Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32198 on 15 March 2010. 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.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31757 on 11 March 2010. 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.

The proportion of the UK national debt assigned to Scotland under independence would be subject to negotiation as part of a revised constitutional settlement.

The Scottish Government believes any apportionment of the UK national debt should take into consideration the historic balance of expenditures and revenues in Scotland relative to the UK as a whole. For example, the recent Scotland Office report Time Series Analysis of Government Expenditures and Revenues in Scotland estimated Scotland''s fiscal position between 1980-81 and 2007-08 including an illustrative geographical share of North Sea revenue. The results suggest that, over this period, Scotland''s cumulative deficit would have been 40% smaller than if it was assigned a per capita share of the UK''s deficit.

I have asked Willie Pretswell, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

The occupancy of HMP Kilmarnock on the Friday of each week in 2010 is as follows:

Number of Prisoners

Date
1 January	530
8 January	536
15 January	548
22 January	540
29 January	547
5 February	547
12 February	541
19 February	547
26 February	546
5 March	542

 

The Referendum Bill team comprises of three policy officials. The drafting of the Referendum (Scotland) Bill was carried out by two officials in the Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel.

The draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill was published on 25 February 2010.

Scottish ministers have discussions about a range of matters of importance to the people of Scotland with members and officials of the European Commission.

I refer the member to Chapter 2 of Scotland''s Future, Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill Consultation Paper, published on 25 February 2010. It can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Elections/rbc. Copies are also available in The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 50315).

I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-9386 on 4 February 2010 which informed Parliament that the Scottish Government is holding a joint seminar with COSLA and Creative Scotland to take forward culture in the wide sense. This event, which is not specifically about music tuition, will be held in Glasgow on 15 March 2010. It will provide an opportunity to explore Creative Scotland''s prospective relationship with local government, and their functions relating to the contribution of culture, creativity and the creative industries to the outcomes in the national performance framework.

The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliament''s website, the official report can be viewed at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-10/sor0204-02.htm#Col23548.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31905 on 3 March 2010. 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.