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: S3W-15655

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 28 August 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13276 by John Swinney on 3 June 2008, where the two community hubs identified as early projects developed by the Scottish Futures Trust are located.

Question reference: S3W-15275

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 28 August 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14759 by Jim Mather on 23 July 2008, what the terms of reference are for the planned research into the economic impact of wildlife tourism and who will carry out the research.

Question reference: S3W-15276

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 28 August 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14759 by Jim Mather on 23 July 2008, what categories of wildlife tourism will be covered in the planned research into the economic impact of wildlife tourism.

Question reference: S3W-15277

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 28 August 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14759 by Jim Mather on 23 July 2008, whether shooting and stalking will be included in the planned research into the economic impact of wildlife tourism.

Question reference: S3W-15278

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 28 August 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14759 by Jim Mather on 23 July 2008, when the planned research into the economic impact of wildlife tourism will (a) start and (b) finish.

The Scottish Government and VisitScotland recognise that wildlife tourism makes a valuable and growing contribution to Scottish tourism, and thus to sustainable economic growth. We are currently studying the feasibility and costs of commissioning research to assess the overall value of wildlife tourism, and a detailed timetable for the study and terms of reference, including coverage of the study, have not yet been prepared. However, we would expect to commission the study before the end of this year, with the primary field research capturing data during the course of 2009, and to report thereafter.

Question reference: S3W-15554

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by Adam Ingram on 27 August 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-13883, S3W-13884, S3W 13998, S3W-13999, S3W-14000 and S3W-14001 by Adam Ingram on 13 June 2008, what the ratio of pupils receiving nursery education from a qualified teacher to those not receiving nursery education from a qualified teacher is in (a) West Dunbartonshire, (b) East Dunbartonshire, (c) Renfrewshire, (d) Inverclyde, (e) East Renfrewshire and (f) North Lanarkshire.

Figures from the 2007 pre-school and childcare census show that the ratio of children attending pre-schools with a General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) registered teacher to those attending pre-schools without are as follows for each of the six local authority areas the member enquired specifically about:

West Dunbartonshire	0.2
East Dunbartonshire	1.1
Renfrewshire	0.8
Inverclyde	1.1
East Renfrewshire	4.7
North Lanarkshire	0.9

It should be noted that these figures show numbers of children attending pre-school centres with a GTCS registered teacher, not simply numbers of children who receive education from a teacher. These figures do not necessarily capture teachers who are centrally employed by the local authority but support a number of centres on a peripatetic basis.

The 2008 pre-school and childcare statistics will be published on 17 September 2008 and for the first time will include specific information on the number of children receiving pre-school education from a qualified teacher during census week and will also capture more information about teaching input delivered on a peripatetic basis. This will be presented at a local authority level.

Question reference: S3W-15547

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 15 August 2008
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 21 August 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive in what prisons the prisoner population exceeds the design capacity by (a) 5%, (b) 10% and (c) 20%.

Prison populations necessarily vary on a daily basis. The position as at 15 August 2008 was as follows:

Exceeds 5%	Exceeds 10%	Exceeds 20%
Cornton Vale	Edinburgh	Aberdeen
Glenochil	Polmont	Barlinnie
Perth		Dumfries
		Greenock
		Inverness

Question reference: S3W-14759

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2008
Current Status: Answered by Jim Mather on 23 July 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13078 by Jim Mather on 27 May 2008, what the estimated economic benefit is to Scotland of (a) wildlife tourism, (b) tourism dependent on wild places and unspoilt landscapes and (c) tourism based on the natural and cultural heritage of Scotland.

Precise estimates on the economic benefit to Scotland of wildlife tourism; tourism dependent on wild places and unspoilt landscapes; and tourism based on the natural and cultural heritage of Scotland are not available, although research into the economic impact of wildlife tourism for Scotland is planned by the Government for the near future.

However, tourism is one of Scotland’s most important industries, worth well over
£4 billion in revenues to the economy. The scenery is the most important factor among those choosing to holiday in Scotland, with 92% rating it important or very important to them in making their choice, while nature and wildlife comes third, with 73% of visitors rating it important or very important. Satisfaction levels with these aspects of their holiday in Scotland is very high, with 97% being satisfied or very satisfied with the scenery, and 86% satisfied or very satisfied with nature and wildlife.

Question reference: S3W-14303

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 14 July 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive when legislation will be introduced to ensure that people negligently exposed to asbestos who develop pleural plaques will be able to pursue a claim for damages in Scotland.

The Scottish Government introduced a Bill to the Scottish Parliament to overrule the House of Lords Judgment in Johnston v NEI International Combustion Ltd on 23 June 2008. The Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Bill was published on 24 June 2008 and, along with accompanying documents, is available at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/bills/billsInProgress/index.htm.

The bill also provides that asymptomatic pleural thickening and asymptomatic asbestosis, when caused by wrongful exposure to asbestos, continue to give rise to a claim for damages in Scotland. I am very pleased to be able to provide this confirmation that the Scottish Government has fulfilled its promise to bring forward legislation to ensure that the House of Lords judgment does not have effect in Scotland.

Question reference: S3W-14304

Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 14 July 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the legislation to be introduced, people negligently exposed to asbestos who are diagnosed with the asymptomatic pleural thickening and asymptomatic asbestosis, will be able to pursue a claim for damages in Scotland.