- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Bruce Crawford on 28 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which MSPs who do not hold ministerial positions are authorised to speak for the Scottish Government and on what authority this has been agreed.
Answer
No MSPs who do not hold ministerial positions are authorised to speak for the Scottish Government. As set out in the answer to question S3W-11317 on 27 March 2008, the First Minister has appointed 14 Parliamentary Liaison Officers (PLOs) who have a role in contributing to the effective communication of the Scottish Government''s policy within the Parliament. However, PLOs are not members of the Government and do not speak for the Government.
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/wa.search.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Linda Fabiani on 22 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations the First Minister has made to BBC Scotland since May 2007.
Answer
The First Minister has met formally with both BBC Scotland and the BBC Trust once since May 2007. In addition, he has spoken to senior executives at the BBC on a number of occasions, for example at the launch of the Broadcasting Commission and at the Royal Television Society''s annual Campbell Swinton lecture, which he gave on 27 February 2008.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Linda Fabiani on 22 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms exist for official complaints by ministers to the broadcasting authorities in Scotland and what representations have been made since May 2007 on behalf of which ministers.
Answer
No specific mechanisms exist for ministers to make official complaints to the broadcasting authorities in Scotland. Ministers meet or contact broadcasting authorities to discuss relevant issues for Scotland with those bodies when it is appropriate to do so.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 22 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what posts of inspector general exist in Scotland; what consideration has been given to extending such posts, and when any announcement is expected to be made.
Answer
In Scotland we have no inspectors general, but we have chief inspectors in several policy areas such as education, constabulary, prosecution, prisons and fire. There is currently no plan to extend this range of posts. Indeed, following the Crerar Review of regulation, audit, inspection and complaints handling, government and Parliament will be considering a range of options in the forthcoming months, to reduce the numbers of public service inspectorates. The government plans to make a statement soon.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 22 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which of its officials have received security clearance.
Answer
On national security grounds and for data protection reasons, information on officials who have received security clearance cannot be provided. However, I can confirm that The Scottish Government adheres to the UK Government national security vetting policy ensuring that its application is necessary, proportionate and adds value.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 October 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 22 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which Scottish ministers and junior Scottish ministers have received security clearance.
Answer
It has been, and remains, a policy of successive governments that ministers of the Crown are not subject to security vetting.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 10 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive on what occasions it is permissible for ministers to travel to party political events in official transport.
Answer
Scottish Government ministers base their use of the Government Car Service on clear guidance which has applied to all administrations since devolution. They are assiduous in doing so.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 9 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the cost of the use of official cars by civil servants was in (a) 2007-08 and (b) each of the preceding three years.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16534 on 9 October 2008. 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/wa.search.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 9 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the differences are between the Race Equality Integration and Community Support Fund, the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream and the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Grant Scheme.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16312 on 9 October 2008. 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/wa.search.
- Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 September 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 9 October 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive where the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Grant Scheme is advertised to the public and at what cost.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16312 on 9 October 2008. 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/wa.search.
