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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-17099

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 12 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of the First Minister’s office in 2007-08, also broken down by different components, including staff, travel and entertainment costs.

Question reference: S3W-12149

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 April 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 12 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9955 by John Swinney on 3 March 2008, when the Cabinet Secretary will write to me and whether the information on turnover of staff will be published.

Question reference: S3W-17246

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 27 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 11 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive on what occasions since May 2007 the First Minister has met with (a) Cardinal Keith O’Brien, (b) the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, (c) representatives of the Jewish community, (d) representatives of the Muslim community and (e) interfaith bodies.

The First Minister has met the individuals and organisations above on the following occasions since May 2007:

Cardinal Keith O''Brien

30 May 2007: Lunch to discuss SCIAF work in Darfur

19 June 2007: Reception on Sectarianism

13 November 2007: Sword of State reception

2 February 2008: Cardinal Winning Lecture

20 February 2008: Anti-sectarian Art and Drama event

11 March 2008: Reception for the Apostolic Nuncio

21 May 2008: Opening St Matthews Academy, Saltcoats

26 June 2008: Launch of Scottish Islamic Foundation

9 October 2008: Annual meeting with Church leaders

Moderator of General Assembly

19 May 2007: General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

19 June 2007: Reception on Sectarianism

5 December 2007: Meeting to discuss anti-poverty work of Faith in the Community

31 January 2008: Meeting with outgoing Moderator

24 June 2008: Dinner at Moderator''s Residence

09 October 2008: Annual meeting with Church Leaders

Representatives of Jewish community

19 June 2007: Reception on Sectarianism

5 December 2007: Visit to Calderwood Lodge Jewish Primary School

5 December 2007: Meeting with Jewish Community Representatives

20 February 2008: Anti-sectarian Art and Drama event

17 April 2008: Glasgow Jewish Educational Forum event

Representatives of Muslim community.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15007 on 3 September. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

In addition the First Minister has attended the following event:

30 October 2008: Young Scottish Muslims Awards

Interfaith bodies

19 June 2007: Reception on Sectarianism

25 November 2007: Launch of Interfaith Week

30 November 2007: Our Scotland St Andrew''s Day event

20 February 2008: Anti-sectarian Art and Drama event.

Question reference: S3W-17363

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 11 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote to disabled people the sport of clay pigeon shooting.

Question reference: S3W-17357

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 11 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list each occasion when information held by one of its departments or agencies has been lost or illegally accessed as a result of e-crime since May 2007, also indicating the date and name of agency or department.

Question reference: S3W-17353

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 11 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list each official engagement for which the First Minister has (a) received or (b) accepted an invitation in Fife in September and October 2008.

The First Minister has attended one official engagement in Fife during September and October 2008. He visited Rosyth on 18 September to make an announcement about the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry service. The First Minister receives many thousands of invitations over the course of a year and it is not possible to say how many he has received for engagements taking place in September and October 2008 in Fife.

Question reference: S3W-17371

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 11 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements exist for the simultaneous upgrading of electronic interconnectors between Scotland and England following devolution.

The relevant transmission licensees, in this case Scottish Power Transmission and National Grid, are responsible for liaising together to identify possible upgrades to the electricity interconnector system.

A detailed technical and economic case is then submitted to the energy regulator Ofgem. Following consultation with stakeholders, Ofgem will make a decision in relation to funding of the proposed upgrade. In the event that funding is approved, then the proposed development will be progressed through planning and delivery.

Scottish Power Transmission and National Grid have invested heavily since the early 1990s to upgrade the Scottish export capacity from 850MW to the current figure of 2200MW. Work is well advanced to further increase export capacity to 2800MW by 2010. Further work has been funded by Ofgem to increase the export capability to 3100MW. This involves expenditure of around £250 million between National Grid and Scottish Power. This stage is scheduled for completion by 2013.

Question reference: S3W-17365

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 11 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how many appeals have been received from local authorities and bus operators regarding the operation of the concessionary fares scheme and whether any guidance has been issued on how such appeals should be resolved.

Question reference: S3W-17354

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 11 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list each official engagement for which the First Minister has (a) received or (b) accepted an invitation in (i) Edinburgh and (ii) Glasgow in September and October 2008.

The First Minister accepted and attended the following engagements in Glasgow and Edinburgh during September and October 2008:

Edinburgh Events

Date	Event
1 September 2008	Europa Institute
2 September 2008	FISAB meeting
2 September 2008	Royal Blind School
3 September 2008	Edinburgh University “ Launch of Informatics Building
3 September 2008	Antonine Wall Reception
10 September 2008	SCDI Board members meeting
10 September 2008	St Andrews Square Gardens launch
10 September 2008	Sun Microsystems Dinner
11 September 2008	Green Energy launch at Mecca Bingo
16 September 2008	Dinner with Chinese Consulate
22 September 2008	SCDI meeting
23 September 2008	FISAB meeting
24 September 2008	Supermarket Summit
25 September 2008	British Irish Council dinner
26 September 2008	British Irish Council
7 October 2008	Reception to mark the 150th Anniversary of signing of Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Japan and UK
8 October 2008	National Economic Forum
8 October 2008	Young Scot Active dinner
31 October 2008	East of Scotland Golf Society dinner

Glasgow Events

Date	Event
17 October 2008	OFGEM dinner
18 October 2008	Strathclyde University Lecture
11 October 2008	Scotland-Norway match
14 October 2008	Meeting with Richard Desmond
14 October 2008	IRC Announcement
14 October 2008	Scottish Cup Announcement
24 October 2008	SGURR Offices opening
24 October 2008	Institute of Mechanical Engineers dinner
30 October 2008	Young Scottish Muslim Awards

The First Minister receives many thousands of invitations over the course of a year and it is not possible to say how many he has received for engagements taking place in September and October 2008 in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Question reference: S3W-17322

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 11 November 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what overseas visits were undertaken by the Permanent Secretary in each of the last three financial years; what class of travel was used, and what the total cost was.

The Permanent Secretary made the following overseas visits in the last three financial years.

2005-06 Financial Year
Date	Visited	Cost	Class of Travel
24 June 2005	New York	£2,633.70	Business
26 October 2005	Madrid	£827.50	Business
29 January 2006	Lisbon	£923.60	Business
	Total	£4,384.80
2006-07 Financial Year
17 June 2006	Beijing	£3991.45	Business
20 June 2006	Shandong	£107.55	Economy
12 November 2006	Brussels	£510.75	Business
	Total	£4,609.75
2007-08 Financial Year
21 January 2008	Berlin	£695.33	Business
13 February 2008	Dublin	£281.30	Economy
	Total	£976.63

Staff	£471,222
Travel	£38,345
Hospitality	£1,678
Administration	£12,617