George Foulkes

14 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those organisations representing the Muslim community that have received Scottish Government grants since May 2007, also showing the value of grants received.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has provided funding to the following organisations representing the Muslim community since May 2007:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=180 valign=top > <p >Organisation</p> </td> …

14 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of fuel theft have been (a) reported and (b) prosecuted in each police board area in each month since May 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information on thefts at the level of detail requested is not held centrally.</p>

30 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14083 by Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC, how many charges have been brought under the Terrrorism Act 2000 in Scotland.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Since April 2002, 342 charges have been reported to procurators fiscal and prosecuted under the Terrorism Act 2000.</p> <p >Information on charges prosecuted prior to that date is not available as the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service completed an u…

30 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14083 by Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC, how many convictions there have been under the Terrorism Act 2000 in Scotland.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: There were 11, 11, 53 and 17 convictions in Scottish courts in the financial years 2003-04 to 2006-07 respectively for offences under the Terrorism Act 2000, where this was the main offence.</p>

30 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14083 by Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC, on how many occasions the Terrorism Act 2000 has been used to detain people in Scotland.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: This information is not held centrally.</p>

30 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14083 by Right Hon Elish Angiolini QC, whether it will detail all cases reported and investigated under the Terrorism Act 2000 in Scotland.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: The details of all cases reported to procurators fiscal, including those investigated and reported in terms of the Terrorism Act 2000, is confidential.</p>

25 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether wrongfully-convicted persons and their families are entitled to any compensatory payment following release from prison and whether it has plans to review and extend this provision.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14623 on 16 July 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/w…

25 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures of redress a wrongfully-convicted person has following a successful court appeal and whether it has plans to review and extend this provision.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 provides that the Scottish Ministers shall pay compensation in cases where a conviction is reversed on the ground that a new or newly discovered fact shows beyond reasonable doubt that there has been a miscarriage …

25 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that victims of miscarriages of justice should receive an official apology following their release from prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It is of course deeply regrettable when anyone suffers as a result of a miscarriage of justice. This is why the Scottish Government operates schemes to fairly compensate such individuals for the effects of a period of wrongful imprisonment. Neither the accept…

25 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been released from prison following wrongful imprisonment in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally. It is possible that a successful appeal could change the length of sentence and not result in a prisoner being released. Information on the total number of appeals is published in Table 5 of the statistical bul…

25 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any analysis of the effects that miscarriages of justice have on those wrongfully convicted and, if not, whether it plans to in future.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has not made any such analysis, and has no plans to do so.</p>

25 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specialist assistance is available for victims of miscarriages of justice; whether such support extends to relatives of those found to have been wrongly convicted, and whether there are any plans to review the current provisions in the near future.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We recognise that those who have been a victim of a miscarriage of justice may face particular challenges on their release from custody. That is why the Scottish Government has provided the Miscarriages of Justice (Scotland) Organisation with core funding of …

12 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue was generated by Edinburgh’s 2007-08 Winter Festival.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The question of what revenue was generated by Edinburgh’s Winter Festival is a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council, which is responsible for management and delivery of the events programme.</p>

12 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what revenue was generated by the St Andrew's Day programme in 2007.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The aim of our St Andrew’s Day programme in 2007 was to raise the profile of our national day and increase participation in St Andrew’s Day events. Evaluation found that the advertising equivalent of £500,000 worth of coverage was achieved in local, national …

12 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister travelled at any time by official car in (a) Scotland and (b) London in relation to his attendance in the House of Commons on Wednesday 11 June 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: Yes. Use of official cars on 11 June 2008 was fully in line with guidelines on use of Government cars. The First Minister met with the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on 11 June 2008 at Victoria Street in London to discuss the…

12 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which universities have provisions included in their standing orders which prohibit appointments on grounds of age.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is a matter for higher education institutions which are autonomous bodies with responsibility for their own governance arrangements and therefore for the content of their charters, statutes, ordinances and statutory instruments. The information requested…

