Neil Findlay

23 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reference it made to the public sector equality duty in the Equality Act 2010 when working on the Scottish Spending Review 2011 and Draft Budget 2012-13.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government takes its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and the public sector equality duty very seriously and we continue to work to ensure that the spending decisions we take pay due regard to their impact on equality. Further detail…

23 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to work with credit unions in developing its anti-poverty strategy and in tackling financial and social exclusion.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Achieving our Potential, our framework for tackling poverty developed jointly with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, is already in place. That included measures to provide greater financial inclusion. We have no plans to develop a further strategy…

23 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had since May 2011 with (a) academics, (b) COSLA, (c) individual local authorities and (d) other bodies regarding the role of credit unions.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has not held any discussions about the role of credit unions with the bodies listed since May 2011.

23 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have spoken at a conference since 7 May 2011; what the topic of their contribution was; who (a) organised and (b) sponsored the conference, and what payment they received.

Answer · John Swinney: Ministers have spoken at the following conferences since 7 May 2011: Alex Salmond MSP First Minister Date Description Sponsor Organiser (If different to Sponsor) Topic 22-June National Economic Forum Scottish Government Opening Address Post add…

23 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many credit unions there are and how many members they have.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not maintain records on credit union numbers or membership.

23 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met (a) COSLA and (b) any local authority to discuss the public sector duty in the Equality Act 2010 and its implications for local government budget reductions.

Answer · John Swinney: Local authorities, like other public bodies, are covered by the public sector equality duty in the Equality Act 2010 which is reserved to the UK Government. In relation to the Scottish specific duties, Scottish ministers are currently considering the specific…

23 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any legal impediments to it providing financial assistance to credit unions.

Answer · John Swinney: We are not aware of any legal impediments to providing financial assistance, for example through the Scottish Investment Fund or the Enterprise Growth Fund, to encourage organisational growth and sustainability. As part of the third sector, credit unions are …

23 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what parliamentary receptions ministers hosted between 4 May 2007 and 6 May 2011.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

23 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it took cognisance of the Equality Act 2010 when proposing to reduce the budget for the further education sector.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Yes.

23 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a credit union development fund.

Answer · John Swinney: There are no current plans to introduce a credit union development fund.

23 Nov 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met NUS Scotland and what was discussed.

10 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the Scottish Joint Industry Board for the electrical contracting industry regarding the continuation of the national joint negotiating scheme since 26 September 2011 or plans to do so in the near future.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Matters relating to national agreements covering terms and conditions of employment are reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Executive has had no discussions with the Scottish Joint Industry Board for the electrical contracting industry regarding the c…

10 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the UK Government regarding the continuation of the national collective agreement for the electrical contracting industry since 29 September 2011 or plans to do so in the near future.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Matters relating to national agreements covering terms and conditions of employment are reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Executive has had no contact with the UK Government regarding the continuation of the national collective agreement for the ele…

10 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with training providers on the implications of any changes to the national joint negotiating scheme for the electrical contracting industry since 26 September 2011 or plans to do so in the near future.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Matters relating to national agreements covering terms and conditions of employment are reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Executive has had no discussions with training providers on the implications of any changes to the national joint negotiating s…

2 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many private schools there are.

Answer · Michael Russell: There are 103 registered independent schools in Scotland.

2 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what state assistance private schools receive.

Answer · Michael Russell: Independent schools do not receive public funding from the Scottish Government. However, places for musically talented pupils are funded at St Mary’s Music School, Edinburgh, through the Aided Places Scheme.

2 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many private schools have charitable status.

Answer · Michael Russell: There are currently 103 registered independent schools of which 90 are operated by charities.

2 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria private schools have to meet in order to qualify for charitable status.

Answer · Michael Russell: All bodies wishing to qualify for charitable status must pass the "charity test" as set out in the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005: The body must have only charitable purposes. The 2005 Act recognises 15 purposes as charitable, and The …

2 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the financial benefit that private schools accrue from their charitable status.

Answer · Michael Russell: This information is not held centrally. All charities may qualify for UK charitable tax relief under section 505 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. Taxation is a matter reserved to the UK Government and the decision for charitable tax relief rests …

26 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police stations will lose their 24-hour cover status and how many with part-time cover will have their hours reduced, in each of the next five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for individual forces.

26 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police stations will have 24-hour cover in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 and how many have had such cover in each year since 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for individual forces.

26 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the policing budget is for (a) 2012 and (b) 2013 and what it has been in each year since 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information is as follows. The 2012-13 and 2013-14 proposed budgets are subject to parliamentary consideration of the Budget Bill 2012-13 which will be laid before parliament in January 2012.

26 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police stations will operate on a part-time basis in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013, broken down by those operating (i) part-time each day and (ii) some days in the week, and how many have operated on this basis in each year since 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for individual forces.

26 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of plans made by police authorities to close stations in each of the next five years. 

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for individual forces.

26 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to electrify the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts railway line and what (a) the timescale is and (b) estimate it has made of the cost.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Strategic Transport Projects Review, published in 2008, estimated the cost of the second phase of electrification of the strategic rail network to be between £250 million and £500 million. The Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts railway line is part of this p…

19 Oct 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the 20% real-terms reduction in college funding will have over the next four years.

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) independent residential schools and (b) other organisations are involved in caring for looked-after children.

Answer · Angela Constance: There are 42 special day and residential schools in the independent sector. This includes four secure units. Scottish Government does not collect information on the number of other organisations involved in caring for looked after children.

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated to secure units and to (a) private and (b) charitable residential schools in each year since 2007.

Answer · Angela Constance: Both the Scottish Government Parole Unit and Scottish local authorities are responsible for the allocation of funds for secure units. Information on the allocation of funds by local authorities to secure units is collected by central government on a financia…

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of whether looked-after children are inappropriately placed as a result of funding issues.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government supports local authorities to meet their duties in a number of ways including through the work of the Looked After Children Strategic Implementation Group which exists to improve outcomes for looked after children in part by helping lo…

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many looked-after children reside or resided (a) with foster carers, (b) in young people's centres, (c) in smaller satellite units preparing young people for independent living, (d) in residential schools and (e) in secure units in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) 2009, (iv) 2010 and (v) 20…

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government’s Children Looked After Survey does not collect exactly the level of detail requested. However, the most detailed information that is available can be found in Table 2.2 of the additional tables published alongside the Children Looked…