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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S4W-04143

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 5 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to (a) sustain and (b) develop Highland games.

Highland Games play an important role in maintaining links with our cultural heritage and in instilling a sense of national pride in our long standing traditions. This government is committed to ensuring that the importance of Highland games is not diminished. One of the issues which we are addressing through sportscotland is the promotion and development of the key sporting skills required to participate in games events. To that end, sportscotland is working with Highland Council to encourage greater levels of participation of games related activities in schools.

Question reference: S4W-04239

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 5 December 2011

Question reference: S4W-04238

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 5 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget is for the provision of road equivalent tariff for ferries in 2011-12.

Question reference: S4W-04241

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 5 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend road equivalent tariff to other islands and in what timescale.

As part of their commitment to encouraging economic growth and employment, ministers have announced the Scottish Government’s intention to:

roll out a further RET pilot for passenger and cars including small commercial vehicles and coaches to Colonsay, Islay and Gigha from October 2012;

roll out a further RET pilot for passenger and cars including small commercial vehicles and coaches to Arran from October 2014, and

roll out RET to other West Coast and Clyde islands within the term of this Parliament.

Question reference: S4W-04240

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 5 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive when the road equivalent tariff pilot scheme will come to an end.

Question reference: S4W-04188

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 1 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on publishing in Gaelic.

As with any language translation the Scottish Government considers each case on its merit whilst ensuring we meet our legal duty under race relations legislation in ensuring access to information for everyone. However, this does not mean that all information is necessarily translated into a wide range of languages. Translations are always considered reactively rather than proactively. In addition, publishing also features in the Scottish Government’s Gaelic Plan where directorates are encouraged to look for opportunities to increase the number of publications in Gaelic or with Gaelic included.

Question reference: S4O-00465

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been in relocating Inverness College to the Beechwood Campus.

Question reference: S4W-04068

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 25 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools in each local authority will deliver five courses at Senior Phase National 5 level from 2013-14 and how many will deliver (a) fewer and (b) more than that number.

Decisions about the number and range of subjects offered at National 5 are for individual schools and local authorities to make in consultation with parents and learners. As is the case currently, there is no central prescription on the number of subjects offered and information on individual school decisions is not held centrally.

Illustrations of how the senior phase (S4-S6 in schools) could be delivered have been developed by schools and are available on the Education Scotland website at the following link:

www.ltscotland.org.uk/buildingyourcurriculum/curriculumplanning/creatingaplan/curriculumplans/secondary.asp.

Question reference: S4W-04069

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 25 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what support will be offered to schools to guarantee delivery of (a) depth, (b) personalisation and (c) choice of subjects at Senior Phase National 5 level.

Illustrations of how the senior phase (S4-S6 in schools) could be delivered have been developed by schools and are available on the Education Scotland website at the following link:

www.ltscotland.org.uk/buildingyourcurriculum/curriculumplanning/creatingaplan/curriculumplans/secondary.asp.

Support will be offered as outlined in the Curriculum for Excellence Action Plan announced at the Scottish Learning Festival in September. SQA and Education Scotland will advance and extend engagement and support as the new qualifications are developed. Further details can be found at:

http://scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Schools/curriculum/ACE/cfeinaction/CfEactionplan.

Question reference: S4W-04070

Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 25 November 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a minimum number of courses at Senior Phase National 5 level for schools to deliver.

Illustrations of how the senior phase (S4-S6 in schools) could be delivered have been developed by schools and are available on the Education Scotland website at the following link:

www.ltscotland.org.uk/buildingyourcurriculum/curriculumplanning/creatingaplan/curriculumplans/secondary.asp.