Parliamentary questions
Drew Smith
636 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a living wage unit.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has no current plans to establish a living wage unit.
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how it monitors progress on and (b) whether it plans to review the framework set out in its policy, Achieving our Potential.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government and COSLA published Achieving our Potential in November 2008 as a long-term strategy to tackle disadvantage and income inequality. The Tackling Poverty Board was established by the Scottish Government and COSLA in September 2009 as a …
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many free eye tests have been carried out in each year since the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 was introduced.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Free NHS eye examinations for all were introduced in Scotland on 1 April 2006. The number of free NHS eye examinations which have been carried out in each year from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2010, latest published information, is provided in the following tabl…
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis takes place in monitoring the progress recorded by the Scotland Performs initiative and how this has changed since the initiative was launched.
Answer · John Swinney: Analysis of progress, based on transparent methodology, has remained the same since the launch of Scotland Performs in June 2008. Information on the methodology used for assessing and reporting progress on Scotland Performs is available on the website’s Gener…
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make the living wage a requirement of its procurement practices in order to expand its use.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Low pay is an issue that the Scottish Government takes very seriously and we support the principles of the living wage campaign. The Public Sector Pay Policy for Staff Pay Remits 2011-12 published by the Scottish Government requires employers covered by the p…
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it (a) uses, (b) disseminates and (c) responds to the information collected by the Scotland Performs initiative.
Answer · John Swinney: Scotland Performs allows the public to judge for themselves how Scotland is progressing through its ‘Performance at a glance’ page on the website. The direction of travel ‘arrows’ help influence policy decisions with a view to driving improvement based upon t…
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the Scotland Performs initiative.
Answer · John Swinney: Yes. The Scottish Government has adopted an outcomes based approach to performance as set out in the National Performance Framework and reported through Scotland Performs. We are currently reviewing the existing measurement set in the framework. As a conseque…
24 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scotland Performs initiative is monitored and what resources it provides to carry out this monitoring.
Answer · John Swinney: Scotland Performs provides a dynamic means of tracking progress towards the Government’s highest priorities set out in its National Performance Framework. It is updated as and when new data becomes available. The monitoring of data goes wider than Scotland P…
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has for ensuring that teachers who have qualified since 2007 and who are not working in schools have an opportunity to join the profession.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is firmly committed to reducing teacher unemployment and to balancing teacher supply and demand. Our strategy has been to reduce the number of teachers being trained while, at the same time, to secure a commitment from local authoritie…
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Scottish Anti-Bullying Steering Group.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Anti-Bullying Steering Group last met on 22 June 2011. The Scottish Government co-ordinates and services this group.
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to local authorities regarding tackling bullying in schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: Developed in partnership with the Scottish Anti-Bullying Steering Group, the Scottish Government published a national approach to anti-bullying for Scotland’s children and young people in November 2010. The guidance is aimed at local authorities, schools and …
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources it has allocated to the development of its cities strategy.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The cities strategy provides the mechanism to identify city priorities and the forthcoming spending review will provide the opportunity to ensure budgets are aligned with these priorities.
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making toward achieving its high level solidarity purpose target to increase overall income and the proportion of income earned by the three lowest income deciles as a group by 2017.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As noted on the Scotland Performs website, progress on the solidarity target is “performance maintaining”, following the publication of the Scottish figures from the Family Resources Survey in May 2011. The share received by the three lowest deciles has remai…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the work of the Poverty Truth Commission.
Answer · Michael Matheson: We welcome the work of the Poverty Truth Commission, and have noted the challenges in its recent report, particularly those directed at government. Eradicating poverty is a priority for the Scottish Government.
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to organisations that provide welfare rights and money advice.
Answer · John Swinney: Supporting the provision of welfare rights and money advice is a key aspect of the Scottish Government’s approach to tackling poverty. The Achieving our Potential budget funds national infrastructure for the sector, this year for example: Citizens Advice Dir…
8 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend the provision of free school meals.
Answer · Angela Constance: Scottish ministers are proud of the actions we have already taken to extend free school meals to more children and young people in Scotland than ever before and in time we will look at ways of expanding current provision.
25 May 2011 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reform governance structures in higher education institutions.
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the publication in the Scottish media of information that is subject to an injunction in other UK jurisdictions.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Publication decisions are a matter for the media. Such decisions may be expected to take appropriate account of the relevant legal and regulatory frameworks.
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Strathclyde Partnership for Transport to discuss the modernisation of the Glasgow subway.
Answer · Keith Brown: I met with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport on 27 January 2011 and also on 23 February 2011, when I opened the new park and ride facility at Croy. We discussed a range of issues, including the subway modernisation.
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in achieving the aims of its strategy, Let’s Make Scotland More Active.
Answer · Shona Robison: The review of Lets Make Scotland More Active strategy completed in 2009 aims to influence Scotland’s inactive population and Scottish ministers have welcomed significant ongoing progress and in particular: An increase of 2% adult physical activity levels sin…
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the modernisation of the Glasgow subway will begin.
Answer · Keith Brown: Work on the modernisation of the subway has already begun, including the upgrading of Hillhead station and the introduction of improved ticketing infrastructure across the network.
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government concerning the relationship between Scots law and injunctions in place in other UK jurisdictions.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the relationship between the different legal systems within the UK and the appropriate approach to mutual recognition and enforcement of each other’s Cou…
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the teaching of emergency life support skills in schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: Reducing the number of deaths from heart disease is a national priority for the Scottish Government. Health and Wellbeing is a central pillar of Curriculum for Excellence and includes learning on how to respond in a range of emergency situations. It is howeve…
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to the (a) Edinburgh International and (b) Glasgow film festivals.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government supports and promotes the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) and the Glasgow Film Festival through our partners Creative Scotland. In addition, the EIFF also receives support through the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festiv…
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will make available to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport in 2011 for the modernisation of the Glasgow subway.
Answer · Keith Brown: We continue to provide capital funding to Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, of which at least £6 million is for the subway modernisation in 2011-12.
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has had with the University of Glasgow regarding the proposed reform of its teaching programme and departmental structure.
Answer · Michael Russell: Whilst decisions about teaching provision and departmental structure are matters for the university, not Scottish ministers, I am keen to ensure that any decisions taken by the university are only taken once the views of staff, students and academics have bee…
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many places will exist in 2011 for new entrants to study community education at degree level.
Answer · Michael Russell: I have asked Mark Batho, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council to respond. His response is as follows: The Scottish Funding Council does not allocate funded student places to specific courses, as the allocation of places to courses is a matter for …
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether and, if so, when it will bring forward proposals for the reform of governance in the higher education sector.
Answer · Michael Russell: Proposals for the reform of governance in the higher education sector will be brought forward in due course.
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the University of Strathclyde regarding the proposed reform of its teaching programme.
Answer · Michael Russell: I spoke to Professor McDonald on 11 May 2011 and we discussed the proposed reforms during our conversation. While this is a matter for the University of Strathclyde, not Scottish ministers, I am keen to ensure that any decisions taken by the university are o…
23 May 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has for cities.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We recognise the importance of cities to the economy of Scotland. Government’s role is to provide strategic leadership and engage with cities individually and collectively to support the development of a more coherent approach to unlocking their potential. Th…