Scottish Executive

Animal Welfare

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to implement the recommendations from the 2004 consultation, Proposals to Revise Existing Animal Welfare Legislation - A Consultation.

Richard Lochhead: The responses to this consultation resulted in the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 being passed by the Scottish Parliament. This act revoked the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912 and its amendments and replaced these provisions with the new act which modernised and strengthened our animal welfare legislation.

Climate Change

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties it has disposed of in the last two years to which section 68 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 could have been applied.

John Swinney: No core Scottish Government-owned buildings, to which section 68 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 could have been applied, have been sold by the Scottish Government in the last two years.

Constitution

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether legal opinion on the proposed Referendum Bill was sought from the late Professor Neil MacCormick QC.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to any precedent arising from the publication of former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith’s legal opinion on Iraq to the UK Government for making public legal opinions obtained by the Scottish Government on the proposed Referendum Bill.

Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27103 on 6 October 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.

Dentistry

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people do not have access to an NHS dentist, broken down by NHS board area.

Shona Robison: Table 1 shows the percentage of children and adults registered with an NHS dentist, by NHS board as at 31 March 2009.

Table 2 shows the percentage of children and adults not registered with an NHS dentist, by NHS board as at 31 March 2009. This does not necessarily reflect the number of people accessing NHS dental treatment, as un-registered patients can access NHS treatment through occasional and emergency dental service arrangements. Other factors can affect the number of people who access NHS dental treatment, such as patient choice to have private treatment.

Source: MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System).

Notes:

1. NHS board area is based on the postcode of the dental practice.

2. 2007 mid-year population estimates are used to calculate the percentage registered and are sourced from the General Register’s Office.

3. Registrations (numerator) are based on the postcode of the practice where the patient has registered with a general dental practitioner. The population (denominator) is based on where the patient resides. In some cases, the natural "cross-boundary flow" of people residing in one area but registered with a dentist whose practice is based in another area is such that the number of people registered exceeds the actual population of that geographical area (and therefore the level exceeds 100%). Conversely, a geographical area where there are few or no dental practices may appear to have a much lower number (and therefore level) of people registered.

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people do not have access to an NHS dentist, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Shona Robison: Table 1 shows the percentage of children and adults registered with an NHS dentist, by parliamentary constituency as at 31 March 2009.

Table 2 below shows the percentage of children and adults not registered with an NHS dentist, by parliamentary constituency as at 31 March 2009. This does not necessarily reflect the number of people accessing NHS dental treatment, as un-registered patients can access NHS treatment through occasional and emergency dental service arrangements. Other factors can affect the number of people who access NHS dental treatment, such as patient choice to have private treatment.

Source: MIDAS (Management Information and Dental Accounting System).

Notes:

1. NHS parliamentary constituency area is based on the postcode of the dental practice.

2. 2007 mid-year population estimates are used to calculate the percentage registered and are sourced from the General Register’s Office.

3. Registrations (numerator) are based on the postcode of the practice where the patient has registered with a general dental practitioner. The population (denominator) is based on where the patient resides. In some cases, the natural "cross-boundary flow" of people residing in one area but registered with a dentist whose practice is based in another area is such that the number of people registered exceeds the actual population of that geographical area (and therefore the level exceeds 100%). Conversely, a geographical area where there are few or no dental practices may appear to have a much lower number (and therefore level) of people registered.

4. A number of constituencies in table 1 show registration rates over 100% due to cross-boundary flow. In such cases, the percentage of patients not registered with a dentist is shown in the above table as "-".

Digital Technology

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish plans for the development of a country-wide public sector ICT infrastructure network.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is presently conducting research into the "as is" position of the public sector ICT infrastructure and this will inform the development of proposals for policy and delivery.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it considers that the public sector can better use developments in ICT technology, such as telepresence.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that better use of ICT by the public sector would assist the delivery of better public services and whether it has prioritised areas for action.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to pursuing greater efficiency, effectiveness and speed of delivery of public services. The extent to which developments in technology can enable service transformation is dependent upon specific business requirements. Technology will be used where appropriate to support delivery of our Purpose and National Outcomes.

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage better ICT procurement practices in local authorities.

