Neil Findlay

22 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Lothian in relation to establishing a centre of excellence sports injury clinic at St John’s Hospital in Livingston.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01113 on 18 July 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…

22 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a delay in the delivery of specialised equipment required to fully establish a sports injury clinic at St John's Hospital in Livingston and, if so, for what reason.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01113 on 18 July 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…

22 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the proposed sports injury clinic at St John’s Hospital in Livingston has been delayed and what the estimated opening date is for this facility.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01113 on 18 July 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…

20 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders regarding the upgrade of the A801 River Avon Gorge crossing.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01010 on 21 July 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…

20 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when work on the upgrade of the A801 River Avon Gorge crossing will commence.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01010 on 21 July 2011. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…

20 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has regarding the upgrade of the A801 River Avon Gorge crossing.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01010 on 21 July 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusi…

20 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the upgrade of the A801 River Avon Gorge crossing will be carried out.

Answer · Keith Brown: We are in continuing discussions with Falkirk and West Lothian Council and other stakeholders regarding the development of the Grangemouth Freight Hub. This includes consideration of the A801 which forms part of Intervention 20 of the STPR. We therefore welc…

20 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations have taken place with the local community regarding the planned upgrade of the A801 River Avon Gorge crossing.

Answer · Keith Brown: Such consultations are a matter for Falkirk and West Lothian Council at the appropriate stages in the design and development process.

20 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the review by Sheriff Principal James Taylor of the costs and funding of litigation is considering costs in relation to environmental matters and what opportunities there are for (a) non-governmental organisations and (b) the public to contribute.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The review will consider the costs and funding of public interest actions as part of its remit. This will include environmental actions. In terms of how it will consider these matters, the review will be looking to draw on the experience and expertise of thos…

20 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether environmental expertise will be involved in the review by Sheriff Principal James Taylor of the costs and funding of litigation.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The review will consider as part of its remit the cost and funding of litigation in public interest actions (this will include environmental actions). In doing so, the review will be consulting widely with those with an interest in public interest litigation.…

20 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to amend the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Regulations 2002 in order to provide legal aid in relation to environmental issues.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Civil legal aid is already available in relation to environmental issues, provided that the statutory eligibility criteria are met: applicants must qualify financially, must have a legal basis for their case and it must be reasonable in the particular circums…

9 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many targeted pathways to apprenticeships were or will be funded in (a) Scotland, (b) Lothian and (c) West Lothian in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to the member with the information he has requested.

9 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many participants of the targeted pathways to apprenticeship programme progressed into a modern apprenticeship in 2010-11.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to the member with the information he has requested.

9 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many participants of the targeted pathways to apprenticeship programme were registered as unemployed prior to joining it in 2010-11.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to the member with the information he has requested.

9 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost of the modern apprenticeship programme was in 2010-11.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to the member with the information he has requested.

9 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of the targeted pathways to apprenticeship programme for 2010-11.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to the member with the information he has requested.

8 Jun 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many compulsory redundancies are estimated and how many full-time equivalent student places in the further education sector will be reduced, as a result of reductions in funding by the Scottish Funding Council.

8 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to protect the safety of residents in the care of Peacock Medicare Ltd other than those formerly resident at the Elsie Inglis Nursing Home.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Peacock Medicare Ltd has two other care homes in Scotland, both of which are registered with Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS). These are Peacock Nursing Home and Woodlands Nursing Home, both in Livingston. Both care homes received gra…

6 Jun 2011 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what plans the Scottish Government has for corporation tax rates.

2 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with the (a) higher and (b) further education sector, either composite bodies or individual institutions, whether the rationalisations taking place across the sector will result in a reduction of university or college places.

Answer · Michael Russell: Both the further and higher education sectors have agreed that core student places will be maintained in 2011-12.

2 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, using the weighted student units of measurement methodology, how much funding the Scottish Funding Council provided to each college in the last five years.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The funding of individual colleges is the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the council’s Chief Executive to write to the member.

2 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the weighted student units of measurement methodology is disadvantageous to some colleges if it is not providing a sufficient level of financial support required to meet their obligations.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The funding of individual colleges, and the methodology used in doing so, is the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the council’s Chief Executive to write to the member.

2 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the weighted student units of measurement methodology was used to calculate the levels of financial support provided to each college.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The funding of individual colleges, and the methodology used in doing so, is the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the council’s Chief Executive to write to the member.

2 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will discuss with the Scottish Funding Council the impact of the proposal by the University of Strathclyde to discontinue degree programmes in geography, sociology, community education and music on students from the west of Scotland.

Answer · Michael Russell: Institutions are autonomous bodies and therefore it is up to the individual institutions to decide which courses to run from the block teaching grant provided by the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked both the Scottish Funding Council and the University o…

2 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made to ensure that a £10.4 million reduction in funding to the further education sector in the 2011-12 budget will not result in a reduction in further education places.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The college sector has agreed that core student places will be maintained in 2011-12.

2 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, using the weighted student units of measurement methodology, how much funding from the Scottish Funding Council is predicted for each college in each of the next four years.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The funding of individual colleges is the responsibility of the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the council’s Chief Executive to write to the member.

2 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether withdrawing courses in geography, sociology, community education and music at the University of Strathclyde will result in fewer opportunities for people from low-income backgrounds to access degree programmes in these disciplines.

Answer · Michael Russell: These changes have been subject to consultation and are integral to the proposal that Strathclyde becomes one of Europe's foremost technological universities. In situations such as this, we always ensure that the Scottish Funding Council has due regard to it'…

2 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report to the Parliament proposals to reform the weighted student units of measurement.

Answer · Michael Russell: We announced in the Parliament on 16 June 2011 our intention to look at a fundamental reform of provision in colleges and universities. We will consider proposals for reforming the way colleges are funded as part that process.

2 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the predicted level of financial support provided to each university by the Scottish Funding Council will be in each of the next four years.

Answer · Michael Russell: The budget allocation to higher education institutions is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council, not Scottish ministers. The Scottish Funding Council’s budget will be decided as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.

2 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with the further education sector and the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) if withdrawing subjects or departments will result in a reduction of funding provided to colleges from the SFC.

Answer · Michael Russell: Colleges are funded mainly on the basis of an overall level of activity which is agreed between the college and the Scottish Funding Council. Colleges are then expected themselves to decide the nature of the courses which they offer. Colleges are free to alte…