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: S1W-32613

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 3 January 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the availability of opportunities to learn Gaelic as a second language for primary school children.

The provision of Gaelic as a second language for primary school children is a matter for education authorities. However, the Executive supports with funding the Gaelic Language in the Primary School Programme which operates in a number of authorities. This programme seeks to develop the language skills of primary teachers to enable them to deliver Gaelic as a second language in their schools and authorities. The Scottish Executive will be providing extra resources for Gaelic next year and will be looking to Bord Gaidhlig na h-Alba for advice on spending priorities.

Question reference: S1W-32614

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 3 January 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what practical assistance it is giving to help adults learn Gaelic as a second language.

The responsibility for the delivery of Gaelic as a second language for adults rests with education authorities and further and higher education institutions. The Scottish Executive also provides assistance to bodies and institutions engaged in Gaelic education for adults and education authorities may also bid into the specific grant scheme for this purpose. Any further practical assistance for adults is a matter for those authorities and institutions.

Question reference: S1W-32615

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 3 January 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what priority it gives within its Gaelic policy to enabling adults to learn Gaelic as a second language.

The Scottish Executive attaches high priority to enabling adults to learn Gaelic as a second language. The main responsibility for the delivery of this rests with education authorities and the further and higher education sectors. However, an important contribution is also made by a number of Gaelic bodies and institutions that receive direct funding from the Executive. Education authorities may also bid into the specific grant scheme for this purpose. I also expect Bòrd Gàidhlig to address the issues arising for Gaelic learners.

Question reference: S1W-32612

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 3 January 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the availability of opportunities to learn Gaelic as a second language in secondary schools throughout Scotland.

The provision of Gaelic as a second language for secondary schools throughout Scotland is a matter for education authorities and they can also bid into the specific grant scheme for support for this activity. The Executive has acted to improve Gaelic teacher supply in both primary and secondary schools. In addition, the Scottish Executive will be providing extra resources for Gaelic next year and will be looking to Bord Gaidhlig na h-Alba for advice on spending priorities.

Question reference: S1W-32616

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 12 December 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 3 January 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Education and Young People, the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning or the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport holds responsibility for policy and action on Gaelic when taught as a second language.

A cross-cutting approach is employed in the Executive's delivery on Gaelic issues. Gaelic is taught as a second language in both the schools sector and the post-school sector. The Minister for Education and Young People holds policy responsibility for the former and the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning holds policy responsibility for the latter. In connection with implementing policy on Gaelic in these sectors, ministers work with the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, who holds policy responsibility for the support and promotion of Gaelic language and culture.

Question reference: S1W-32436

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 09 December 2002
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 23 December 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of half days of unauthorised absence was per (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupil due to (i) truancy and (ii) temporary exclusion in (1) 1998-99, (2) 1999-2000, (3) 2000-01 and (4) 2001-02, broken down by local authority area.

Question reference: S1W-32119

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 November 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 16 December 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements were entered into by the Scottish Arts Council to terminate the contract of the council's former (a) director Tessa Jackson and (b) deputy director Barclay Price; how much these arrangements cost in (i) additional spending in the financial year in which the resignations occurred and (ii) financial commitments for subsequent years, and whether these arrangements were approved by the Executive.

I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-21042 on 3 January 2002, and S1W-20472 on 11 December 2001 which deal with the case of Ms Jackson. The same considerations also apply in the case of Barclay Price. 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/webapp/search_wa.

Question reference: S1W-32113

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 28 November 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 16 December 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Arts Council spent on (a) travel and (b) subsistence for its (i) staff, (ii) members of the management team and (iii) members of the council and its committees in (1) 1999-2000, (2) 2000-01 and (3) 2001-02 and how much it will spend in 2002-03.

Question reference: S1W-32182

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2002
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 13 December 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether regulations on lead pipes will be included in the Scottish Standard for Social Housing.

Question reference: S1W-32181

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 December 2002
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 13 December 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in determining the quality thresholds for the Scottish Standard for Social Housing.