Parliamentary questions
Drew Smith
636 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting the history, traditions and culture of the Gypsy/Traveller communities.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Article 12 project funded by the Scottish Government aims to enable a cohort of young Gypsies/Travellers to engage in a positive messages campaign. The project is also developing a still images exhibition of positive images of Gypsy/Traveller life, which …
7 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure the involvement and engagement of the Gypsy/Traveller communities with the (a) Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and (b) 2014 year of homecoming.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government takes seriously our responsibility to equalities and inclusion. For example, to help shape the Scotland-wide games legacy plan, A games legacy for Scotland, we consulted widely and held a series of public meetings across the country to…
7 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting adult learning among the Gypsy/Traveller communities.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government believes in a Scotland where all Scots should benefit from an education system that is engaging, relevant, tailored to their needs, and best prepares them for their future lives irrespective of their social, economic or ethnic backgrou…
7 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to local authorities on the education of young Gypsy/Travellers.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government provides core funding to the Scottish Traveller Education Programme (STEP) including the eLearning and Traveller Education Scotland (eLATES) programme which provides distance learning with “anytime, anywhere” access via the internet. …
7 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pitches there are on each (a) local authority-managed and (b) privately run site for Gypsy/Travellers, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Michael Matheson: (a) The number of pitches within each local authority-managed sites is shown in the following table. Local Authority Number of Pitches Aberdeen 21 Aberdeenshire 20 Angus 18 Argyll and Bute 32 Clackmannanshire 16 Dumfries and Galloway 32 Dundee …
6 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reverse the Scottish Ambulance Service policy whereby staff cannot be disturbed during unpaid rest periods.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I have been clear that following the tragic incidents at both Tomintoul and Crieff, current arrangements for handling rest breaks in the Scottish Ambulance Service cannot remain in place as they are not in the interests of the public or of our hardworking and…
6 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a review of the management of the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is already committed to a formal annual review of the overall performance and management of the Scottish Ambulance Service, as well as the delivery of targets agreed for the organisation. The next of these regular review meetings, whic…
6 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet representatives of GMB Scotland to discuss the concerns of staff regarding the operation of the Scottish Ambulance Service and its policy on rest periods.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I have been clear that following the tragic incidents at both Tomintoul and Crieff, current arrangements for handling rest breaks in the Scottish Ambulance Service cannot remain in place as they are not in the interests of the public or of our hardworking and…
6 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Ambulance Service regarding its policy on rest periods.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I have been clear that following the tragic incidents at both Tomintoul and Crieff, current arrangements for handling rest breaks in the Scottish Ambulance Service cannot remain in place as they are not in the interests of the public or of our hardworking and…
5 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, freedom of information requests it has received to which it did not provide a substantive response within (a) 20 days, (b) one month, (c) three months and (d) a period longer than three months of receipt in each year since 2007.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government does not record information for the same time periods specified in this question and so that information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Scottish Government records and publishes statistics on our performance in …
1 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many freedom of information requests it has received since 5 May 2011 to which it has not yet responded.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: Between 5 May 2011 and 4 July, when this question was tabled, the Scottish Government received 227 freedom of information requests. As at 4 July, 130 of these requests had been answered and of the 97 remaining only five were past the 20 working day deadline s…
27 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers completed training between 2007 and 2010 and how many of those have been successful in finding teaching positions.
Answer · Michael Russell: The numbers of teachers graduating from courses of initial teacher education in each of the years referred to are shown in the table. All who are eligible to join the teacher induction scheme may apply for a place, and are guaranteed to be offered a one year…
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with universities concerning their role in providing cultural events and facilities on their campuses for the benefit of students, staff and communities.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with universities about a broad range of issues. Decisions about the provision of campus events and facilities are however operational matters for universities, not the Scottish Government.
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policies it has in place to promote physical activity among (a) its employees and (b) staff in its agencies.
Answer · John Swinney: As an employer, the Scottish Government takes an organisation-wide approach to the active promotion of the benefits of a physically active lifestyle to all of its employees, including those in its Agencies. Our Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and action plan, …
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the recognition of trades unions in the Scottish Government and what percentage of its workforce is union members, broken down by recognised union.
Answer · John Swinney: A Partnership Agreement exists within the Scottish Government (SG) Main and SG Marine bargaining units involving five recognised trade unions (the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), Prospect, FDA, Unite the Union and Nautilus). The following tables …
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Robert Gordon University about the recognition of campus trade unions.
Answer · Michael Russell: The issue of trade union recognition did come up during discussions with Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski about his appointment as Chair of the Review of Higher Education Governance. However, as is the case with other universities, Robert Gordon University…
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering the role of denominational education in relation to its work on tackling sectarianism and, if so, what consultation has taken place with the denominational education sector.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government supports local authorities to provide appropriate schooling to meet the needs of the communities they serve. All schools run by local authorities are required to be open to pupils of all denominations and faiths. Faith-based education …
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had about the role of universities in providing cultural opportunities on their campuses for the benefit of students, staff and communities.
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken prior to the establishment of a review group on higher education governance.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Review was established by the Scottish Ministers who are responsible for the composition of the panel. A Call for Evidence was announced on 29 June 2011 and views are now being sought from consultees for a period of 12 weeks to 21 September 2011.
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which minister has lead responsibility for tackling fuel poverty.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment has lead responsibility for tackling fuel poverty.
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which minister is leading the planning for a community empowerment bill.
Answer · Alex Neil: I will lead on the development of the Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill, working closely with Cabinet colleagues.
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making on the development of a community empowerment bill.
Answer · Alex Neil: We are at the early stages of considering the scope of the community empowerment and renewal bill, taking into account the contribution contained in the recent report of the Christie Commission into the future of public services in Scotland. We will develop …
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) which local authorities have developed a local strategy for tackling poverty.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held by the Scottish Government.
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which minister is leading the planning for a sustainable procurement bill.
Answer · Alex Neil: Procurement falls within my portfolio and I will be leading the planning for a sustainable procurement bill.
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between its ministers since 5 May 2011 to discuss its collective approach to tackling poverty.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government approach to tackling poverty has been discussed at a number of meetings between Ministers since the new Government was formed. Ministers will continue to discuss this as an ongoing issue through a range of communication channels of whi…
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its proposals for a community empowerment bill.
Answer · Alex Neil: We will develop the Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill through a wide ranging dialogue with communities from across rural and urban Scotland and with the public, private and voluntary sectors. We will publish initial policy proposals relating to the Bill …
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is measuring anti-poverty outcomes in terms of (a) employability, (b) targeted intervention in the early years, (c) community capacity and (d) financial inclusion.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not measure specific anti-poverty outcomes in these areas. The National Performance Framework sets out the Scottish Government Purpose, Strategic Objectives, National Outcomes, Indicators and Targets. Progress against these outcom…
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for a sustainable procurement bill.
Answer · Alex Neil: We are considering the timing of proposals on a Sustainable Procurement Bill, mindful of the fact that European Commission will bring forward proposals to amend European Procurement legislation later this year or early 2012.
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which minister has lead responsibility for the living wage.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Minister for Public Health has lead responsibility for the living wage.
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making on the provision of a living wage across the public sector.
Answer · John Swinney: Addressing low pay is a key objective of the Scottish Government and our current public sector pay policy requires employers to introduce a Scottish Living Wage at the level recommended by the Scottish Living Wage campaign. This is currently set at £7.15 an h…