Chamber and committees

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: S2W-15426

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 13 April 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the process by which the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service was appointed, including when, where and how often the position was advertised; what the job description was; what the person specification for the post was, including experience and qualifications; how many applicants there were; who prepared the shortlist; how many applicants were on the shortlist; who selected the successful candidate; what criteria were used to appoint the successful candidate; what checks were made on the successful applicant's references and by whom; how long the appointment is for; what the remit of the post is; what performance review will be carried out; who will carry out such a review, and how often it will be carried out.

The Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) was appointed by the then Permanent Secretary on 1 September 1999 through internal assignment. The appointment was not time limited. The remit of the post is described in the SPS Framework Document which was published on 4 March 2005, a copy of which is in the Parliament’s Reference Centre and on the SPS website at: http://www.sps.gov.uk/keydocs/framework/default.asp. Performance is reviewed using the Senior Civil Service performance management system which includes formal review of performance at least twice a year, further details can be found at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_information/senior_civil_service/scs_performance_and_reward/guidance_and_forms/index.asp.

Question reference: S2W-15368

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 13 April 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it and its agencies are making in stem cell research.

While comprehensive data from across the departments and agencies is not held centrally, information provided from Chief Scientists Office indicates that they are currently investing over £400,000 in individual projects in this field. Scottish Enterprise have also indicated that they have invested over £500,000 in the last three years establishing the Scottish Stem Cell Network and other stem cell related projects.

Question reference: S2W-15359

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 13 April 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had in the decision to establish a UK Stem Cell Foundation; what the foundation's relationship will be with the Scottish Stem Cell Network; what funding the Executive will give to the foundation; how it will be represented directly, or indirectly, on the board of the foundation; which of its agencies will be involved with the foundation and what will be the nature of such involvement, and what potential the foundation has for the expansion of stem cell research and related activity in Scotland.

The UK Stem Cell Foundation is being established by a prominent group of individuals, including Sir Chris Evans of Merlin Biosciences, Sir Richard Sykes of Imperial College, Sir Richard Branson, Professor Lord Winston and venture capitalist Jon Moulton. While it is a private organisation, the Scottish Executive is in touch with the Foundation to discuss the scope for joint working on the development of stem cell research in Scotland. The Scottish Stem Cell Network (SSCN) has had a very positive, informal relationship with the UK Stem Cell Foundation to date and it is likely that some members of the SSCN will have more formal roles with the foundation as it becomes established. Scottish Enterprise is also in direct touch with the organisation.

I understand that the foundation is seeking to address the current limited funding available for translational research – i.e. clinical development activities. This complements the existing funding councils and bodies in the UK – such as Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Wellcome Trust - who generally fund basic science development. The Executive is therefore very keen to work with the foundation in developing Scotland’s undoubted strengths in stem cell research and related activity.

Question reference: S2W-15444

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 13 April 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the appointments for which it is responsible but which fall outwith the remit of the Scottish Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Question reference: S2W-15415

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 13 April 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place between it and the UK Government prior to the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget 2005 announcement regarding the establishment of a new agriculture inspectorate; which ministers participated in any discussions; whether it will place the minutes of any discussions in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre; whether the new inspectorate will have offices in Scotland; how it will report to the Executive and the Parliament; who will appoint its board; what role the Executive will have in such appointments, and how much of the inspectorate's budget will be for devolved functions.

Question reference: S2W-15272

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 13 April 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of funding council tax rebates was in each of the last five financial years and is in the current financial year.

Question reference: S2W-15516

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 13 April 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils are enrolled in the (a) state and (b) independent sector, broken down by local authority area.

The latest information available on the number of pupils enrolled in publicly funded schools by local authority area can be found in the publication Pupils in Scotland, 2004 which can be accessed through the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00412.

The latest information on the number of pupils enrolled in independent schools by local authority area can be found in table 5 of the publication The Independent School Census 2003 which can be accessed at the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00350-01.asp.

It should be noted that the Independent School Census provides information on the basis of pupils at school within local authority areas not where they are domiciled.

Results of the 2004 Independent School Census will be published on 19 April 2005 and will be accessible at the following link:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00414.

Question reference: S2W-15290

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 13 April 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been to local authorities of making alternative arrangements for pupils excluded from school in each of the last 10 years.

The Scottish Executive has not commissioned any specific research on the cost of alternative arrangements for pupils excluded from school.

Alternative arrangements for excluded pupils may be paid for from a wide range of funding streams within the National Priorities Action Fund and GAE expenditure. It is therefore not possible to conclude what local authorities have spent on alternative arrangements.

For example, in 2005-06 through National Priorities Action Fund, the Scottish Executive is making available £11 million for Alternatives to Exclusion; £10 million for implementation of Better Behaviour – Better Learning; £25 million for Inclusion; £9.6 million for Support for Teachers; £12 million for Study Support, and £25.8 million for Integrated Community Schools. All of these strands of the National Priorities Action Fund may be used to support arrangements for pupils excluded from school and to prevent exclusions from school.

Question reference: S2W-15285

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 13 April 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost is of treating obesity-related illness through the NHS.

Question reference: S2W-15247

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 14 March 2005
Current Status: Answered by Euan Robson on 12 April 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary and secondary pupils are entitled to free school meals, expressed also as a percentage of the total school population.