- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Johnstone on 14 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body on what basis it has refused to publish details of the building maintenance contract for the Parliament building.
Answer
Details of SPCB maintenance contracts, their estimated contract value and expenditure to date are published on the Scottish Parliament''s website.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 14 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been murdered in Scotland since May 2007.
Answer
Information is available, on a financial year basis, on the number of homicide victims, with homicide being defined as murder and culpable homicide.
Information on the number of homicide victims in Scotland in 2007-08 is given in table 1 of the Statistics Release Homicide in Scotland, 2007-08 published by the Scottish Government on 16 December 2008, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47922). Figures for 2008-09 are due to be published in December 2009.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 11 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has responded to the letter of 2 June 2009 from a member of the public regarding the accuracy of his parliamentary answer on bullying.
Answer
This matter is between the Scottish Government and the member of the public, who was an ex employee of the Scottish Government, and is being handled in accordance with procedures.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 11 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what topics the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth discussed with Sir John Arbuthnott at their meeting on 15 July 2009.
Answer
I met with Sir John Arbuthnott at his request, to be provided with an update on progress with his independent review, which was commissioned by the Clyde Valley Partnership of Local Authorities.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what direct representation it has made to the UK Government since 25 June 2009 on measures to tackle the rise in unemployment.
Answer
On 25 August 2009, I met Jim Knight, Minister of State for Work and Pensions, to discuss a range of matters. I again highlighted the importance of joint working to develop and implement policies to support people into sustained work. We agreed to establish regular contact on the issue.
On 7 September, the First Minister and I met the Secretary of State for Scotland at the Economic Quadrilateral meeting with the Scottish Trade Unions Council and CBI Scotland. The agenda for that meeting focussed on the rise in unemployment and all parties agreed to take forward communication and improvement of the support available to the unemployed at a conference to be held later this year.
I also requested a meeting with Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. This will take place in November.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 11 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive why question S3W-25137, lodged on 23 June 2009, has not yet been given a substantive answer.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-25137 on 10 September 2009. 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.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 10 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have died as a result of medical negligence in Scottish hospitals in each month since May 2007.
Answer
Information pertaining to the cause of deaths in Scotland is available on the General Registrars Office for Scotland web site using the following link:
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Bruce Crawford on 10 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what official engagements the Minister for Parliamentary Business has undertaken since 25 June 2009.
Answer
Since 25 June 2009 I have undertaken a number of official engagements. These are detailed in the following table:
| Date | Event |
| 29 June 2009 | Attended Homecoming Reception, Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre |
| 1 July 2009 | Represented the Scottish Government at the Hearts Great war memorial to remember the Scottish soldiers of McCrae''s Battalion who fell at the Battle of the Somme in 1917 at Contalmaison, France. |
| 25 July 2009 | Attended The Gathering, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh |
| 26 July 2009 | Attended The Gathering, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh |
| 27 July 2009 | Attended Homecoming Reception, Melrose Rugby Club |
| 28 July 2009 | Participated in National Conversation, Corn Exchange, Melrose |
| 17 August 2009 | Signed the Stirling Single Outcome Agreement at Gartmore House, Stirlingshire, with members of the Stirling Community Planning Partnership. |
| 17 August 2009 | Attended Homecoming Reception, King''s College Campus, Elphinstone Hall |
| 18 August 2009 | Participated in National Conversation, Kings College, Aberdeen |
| 18 August 2009 | Visit to Cytosystems company, Craibstone, Aberdeen |
As well as this I have attended the summer cabinets in Dundee, Melrose, and Aberdeen.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 10 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings ministers have had with (a) Diageo, (b) Edmington, (c) William Grants, (d) the Scotch Whisky Association, (e) the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and (f) the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) since 25 June 2009 regarding the future of the Scotch whisky industry.
Answer
Scottish ministers have met both Diageo and Whyte and Mackay to discuss issues around their recent announcement of expected job losses in the whisky industry. Discussions have also been held with representatives of Unite and GMB trade unions. No ministerial level discussions have been held since the 25 June with the Scotch Whisky Association or the Confederation of British Industry or the STUC on whisky issues although regular discussions take place with these organisations.
The Scottish Government is working with interested parties to consider how our determination to make Scotland known as a land of food and drink can support the long-term future and sustained profitability of the Scotch whisky industry.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 10 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to follow up the visit of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth to Japan from 20 to 23 July 2009.
Answer
My visit to Japan in July, focused on strengthening business links with Japan through a series of meetings with Japanese businesses, Scottish companies in Japan and academic and industry associates.
I met with a range of Japanese businesses with the primary objective of encouraging inward investment to Scotland. There has since been more positive engagement with two potential inward investors with projects in the energy and chemicals sectors, resulting in a series of follow-up meetings with Scottish Development International (SDI) and companies in Scotland. Meetings held with two companies (one a life sciences and the other a renewable energy company), which were in the process of considering activities in Europe, were very positive and have resulted in planned visits to Scotland. I extended further invitations to Japanese companies to visit Scotland and I''ve already met with one company this month (September).
I have made high-level follow-up phone calls to the University of Abertay Dundee and the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine (CRM). I have gained the University of Abertay Dundee''s support for, and participation in, Digital Media business development activities in Japan. My call to the CRM expressed my appreciation for the very positive impact of its June visit to Japan and secured CRM support for the next stage of SDI''s business development activities in Japan.
The Chief Executive of SDI is visiting Japan this month (September) as part of the follow-up to my activities with high impact companies.