John Swinney: The Public Procurement Reform Programme has introduced a range of measures to improve procurement practices in local authorities and the public sector as a whole. For example, the national and sectoral centres of expertise established under the programme are able to pursue collaborative contracting opportunities and promote best practice to help maximise value for money in ICT procurement.

Drug Misuse

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many government-funded needle exchange programmes operate in pharmacies compared with September 2008.

Shona Robison: On 30 June 2009, the Information Services Division of NHS Scotland published its report Provision of Injecting Equipment in Scotland 2007-08, which detailed the findings of a survey of injecting equipment provision in Scotland in 2007-08. This survey, which was commissioned as part of the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan, found that there was a total of 169 pharmacy-based injecting equipment provision services across Scotland in 2007-08. However, this figure reflects only those pharmacies that responded to the survey, and gaps in the data does exist. Therefore, the actual number of pharmacy-based injecting equipment provision services may be higher.

The information from 2007-08 survey provides a baseline of injecting equipment provision in Scotland at the start of the Hepatitis C Phase 2 Action Plan. A follow-up survey covering the period 2008-09 is planned to run in February 2010, with the results being published in November 2010.

Education

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of HMIE Associate Inspectors represents paid employees of local authorities and from which departments they are drawn.

Fiona Hyslop: At 4 October 2009, 71% of associate assessors were employed by local authorities. The remainder were employed in areas including the voluntary sector, the health service, police and colleges.

Within local authorities, the associate assessors are drawn from education, social work, community learning and development and children’s services departments.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have employees engaged as HMIE Associate Inspectors.

Fiona Hyslop: All 32 local authorities have associate assessors who work with HMIE.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, during the consultation on the draft Curriculum for Excellence, the overarching statement, "I know and can demonstrate how to travel safely whether on foot, on a bicycle, in a motor vehicle or on public transport", was considered problematic and, if so, by whom and for what reason.

Fiona Hyslop: There was no specific feedback from the engagement process with local authorities, schools, teachers and partner organisations to suggest that the draft outcome "I know and can demonstrate how to travel safely whether on foot, on a bicycle, in a motor vehicle or on public transport" was problematic. There was concern about the size and complexity of the curriculum as a whole, which the writing groups were asked to address by the Curriculum Governing Group.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the overarching statement in the draft Curriculum for Excellence, "I know and can demonstrate how to travel safely whether on foot, on a bicycle, in a motor vehicle or on public transport", was removed from the final published version.

Fiona Hyslop: The draft outcome "I know and can demonstrate how to travel safely whether on foot, on a bicycle, in a motor vehicle or on public transport" was simplified to "I know and can demonstrate how to travel safely" to address concerns about the size and complexity of the curriculum as a whole. In response, the writing groups scrutinised and cross matched the experiences and outcomes across strands and curriculum areas to ensure clarity and remove duplication. The references to active travel in the experiences and outcomes were simplified to broaden the basis for interpretation and delivery and to allow active travel to permeate health and wellbeing.

The outcome reflected in the version now being implemented in schools is supported by the definition in the appendix to the health and wellbeing experiences and outcomes "This applies to all kinds of travel – whether on foot, bicycle, motor vehicle or public transport".

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, during the consultation on the draft Curriculum for Excellence, the outcome in the physical activity and sport section, "I am encouraged and supported to travel actively and safely to and from my place of learning", was considered problematic and, if so, by whom and for what reason.

Fiona Hyslop: There was no specific feedback from the engagement process with local authorities, schools, teachers and partner organisations to suggest that the draft overarching statement "I am encouraged and supported to travel actively and safely to and from my place of learning" was considered problematic. There was concern about the size and complexity of the curriculum as a whole, which the writing groups were asked to address by the Curriculum Governing Group.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the outcome in the draft Curriculum for Excellence physical activity and sport section, "I am encouraged and supported to travel actively and safely to and from my place of learning", was removed from the final published version.

