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-15006

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations representing the Muslim community have requested a meeting with the First Minister since May 2007.

The First Minister receives numerous requests and invitations and endeavours to meet with as many organisations representing Scottish communities as possible. In relation to Scotland''s Muslim community these have included approaches from organisations as varied as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association; Association of Poetry & Music; BSA; Consulate of Pakistan; Glasgow Central Mosque; IADD; Islam Channel; IslamExpo; Islamic Finance Council; Islamic Human Rights Association; Pakistan Welfare Trust; Pakistan Society; Scotland''s for Peace; Scottish Islamic Foundation; Scottish Provosts'' Association, and Shi''a Muslim Schools. A list of organisations representing the Muslim community which he has met is contained in the response to answer to question S3W-15007 on 3 September 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.

Question reference: S3W-15009

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all meetings between cabinet ministers and the Scottish Islamic Foundation since May 2007, including the location and those (a) present and (b) observing.

The Scottish Islamic Foundation was constituted in January 2008 and formally launched in June 2008. Since January 2008 Cabinet Secretaries and ministers have met the Scottish Islamic Foundation on the following occasions:

Date	Location	In Attendance
17-01-08	Scottish Parliament	Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture
		Osama Saeed, Scottish Islamic Foundation.
		Humza Yousaf, Scottish Islamic Foundation
		Mohammed Sawalha, IslamExpo
		Ismail Patel, IslamExpo
		Anas Altikriti, IslamExpo
		Officials from the Scottish Government.
30-01-08	Scottish Parliament	First Minister
		Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture
		Osama Saeed, Scottish Islamic Foundation.
		Humza Yousaf, Scottish Islamic Foundation.
		Officials from the Scottish Government.
26-6-08	Dynamic Earth	This was the launch event for the Scottish Islamic Foundation. The Scottish Government does not hold an extensive guest list for this event but speeches were made by: · The First Minister · Annabel Goldie, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. · Nichol Stephen, Liberal Democratic Party. · Pauline MacNeill, Scottish Labour Party. · His Eminence Cardinal Keith Patrick O''Brien. · Rami Ousta, BEMIS · Osama Saeed, Scottish Islamic Foundation
22-07-08	Al Furqan Masjid Mosque & Islamic Centre	Cabinet Secretary for Justice
		Allan Burnett, Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland
		Alan Miller Scottish Human Rights Commission
		Amar Shakoor Strathclyde Police Muslim Association
		Bashir Maan, President, Glasgow Central Mosque.
		Humza Yousaf Scottish Islamic Foundation
		Officials from the Scottish Government.

Question reference: S3W-15008

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what due diligence has been undertaken in deciding which organisations representing the Muslim community should receive Scottish Government funding.

Question reference: S3W-15005

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those organisations representing the Muslim community that have received Scottish Government grants since May 2007, also showing the value of grants received.

The Scottish Government has provided funding to the following organisations representing the Muslim community since May 2007:

Organisation	Project funded	Financial Period	Amount
Amina	Helpline development project >	2007-08	£96,382
	Prevention, Protection and Provision Project >	2007-08	£31,845
	Counselling and support service to Muslim families	2008-11	£126,000
	Helpline development project >	2008-11	£318,935
	Prevention, Protection and Provision Project	2008-11	£270,293
Total:			£843,455
Council of British Pakistanis (Scotland)	Democratic Participation Project	2007-08	£29,100
Council of British Pakistanis (Scotland)	Democratic Participation Project	2008-09	£12,125
Total:			£41,225
YCSA (Youth Counselling Services Agency)	Glasgow Counselling Project	2007-08	£36,175
	Ayrshire project with Chinese school children	2007-08	£17,660
	Young Muslim''s Conference	2007-08	£20,000
	Youth/Faith Exploration Services	2008-11	£190,000
Total:			£263,835
Islamic Society of Britain	Eid on the Drive 2007	2007-08	£15,000
Total:			£15,000
Scottish Islamic Foundation	IslamFest	2007-08	£200,000
	Set up costs	2007-08	£10,152
	Training costs	2007-08	£5,600
	Empowering Youth: Future Leaders	2008-11	£190,000
Total:			£405,752

In addition, we have funded organisations which support multi-cultural community engagement and inter-faith dialogue. These initiatives have a positive impact for all communities in Scotland, including the Muslim community.

