George Foulkes

1 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many letters on reserved matters have been received by Scottish ministers in each year since 1999.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Statistical information is not held on the number of letters received by Scottish ministers on reserved matters in each year since 1999.</p>

1 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is for handling letters addressed to Scottish ministers on reserved matters.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The policy for handling correspondence addressed to Scottish ministers on reserved matters is as follows:</p> <p >Issues where Scottish Government ministers would not have a view and which are appropriate for response by a UK Government will receive an ackno…

29 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-15400 and S3W-15148 by John Swinney on 6 and 28 August 2008, on which days the car parking fines listed were incurred and, according to routinely kept records of Government Car Service passengers, which ministers travelled in cars in the cities con…

Answer · John Swinney: The fines listed were incurred on 6 June 2007, 12 July 2007, 9 November 2007 and 22 April 2008. It is not possible to identify which, if any, of the ministers were in the cars at the time the four parking fines identified in the answers to questions S3W-1540…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15225 by Stewart Stevenson on 28 August 2008, whether it will guarantee that free travel for elderly and disabled people will be maintained for the same times of day, seven days per week, for the next three years for all people aged 60 and over, for …

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have already confirmed that the eligibility criteria, for all those people who currently benefit from the scheme, would be maintained.</p>

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15237 by John Swinney on 25 August 2008, how many of the 218 full-time employees in its directorates and agencies aged between 60 and 64 are men.

Answer · John Swinney: Of the 218 full-time employees aged between 60 and 64 in the Scottish Executive directorates and agencies as given in answer to question S3W-15237, 161 are men. The numbers in each of the directorates and agencies is as follows:</p> <table border=0 cellspac…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15238 by Stewart Stevenson on 25 August 2008, whether it will consider whether the findings of The people’s rail: a mutually run, publicly accountable Network Rail could be relevant to the future of the ScotRail franchise.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No consideration has been given, at this time, to the findings of the Co-Operative Party''s paper on the people''s rail, which proposes a mutually run, publicly accountable Network Rail.</p> <p >As part of the current periodic review 2008 process to determin…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints were referred to the Scottish Public Service Ombudsman about local authorities in 2007-08 and how this compares to the previous year.

Answer · John Swinney: Information published in the annual report of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman for 2007-08 shows that 2,418 complaints were received about local government in that year. The 2006-07 annual report shows that 2,543 complaints were received in 2006-07. The…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13362 by John Swinney on 9 June 2008, what the particular responsibilities are of its most recently appointed Special Adviser and how these relate to those of Kevin Pringle and Stephen Noon.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the question S3W-15385 answered 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/weba…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which hospitals the First Minister has visited since May 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: The First Minister has undertaken Scottish Government business at four hospitals since May 2007:</p> <p >Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow</p> <p >Raigmore Hospital, Inverness</p> <p >Western General Hospital, Edinburgh</p> <p >Summerfield House, Woodend …

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which race courses the First Minister has visited since May 2007 and on how many occasions.

Answer · John Swinney: The First Minister has undertaken Scottish Government business at Ayr Racecourse twice and Musselburgh Racecourse once since May 2007.</p>

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations and recommendations it has made to the Competition Commission about the future ownership of Scottish airports and what discussion it has had with BAA and others regarding their future.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: My officials attended a formal hearing with the Competition Commission on 30 January 2008, the transcript of which is at:</p> <p align=left ><u><a href="http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/ref2007/airports/pdf/hearing_summary_scottish_governm…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what changes it proposes to the 2011 Census questions compared to those in 2001.