Fiona Hyslop: The draft overarching statement "I am encouraged and supported to travel actively and safely to and from my place of learning" was simplified in the final published version of the experiences and outcomes to address concerns about the size and complexity of the curriculum as a whole. In response, the writing groups scrutinised and cross matched the experiences and outcomes across strands and curriculum areas to ensure clarity and remove duplication. The overarching statement was simplified to broaden the basis for interpretation and delivery and to allow active travel to permeate the physical activity and sport strand.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the outcome in the final version of the Curriculum for Excellence, "I know and can demonstrate how to travel safely", will achieve a more positive uptake of active travel than that in the draft version, "I am encouraged and supported to travel actively and safely to and from my place of learning".

Fiona Hyslop: I believe that by broadening the references to active travel, as outlined in my responses to S3W-27967 and S3W-27969 on 26 October 2009, it has a higher profile in the final version of the health and wellbeing experiences and outcomes which are at the heart of Curriculum for Excellence. In addition, Health and wellbeing across learning summarises and emphasises those aspects of health and wellbeing, including active travel, that are the responsibility of everyone in the school community. The message to staff across the school community about supporting the health and fitness agenda has therefore been strengthened.

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.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the outcome in the Curriculum for Excellence, "I know and can demonstrate how to travel safely" as a means of encouraging active travel or whether measurement of progress against this outcome would primarily be calibrated in terms of road safety indicators.

Fiona Hyslop: The experiences and outcomes within the health and wellbeing strand of the new curriculum will deliver positive benefits for active travel and road safety. Partnerships will have a vital role in supporting their delivery and will include school travel coordinators, active schools and road safety officers. It is important to recognise that the outcome "I know and can demonstrate how to travel safely" is supported by the explanation in the appendix that "This applies to all kinds of travel – whether on foot, bicycle, motor vehicle or public transport. To support the reduction of road accidents, it is the responsibility of all adults to teach and encourage good road safety practice and to reinforce this by modelling appropriate behaviour".

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it decided to remove specific references to encouraging and supporting children to engage in active travel from the final version of the Curriculum for Excellence and whether it considers that this goes against its target of achieving 10% of journeys by bike by 2020.

Fiona Hyslop: References to encouraging and supporting children to engage in active travel have not been removed from the final version of Curriculum for Excellence. I refer the member to my answer to question S3W-27970 on 26 October 2009. I believe that the final published version of the experiences and outcomes support our target of achieving 10% of journeys by bike by 2020.

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.

Employment

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) skillseekers and (b) modern apprentices were allocated to Dumfries and Galloway in the last three years.

Fiona Hyslop: In the last three years, Dumfries and Galloway has had 1,238 modern apprentice new starts and 577 skillseekers new starts. These figures represent individuals registered with both national and local training providers.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the breakdown is for (a) skillseekers’ and (b) modern apprenticeship posts allocated to Dumfries and Galloway in the last three years by (i) sector and (ii) age band.

Fiona Hyslop: The following tables provide the breakdown for new-start modern apprenticeship and skillseekers posts in Dumfries and Galloway by sector and age band for the last three years.

Table 1 – Modern Apprenticeships (MAs)

Table 2 - Skillseekers

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of (a) skillseekers and (b) modern apprentices, (i) across Scotland and (ii) allocated to Dumfries and Galloway were allocated to (A) local training providers and (B) local employers in the last three years.

Fiona Hyslop: The following table shows the breakdown of skillseekers and modern apprenticeships allocated across Scotland and to Dumfries and Galloway by training provider. For the purpose of Skills Development Scotland, contracting employers who train apprentices directly are counted as training providers.

Notes:

*It is important to note that the table shows overall starts for each programme across lowland Scotland only.

**Dumfries and Galloway local training providers will have delivered MAs outside the area classified for data management purposes. Given the important local nature of this delivery we have provided this information in the last row of each table.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial value of contracts was for (a) skillseekers and (b) modern apprentices allocated to Dumfries and Galloway in the last three years.

Fiona Hyslop: The following information is for the Skills Development Scotland spend for modern apprenticeships and skillseekers programme in Dumfries and Galloway for the last three years:

Total Spend Skillseekers:

2006-07 - £483,777,

2007-08 - £390,981,

2008-09 - £328,669.

Total Spend Modern Apprenticeships:

2006-07 - £624,036,

2007-08 - £728,931,

2008-09 - £724,952.

