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-28159

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 August 2002
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 30 August 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will attend the European Council Education and Youth Committee meeting in Brussels on 3 September 2002.

Question reference: S1W-28160

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 02 August 2002
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 30 August 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a formal submission to the European Council Education and Youth Committee, based on the agenda for the committee's meeting on 3 September 2002.

The Scottish Executive will not make a formal submission to the meeting of the European Council's Education Committee on 3 September. It is not usual practice for any member state to make a formal submission to the European Council's Education Committee, either in written or spoken form.The UK delegation makes interventions as appropriate in the course of debates within the committee, these comments being based on a position agreed among the constituent parts of the UK.

Question reference: S1W-27638

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 July 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 14 August 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the remarks made in the Sunday Times on 5 May 2002 attributed to Susan Stewart, First Secretary for Scottish Affairs in the British Embassy in Washington DC, reflect its official policy pertaining to the Gaelic language.

Question reference: S1W-27435

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 July 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mary Mulligan on 5 August 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive why the Health Education Board for Scotland located the production of its health awareness advertisement "Club Smoking" in Eastern Europe.

The Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) must ensure value for money when delivering health awareness campaigns. HEBS use The Bridge advertising agency which always seeks tenders from Scottish production companies and directors. The recent "Club Smoking" advertisement was subject to open tender. The successful tender, which based production of the advertisement in Eastern Europe, led to substantial savings over the other bids received.

Question reference: S1W-27436

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 July 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mary Mulligan on 5 August 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the decision by the Health Board for Scotland to locate the production of its most recent health awareness advertisement in Eastern Europe was based on consultations with Scottish Screen.

Question reference: S1W-27437

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 08 July 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 5 August 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to offer production incentives in the form of tax based funding, such as equity investment or production credit grants, to Scottish and international film and TV producers in order to encourage a sustainable production industry in Scotland.

Question reference: S1W-27017

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 June 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 5 August 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the National Galleries of Scotland in regard to the present dispute over staff salaries.

The Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland are responsible for developing pay proposals that meet guidance on public sector pay and are affordable. National Galleries of Scotland has reviewed its pay systems, a Pay Remit for the organisation has been agreed by Scottish Ministers and, following negotiation between National Galleries of Scotland and the trade unions, a three-year pay offer has been accepted by staff.

Question reference: S1W-27019

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 June 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 31 July 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the terms and conditions of employment for staff of the National Galleries of Scotland adequately reflect their roles and responsibilities.

The trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland are responsible for ensuring that the terms and conditions of their staff are consistent with their roles and responsibilities. The trustees are responsible for developing pay proposals that meet guidance on public sector pay and are affordable. National Galleries of Scotland has reviewed its pay systems, a pay remit for the organisation has been agreed by Scottish ministers and, following negotiation between National Galleries of Scotland and the trade unions, a three-year pay offer has been accepted by staff.

Question reference: S1W-27018

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 24 June 2002
Current Status: Answered by Mike Watson on 31 July 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact a strike by staff of the National Galleries of Scotland will have on tourism.

Question reference: S1W-25011

Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 April 2002
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 31 July 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what its projections are for the number of (a) primary teachers and (b) secondary teachers in schools in (i) 2002-03, (ii) 2003-04, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2005-06, (v) 2006-07 and (vi) 2007-08, taking into account any reduction in teacher training places made in 2002 and what its projections were for those years prior to any such change.

The following table shows the projected teacher deficit for the period 2002-03 to 2007-08:Projected Teacher Deficit at Start of Session

	2002-03	2003-04*	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	Total
Primary	1,083	981	934	977	998	1,093	6,066
Secondary	1,019	1,042	1,028	1,048	1,066	944	6,147
Total	2,102	2,023	1,962	2,025	2,064	2,037	12,213

Note:* The revision to PGCE intake levels announced in March 2002 does not effect these projections. These changes were made to avoid a likely excess of the supply which would neither be in the interests of the individual students, nor the teaching profession as a whole.The estimated 3,000 additional teachers required in order to implement the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century are included within these projections.The estimates of teacher deficit will vary from year to year as information varies on early retirements, resignations and the level at which qualified teachers return to the profession from career breaks.