Answer · John Swinney: Recommendations for the questions to be included in the 2011 Census will be presented to Parliament later this year, as a preliminary to the formal approval of the Census Regulations early in 2010.</p>

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations were cancelled in 2007-08 because of a lack of (a) staff, (b) beds and (c) equipment, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The specific information requested is not available centrally.</p> <p >ISD Scotland collect some information on the number of in-patient/day case episodes where operations/procedures were not carried out following admission to hospital. However, it is not po…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its officials have a basic pay in excess of the pay of an MSP.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government core departments have 296 permanent employees who currently receive a base pay in excess of the pay of an MSP.</p> <p >An MSP salary is currently £54,093 however there is a pay award pending.</p>

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which secondary schools have been visited by the First Minister since May 2007.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The First Minister has visited the following secondary schools since May 2007:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=183 valign=top > <p align=center >Name of School</p> </td> <td width=115 valign=top > …

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which primary schools have been visited by the First Minister since May 2007.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The First Minister has visited the following primary schools since May 2007:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >Name of School</p> </td> <td valign=top > <p align=center >Lo…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which agencies it uses to deliver its international development programme, broken down by country and excluding Malawi.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Our international development programmes are delivered through organisations with a presence in Scotland who can bid for funds from the International Development Fund.</p> <p >Funding decisions beyond Malawi have not yet been made.</p> <p >The funding pro…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many replies have now been received to the First Minister’s letter to signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; which countries have not yet replied, and whether reminder letters are to be sent.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the question S3W-9292 on 20 March 2008. No further responses have been received since that date, and there is no requirement to remind State Parties of the opposition of the Scottish Government and Parliament to a new generation of nucle…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the last meeting of the Council of Economic Advisers was; what topics were discussed, and whether members have received any recommendations arising from the meeting.

Answer · John Swinney: The last meeting of the Council took place on 13 June 2008.</p> <p >The following topics were discussed:</p> <p >An update on the Scottish Economy;</p> <p >Education, Skills, Lifelong Learning and the Government Economic Strategy, and</p> <p >Achieving Sc…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to bringing First ScotRail into some form of public or mutual ownership.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The extension of the ScotRail franchise contract allows time for options concerning the status of ScotRail to be included in the consultation exercise prior to any refranchising process.</p>

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further consideration it has given to the Glasgow Crossrail scheme since the Members’ Business debate on 17 April 2008.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland received a copy of the final STAG report from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), which was fed into the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR).</p> <p >Transport Scotland has now delivered its initial findings from the STPR t…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which schools in Edinburgh and the Lothians have been approved for the first step in the process for replacement since May 2007.

Answer · Maureen Watt: These are matters for the relevant councils. The Scottish Government does not commission or approve individual school building projects.</p>

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have produced their single outcome agreements under the concordat with local government.

Answer · John Swinney: Single outcome agreements were agreed with all 32 councils on 30 June 2008.</p>

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to respond to the recommendations in Scotland's Choice - report of the Scottish Prisons Commission.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government will produce its plans for a coherent penal policy taking account of the findings of the Prisons Commission''s report by the end of the year.</p>

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of a shortage or over-supply of (a) teachers, (b) doctors, (c) dentists, (d) nurses, (e) veterinary surgeons, (f) chiropodists and podiatrists, (g) physiotherapists and (h) social workers.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Supply and demand of staff in these professional groups is complex and many factors contribute to dynamic fluctuations in numbers. Measureable indicators, such as vacancy rates can be suggestive of either staff shortage or excess but alone can be misleading. …

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements there are for national workforce planning on a Scotland-wide basis for (a) teachers, (b) doctors, (c) dentists, (d) nurses, (e) veterinary surgeons, (f) chiropodists and podiatrists, (g) physiotherapists and (h) social workers.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15836 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…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS dentists there are and how this compares to the equivalent time in the previous year.

Answer · Shona Robison: The number of NHS General Dental Service dentists (headcount) in Scotland for the latest available two years is presented in the following table. The table also provides the percentage change.</p> <p >NHS General Dental Service Dentists (Head Count) in Scotl…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any reports were commissioned by ministers from their officials before the First Minister made his suggestion for separate Scottish representation at future Olympic Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: No reports have been commissioned about separate Scottish representation at future Olympic Games.</p>

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions ministers have had with ministers in the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland about separate representation at future Olympic Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with ministers in the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales about separate representation at future Olympic Games.</p>

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government about separate Scottish representation at future Olympic Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has made no representations to the UK Government about separate Scottish representation at future Olympic Games.</p>