- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds have been made available to support the production of education resources that encourage language diversity in each year since 1999, as referred to in key priority 2.1 of strategic objective 2 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past.
Answer
As stated in the second annual report of Scotland's National Cultural Strategy, published 12 November 2002, core funding of £80,000 from the Scottish Arts Council, with £30,000 for establishment costs, has secured the new body, Scottish Language Dictionaries, offering a definitive resource relating to the Scots language.The first annual report of the strategy referred to Stòrlann - a national resource for Gaelic teaching materials. In 1999-2000 the Executive provided £80,000 to Stòrlann; in 2000-01 £120,000 in 2001-02, £145,000, and in 2002-03 £160,000.I can also report that since 1999 the Scottish Arts Council has granted a total of £2,312,392 towards education resources designed to encourage language diversity in Scots and Gaelic. This breaks down into £409,321 in 1999-2000; £545,013 in 2000-01; £746,233 in 2001-02, and (to date) for 2002-03, £611,825.Further support of resources encouraging language diversity and learning is evidenced in the Executive's specific funding of Gaelic-medium education, modern language teaching resources, and of Glasgow's International Language School: £7,902,000; £1,145,532, and £962,000 respectively covering the three-year period from April 1999 to March 2002.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on establishing a national product design network, as referred to in key priority 1.2 of strategic objective 1 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past.
Answer
A number of meetings took place with potential members to progress the idea of a national product design network, as part of the Glasgow Design Project, but this network has not yet been established.However, the Lighthouse's Creative Entrepreneurs Networking Club, which is supported by NESTA, Scottish Enterprise and Cap Gemini, has over 600 members, which include a substantial number of product designers. The club meets monthly and members are offered professional development, industry updates and access to a range of advice as well as contact with others in the field across Scotland.Also, over the next three years, the newly formed European Design Forum, which is funded by Culture 2000, will mount six workshops on a range of matters related to product design and manufacturing. During that period 30 Scottish design companies will have opportunities to network with their peers and meet a variety of businesses based in Europe.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions have been taken to work with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to assure the contribution of the broadcast media to Scotland's cultural life, as referred to in key priority 1.2 of strategic objective 1 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past.
Answer
Extensive discussions, at both official and ministerial level, have taken place with the Department of Media, Culture and Sport to ensure that these issues are taken into account in the Communications Bill.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the commitment made in key priority 2.2 of strategic objective 2 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past to review the existing statutory framework relevant to museums and galleries and consider the case for a comprehensive national framework.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29020 on 19 September 2002. 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.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action has been taken to identify and promote the national roles and responsibilities and realise the full potential of the funded companies that work across Scotland, as referred to in key priority 1.3 of strategic objective 1 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past.
Answer
The Scottish Arts Council provides core funding to those arts bodies it considers have strategic national and regional roles to play. The council works closely with those bodies to ensure that such responsibilities are fully discharged. One hundred and ten arts bodies and organisations across Scotland are to receive core funding totalling some £27.8 million in 2002-03.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Elaine Murray on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific action has been taken to create opportunities for networking amongst those working in the culture sector to stimulate sharing of experience and good practice and the agreement of common objectives, as referred to in key priority 1.1 of strategic objective 1 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past.
Answer
As stated in the second annual report of Scotland's National Cultural Strategy, reviews of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen will report shortly. These have considered the sectoral interface and opportunities for networking and creative dialogue, and the findings will be reported. Specific examples of networks engaging the cultural agencies, local authorities and the sector appeared in the first annual report.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 25 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29152 by Mr Andy Kerr on 11 October 2002, whether Mr John McTernan sought permission to take up a post with the Scottish Arts Council at any time in the last six months and, if so and permission was given, what the reason was for giving such permission.
Answer
The answer given to question S1W-29152 explained the rules on the acceptance of business appointments within two years of leaving Crown employment. Former special advisers are subject to the rules and it is for their judgement whether, in the circumstances, agreement should be sought. Mr John McTernan did not do so in this case and I am not aware that he is engaged in anything which would have required agreement.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 25 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what complaints from interested parties (a) it, (b) its executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) relevant police forces have received with regard to the eviction of the tenants of Powhillon Farm, Dumfriesshire on 15 June 1999; what the outcome of any such complaints has been, and what complaints are still being investigated.
Answer
Complaints were received from relatives of the tenant involved in the eviction. These were investigated but found to be without substance. No outstanding complaints are under investigation.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 25 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it had in the eviction of the tenants of Powhillon Farm, Dumfriesshire on 15 June 1999.
Answer
None.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Mike Watson on 21 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill introduced on 13 November 2002.
Answer
The Scottish Executive recognises the aspiration for legislation within the Gaelic community but does not consider that the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Bill meets that aspiration; a formal response will be made within the normal parliamentary timetable.
