Parliamentary questions
George Foulkes
1,927 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which banks operate accounts for it and whether it has changed any of the banks that it has used since May 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Executive''s main bank account is held at HM Office of Paymaster General. The Executive also maintains commercial bank accounts at both the Royal Bank of Scotland and Halifax Bank of Scotland. There has been no change in the banking arrangements …
5 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been since May 2007 for the discharge of pollution into rivers and how many have been successful.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Twenty-one prosecutions have been concluded, 20 resulting in convictions.</p>
5 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial limit is beyond which it considers that the cost for answering a written parliamentary question would be disproportionate.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The disproportionate cost limit is currently set at £600.</p>
5 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an estimate of the range of the financial cost of answering parliamentary questions, from simple to complex.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The information requested is not held.</p> <p >I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17445 on 10 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found …
5 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of its agencies has financial dealings with the Tosca hedge fund.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government, including its Executive Agencies, do not invest resources outside the public sector. bodies sponsored by the Scottish Government, essentially non-departmental public bodies, are not permitted to make investments of a speculative natur…
5 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which agencies, local authorities or other public bodies had investments in a vehicle under the control of Bernard Madoff and what the total amount was of those investments.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government, including its executive agencies, do not invest resources outside the public sector. Bodies sponsored by the Scottish Government, essentially non-departmental public bodies, are not permitted to make investments of a speculative natur…
5 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and which of its or its agencies’ senior officials are on sabbatical leave and what the nature of the sabbatical leave is.
Answer · John Swinney: There are currently three Scottish Government Senior Civil Servants on either domestic career break or special leave.</p>
5 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and which of its or its agencies’ senior officials receive private medical insurance as part of their remuneration packages.
Answer · John Swinney: None of the remuneration packages for Senior Civil Servants employed by the Scottish Government includes provision for private medical insurance.</p>
5 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what official Christmas gifts have been received by the First Minister and how each one has been disposed of.
Answer · John Swinney: The First Minister received four Christmas gifts in 2008. In line with Section 9.26 of the Ministerial Code the Scottish Government is required to publish information on gifts valued at more than £140. As the four Christmas gifts received by the First Ministe…
2 Jan 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers have been redeployed to the beat since May 2007.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The day-to-day deployment ofpolice officers is a matter for individual chief constables, but we are supportingthem in their various initiatives to cut bureaucracy, exploit new technology andfree up officer time for redeployment to operational and front line d…
21 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings ministers have had with Stagecoach representatives since May 2007 and what issues were discussed on each occasion.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Meetings thatministers have had with Stagecoach representatives since May 2007 and what was discussedare outlined in the following table.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td width=82 valign=top> <p align=center>Date</p> </td> <td val…
21 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a hovercraft service between Fife and Edinburgh should be put out to a commercial tender process if the service is considered to be commercially viable.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Procurement of any hovercraftservice between Edinburgh and Fife by a public authority would require to comply with allrelevant EU legislation. Whether any tender process was required would depend onthe specific circumstances of any case.</p><p>If a service is…
21 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the South East Scotland Transport Partnership has had with companies other than Stagecoach which have a track record of providing hovercraft services.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the SouthEast of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran). However, I am advised by SEStranthat they have had no direct discussions with other possible hovercraft operatorsin relation to cross-Forth services.</p>
21 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the notes of discussions between representatives of Stagecoach and the South East Scotland Transport Partnership regarding the possibility of a permanent hovercraft service between Fife and Edinburgh.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No, this is a matter forStagecoach and SESTRAN. The Scottish Government do not hold copies of notes ofdiscussions between Stagecoach and SESTRAN.</p>
19 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the funding for the proposed Trump development in Aberdeenshire is to be provided by Mr Trump or his organisation.
Answer · John Swinney: This information is not heldby the Scottish Government.</p>
19 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any public money has been budgeted, offered or committed to the proposed Trump development in Aberdeenshire and, if so, what the level is of such investment.
Answer · John Swinney: Neither Scottish Enterprise,Scottish Development International nor the Scottish Government has budgeted,offered or committed any support to this project.</p>
14 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the original PFI contract for the Seafield sewage treatment works stated that workers’ pensions should be maintained or improved in the event of any change in contractor and, if so, whether those conditions apply for the lifetime of the 30-year contract.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is an operational matterfor Scottish Water and the PFI contractors, and I have asked the Acting Chief Executiveof Scottish Water to reply to you.</p>
13 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether section 6.11 of the Scottish Ministerial Code, which states that “Ministers, and in particular the Planning Minister, must do nothing which might be seen as prejudicial to that process, particularly in advance of the decision being taken”, has been breached by the Cabinet Secretar…
Answer · John Swinney: If the member wishes to makea formal allegation about me in relation to the Scottish Ministerial Code then heshould write to the First Minister.</p><p>The circumstances surroundingmy attendance at the Globalscot reception at the Trump National Golf Club have …
13 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth had in New York on 2 December 2007 and who was present at each engagement.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-7899 on 20 December. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…
13 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth had in New York on 3 December 2007 and who was present at each engagement.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7899 on 20 December. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
13 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth went to the Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, New York on 2 December 2007 on the occasion of the globalscot conference and, if so, which officials accompanied him.
Answer · John Swinney: I attended the reception at theTrump National Golf Club and was accompanied by a member of my Private Office. TheDirector General Economy and Director for Europe, External Affairs and Culture were also present at thereception.</p>
12 Dec 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Edinburgh would gain and how many would lose from a council tax freeze.
Answer · John Swinney: Based on our latest information,over 170,000 households will gain from a council tax freeze. No household will lose.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what overnight stays in hotels have been charged for by ministers since May 2007 and at what total cost
Answer · John Swinney: There have been 184 overnight stays in hotels charged for by ministers since May 2007 at a total cost of £22,185.11.</p> <p > </p> <p ><i>The following is the original answer </i><i >(published on 25 February 2008); see below.</i></p> <p ><i > <…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to celebrate Christmas.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government had nocorporate plans to celebrate Christmas. However, Christmas Day was a public holidayand Boxing Day a privilege holiday. In addition, and in keeping with previous years,the following arrangements were in place:</p><p>Christmas tree…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of the cost of dealing with snow on the roads this winter; what account has been taken of such cost in the local government settlement, and whether there is any contingency provision if the estimate is exceeded.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Support for local authority roads,including winter safety measures, will be provided through the core local governmentfinance settlement and it will be for the local authorities themselves to determinethe level of spending for roads in their area.</p><p>Gener…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the forecast increase in water charges is for 2008-09.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Maximum charge increases for2006-10 were set by the Water Industry Commission in its final determination ofcharges for that period. The information sought is available at <ahref="http://www.watercommissioner.co.uk/SRC_2006-2010/">http://www.watercommissioner.…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given consideration to the freezing of water charges along with council tax for 2008-09.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Water charge levels are set byan independent process of economic regulation led by the Water Industry Commissionfor Scotland.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what planning applications have been called in without an appeal by the applicant and following refusal by the local planning authority since May 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: Scottish ministers have no powerto call in a planning application after the written notice of refusal has been issuedby a planning authority.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what gifts the First Minister has received since May 2007.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: Since May 2007 to 3 January 2008, theFirst Minister has received 72 gifts. Under the terms of the Scottish MinisterialCode, the First Minister may retain gifts of a value less than £140. Sixty-eightgifts fall into this category. Of these, 12 were alcohol, fou…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the meetings at which the First Minister discussed the Trump Organisation's planning application for a golf development at the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire.
Answer · John Swinney: Mr Salmond has not attended meetingsor discussed that planning application in his capacity as First Minister.</p>