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-24399

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 March 2006
Current Status: Answered by Nora Radcliffe on 31 March 2006

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many fair trade products are supplied by the Parliament’s catering services.

Question reference: S2W-24401

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 17 March 2006
Current Status: Answered by Nora Radcliffe on 31 March 2006

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what emphasis the Parliament’s procurement strategy places on purchasing fair trade products.

The Parliament’s commitmentis to purchase responsibly, taking account of social, ethical, economic andenvironmental considerations. Our procurement procedures have been recently developedto ensure that these issues are considered at every stage of the procurementprocess. Whenever possible, options for social labels such as Fair Trade willbe included in our specifications to encourage suppliers to offer fair tradeitems. Following contract award we work with our contractors to continuallyimprove performance including responsible purchasing aspects.

Question reference: S2W-23675

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2006
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 31 March 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how much commercial building space is currently heated from renewable sources and what percentage of all commercial space this represents.

Question reference: S2W-24276

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2006
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 29 March 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it had to the appointment of Sir Ken Collins, Chair of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency board, to the EU High Level Group on Competitiveness, Energy and Environment and, if it had input, to what extent the Parliament was consulted on this issue.

On 25 January 2006 Sir KenCollins was invited by Gunter Verheugen, Vice-President of the EuropeanCommission, to become a member of the High Level Group on Competitiveness,Energy and the Environment.

Sir Ken was invited to takeup this position in a personal capacity and not as a representative of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The Scottish Executive had no input tothis appointment but Sir Ken did inform the First Minister of his acceptance of the position as a matter of courtesy.

Question reference: S2W-24244

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 March 2006
Current Status: Answered by Nora Radcliffe on 28 March 2006

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what guidelines are set for the sourcing of Scottish products in respect of catering within the Parliament.

The SPCB is required tocomply with European procurement law that requires us to be fair, transparentand non-discriminatory in our treatment of suppliers. Within these parameterswe have set requirements for the contractor to supply fresh, seasonal producewhich creates an opportunity for local supply and within this framework anumber of Scottish products are supplied. We continue to encourage ourcontractor to identify further opportunities for the use of local produce.

Question reference: S2W-24668

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2006
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 21 and (c) 22 to 25 have been registered as unemployed in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Question reference: S2W-24131

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 March 2006
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 March 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Wi-Fi networks are operational and what the extent is of existing Wi-Fi coverage.

Question reference: S2W-24130

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 March 2006
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 March 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to develop wireless internet coverage across Scotland and, if so, whether it will give details in respect of the level of coverage and timescale.

Question reference: S2W-24129

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 March 2006
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 23 March 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what proportion of energy consumption is accounted for by electronic devices on standby.

Question reference: S2O-09345

Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2006
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 23 March 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards are in place to ensure that all areas receive adequate ambulance cover.