- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 14 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost would be of removing the upper age limit to the Young Students’ Bursary.
Answer
The estimated additional cash cost to the Scottish Government of removing the upper age limit to the Young Students'' Bursary would be approximately £30.1 million.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 14 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive on what authority its civil servants can be encouraged by a senior civil servant to capitalise on conflict with UK Government departments as referred to in the report in The Scotsman on 7 September 2009.
Answer
The Civil Service Code makes it clear that civil servants in the Scottish Government are accountable to Scottish ministers and the role of Civil Servants is to support Scottish ministers in developing and implementing policies and decisions that Scottish ministers judge to be in the best interests of Scotland and its people. There are occasions when Scottish ministers disagree with and would wish to challenge decisions or positions taken by the UK Government, particularly where these appear to Scottish ministers to impact adversely on their devolved responsibilities. They would rightly expect the support of civil servants in presenting and pursuing their views and objectives.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 August 2009
-
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
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2009
-
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
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2009
-
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
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2009
-
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
-
Date lodged: Monday, 17 August 2009
-
Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 10 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26257 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 August 2009, whether it will guarantee that the setting of the reimbursement rate payable to bus operators will not result in any adverse changes in the eligibility criteria for the free bus travel scheme in the future for those reaching the age of 60 in each of the next 10 years.
Answer
We have been clear that the eligibility criteria for all those who currently benefit from the scheme will not be affected by the setting of the reimbursement rate payable to bus operators.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2009
-
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
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2009
-
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
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 August 2009
-
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.
