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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S3W-37344

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2010
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 November 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with BBC Scotland or other parties since May 2007 regarding the future availability of BBC Alba on Freeview.

The Scottish Government has frequently raised the availability of BBC Alba on Freeview in meetings with BBC Scotland and the BBC Trust since May 2007. In particular, the Scottish Government has formally made clear its view that BBC Alba should be available on Freeview in the following meetings and pieces of correspondence:

A letter from the First Minister to Sir Michael Lyons, the Chair of the BBC Trust, on 28 October 2010;

A letter from me to Sir Michael Lyons on 16 April 2010, following the BBC Trust''s announcement that it would delay taking a decision on whether to place BBC Alba on Freeview until later in 2010;

A letter from me to Sir Michael Lyons on 16 February 2010, following the Parliamentary debate on BBC Alba on 11 February 2010;

The Scottish Government''s response to the BBC Trust''s consultation on whether BBC Alba should be placed on Freeview. This response, which was issued on 14 January 2010, can be found on the Scottish Government''s website at:

http://scotland.gov.uk/Topics/ArtsCultureSport/arts/Broadcasting/Broadcasting

A letter from the First Minister to Sir Michael Lyons, the Chair of the BBC Trust, on 17 December 2008.

Meetings with BBC Scotland where the availability of BBC Alba on Freeview has been raised include my meeting with Ken MacQuarrie, Controller of BBC Scotland, on 26 January 2010 and the then Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, Michael Russell MSP''s, meeting with Ken MacQuarrie on 16 March 2009.

Question reference: S3W-37338

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2010
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 November 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Creative Scotland will introduce a grant enabling artists to reclaim the cost, up to a maximum of £15,000, of tax paid on work that they have sold.

Question reference: S3W-37345

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2010
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 November 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made toward the target of ensuring that the proportion of Gaelic speakers is back to at least 2001 levels by the 2021 census.

Our consistent focus has been on the need to increase Gaelic speaker numbers in order to ensure a secure future for Gaelic in Scotland. In order to make progress with this aim we asked B²rd na G idhlig to prepare an action plan that places the emphasis clearly on initiatives that have the potential to increase the numbers of speakers. The commitments in that action plan are now being delivered.

Question reference: S3W-37347

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 08 November 2010
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 16 November 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have been held with the Norwegian Government and European Commission to explore options for a North Sea supergrid since May 2007.

Question reference: S3W-36679

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 October 2010
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 October 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Creative Scotland has abandoned funding for any projects and, if so, how many and which projects.

Question reference: S3W-36676

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 October 2010
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 October 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the voluntary early redundancy scheme made available in relation to the establishment of Creative Scotland was designed to retain skilled staff in the new organisation.

Question reference: S3W-36675

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 October 2010
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 October 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36360 by Fiona Hyslop on 30 September 2010, what stakeholders, organisations or groups were consulted prior to approval by ministers of the business case.

Question reference: S3W-36678

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 October 2010
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 October 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Creative Scotland plans to recruit new employees with enterprise skills.

Question reference: S3W-36674

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 October 2010
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 October 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36359 by Fiona Hyslop on 30 September 2010, on what criteria it based its decision that the move offered excellent value in current market conditions, as well as significant operational benefits.

Question reference: S3W-36677

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 04 October 2010
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 October 2010

To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional skills are required at Creative Scotland.