Questions · David Whitton

18 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by Skills Development Scotland to develop the proposed new brand image, Scotland the Works.

Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the chief executive to write to you with this information.

18 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what agency was employed by Skills Development Scotland to devise its proposed new brand image, Scotland the Works.

Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the chief executive to write to you with this information.

25 Mar 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to reduce knife crime in the Lothian and Borders area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is working with the police-led Violence Reduction Unit to tackle violence across Scotland. Lothian and Borders Police undertake a variety of activities to reduce knife crime. These range from work in secondary schools to highlight the …

18 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprentices have been made redundant since 1 April 2008 and (a) have found or (b) are still seeking alternative training or employment or (c) have left the training programme, broken down by (i) local authority area and (ii) occupational grouping.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with this information.

11 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the decorating contracts for the Water Industry Commission for Scotland’s office were put out to tender and, if so, when and how many companies bid for the work.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32314 on 19 March 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/…

11 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Water Industry Commission for Scotland has spent on decorating expenses for office accommodation since 2007.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32314 on 19 March 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/…

11 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Water Industry Commission for Scotland has spent on hospitality expenses since 2007.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32314 on 19 March 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/…

11 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Water Industry Commission for Scotland has spent on travelling expenses since 2007 and how much was incurred by the (a) Chief Executive and (b) Chairman.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Water Industry Commission for Scotland is the independent economic regulator for the water industry in Scotland. Its detailed operating costs including travel, hospitality and decorating expenses are matters for the commission to determine. I have asked A…

1 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether future meetings are planned involving representatives of the Scottish Futures Trust, Macquarie Bank and Scottish Water to discuss alternative funding models for Scottish Water and, if so, when such meetings will take place.

Answer · John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust to respond. His response is as follows: No such meetings are planned.

1 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Futures Trust officials have met representatives of Macquarie Bank to discuss future funding models for Scottish Water.

Answer · John Swinney: I have asked Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust to respond. His response is as follows: I can confirm that officials from the Scottish Futures Trust have met with representatives of Macquarie Bank. This was in line with our …

1 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding models for Scottish Water have been the subject of further work or investigation by the (a) Scottish Government or (b) Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has not undertaken any further work or investigation into funding models for Scottish Water since my meeting with representatives of Macquarie Bank on 15 July 2009. With regards to what funding models for Scottish Water have b…

1 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed the future funding model for Scottish Water with representatives of Macquarie Bank and, if so, on how many occasions and what the outcome was of those discussions.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32045 on 10 March 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/…

1 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates it met representatives of Macquarie Bank and what was discussed at each meeting.

Answer · John Swinney: The First Minister met a representative of Macquarie Bank on 11 September 2008 to discuss where Macquarie might be able to support the strategy of the Scottish Government. Scottish Water was not discussed at this meeting. At their invitation I met wi…

4 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the legislative recommendations made in Professor Sir Patrick Bateson’s report, Independent Inquiry into Dog Breeding.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Prof. Sir Patrick Bateson''s report makes a number of recommendations which would involve changes to the legislation on the breeding and sales of dogs, and the Dangerous Dogs Act. Rather that take action at this stage to legislate, the Scottish Government int…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the UK National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) that 16 to 17-year-olds not in full-time education have seen the largest absolute fall in their employment rate since the start of the recession, whether it plans to create a non-sector-specific apprenticeship grant…

Answer · Keith Brown: Over the last six months the Scottish Government has introduced Invest in an Apprentice and the £1,000 Apprenticeship Grant to address Scottish needs. The Scottish Government will assess the benefits of these programmes before considering any further financia…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the £2,000 incentives have been awarded to employers for creating modern apprenticeships in the manufacturing, food and drink, textiles or energy sectors for 16 to 19-year-olds.

Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland (SDS). For your convenience, at 18 February 2010 SDS had approved a total of 90 applications for the Invest in an apprentice scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises recruiting a 16 to 19-year…

3 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many employers have successfully applied for the £1,000 incentive offered by the Invest in an Apprentice scheme running until 26 March 2010.

Answer · Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. However, for your convenience I have set out the information requested below. Due to the extremely positive response from employers, Skills Development Scotland closed the Apprenticeship …