeys taken by official car by each eligible civil servant since May 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: The officials entitled to use the Government Car Service (GCS) are the Permanent Secretary, the Scottish Government''s six Directors-General and HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary (HMCIC). Their journeys were as follows:</p> <p >Permanent Secretary:</p> <ta…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions in the next 12 months it is proposed to undertake highway maintenance on the M8.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The trunk road operating companies who maintain the M8 have been asked by Transport Scotland to prepare 21 provisional maintenance schemes for the M8 in the next year. The final programme will be drawn from these and the actual number will depend on the avail…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the provision of nursery places for two-year-olds on the basis of parental requests.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The early years framework, which is being developed jointly with COSLA, will be published later this year. It will set the long term direction of policy and consider the range of services needed to support young children and their families and help end cycles…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to whether the proposed ban on alcohol sales to 18 to 21-year-olds is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has given this full consideration and is content that the proposal to raise the legal age for off-sales purchases of alcohol to 21 is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.</p>

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received calling for a review of its policy on nuclear power generation.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government receives many representations on its energy policies, including the issue of nuclear power, from a range of individuals and organisations. As with all policy, these representations express a variety of views.</p> <p >We have made it c…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which appointments made by ministers since May 2007 have not been subject to the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland’s code of practice and what the reasons were in each case.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on unregulated appointments is not held centrally.</p> <p >The number of appointments that have been made without adherence to the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland Code since May 2007 is thought to be small.</p>

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which appointments made by ministers since May 2007 have been subject to the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland’s code of practice.

Answer · John Swinney: All Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland (OCPAS) regulated appointments are routinely shown on the Scottish Government website when they commence.</p> <p >OCPAS regulated appointments made since May 2007 can be viewed on the interne…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what due diligence was carried out before appointments were made to the Council of Economic Advisers.

Answer · John Swinney: Appropriate due diligence was applied when members were appointed to the Council of Economic Advisers.</p>

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on which occasions prior to the announcement of the HBOS/Lloyds TSB merger the First Minister called for a ban on short selling or stricter control on hedge funds and other speculation.

Answer · John Swinney: The First Minister urged the Prime Minister to take action on the matter in a telephone conversation at 7.00 on Thursday 18 September 2008. He also called for action in the Parliament at 12.00, during First Minister''s Questions. A ban on short selling was a…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions the First Minister had discussions with (a) HBOS and (b) Lloyds TSB about their future prior to the announcement of the proposed merger.

Answer · John Swinney: The First Minister had a range of contacts with HBOS and Lloyds TSB before the announcement of the proposed merger, of which there was no prior knowledge in the Scottish Government. As media reports emerged, the First Minister spoke officially to representati…

19 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of its appointments to boards, funds, trusts or other bodies set up since May 2007 have been made without adherence to the Nolan principles.

Answer · John Swinney: OCPAS (Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland) regulated appointments and most unregulated appointments follow Nolan principles.</p> <p >Some bodies, both regulated and unregulated, require appointments to their boards to be made on a…

19 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what overseas visits have been undertaken by each minister since May 2007; what class of travel was used in each case, and what the total cost was of each trip, including the costs of officials accompanying each minister.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The information requested cannot be obtained at proportionate cost.</p> <p>However, I will as part of a routine exercise be releasing shortly information on each ministerial visit overseas undertaken from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. The information will i…

17 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14780 by Frank Mulholland QC on 23 June 2008, what the disposal of the court was in relation to each conviction for offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 in the financial years 2003-04 to 2006-07 and how many of those convicted are still in custody.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table. None of those given a custodial sentence are still in custody.</p> <p >Persons Convicted for Offences Under the Terrorism Act 2000¹, 2003-04 - 2006-07</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 c…

17 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of the two non-departmental bodies recommended by the Scottish Prisons Commission for each of the next three financial years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government will produce its reply to the findings of the Prisons Commission''s report by the end of the year.</p>