The financial information above relates to the total Skills Development Scotland spend for the delivery of the modern apprenticeships and skillseekers programmes to local training providers for Dumfries and Galloway in all three years and not only the annual cost of new starts.

This does not include Skills Development Scotland spend to national training providers for the Dumfries and Galloway area.

Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is in a position to guarantee funding for the Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation for the next few years.

Fiona Hyslop: Get Ready for Work contracts have been let for this year. The next contracting year process begins towards the end of the year. Information will be available on the Skills Development Scotland website. The Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation can submit an application at that stage.

The organisation are also applying to become an approved centre to deliver ILAs. This process takes around six months to complete.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many disabled people have accessed employment or training through Skills Development Scotland since April 2008.

Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland provides access to training for those employed and those seeking work through its national training programmes. Since April 2008, 176 disabled people have accessed national training programmes in lowland Scotland.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 16 to 19 in the 15% most deprived areas have accessed employment or training through Skills Development Scotland since April 2008.

Fiona Hyslop: Skills Development Scotland is currently collecting data on the number of people aged 16 to 19 in the 15% most deprived areas who have accessed employment or training since April 2008 and will be available later in the year.

Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to bring forward electricity grid reinforcements in the Pentland Firth strategic growth area for marine renewables.

Jim Mather: Creating the appropriate grid infrastructure to support future renewable energy developments in the Pentland Firth and throughout Scotland is a priority for the Scottish Government. It is also a key recommendation of the Marine Energy Roadmap, published by the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland’s Marine Energy Group in August 2009.

In response to this recommendation, the Scottish Government is working closely with National Grid and transmission companies through both the Marine Energy Group and the Pentland Firth Coordination Committee to help synchronise developer activity and deliver grid capacity for the projects emerging from the Pentland Firth leasing round.

Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27338 by John Swinney on 30 September 2009, whether it will restore the provision of written explanations for underspending by the Scottish Government and non-departmental public bodies when reporting end year flexibility, as has previously been the case.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government provide explanations of its underspends in the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts, which are published in September each year and are available on the Scottish Government website. Non-departmental public bodies also publish details of underspends in their relevant accounts.

We will also continue to discuss with the Finance Committee and others what information is considered useful and how we can improve our presentation of supporting information.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what way its carbon assessment of the draft budget 2010-11 will encourage more sustainable ways of working in the public sector.

John Swinney: The carbon assessment of the draft budget provides, for the first time, an estimate of the consequences of government spending in terms of carbon emissions. The assessment highlights in which sectors of the economy the emissions associated with our spending are taking place. Raising awareness of this pattern of emissions is a first step towards taking action to reduce the carbon attributable to public sector expenditure and thereby more sustainable ways of working.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it took to ensure that its carbon assessment of the draft budget 2010-11 was calculated in such a way as to encourage reduction of emissions through improved sustainability rather than by reducing job numbers.

John Swinney: In addition to direct emissions associated with expenditure by the public sector, the assessment also includes the emissions associated with related increases in private consumption spending, termed "induced emissions". Outputs from the assessment methodology do not suggest that emission reductions should be achieved by reducing job numbers, but rather through the reduction in carbon intensity of the goods and services we all use.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider reviewing its methodology for the carbon assessment of the draft budget 2010-11 so that it will encourage reduction of emissions through improved sustainability rather than by reducing job numbers.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27904 on 26 October 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.

In addition, it was recognised at the time of publication that the carbon assessment reported on this year was a first, and to some extent experimental step, and that the methodology will continue to be reviewed and improved over time.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that government should seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing salaries and jobs.

John Swinney: High labour market participation and increased solidarity and cohesion, as well as environmental sustainability, are key targets for achieving the Government Purpose of sustainable economic growth. Reducing salaries has unpredictable impacts and could, through lowering the cost of production as a result of lower labour costs, encourage higher production and consumption, and hence emissions. The Climate Change Delivery Plan, published in June, sets out how we intend to reduce Scotland’s emissions and in doing so, develop more sustainable ways of living and working in Scotland.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considered the impact on jobs when devising the methodology for its carbon assessment of the draft budget 2010-11.

John Swinney: I refer the member to questions S3W-27904 and S3W-27905 answered on the 26 October 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.

