George Foulkes

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice has been given to local authorities regarding proposed school closures and the policy of reducing class sizes to 18 in primary 1 to primary 3.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We re-issuedguidance to local authorities on proposals for changes to the school estate on 11 October 2007. A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament InformationCentre (Bib. number 43920). The guidance makes clear our expectation that, inconsidering such…

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who has responsibility for deciding whether any proposed expenditure by it is ultra vires.

Answer · John Swinney: It is the responsibilityof Scottish ministers to satisfy themselves that any proposed expenditure is lawful,and in case of doubt first to seek legal advice on the lawfulness or otherwise of the proposed expenditure.</p>

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibilities (a) chief constables, (b) police boards and (c) Scottish ministers have in relation to the operational deployment of police officers and whether there are any plans to change such responsibilities.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Under the tripartitearrangement for the accountability for the police service in Scotland, Scottish ministers retain overall responsibilityfor setting strategic priorities and national policing policy. Police authoritiesare responsible for securing the mainte…

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many classes in each of primary 1 to primary 3 have (a) more than 30, (b) 25 to 30, (c) 20 to 24, (d) 18 to 19 and (e) less than 18 pupils.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Information on individualclass sizes from the 2006 pupil census (the latest figures available) is publishedon the internet and can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16412/PrimClassSizesSep06">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/To…

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before appointing Robin Naysmith as the Scottish Government Counsellor in North America.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The grading of the Scottish Government’s representation in North America and the decision about who to appoint to the post arematters exclusively for the Permanent Secretary. The Foreign and Commonwealth Officewas informed about the intention to widen the dut…

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the appointment of further Scottish Government counsellors at UK embassies and high commissions overseas.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: There are currentlyno plans to make further such appointments elsewhere.</p>

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to change the title of First Minister.

Answer · John Swinney: The First Ministerhas no such plans at present.</p>

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to celebrate St Andrew’s Day, other than by sending St Andrew’s Day packs to schools and universities.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: St Andrew’s Daywill be a great opportunity to celebrate Scotland’s culture, history and talents. Our programme for St Andrew’s Dayinvolves events across all of Scotland's six cities, and Scottish Governmentevents in Edinburgh, Brussels, Washington and Beijing…

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of sending St Andrew’s Day packs to schools and universities across Scotland, including Saltire flags, booklets and postage, and under which budget heading the cost is covered.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The total cost for sending out an A5 flyer and merchandise to pre-schools, schools and universities was £10,483.48. The pre-school and school flyers were met from the Schools Directorate Communications budget. The postage for Universities was met from Lifelon…

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in which country the flags included in the St Andrew’s Day packs sent to schools and universities were manufactured.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Flags are sourced from a variety of manufacturers in Scotland, the UK and overseas markets. The buying decision is made on quality, price and required delivery time. The flags used with the leaflet sent to pre-schools and Student Unions were sourced from Taiw…

31 Oct 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to increase support for poorer students.

Answer · Adam Ingram: We have taken a quickfirst step to develop a fair student support package by introducing a Bill to abolishthe Graduate Endowment Fee.</p><p>We intend to consultwidely on our further proposals on student support next year.</p>

11 Oct 2007 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the average cost is of lodging a motion.

Answer · Alex Fergusson: A broad estimate has been made of the cost in staff time of processing motions, and on this basis the average cost of a motion is £27.80.</p>

4 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what subjects were discussed at any recent meetings between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and the chairs of NHS boards.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Since becoming CabinetSecretary for Health and Wellbeing I have had formal meetings with NHS boardschairs on 18 June, 23 July and 1 October. At these meetings a wide range of currentissues are discussed with chairs. These have included:</p><p>Waiting Times</p…

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding its school building programme and what the proposals are for wave 3 of the programme, particularly the replacement Portobello High School.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Following ameeting between officials on 6 September 2007, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and I metwith council representatives on 27&nbsp;September to discuss school buildingand other issues. The Cabinet Secretary also met the counc…

14 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimate is of the revenue which would accrue if the income tax level in Scotland was raised by one penny in the pound, in accordance with the revenue raising powers of the Parliament.