12 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will draw to the attention of Scottish universities the provision of the Age Discrimination Act 2006 that makes it unlawful to discriminate in appointments on grounds of age.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Discrimination on the grounds of age is now unlawful in employment and vocational training. It is the responsibility of all employers, both public and private sector, to ensure that they comply with the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006.</p> <p >Sco…

11 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lord Advocate discussed the matter of detention of suspected terrorists with the First Minister or the Cabinet Secretary for Justice before announcing her opposition to the proposal for a maximum of 42 days detention for suspected terrorists.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: No.</p>

11 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to which prosecution evidence the Lord Advocate was referring when she announced her opposition to a maximum of 42 days detention for suspected terrorists.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14083, answered on 20 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.p…

11 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the Lord Advocate announced her view on the maximum period for the detention of suspected terrorists a few days prior to a vote on the matter in the House of Commons.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The Lord Advocate confirmed her position on the pre-charge detention provisions in the Counter Terrorism Bill on 3 June 2008 in response to ministerial correspondence from Alistair Carmichael MP received on 8 May 2008. The Lord Advocate’s reply was not discus…

3 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of its staff have been released to work overseas on relief and development programmes since May 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government operates formal career break and special leave policies to enable staff to take time away from the organisation. As an employer, the Scottish Government is very supportive of staff who apply to take a break from employment to undertake…

3 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities and NHS boards regarding the release of specialised staff to help in relief and development work overseas.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance was issued to NHS boards in HDL (2006) 8 Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and NHSScotland Partnership. This pilot project ran from April 2006 to February 2006 to March 2008 and was aimed at encouraging NHSScotland healthcare professionals to voluntee…

3 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what limitations it has imposed on ministerial car usage, in light of the current cost of fuel and whether ministers have been given guidance regarding increased use of public transport for official visits.

Answer · John Swinney: Travel is always made with a view to supporting the efficient conduct of government business. Wherever practicable cabinet secretaries and ministers use public transport and walk to their engagements. 8,243 car journeys were taken by Scottish ministers and la…

3 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of appointments to the bench at all levels since May 2007 have been (a) women and (b) from ethnic minorities and how this compares with each of the previous three years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information about female appointments requested is set out in the following table.</p> <p >% of Female Appointments</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=223 valign=top > <p >&nbsp;</p> </td> <td widt…

3 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that more women and ethnic minority appointments are made to the High Court.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Since 2002 appointments to the office of judge have been made on the recommendation of the independent Judicial Appointments Board. The board’s remit includes considering ways of recruiting a judiciary which is as representative as possible of the community t…

3 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what rural bus services have been discontinued since May 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the Traffic Commissioner for the Scottish Traffic Area. The information requested is not held centrally. The Traffic Commissioner is the licensing authority for the bus industry in Scotland and applies the regulatory regime. Operators are…

3 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what rural bus services have been approved or introduced since May 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the Traffic Commissioner for the Scottish Traffic Area. The information requested is not held centrally. The Traffic Commissioner is the licensing authority for the bus industry in Scotland and applies the regulatory regime. Operators are…

3 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative electricity generation proposals is it considering other than onshore and offshore wind generation.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is supporting the development of a diverse mix of renewable energy technologies through a range of initiatives. This includes providing capital grant support for wave and tidal energy, biomass and hydrogen fuel cells projects, and our …

3 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are made to involve children and young people in planning services for them by (a) NHS boards, (b) local authorities and (c) the Executive.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The government is committed to involving children and young people in influencing policy and service delivery. We are taking forward a range of specific consultations designed for young people, working in partnership with the wider youth sector.</p> <p >We a…

3 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) it and (b) the Cabinet has received legal advice since May 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It is the practice of successive governments, reflected in the Scottish Ministerial Code and the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, that the fact and content of legal advice is not revealed.</p>