George Foulkes

18 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which authority has the power to decide whether lay members of school inspection teams should be reimbursed for their loss of earnings.

Answer · Maureen Watt: It is for HM Inspectorate of Education to decide whether to pay for the services of lay members as the financial implications for any change to the present position would need to be met by them.</p>

18 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the recruitment process of lay members of school inspection teams.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The use of lay members is being reviewed as part of the changes being made to inspections of schools and other services in the light of the Scottish Government''s national performance framework for local government. There may be a need to recruit further lay …

18 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures diversity and a balance of demographics in its selection and recruitment processes for lay members of school inspection teams.

Answer · Maureen Watt: HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) advertises the position of lay member in all of its inspection reports. It has also targeted a wide range of publications including The Big Issue to ensure as wide a coverage as possible. They have also ensured that opportu…

18 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8652 by Fiona Hyslop on 24 January 2008, why it considers that reimbursing lay members of school inspection teams would jeopardise their integrity and independence.

Answer · Maureen Watt: HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) have had no difficulty in recruiting and retaining sufficient lay members without paying for their time. This is because those who apply have a genuine desire to improve education. Reimbursing lay members runs the risk of a…

18 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8652 by Fiona Hyslop on 24 January 2008, how it differentiates between reimbursing those involved in children’s panels for loss of earnings and not reimbursing lay members of school inspection teams.

Answer · Maureen Watt: It is not possible to draw a direct comparison. HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) has never paid lay members. I believe that paying lay members would remove critical aspects of their independence and it is important to continue to encourage people to volunt…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many oral parliamentary questions have been answered by each cabinet secretary and minister since May 2007.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. </p> <p >All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s Official Report website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.sco…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to media reports about the levels of marine plastics pollution and whether it plans to categorise plastics as dangerous waste.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Executive has funded KIMO''s Fishing for Litter project to help reduce marine litter of all kinds, including plastics. Following a meeting between KIMO and myself, my officials are currently discussing future work with that organisation. Support …

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the use of tasers by police officers.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In Scotland tasers are only issued to authorised police firearms officers and the circumstances and extent to which tasers are deployed are an operational matter for chief constables.</p>

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of compliance with building regulations is assumed in the calculation of official estimates on carbon dioxide emissions from buildings.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990-2005 (<a href="http://www.naei.org.uk/reports.php">www.naei.org.uk/reports.php</a>) provide estimates of carbon dioxide emissions from a range of sectors. In the case of th…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are being put in place to monitor and enforce compliance with the concordat between it and local government across all Executive departments, offices and agencies and where the responsibility for this work lies.

Answer · John Swinney: The provisions in the concordat are subject to a range of monitoring arrangements which involve ministers, COSLA Office Bearers, officials from the Scottish Government, its agencies and local government and Audit Scotland.</p> <p >All elements of government …

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to voluntary bodies helping people with personal debt problems.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government funds Citizens Advice Direct and part-funds National Debtline. These both provide telephone and email money advice services which cover more than one local authority area. We also support national infrastructure for money advice agenci…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect overcrowding in prisons is having on the length of prison sentences passed in court.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Decisions on the length of a prison sentence are a matter for the court in each individual case. Parliament sets a framework of sentencing options and judges work within this to decide on the most appropriate sentence to suit the seriousness of the offence an…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the European Commission’s outline proposals to prohibit the use of patio heaters by restaurants and bars as part of an emissions reduction programme.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The European Commission has not outlined any proposals to prohibit the use of patio heaters. The European Commission has, however, published an action plan for energy efficiency to realise significant savings in EU annual primary energy consumption by 2020, t…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether centres for the support and supervision of women offenders are cost effective; who funds them and whether the Executive will conduct a trial of such centres in major urban areas.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The 218 Centre in Glasgow for the support and supervision of women involved in the Criminal Justice system was established in 2003. Funding is provided by the Scottish Government through Section 27 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and paid through the C…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to experimenting with the sale of alcohol at football matches, similar to the trial at Murrayfield stadium.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: It will be for the football authorities and clubs to present their case for any relaxation on the legislation for the sale of alcohol at football matches. However, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice would not consider any such request without the full backing …

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the tax on whisky, showing the dates on which any representations were made and by whom.