Answer · John Swinney: A one penny changein the Scottish variable rate in 2007-08 would be worth approximately +/- £300 million.</p>

14 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what appointments have been made to public bodies since 16 May 2007 and whether any such appointees have declared activity in any political party and, if so, which party in each case.

Answer · John Swinney: The following tableprovides the information requested in relation to the 44 appointments and re-appointmentsmade by the Scottish ministers to public bodies regulated by the Commissioner forPublic Appointments in Scotland since 16 May 2007:</p><table border=1 …

14 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultative committees, groups, councils and other bodies have been set up by ministers since 16 May 2007 and what the estimated cost is of running them.

Answer · John Swinney: The following groups have been set up by the Scottish Government since 16 May 2007. For the avoidance of doubt,these are not formally constituted organisations. Most of the groups are short-lifein nature and have been set up to provide external expertise and …

14 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its officials are carrying out work in relation to the Trident missile system and what the estimated cost is of any such work, broken down by department.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Governmenthas no dedicated functions in relation to the Trident missile system and thereforeno related costs.</p>

11 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to move online the advertising that it places in newspapers; what savings it expects to make as a result, and what estimate it has made of the effect of any such change on the viability of Scottish newspapers.

Answer · John Swinney: The ScottishGovernment already employs online advertising in its social marketing campaigncommunications, in response to the public's increasing likelihood to turn tothe internet for their information needs. It is used only where it is deemedappropriate and r…

30 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total number and cost was of coronary heart disease-related (a) discharges and (b) procedures in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board and shown also as a percentage of discharges and procedures in each case.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information onthe costs of treating specific conditions or diseases is not availablecentrally.</p><p>Information on(a) the numbers/percentage of discharges with primary diagnoses related tocoronary heart disease and (b) the numbers/percentage of diagnostic or…

30 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost to the NHS of coronary heart disease has been in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: These data arenot held centrally.</p>

30 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected number is of people with coronary heart disease aged (a) 16 to 24, (b) 25 to 34 (c) 35 to 44, (d) 45 to 54, (e) 55 to 64, (f) 65 to 74 and (g) 75 and over in each year up to 2025, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: These data arenot held centrally.</p>

30 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected trend is for coronary heart disease for (a) the total population and (b) people over 65 for each year up to 2025, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: These data are notheld centrally but information on mortality trends for the under-75s can be accessedat <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/oct06_MC2.xls">http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/oct06_MC2.xls</a>.</p>

30 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital admissions there were due to heart disease in each year since 2003, broken down into admissions due to (a) atherosclerosis, (b) angina, (c) myocardial infarction, (d) heart failure and (e) arrhythmia, in each NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The table, which isavailable in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43591) showsnumbers of discharges with primary diagnoses of: heart disease, angina, myocardialinfarction, heart failure or arrhythmia by NHS board of residence for the yea…

15 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce any further measures to the curriculum to address anti-English racism.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling racism inall its forms and whoever it is directed at. Schools are, of course, at the veryheart of preparing young people to live and play a valuable part in an inclusive,multi-cultural society. A lot of valuabl…

15 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions there are in the curriculum to address anti-English racism.

Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the memberto the answer to question S2W-3345 on 5 September 2007. 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…

15 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered introducing an arbitration bill to handle small claims out of court.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Governmentintends to introduce an Arbitration Bill at the first appropriate legislative opportunityin order to reform and modernise the law on arbitration as part of its commitmentto work with Scotland’s legal community to take forward plans tocr…

15 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length is of court cases involving bank charges.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information isnot held centrally.</p>

15 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many court cases involving bank charges there have been in each of the last four years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information isnot held centrally.</p>

15 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-429 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 June 2007, whether it will reduce the fee associated with lodging small claims, raise the threshold and publish its overall plans for reforming small claims procedure.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I expect Lord Gill’sReview of the civil court system, in which he is looking at court structures andjurisdictions to consider the issues raised. The Gill Review was set up in February2007 and is planning to report by May 2009.</p><p>As I have said previously,…