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-03314

Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 11 January 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive how many places are available in further education institutions to train nursery nurses over the next two years (2000-02).

Question reference: S1W-03315

Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 11 January 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to address any conflict of interest in the provision of pre-school education by virtue of the fact that local authorities are regulators, providers and fundholders.

Provision of pre-school education is subject to scrutiny by authorities' own internal auditors, to ensure proper separation of interests and the achievement of value for money from public funds. These disciplines apply no less to pre-school education than to other services where local authorities have a multi-functional role. The Accounts Commission are reviewing practice by local authorities in commissioning pre-school education places with a view to developing recommendations on good practice. I refer also to my answer to question S1W-3313 on the quality and consistency of regulation between private and state nurseries.

Question reference: S1W-03462

Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by David Steel on 11 January 2000

To ask the Presiding Officer what proposals or options are before the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body in relation to Queensberry House and whether MSPs will be consulted on this issue.

There have been no further developments affecting Queensberry House since my answer of 10 December to Margo MacDonald (SIW-3026). This reported that there are no plans to demolish Queensberry House and that the SPCB is awaiting the results of detailed specialist investigations and the associated cost estimates of remedial works. The SPCB will continue to keep MSPs informed about the Holyrood building at key stages in the project.

Question reference: S1W-03313

Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 28 December 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made to ensure consistency and quality of regulation between private and state nurseries.

The proposed Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care will regulate all day care for children, whoever the provider. We believe that this will provide consistency and quality of regulation not only between the private and public sectors but also across Scotland. We intend to introduce legislation to establish the Commission as soon as possible, and we issued a pre-legislative consultation document: Regulating Care and the Social Service Workforce on 23 December.

Question reference: S1W-03212

Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by Donald Dewar on 24 December 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a breach of the Civil Service Code by Mr John Rafferty.

Question reference: S1W-03215

Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by Donald Dewar on 24 December 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister agreed a statement with Mr John Rafferty, and if so, what was the content of that statement.

Question reference: S1W-03213

Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by Donald Dewar on 24 December 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in drawing up a shortlist of successors to Mr John Rafferty.

Question reference: S1W-03214

Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by Donald Dewar on 24 December 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the First Minister spoke to the Prime Minister about the departure of Mr John Rafferty.

Question reference: S1W-03211

Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by Donald Dewar on 24 December 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive what are the terms of the financial package made following the departure of Mr John Rafferty and in particular what arrangements have been made for compensation to Mr John Rafferty within the package.

Question reference: S1W-02331

Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 November 1999
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 10 December 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive how Midlothian Council intends to finance the proposed upgrading of the A701.