In addition, the methodology adopted for carbon assessment does not provide a direct analysis of potential impacts on employment, but reflects the emissions associated with the spending proposals in the draft budget.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the inclusion of induced emissions resulting from increases in employment and salaries in the carbon assessment of the draft budget 2010-11 creates an incentive for Scottish Government departments to reduce projected emissions by reducing job numbers and paying lower wages rather than by finding more sustainable ways of working.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27906 on 26 October 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.

In addition, reducing expenditure in the budget will reduce the associated projected emissions in the carbon assessment. However, in order to genuinely reduce emissions a real reduction in the carbon intensity of the goods and services used by the public sector is required. This cannot be achieved simply through cuts in expenditure but must result from a progressive decoupling of emissions from economic activity over time.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital expenditure will be in 2010-11, also showing the projects to which the funding applies and the cost and phasing of each project.

John Swinney: The Scottish Budget: Draft Budget 2010-11 document, published on 17 September 2009, states a proposed capital budget for 2010-11 of £3.2 billion. The Scottish Government’s capital expenditure plans for 2010-11 are set out according to public expenditure classification headings rather than by individual projects.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27333 by John Swinney on 30 September 2009, for what reason it has not included the pre-Budget report consequentials of £5.2 million in the figure of a £496 million reduction in the planned departmental expenditure limit budget for 2010-11.

John Swinney: Our published Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) figure in the Draft Budget for 2010-11 includes all relevant movements in spending power as a result of consequentials and other changes advised by and agreed with HM Treasury. The figures can therefore be reconciled to those provided by Treasury.

In commenting on the 2010-11 draft budget, I made clear that the cut of approximately £500 million was the net result of decisions announced in the Chancellor’s April 2009 budget. Earlier adjustments made to 2010-11 Scottish DEL, for example in the 2008 pre-budget report, were already the subject of public announcements.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S3W-26790 and S3W-27285 by John Swinney on 8 and 29 September 2009 respectively, whether information on how much of the accelerated capital programme funding for 2009-10 has been spent is now available.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26791 on 8 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.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S3W-26790 and S3W-27285 by John Swinney on 8 and 29 September 2009 respectively, for what reason it is unable to state how much of the accelerated capital programme funding for 2009-10 has been spent.

John Swinney: Monitoring of capital spending programmes continues. We forecast that all of the accelerated capital will be spent in the course of 2009-10 as planned. As I have previously indicated, information about spending outturns will be reported in the consolidated accounts for 2009-10.

First Minister

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26573 by John Swinney on 18 September 2009, whether it will provide a response that contains the information requested in that question.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26570 by John Swinney on 18 September 2009, whether it will provide a response that contains the information requested in that question.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26571 by John Swinney on 18 September 2009, whether it will provide a response that contains the information requested in that question.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-26569 on 18 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.

Freedom of Information

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to carry out a consultation on the possibility of making an order under section 5 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 in relation to contractors who provide public services, registered social landlords and local authority trusts.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to concerns raised by the Scottish Information Commissioner that the public have lost rights to information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 from certain bodies due to changes in public service delivery, whether it will proceed to formal consultation on an extension to the Act to cover contractors who provide public services, registered social landlords and local authority trusts.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be made regarding whether to hold a formal consultation on the possibility of extending the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to cover contractors who provide public services, registered social landlords and local authority trusts.

Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government will announce in due course its conclusions on the issue of making such an order which may extend the coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to bring contractors who provide public services, registered social landlords and local authority trusts within the scope of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its discussion paper published on 17 November 2008 on the possibility of extending the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to cover contractors who provide public services, registered social landlords and local authority trusts, what further action it plans to take regarding this issue.

Bruce Crawford: A discussion paper was published in November 2008, which explored the key issues around extending coverage of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act to these types of bodies. The responses to the discussion paper are under active consideration and an announcement on the Scottish Government’s conclusions will be made in due course.

Further Education

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a reallocation of any underspend in the additional revenue funding for colleges in 2009-10.

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional places have been created for students following the allocation of additional revenue funding for colleges in 2009-10, broken down by college.

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional courses have been created for students following the allocation of additional revenue funding for colleges in 2009-10, broken down by college.

