Drew Smith

1 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met (a) the UK Border Agency, (b) the Equality and Human Rights Commission, (c) Glasgow 2014, (d) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and (e) representatives of police forces to discuss human trafficking.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government works in partnership with the UK Government and other agencies to ensure that effective measures are taken to combat this form of serious organised crime. Meetings with our key partners are held on a regular basis. The Scottish Govern…

28 Nov 2011 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle human trafficking.

24 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term (i) fiscals and (ii) depute fiscals there have been in each year since 2007.

Answer · Lesley Thomson: Full-time equivalent staff figures shown in permanent and fixed term at a particular point in time: Date Permanent Fixed Term Legal Staff acting as Procurators Fiscal or Procurator Fiscal Deputes 1 Procurators Fiscal Deputes Trainee Solicitors Overal…

24 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Diploma in Legal Practice graduates have (a) completed a legal traineeship and (b) secured full-time employment in each year since 2007.

Answer · Michael Russell: This information is not held centrally.

24 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reform (a) the funding and (b) student support for the Diploma in Legal Practice.

Answer · Michael Russell: Currently around 2,700 postgraduate students are assisted each year under the Postgraduate Student Allowances Scheme (PSAS) and are provided with a contribution of up to £3,400 towards the cost of their tuition fees. From 2012-13, PSAS will be replaced by a …

24 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many legal traineeship places it and its agencies have provided in each year since 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: The Government Legal Service for Scotland (GLSS) has recruited legal trainees each year since 2007, as set out below. The main offices of the GLSS which use these legal trainees are the Office of the Advocate General, the Office of the Solicitor to the Scotti…

24 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have studied for the Diploma in Legal Practice in each year since 2007.

Answer · Michael Russell: The following table sets out the number of students who enrolled on the Diploma in Legal Practice course since 2007: Academic Year Number of Places 2006-07 661 2007-08 685 2008-09 776 2009-10 724 2010-11 685 Note: Information provided by the Law …

24 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any procurement associated with the renewal of the online schools network, Glow, will be subject to a competitive tendering process.

Answer · Michael Russell: Any procurement exercise conducted by the Scottish Government will be compliant with the provisions of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006.

24 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the retention rate has been for trainee solicitors at the end of their traineeship in it and its agencies in each year since 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: The number of legal trainees retained by the Government Legal Service for Scotland on completion of a successful traineeship and having passed a promotion board is listed in the following table from 2007.  Year Posts 2007 5 2008 5 2009 6 2010 5 2…

31 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought the (a) consent or (b) opinion from a member of the Royal Family on a (i) legislative or (ii) policy matter and, if so, on what occasions.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03730 on 15 November 2011All 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/parliamentary…

31 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from His Royal Highness, the Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay regarding (a) legislative or (b) policy matters in each year since 1999.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03730 on 15 November 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/parliamenta…

31 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what engagement it has with members of the Royal Family on (a) legislative or (b) policy matters.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Contact with Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness the Duke of Rothesay and representatives of the Royal Household forms part of the normal business of government. A record of such exchanges is not held centrally. Communications between the Scottish Gover…

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how candidates will be ranked on ballot papers for the 2012 local government elections and what party descriptions will be used.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Under the terms of the Scottish Local Government Elections Order 2011, the names of candidates will be arranged alphabetically in the order of their surnames on ballot papers for the 2012 local government elections. Only those party descriptions which have be…

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the appropriateness of experimenting with an extension to the franchise during a referendum on the constitutional future of the country.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The proposed franchise was explained in the Scottish Government’s consultation paper Scotland’s Future: Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill published in February 2010.

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has (a) sought and (b) received regarding the franchise for a referendum.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: In developing policy the Scottish Government seeks a range of advice, including legal advice. It is not, and has not been, the practice of Scottish Ministers to disclose legal advice.

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has undertaken regarding the extent of the franchise in any referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Government’s proposals on the franchise were set out in the consultation paper Scotland’s Future: Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill which was published in February 2010.

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide further support for the Glasgow Fastlink project to enable it to reach Dalmarnock and the 2014 Commonwealth Games sites.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government’s capital programme makes funding available to meet in full our commitments to implement the core phase of the Glasgow Fastlink Proposal. The core scheme improves bus services between the city centre, the Southern General Hospital, and…

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn in 2014.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We have designated 2014 as our next Year of Homecoming and planning is underway to ensure there is an inspirational year long programme of events. Consideration is being given to mark the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is doing on digital research or presentation of the Battle of Bannockburn and how much this has cost.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This is an operational matter for Historic Scotland and I have asked them to reply directly to you.

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions it has met (a) religious organisations, (b) anti-sectarian groups and (c) equality groups regarding (i) the Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications Bill and (ii) its consultation on equalising marriage rights; who it met, and which of these meetings involv…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: 1. So far, the Scottish Government has met with 10 religious organisations, three anti-sectarian groups and 28 equality groups in relation to the Offensive Behaviour and Threatening Communications Bill. It has met with eight religious organisations and four e…

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change legal aid criteria for carers seeking guardianship or power of attorney for whom they care.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Where publicly funded civil legal assistance is needed to obtain a power of attorney, decisions on eligibility are based on the resources of the person who will be subject to the power of attorney and eligibility is assessed by the solicitor acting. This refl…

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will confirm a date on which it will publish its cities strategy.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The strategy will be published by the end of 2011.

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which aspects of the Welfare Reform Bill it considers will require legislative consent in respect of devolved competencies.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We have set out the aspects of the Welfare Reform Bill which we consider require legislative consent in the Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum which we have lodged with the parliament.

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a working group has been established to consider the development of Glow, the schools online network and, if so, what its membership is.

Answer · Michael Russell: A programme structure has been established by the Scottish Government to manage the development of the next generation of Glow and the wider ICT in Education agenda. The current membership includes officials from Scottish Government and Education Scotland.

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many successful convictions for human trafficking have been obtained in each year since 2007.

Answer · Lesley Thomson: There have only been two prosecutions in Scotland, under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, in relation to human trafficking. Of the cases prosecuted one trial was discontinued following a review of the available evidence in 2006. The other case conclu…

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had about the future of the Waverley paddle steamer.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Government Officials recently met with stakeholders from Glasgow City Council, Scottish Enterprise, VisitScotland and Historic Scotland to discuss the Waverley paddle steamer. Following on from that meeting Scottish Government Officials have requeste…

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with other devolved administrations in relation to the Welfare Reform Bill.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We hold regular discussions with other devolved administrations, at Ministerial and official level, on matters of mutual interest including welfare reform.

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its new approach to the future of the schools online network, Glow, will require procurement of services from outwith government and its agencies.

Answer · Michael Russell: This will be dependent on the exact solution and functionality of the next generation of Glow.

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will develop the schools online network, Glow.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is committed to the development of the next generation of Glow that is flexible, dynamic and which delivers best possible learning outcomes for our children and young people. The exact solution and functionality will be finalised follo…

11 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has made available for the development of its online schools network, Glow, in each year since 2007.

Answer · Michael Russell: Since 2007 the Scottish Government has made available a total of £67.4 million for Glow. This includes payments to contractors for Glow and Interconnect (Glow’s supporting broadband infrastructure), and funding for Education Scotland to manage and develop the…