Parliamentary questions

George Foulkes

1,927 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

19 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) projected estimate and (b) actual amount was of income generated for the economy of (i) Scotland and (ii) Edinburgh by Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Answer · Jim Mather: The target for Homecoming Scotland 2009 was to deliver an 8:1 return on the core investment of £5.5 million. Independent research conducted by the leading economic and social development consultancy, EKOS, published on 21 May 2010 showed that Homecom…

19 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) projected estimate and (b) actual amount was of income generated for the economy of (i) Scotland and (ii) Edinburgh by The Gathering 2009.

Answer · Jim Mather: There was no projected estimate in terms of income generated for the economy by The Gathering event. The event was part of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme of events and the target for return on investment for Homecoming Scotland 2009 was an 8:1 return.…

5 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34712 by John Swinney on 4 August 2010, whether it will consider reducing the ministerial car pool as part of its cost-saving exercise.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government will continue to look at all aspects of operation of the Government Car Service to ensure efficiency.

5 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35083 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 August 2010, whether it will list the consultancy services provided by (a) Weber Shandwick, (b) Ernst and Young and (c) Dundas and Wilson.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Major infrastructure projects by their nature require lengthy development periods and this often requires specialist external expertise to support the core Transport Scotland team''s work in delivering the project efficiently and effectively. Weber …

5 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35093 by Jim Mather on 4 August 2010, with what potential investors the Scottish Investment Bank is in discussions.

Answer · Jim Mather: Commercial discussions with potential investors are on a commercially confidential basis and as such it would not be appropriate at this point to provide further details. The process of securing substantial private sector investment rightly requires careful c…

5 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Glasgow or Scotland is the official host of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35595 on 12 August 2010. 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/Apps2…

5 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ask the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator to consider carrying out a public benefit appraisal of high-fee-charging healthcare charities.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This is a matter for the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), a body operationally independent from Scottish ministers.

5 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which members of the Scottish Funding Council have experience in accountancy or allied professions.

Answer · Keith Brown: Three of the present members of the Scottish Funding Council are qualified accountants. They are John McClelland (Chair), Ian Adam and Robin Crawford.

5 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35088 by Keith Brown on 27 July 2010, whether it will consider asking the Scottish Funding Council to look at university and college mergers to help achieve savings.

Answer · Keith Brown: In ministerial guidance issued to the Scottish Funding Council on 25 February 2010 we asked the council to maintain its focus on making efficiencies. While the council has no powers to direct universities or colleges to merge, our guidance made clear that we …

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34733 by Jim Mather on 16 July 2010, for what reason the accountable officer for Homecoming Scotland 2009 is different to the accountable officer for The Gathering 2009.

Answer · Jim Mather: The accountable officer reflects the different Scottish Government budget lines which supported Homecoming Scotland 2009 and The Gathering 2009.

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34781 by Shona Robison on 16 July 2010, what request has been made regarding transport for the First Minister while in Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Shona Robison: None.

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34716 by Shona Robison on 16 July 2010, whether it can confirm that the City of Glasgow is the official host of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Shona Robison: Glasgow is the official host city of the 2014 Commonwealth Games supported fully by the Scottish Government.

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35084 by Stewart Stevenson on 26 July 2010, what savings would be made if the final tranche of compulsory purchase orders for the Borders railway project were abandoned.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is estimated that if the final tranche of compulsory purchase orders in relation to land/access rights required to maintain the Borders Railway were not served, savings would be in the region of £170,000 - £200,000.

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35085 by Stewart Stevenson on 26 July 2010, from what sources the money will come to finance the Borders railway line; what the expected rate of interest is on the borrowing; what recourse there will be to private finance; how much public money will …

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The successful Design, Build, Finance and Maintenance (DBFM) Contractor is required to obtain appropriate private finance to fund the activities of the DBFM Contract. The cost of capital will form part of each consortium''s bid, and therefore the expected cos…

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35089 by John Swinney on 27 July 2010, what the annual net saving is and how many jobs have been lost as a result of winding up these bodies.

