Parliamentary questions
George Foulkes
1,927 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) discussions the Permanent Secretary has had with the UK Cabinet, (b) representations have been made to the UK Government and (c) plans it has to report to the Parliament in respect of devolution of the civil service.
Answer · John Swinney: Discussions with the UK Cabinet, on any issue, would be a matter for the Head of the Home Civil Service, not the Permanent Secretary. The Permanent Secretary has discussed the question of the devolution of the civil service with the Head of the Home Civil Ser…
15 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of the seven Bills introduced since May 2007 were proposed for introduction by the previous administration.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The seven Bills introduced since May 2007 reflect the policies and priorities of the Scottish Government.</p>
15 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools ministers have officially opened or attended the opening ceremonies of since May 2007, broken down by (a) school and (b) date.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Scottish ministers have now officially opened nine new schools since May 2007, as detailed in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=center >School</p> </td> …
15 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive by what means it proposes to finance the provision of two new prisons approved in August 2007.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >Full details of the proposed prison development programme and sources of funding are available in the Scottish Government''s Infrast…
15 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9292 by Bruce Crawford on 20 March 2008, what invitations the First Minister has had from heads of state to discuss the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and which ones the First Minister has chosen to (a) accept or (b) refuse.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: Invitations to discuss the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty were not sought.</p>
15 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9292 by Bruce Crawford on 20 March 2008, whether any other countries have replied to his letter in respect of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty since 31 January 2008 and, if so, whether they have (a) agreed or (b) refused the publication of their …
Answer · Bruce Crawford: There have been no further responses to the First Minister’s letter in respect of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty since I replied to S3W-9292.</p> <p >As regards publication, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13034 on 2 June 2008. All ans…
15 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9292 by Bruce Crawford on 20 March 2008, which countries (a) replied to the Executive agreeing to the publication of their responses, (b) refused the publication of their responses and (c) are yet to respond to the First Minister’s request in respect…
Answer · Bruce Crawford: As I said in my response to S3W-9292, we have indicated that we propose to publish responses to the First Minister’s letter about the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. We will do so once these have been collated, and within three months.</p>
14 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it has allocated to the target hardening of land connected to and in the vicinity of railway stations for this year and how that compares with each of the preceding four financial years.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No specific sums have been identified. Rail safety and security are reserved matters. Where work has been identified as necessary this will be taken through the relevant industry funding forums.</p>
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-10419 by John Swinney on 11 March 2008, what plans the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has to use public transport more frequently.
Answer · John Swinney: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will continue to consider carefully the appropriate use of public transport for ministerial engagements based on the nature of her diary, the location of engagements and what business needs to be conducted while …
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3M-10424 by John Swinney on 11 March 2008, what plans the First Minister has to use public transport more frequently.
Answer · John Swinney: For security reasons, it is not possible to provide information on the First Minister''s future travel arrangements. However, the First Minister has used public transport and has walked to and from events in recent months and plans to do so in future, when ap…
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money each police force has allocated for anti-terrorist measures in 2008-09 and how that compares to each of the preceding four financial years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We are providing the police with record resources. It is an operational decision for Chief Constables to allocate those resources. In addition, the Scottish Government provides dedicated funding for counter terrorism to ensure that Scotland is at least as wel…
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has had with the police, including the British Transport Police, regarding the target hardening of public transport in Scotland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have regular meetings with the police service in Scotland about a range of issues relating to policing, including counter terrorism.</p> <p >Responsibility for the British Transport Police lies with the UK Parliament in Westminster.</p>
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it has allocated to the target hardening of railway stations in 2008-09 and how that compares to each of the preceding four financial years.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No specific sums have been identified. Rail safety and security are reserved matters. Where work has been identified as necessary this will be taken forward through the relevant industry funding forums.</p>
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional money it has allocated to the Scottish Police College in the current financial year.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Police College is one of the police support services provided by the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). SPSA is funded through grant-In-aid from the Scottish Government. The breakdown of budgets between the individual services it provides…
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were recruited in each force in (a) January, (b) February, (c) March and (d) April 2008.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.</p> <p >Her Majesty''s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland collect and publish annual data on police recruitment, the latest figures for which are available at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/…
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers retired in each force in (a) January, (b) February, (c) March and (d) April 2008.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.</p> <p >Her Majesty''s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland collect and publish annual data on police retirements, the latest figures for which are available at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics…
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average age of (a) policemen and (b) policewomen is in each force.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.</p>
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its understanding is of the difference between an independent Scotland and a Scotland separate from the rest of the United Kingdom.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: <i>Choosing Scotland''s Future </i>sets out the Scottish Government''s view that on independence, the current parliamentary and political union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland would become a monarchical and social union, united kingdoms rather than a Un…
12 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money the British Transport Police in Scotland has allocated for anti-terrorist measures in 2008-09 and how that compares with each of the preceding four years.
9 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what thought and priority it has given to the conservation of Bute House.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12833 on 21 May 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/…
9 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish plans for any major redevelopment or refurbishment of Bute House.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is clear that a long-term strategy is required for the management and conservation of Bute House and confirms that it will publish plans for any major redevelopment or refurbishment once these have been established. Decisions will be t…
9 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned any architects since May 2007 to examine the long-term future of Bute House and, if so, what the costs to date have been of such commissions.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12833 on 21 May 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/…
9 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had since May 2007 with the National Trust for Scotland regarding Bute House.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12833 on 21 May 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…
9 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12333 by Kenny MacAskill on 7 May 2008, how many staff in each prison have been given permission to undertake (a) other employment, (b) self-employment and (c) voluntary work.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >We do not hold information on the categories as requested, however the current data held by the SPS centrally is as follows:</p> <p…
6 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games bid document, whether it has budgeted to fund the full costs of upgrading of the Royal Commonwealth Pool.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-3097 on 1 May 2008. All answers to oral 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.parliament.uk/bus…
2 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings ministers have had with the Institute of Asian Professionals; when those meetings were, and who attended.
Answer · Jim Mather: There have been two meetings to date between Scottish ministers and representatives of the Institute of Asian Professionals.</p> <p >On 20<sup> </sup>February 2008, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing met Mr Amjid Akram, Chief Executive of the I…
2 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new schools ministers have opened or officially visited since May 2007.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Scottish ministers have opened eight new schools since May 2007. Ministers visit schools regularly in the course of normal business but records are not kept of the relative age of the buildings at schools visited.</p>
2 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11948 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 April 2008, why it has spent over £140,000 on the work of the National Conversation, given that it is not a formal consultation.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Expenditure on the National Conversation is in support of the delivery of our manifesto commitment, which is widely shared, to give the Scottish people the opportunity to debate, reflect and then decide Scotland''s constitutional future in a referendum.</p>
2 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the National Conversation to be a poll of public opinion.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The National Conversation is not a poll; it is an opportunity for the people of Scotland to debate, reflect, and then decide on the type of government that will best equip Scotland for the future. The only true test of public opinion will be a referendum.</p>…
2 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why non-geographical terms such as “The Land of Milk and Honey” have been accepted as a location for responses on the National Conversation website.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The response to S3W-11333, answered on 23 April 2008, set out the criteria for moderating the National Conversation website. The criteria makes clear that no registration is required for submitting comments but contributors are asked to provide a name, locati…