Fiona Hyslop: Issues relating to the funding of individual colleges are a matter for the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council to reply to the member.

Further and Higher Education

Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive by what procedures young people in the voluntary sector can access education funding.

Fiona Hyslop: Access to further and higher education funding for young people working in the voluntary sector is no different to that for all other Scottish-domiciled young people. Information relating to meeting the costs of learning and training can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Funding-Support-Grants/FFL/yourguidetofunding0910pdf.

HM Revenue and Customs

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government about the future of HM Revenue and Customs offices and employees in Scotland.

Jim Mather: As noted in the answer to question S3W-11472 on 30 April 2008, under current constitutional arrangements the organisation of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) services in Scotland is a matter for that department. However, the Scottish Government has an interest in the maintenance of an appropriate level of service across Scotland, and in the number and proportion of HMRC jobs located in Scotland. We are aware of the decisions that have been made to reduce the number of buildings HMRC occupy in the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas and that a programme of reviews is ongoing in respect of other offices, and that both impact on staffing levels.

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.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been collected in fiscal fines imposed since December 2008 and in how many cases (a) no payment has been made and (b) payments are overdue, broken down by sheriffdom.

Kenny MacAskill: Information on fiscal penalty payment rates is published on the Scottish Court Service website and can be accessed at www.scotcourts.gov.uk/payyourfine.

Marine Environment

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the purpose was of publishing the document, Scotland’s First Marine Bill, on 30 September 2009.

Richard Lochhead: Engagement with stakeholders identified a clear need for accessible information explaining the provisions of the Marine (Scotland) Bill and its effects on marine interests. Its publication on 30 September coincided with a conference on the Scottish Marine Bill, at which the document was distributed to a diverse range of marine stakeholders. It has since been distributed to other interested parties.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of the document, Scotland’s First Marine Bill, will be produced.

Richard Lochhead: One thousand five hundred copies of the leaflet were produced for distribution at conferences and meetings to a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in the marine environment and who may be affected by the bill. It has also been distributed to staff working in marine-related areas and is available on the Scottish Government website.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of producing the document, Scotland’s First Marine Bill.

Richard Lochhead: The cost of production and publication of Scotland’s First Marine Bill, including an electronic version, was £4,471.04. The document will form the basis for future material providing information on the bill as enacted, minimising future costs.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it anticipates that the Marine (Scotland) Bill will be amended at Stages 2 and 3.

Richard Lochhead: It is anticipated that the Marine (Scotland) Bill will be amended during its passage through the parliamentary process. I have already informed the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee of potential amendments at Stage 2 in a letter dated 18 June 2009.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it did not delay the publication of the document, Scotland’s First Marine Bill, until after the Marine (Scotland) Bill had been passed by the Scottish Parliament.

Richard Lochhead: The document was produced to provide easily accessible information on the provisions of the Marine (Scotland) Bill and its effects in order to inform discussion of the bill as it progresses through Parliament. This is intended to be helpful given the complexity of some issues addressed by the bill.

Ministerial Meetings

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27348 by John Swinney on 29 September 2009, on how many occasions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has met the President of COSLA when no other COSLA member was present and what subjects were discussed.

John Swinney: There have been no formal meetings between the President of COSLA and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth that have not also been attended by one or more others. Since 2007, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has had regular meetings with the President of COSLA and other members of COSLA, including COSLA’s political group leaders. All these meetings, which have included discussion on a range of issues, have also been attended by at least one other person, usually a COSLA officer or a Scottish Government official.

NHS Staff

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the total number of awards under the Consultants’ Distinction Awards increased between the 2008 and 2009 awards rounds and, if so, by how many, broken down by award level.

Nicola Sturgeon: At 30 September 2008, the total number of awards under the Distinction Awards Scheme for NHS Consultants in Scotland was 552 (52 A+, 157 A, 343 B). In 2009, this increased to 578 (53 A+, 166 A, 359 B).

Planning

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are guidelines to standardise the format and procedures for local planning inquiries and, if so, where these can be accessed.