Answer · John Swinney: The abolition of the eight public bodies listed in my answer to question S3W-35089 on 27 July 2010 will deliver estimated net savings of around £1.4 million by 2013 and recurring net savings of around £1.5 million per annum thereafter. A detailed breakdown of…

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the output was of (a) Hunterston and (b) Torness nuclear power station and what percentage of total Scottish electricity output it represented in each month of 2009.

Answer · Jim Mather: The information requested is not held centrally. However, annual figures for electricity generated by each energy source in Scotland are published online at: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment/seso/sesoSubSearch…

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total output of all wind generators in Scotland was and what percentage of the total electricity demand this represented in each month of 2009.

Answer · Jim Mather: The information requested is not held centrally in the format requested. Annual figures for electricity generated by renewables in Scotland are published on the Scottish Government''s website at the following link: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk…

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners have sued the Scottish Prison Service since May 2007 and what the outcome has been in each case.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Approximately, 2,036 prisoners have raised proceedings against the SPS in the sheriff courts or Court of Session since May 2007. A prison…

3 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34797 by John Swinney on 16 July 2010, whether it will list the (a) name and (b) job title of each member of its staff who used a (i) Government Procurement Card or (ii) Travel and Subsistence Charge Card in 2009-10, showing (A) the purpose for which…

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total expenditure was on the passenger rail franchise and associated costs in 2009-10.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The total expenditure on the passenger rail franchise in 2009-10 was £271m. In addition Network Rail provides the infrastructure on which the services operate and Scottish Ministers fund Network Rail in respect of the rail network in Scotland. The Network Rai…

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimated cost is of the Glasgow subway improvement; what the sources of funds are for this project, and when it will be completed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The operation and maintenance of the subway is a matter for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). SPT''s current estimate of the capital cost of their preferred option for the subway modernisation is £283.9 million in nominal terms. The Sc…

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimated cost is of the Edinburgh-to-Glasgow rail enhancement; what the sources of funds are for this project, and when it will be completed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The estimated Capital cost of the Edinburgh - Glasgow Improvements Programme (EGIP) remains £1,135 million. The programme will be fully funded by the Scottish Government. Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) have confirmed that Networ…

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what projects were funded through the regulated asset base in each of the last three years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows which programmes/projects were funded via the regulated asset base in each of the last three years: <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > 2007-08 </td> …

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what total income arose from its charging for services in 2009-10 and what consideration is being given to increasing this.

Answer · John Swinney: The income received by the core Scottish Executive in 2009-10 was £8.9 million. The scope for increased revenues is kept under review.

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to expenditure on concessionary fares as part of its budget strategy.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Concessionary travel remains a priority for the Scottish Government. We have taken steps in the current financial year to support the efficiency and sustainability of the Scotland-wide free bus travel scheme for older and disabled people, through a package of…

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it will use to fund the Forth replacement crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As advised in the Parliamentary statement on Strategic Transport Projects Review, on 10 December 2008, the Forth Replacement Crossing will be publicly funded and will be procured through a conventional design and build contract.

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of funds for capital spending in transport comes from each of the available funding services.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The funding source for each project is assessed individually based on the size and type of project, the suitability for the various forms of funding and the availability of funds.

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to approaching the National Trust for Scotland to discuss joint working with Historic Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Scotland works closely with the National Trust for Scotland in a number of areas and continues to develop its joint working agreed in the 2006 concordat between the two agencies. The chief executives of Historic Scotland and the National Tr…

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what private funds have been obtained by the Scottish Investment Bank since its creation.

Answer · Jim Mather: Using the public sector investment of £50 million as cornerstone funding, work to secure substantial additional private sector investment is well underway. Discussions with a number of potential investors are progressing satisfactorily.

2 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what grants and loans have been made by the Scottish Investment Bank.

Answer · Jim Mather: There have never been any plans for the Scottish Investment Bank to deliver grants but we are working to have a new loan fund open for business by the end of this year. In the meantime, Scottish Enterprise continues to make investments in innovative, high gro…