Parliamentary questions
Drew Smith
636 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what organisations and (b) who will be represented at the ICT summit on 17 October 2011 on the future of the schools online network, Glow.
Answer · Michael Russell: The ICT in Education summit held in Stirling and accessible online, was open to all. The event was attended by a mixture of people across sectors in education in Scotland and beyond. A post-summit update has been posted on the Engage for Education blog which …
11 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what engagement it has had with the UK Government regarding legislative consent in relation to the Welfare Reform Bill.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We have held regular discussions with the UK Government, at Ministerial and official level, regarding the Welfare Reform Bill.
11 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent announcements it has made on the future of the schools online network, Glow.
Answer · Michael Russell: On 8 September, the Scottish Government announced that the next generation of Glow will be developed using readily available tools and open source services. As a result of this, the procurement of Glow Futures has been stopped. Five ICT in Education objective…
11 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and which, external contractors and other interested parties have been involved in the development of its online schools network, Glow, and what payments have been made to them, since 2007.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government’s contract for Glow is with RM Education PLC. Since 2007 the value of payments to RM has been £23.9 million excluding VAT. In addition £9.8 million excluding VAT has been paid to JANET(UK) for the provision of the Interconnect – the hi…
11 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of (a) its and (b) its agencies' staff are directly involved in the development of its online schools network, Glow.
Answer · Michael Russell: With regards to the development of the next generation of Glow and the wider ICT in Education agenda, eight Scottish Government and two Education Scotland staff members have a direct involvement.
10 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the value of trade union representation in its workforce to good employee relations and management and whether it plans to review access to facility time for its staff representatives.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government recognises the value of maintaining good employee relations with the Council of Scottish Government Unions. A Partnership agreement operates that helps to promote a positive and effective working relationship between management and the…
7 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to promote better and more links with Cuba in light of the signing of the bilateral agreement on cooperation between the UK and Cuba in August 2011.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As I said in response to question S4O-00280 on 27 October 2011, we do not have any plans at present to develop links with Cuba in light of the signing of the bilateral agreement on cooperation between the UK and Cuba in July 2011. However, we are always willi…
7 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of a Scotland Week or similar event being held in Cuba and, if so, what involvement it has had with any such initiative.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am not aware of a Scotland Week or similar event being held in Cuba.
21 Sep 2011 · SPCB Oral Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how its procurement processes safeguard the terms and conditions of its contract staff.
27 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether tackling poverty is one of the key themes in its cities strategy.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The cities strategy is currently being developed collaboratively with cities. Tackling poverty is, rightly, a high priority for the government and our approach to this is outlined both in Achieving our Potential, and in the Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland…
27 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next convene a meeting of the Tackling Poverty Board.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is reviewing the evidence and recommendations from the initial phase of the Tackling Poverty Board activity; a date to meet again has not been set.
27 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff in a) its directorates, b) its agencies and c) in NHS Scotland have been directly involved in tackling poverty, in each year since 2007.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is not able to identify which staff are engaged directly in tackling poverty in agencies or NHS Scotland. Within the Scottish Government, tackling poverty is a cross-cutting activity which involves contributions from staff in many dire…
27 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will invite local authorities to provide details of their anti-poverty strategies as part of its monitoring both of single outcome agreements and of progress being made toward achieving the aims of its strategy, Achieving Our Potential.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We will be encouraging local authorities to provide a range of materials regarding their efforts to tackle employability and poverty issues which we will make available through our Employability and Tackling Poverty Learning Network website. These materials, …
27 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it reviews its child poverty strategy annually.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government will publish annual progress reports relating to the Child Poverty Strategy for Scotland and the strategy will be refreshed on a three-yearly basis.
27 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the progress that has been made in delivering single outcome agreements in advance of any renegotiation of such agreements.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: In March this year, the Scottish Government and COSLA jointly published Local Matters: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/03/10115335/0 which reported on progress made to date using the outcomes-based approach as embodied in single outcome agreement…
27 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it envisages that a process of renegotiation of single outcome agreements will be required in 2012.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Single outcome agreements are subject to regular review and improvement to ensure they continue to reflect local and national developments and priorities.
27 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the progress of single outcome agreements and whether any independent monitoring of these has taken place or is planned.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Single outcome agreements are subject to regular review both by Community Planning Partnerships and in discussion with the Scottish Government. They are not formally subject to independent monitoring.
27 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-00854 by Michael Matheson on 28 June 2011, when it will make a decision regarding the introduction of a socioeconomic duty in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: It would be premature to make a decision on the introduction of the socio-economic duty in Scotland until the UK Government makes a final decision regarding the implementation of the socio-economic duty as contained in the Equality Act 2010. The UK Government…
24 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that adults requiring treatment for an attention deficit disorder should be able to access treatment in another NHS board area when the treatment required is not available in their own locality.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish government sets national direction of policy on mental health and provides funding to agencies, including NHS boards and Local Authorities, to support implementation of policy. The management of local actions in implementing national policy, and …
24 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to NHS boards for the treatment of adults with an attention deficit disorder.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02332 on 20 September 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
24 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is provided by the NHS for (a) children and (b) adults with an attention deficit disorder.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government sets national direction of policy on mental health and provides funding to agencies, including NHS boards and local authorities, to support implementation of policy. The management of local actions in implementing national policy, and …
11 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) meetings, (b) conferences and (c) public events the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy has attended since 6 May 2011 that were related to the development of its cities strategy.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Since 6 May 2011, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy has attended: (a) the following meetings [with external participants]: 25 May Stewart Paterson, Evening Times 26 July Leader of Glasgow City Council 1 August Chief Executi…
11 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what collaboration it has undertaken with Strathclyde Passenger Transport in the development of its cities strategy.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There has been no collaboration with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) specifically on the development of the cities strategy. As one of Scotland’s seven regional transport partnerships, SPT has regular engagement with Scottish Government, through T…
11 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any extra resource has been or will be provided to any city in 2011-12 as a result of the cities strategy.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The cities strategy is currently being developed with the cities themselves alongside other stakeholders.
11 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has established a working group to develop its cities strategy and, if so, what its membership is.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Working arrangements are in place including representatives from all Scotland’s cities and Scottish Government officials. Other relevant stakeholders are engaged as appropriate.
11 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its cities strategy.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The strategy will be published by the end of 2011.
11 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is working collaboratively with cities to develop a cities strategy.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am meeting cities individually and collectively, to outline my role and to hear their priorities so as to understand how best to support them deliver those priorities through the cities strategy.
11 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the key themes of its cities strategy are and whether regional transport is a priority.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As noted in the answer to questions S4W-02164 and S4W-02166 on 5 September 2011, the cities strategy is currently being developed collaboratively with cities and will be published by the end of 2011. It is the role of Scotland’s 7 regional transport partner…
27 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it has given to the Scotland Patients Association since 2007.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We have not provided any resources to the Scotland Patients Association since 2007.
27 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has held with the Scotland Patients Association since 2007, who participated and what was discussed.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Patients Association (SPA) is represented on the Scottish Health Campaign Network (SHCN) and as such has been involved in regular meetings with me to discuss various issues. Details of the meetings, who participated and the topics discussed are a…