John Swinney: The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) arrange public local inquiries for planning appeals, called in planning applications, amenity notice appeals, enforcement notice appeals, certificate of lawful use development appeals and tree notice appeals received on or after 3 August 2009, in accordance with Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2008. Cases of this type received by DPEA prior to 3 August 2009, are processed under the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) (Scotland) Rules 1997, and subsequent Amendment Rules 1998. DPEA also process Listed Building and Hazardous Substances appeal cases under this latter legislation, as well as a variety of other cases, that whilst not specifically referred to within the legislation, are processed in accordance with this by analogy.

The Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 govern development plan examinations submitted to Scottish ministers and administered by DPEA.

These documents are available on the DPEA website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/decisions-appeals/Appeals/Legislation.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27550 by Jim Mather on 30 September 2009, whether it will list the (a) name of the project, (b) date of application, (c) date of consent and (d) mega watt capacity of the extension for the four applications for extensions to existing wind energy developments that the Scottish Ministers have determined.

Jim Mather: The details of the four applications referred to above are:

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27550 by Jim Mather on 30 September 2009, whether it will list the (a) name of the project, (b) date of application and (c) mega watt capacity of the three applications for extensions to existing wind energy developments that the Scottish Ministers have not yet determined.

Jim Mather: The details of the three applications referred to above are:

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27550 by Jim Mather on 30 September 2009, whether it will list the (a) name of the project, (b) date of application and (c) mega watt capacity of the seven new wind energy development applications

Jim Mather: The details of the seven applications referred to above are:

Schools

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason Barrhead High School has not been included in the first phase of secondary schools in the Scottish Government’s new School Estate Strategy, Building Better Schools: Investing in Scotland’s Future.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-8148 on 8 October 2009 which is available on the Parliament’s website:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1008-02.htm#Col20427.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to rebuild Barrhead High School.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to fund a new Barrhead High School.

Fiona Hyslop: The provision and maintenance of school buildings is one of an education authority’s statutory duties. Investment plans and priorities for individual schools in East Renfrewshire are a matter for the council.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce the first tranche of primary schools to be built under its £1.25 billion school building programme.

Fiona Hyslop: We have agreed with COSLA to accelerate the process of agreeing the first primary schools to benefit from this programme and expect to make an announcement by the end of the year.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce the complete list of primary schools to be built under its £1.25 billion school building programme.

Fiona Hyslop: We expect to announce the first primaries to benefit from the programme by the end of the year. The timing of further announcements has not yet been decided.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to complete the construction of primary schools to be built under its £1.25 billion school building programme.

Fiona Hyslop: We expect all of the primary schools to be completed by 2015.

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with Glasgow City Council regarding the construction of new primary schools in that local authority area under the £1.25 billion school building programme.

Fiona Hyslop: As I set out in my statement to Parliament on 17 June 2009, this school building programme will be taken forward in partnership with COSLA and councils. We are in the process of engaging with all of our local government partners, including Glasgow City Council, regarding the primary element of the programme.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in the Building better schools news release on 28 September 2009, how much of its £800 million contribution has been allocated to each of the 14 schools listed and over which financial years.

Fiona Hyslop: Each of the first 14 secondary schools to benefit from the new school building programme is different. Precise costings will not be known until the tendering and procurement processes are complete.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in the Building better schools news release on 28 September 2009, when it anticipates completion of each of the 14 schools listed.

Fiona Hyslop: Each of the 14 secondary schools identified to receive support is different and will therefore be planned and built in a timescale which is appropriate for the school, pupils and local community.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the funding for new primary schools will be announced; how many primary schools will be rebuilt, and over what timescale.

Fiona Hyslop: The first primary schools to benefit from the new school building programme will be announced by the end of the year. Our expectation is that the primary element of the programme will be completed by 2015.

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it includes Uddingston Grammar School as one of the 236 new or refurbished schools completed since May 2007 referred to in its news release, School building programme, of 8 October 2009.

Fiona Hyslop: Uddingston Grammar School was included by South Lanarkshire Council in their 2009 School Estate Statistics return as being completed in 2008-09, and was therefore included in the list of schools built or refurbished since May 2007.

The following questions were given holding answers:

S3W-27767

S3W-27768

S3W-27798

S3W-27808

S3W-27809

S3W-27810

S3W-27811

S3W-27812

S3W-27813