- 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 Mike Watson on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines "where demand is sufficient" in relation to support for Gaelic-medium pre-school and primary education, as referred to in key priority 2.1 of strategic objective 2 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past.
Answer
In the publication, Improving Our Schools, A Consultation Paper on National Priorities for Schools Education in Scotland (2000), ministers declared themselves to be sympathetic to the suggestion that where a sufficient number of parents wish their children to enter Gaelic-medium education their requests should be considered positively by education authorities. Any further definition is a matter for education authorities.
- 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: Monday, 18 November 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Mike Watson on 26 November 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to support the celebrations arranged by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society to mark the centenary of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no plans to become involved in the centenary of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition.
- 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 encourage new partnerships in both public and private sectors and further collaboration within the library sector to include the exploitation of information and communication technologies and the development of policies for national collections, particularly in relation to Scottish material, as referred to in key priority 2.2 of strategic objective 2 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past.
Answer
As reported in the National Cultural Strategy Annual report 2002, the New Opportunities Fund award of £4 million to Resource for Learning in Scotland, a consortium of the National Library of Scotland, the National Archives of Scotland, the Scottish Resource Access Network, and over 100 Scottish archives and libraries will create tens of thousands of newly digitised multimedia resources. The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) has also funded digitisation programmes in Perth, East Dunbartonshire and the Royal Botanic Garden. The Ayrshire Libraries Forum, with SLIC funding, is developing a collaborative framework for the procurement of generic Scottish material. SLIC has also established a group to "bookmark" websites covering a wide range of subjects including Scottish material. This will prevent duplication of effort and ensure a common approach to standards.Also reported, is an e-Government initiative now being developed by SLIC, with Executive funding, to demonstrate how cultural information and content can be used and shared, and how existing websites may be linked. The SLIC website carries information on Scottish writers both present and past.In addition, SLIC, which receives core funding of £160,000 from the Executive, has an important role in liasing with COSLA and a wide range of other organisations, including Scottish Enterprise, SUFI, Scottish Further Education Unit, NHS Scotland and the New Opportunities Fund.
- 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 who participates in the action group established to consider how the languages and cultural traditions of Scotland's ethnic communities can be supported, as referred to in key priority 2.1 of strategic objective 2 of Creating our Future: Minding our Past; how many meetings the group has had, and whether any findings have been published.
Answer
As stated in the first annual report of Scotland's National Cultural Strategy, published October 2001, the Executive considered the proposal to establish such a group in light of a commitment in the Executive's Equality Strategy's to develop consultation methods acceptable to minority ethnic communities, and also in light of the Equal Futures Project and November 2001 conference. The Executive is exploring ways to develop more effective consultation and dialogue with minority ethnic communities. In the meantime we have concluded that the best approach is to pursue the Equal Futures Project. This aims to bring together children and young people to explore issues of identity, ethnicity and culture, and address racism, empowering all Scotland's young people to celebrate the positive benefits of a multi-cultural society. To support this, the Executive has invested £150,000 in the project over a two-year period, to March 2004.
- 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: 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 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: 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 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.