Question reference: S3W-15007

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 14 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations representing the Muslim community have met the First Minister in an official capacity since May 2007.

The following organisations representing the Muslim community have met the First Minister in an official capacity since May 2007:

Date	Organisation/attendees/organiser	Nature of Meeting
03-06-07	Pakistan Welfare Trust	Guest of honour at 20th Annual Dinner
31-07-07	Muslim community representatives including: · Glasgow Central Mosque · Edinburgh Central Mosque · Dundee Central Mosque · Al-Furqan Mosque, Glasgow · Muslim Council of Scotland · Muslim Council of Britain · Muslim Association of Britain · Islamic Society of Britain · UK Islamic Mission · AMINA · Radio Ramadan Edinburgh · YCSA	Reception at Bute House
14-08-07	AWAZ	2007 Azaadi Award Show (Pakistan Independence Day Celebration)
18-10-07	Muslim community representatives: the Scottish Government does not hold the guest list for this event.	End of Ramadan Lunch, Scottish Parliament
31-10-07	Consulate of Pakistan	Meeting with Shah Jamal
01-11-07	Scotland''s for Peace	Signing Scotland''s for Peace ˜Covenant for Peace'' Book
11-12-07	Glasgow Central Mosque	Dinner
17-01-08	Islamic Finance Council	To discuss what the Scottish Government could do to help Scottish Muslims acquire the Shari''a compliant financial services they require and a proposal to develop and co-ordinate Islamic investment.
30-01-08	Scottish Islamic Foundation	To discuss IslamFest
21-02-08	Bashir Maan	Launch of Bashir Maan''s book The Thistle and the Crescent (as MSP)
08-05-08	Pakistan Welfare Trust	Photo call
01-06-08	Pakistan Welfare Trust	21st Annual Dinner
26-06-08	Scottish Islamic Foundation	Launch

Question reference: S3W-15281

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated under the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream 2008-11, broken down by organisation, and which organisations were unsuccessful in their applications for funding under the stream.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15060 on 6 August 2008, which provides an allocation total and a breakdown of all organisations which were successful under the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund.

The Scottish Government does not routinely make public lists of organisations which were unsuccessful under a funding stream, since it may affect an organisation''s standing and ability to secure funding from other sources in the future.

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.

Question reference: S3W-15284

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any complaints about anti-police statements made at the Weaving the Tartan conference on 5 August 2007.

Question reference: S3W-15280

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers first received recommendations from civil servants regarding the allocation of grants from the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream 2008-11; when the first letters were sent to bodies advising of those allocations; when ministers decided the letters should be recalled; when the letters were recalled, and when the organisations can now expect to be informed of their allocations.

Ministers received recommendations for funding under the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration (RRRI) Fund on 19 June 2008. In anticipation of a decision on the fund, officials started drafting letters in preparation. 22 of these draft letters were sent out prematurely in error on 9, 10 and 11 July 2008. Officials immediately contacted the affected organisations to explain the administrative mistake and indicate that a decision on the fund would be communicated to them as soon as decisions were finalised.

All applicants to the RRRI Fund were sent letters informing them of the outcome of their application on 28 July 2008.

Question reference: S3W-15285

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has considered for an Islam fest; what assurances have been given that such an event will not be used for racist or extreme political propaganda, and what financial assistance has been sought or granted for such an event.

Ministers in the previous government, considered proposals for an Islam fest and, in March 2007, agreed in principle that such an event be developed and financially supported. The Scottish Government has taken this forward by providing £200,000 to the Scottish Islamic Foundation to develop IslamFest for Scotland. This event will be open to, and welcoming of, all of Scotland''s diverse communities and aims to inform about the different strands of Islamic culture and promote constructive dialogue between Muslim and non-Muslim communities, as well as develop trade and investment opportunities for Scotland. The Scottish Government applies grant conditions which ensure that government funding cannot be used for political propaganda and that grantees comply with legislation which includes the Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended 2000) to eliminate racial discrimination; promote equality of opportunity and promote good relations between people of different racial groups.

Question reference: S3W-15283

Asked by: George Foulkes, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 July 2008
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 3 September 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive which civil servants attended the Weaving the Tartan conference at Eastwood Park Theatre on either 5 or 6 August 2007 and what reports they have provided to ministers on the proceedings.