Answer · John Swinney: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 7 February 2008 to express his disappointment that the 2007 Pre-Budget Report (PBR) did not contain any measures to reduce the tax burden on the spirits indus…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many energy generation schemes using (a) biomass, (b) wave power, (c) hydro power, (d) tidal power, (e) onshore wind power and (f) offshore wind power have been approved since May 2007.

Answer · Jim Mather: Electricity generating developments (greater than 50Mw generally and 1Mw for water driven generating stations) are consented by Scottish ministers under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. In considering an application made under Section 36 of the Electri…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has given to energy generation schemes using (a) biomass, (b) wave power, (c) hydro power, (d) tidal power, (e) onshore wind power and (f) offshore wind power since May 2007.

Answer · Jim Mather: Electricity generation from these sources qualifies for support under the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) mechanism. Onshore wind and hydro power are established technologies which do not require additional support. However, we will consult in the near futur…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many written parliamentary questions have been answered by each cabinet secretary and minister since May 2007.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p> <p >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…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests for warrants authorising interception of communications were refused by ministers from 3 May to 31 December 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not collect the figures requested.</p>

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has of individuals travelling to Scotland for the purpose of using its health services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Any person who becomes permanently and lawfully resident in Scotland and can show proof that he or she has done so will be entitled to NHS care on the same basis as other residents.</p> <p >It is possible for people from other parts of the United Kingdom to …

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were successfully prosecuted in 2007 for cruelty to (a) dogs and (b) cats.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In 2005-06, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 46 persons with a charge proved for the offence of cruelty to animals, where this was the main offence recorded. It is not possible to identify cats or dogs from other types of animals in…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to legislating for a change in the age of criminal responsibility.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government''s position is set out in paragraphs 560 to 623 of <i >A Report on Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in Scotland</i>, published in August 2007 and available on the Scottish Government website at:</p> <p ><…

14 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to monitor, audit and assess the success of local voluntary sector and community projects and initiatives funded by it or its agencies.

Answer · Jim Mather: Funding for local third sector organisations and delivery projects largely sits with local authorities and other public bodies. It is for these authorities to ensure appropriate monitoring, evaluation and audit processes are in place, subject to the oversight…

8 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what activities it undertook during Fairtrade Fortnight.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 began on 25 February and concludes on 9 March.</p> <p >Fairtrade Fortnight 2007 took place from 26 February to 11 March. The then Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport undertook a number of events in support of this. These were:</p…

8 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what alternative funding will replace the Bus Route Development Grant to fund future projects previously eligible under the scheme.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Under the concordat agreed between Scottish ministers and COSLA, local authorities are expected to set financial priorities to meet local needs. From 1 April 2008, the funding for BRDG will be included in the main local government settlement. The Scottish Gov…

8 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what projects or services have been supported by the Bus Route Development Grant in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following table gives details of the projects which have been awarded funding from the Bus Route Development Grant scheme in 2006 and 2007.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >Year…

5 Feb 2008 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many recorded instances it is aware of when the legal requirements regarding gifts to MSPs has been breached since 1999 and, of these, how many have been referred to the Procurator Fiscal.

Answer · Alex Fergusson: Since 1999, the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee and its predecessor Committees have published one report (4th Report, 2005, Session 2) in which it agreed that the member had breached article 4(6) of the Members' Interests Order by fail…

5 Feb 2008 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has incurred any costs in respect of the opinion provided by Queen’s Counsel to the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner on the issue of the Wendy Alexander leadership campaign and, if so, what costs were incurred and from which Queen’s Counsel the o…

Answer · Mike Pringle: </b> In undertaking his functions the commissioner has his own separate budget which for 2007-08 is £90,000, included within which is £23,340 for professional fees. </p> <p align=left >Under the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Act 2002, invest…

5 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given or plans to give to the implications for Scotland and Scots Law of the UK Counter-Terrorism Bill, published by the UK Government on 24 January 2008.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is continuing to work closely with the Home Office to ensure that the provisions in the bill as they relate to Scotland are proportionate and suitable for the Scottish legal system. I am in correspondence with Home Office ministers on …