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: S4W-07302

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 30 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what groups and organisations working with parents have been consulted on the national parenting strategy.

The Scottish Government have consulted with a wide range of groups and organisations working with parents. The following groups and organisations responded.

Additional Support Needs Forum, Outreach Team, Stirling Council

Amina the Muslim Women’s Resource Centre

Argyll and Bute Council

Auchnacraig Early Years Education Centre (West Dunbartonshire Council)

Barlarnark Family Support Centre

Barnardo’s Scotland

Barrhill Community Centre (East Ayrshire Council)

Beith Primary School (North Ayrshire Council)

Care and Learning Alliance

Carlibar Primary School (East Renfrewshire Council)

Children 1^st

Circle Scotland

Clackmannanshire Council

Clovenstone Community Centre

Coldstream Play Group

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (schools and preschools)

Down’s Syndrome Scotland

Dundee City Council

East Renfrewshire Council

Edinburgh City Council

Education Development Centre (Western Isles) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

ENABLE Scotland Young Families Support Committee

Equal Say Advocacy

Falkirk Council

Families Outside

Edinburgh Prison Visitors’ Centre

Family Fund, helping disabled children

Family Nurse Partnership

Gilmerton Child & Family Centre (Edinburgh City Council)

Hailesland Child and Family Centre (Edinburgh City Council)

Clovenstone Primary School (Edinburgh City Council)

Pentland Primary School (Edinburgh City Council)

Colinton Primary School (Edinburgh City Council)

Oxgangs Primary School (Edinburgh City Council)

Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh

Hillside School (East Ayrshire Council)

Home Link Family Support

Home-Start (Glenrothes, Kincardine, Wigtownshire, Orkney, Edinburgh)

Kibble Education and Care Centre

Kingsway Court Health and Wellbeing Centre

LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing

Mastrick Community Centre (Aberdeen City Council)

Midlothian Council

Midlothian Parents Voice

Midlothian Sure Start

National Childbirth Trust

NHS Health Scotland

NHS Lothian

North Ayrshire Council

One Parent Families Scotland

Parent Council (Clackmannanshire)

Parent Network Scotland

People First (Scotland)

Perth & Kinross Council

Poverty Alliance

Quarriers

Relationships Scotland

Roshni

Ruchazie Family Support Centre Barlarnark

Scottish Borders Council

Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability

Scottish Drugs Forum

Scottish Marriage Care

Scottish Pre-School Play Association

Scottish Woman's Aid

Sense Scotland

Shakti Women's Aid

Shetland Council

Sign Post (West Lothian Council)

South Lanarkshire Council

St Marys Family Support Project, South Lanarkshire

Stirling Council

Sure Start and Outreach Strathbrock Partnership (West Lothian)

The Hub Community Centre (Highland Council)

Towerlands Primary School (North Ayrshire Council)

West Dumbartonshire Council

West Dunbartonshire Community Health and Care Partnership

West Dunbartonshire Council

West Lothian Council

Work Sleep Play

Question reference: S4O-00805

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 March 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the latest State of the Economy report, which reported that female unemployment is higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK.

Question reference: S4W-05536

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 7 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Renfrewshire Council to discuss action to reduce the number of empty retail units in Paisley town centre.

Question reference: S4W-05535

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to reduce the number of empty retail units in Paisley town centre.

This is a matter for the local authority which is responsible for local economic development and regeneration. The wider issue of empty retail units and their impact on town centres was highlighted by a number of respondents to our Regeneration Discussion Paper –Building a Sustainable Future.

As set out in our regeneration strategy, Achieving a Sustainable Future we are committed to undertake a national review of town centres in 2012, in partnership with local authorities and other key stakeholders. Whilst the detail is still being scoped, it is likely that this issue will be identified as a priority for further action.

Question reference: S4W-05858

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alasdair Allan on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to tackle the reduction in the number of foreign language assistants in schools and what progress it has made since the Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland's Languages met consuls general and consulate education officers from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Austria on 18 January 2012.

The Scottish Government is taking several measures to tackle the reduction in the number of foreign language assistants (FLAs) in schools including continuing to fund British Council Scotland to recruit and support FLAs, promoting the use of FLAs through video and media interviews, as well as meetings with consular officials to discuss ways in which FLAs can enhance language learning in schools.

Following the meeting on 18 January 2012, Dr Allan met with the Chair of the Languages Working Group and to discuss the views of the Consuls General. The Chair subsequently met with the German Consul General and a range of consulate education officers. Their views will help inform the group’s report on the delivery of the government’s 1+2 languages commitment which is due in April 2012.

Question reference: S4W-05440

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 03 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 22 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its response to the report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health, which stated that more than 75% of Britain’s state schools contain asbestos.

Occupational health and matters relating to health and safety at work is a reserved issue on which the Scottish Government receives advice from the Health and Safety Executive. The Scottish Government would expect the Health and Safety Executive to consider the recent findings from the Westminster All Party Group on Occupational Safety and Health and, if necessary, revise their guidance for local authorities and others on the management of asbestos in light of the report's findings.

Currently, The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2006 place a duty on those responsible for buildings to manage the risk from asbestos. In the case of publicly funded schools, that is the local authority.

Question reference: S4W-05441

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 03 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 22 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools in Scotland contain asbestos.

Question reference: S4W-05239

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 26 January 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 9 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the responses to the consultation on the proposed Rights of Children and Young People Bill.

Question reference: S4O-00687

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 February 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in meeting its targets for reducing emissions by 2020.

Question reference: S4O-00560

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 January 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what value it places on access to sporting facilities in relation to improving young people’s health and fitness.