- Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 December 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 3 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive what effects it considers the UK Government’s proposed changes to attendance allowance and disability living allowance would have on the provision of services to older and disabled people in Scotland.
Answer
I have put on record to the Secretary of State for Health my concerns about the limited detail set out in the English Green Paper exploring the options for the future funding of social care and support. Any reforms to the benefits system by the UK Government will need to give due consideration to the needs and the provision of services to older and disabled people in Scotland.
- Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 18 November 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the Working Group on Scotland Without Nuclear Weapons.
Answer
The working group has spent the last 18 months considering the issues in its remit, all of which centred around the removal of nuclear weapons from Scottish soil. The group''s remit and its membership are listed in its report. The group met five times between April 2008 and April 2009. Minutes of each of these meetings have been placed on the working group section of the Scottish Government website. A final editing meeting took place on 22 June 2009.
The total cost of running the working group was £392.30. Group members were not paid expenses or reimbursed for their time.
The government is grateful to the group for the degree of scrutiny and rigour that it has brought to the issues and the report will inform ongoing work on the National Conversation.
The Scottish Government has today published both the working group''s report and the Scottish Government''s response. They are available on the Scottish Government website at www.scotland.gov.uk.
Copies have also been placed in the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. numbers 49688 and 49689).
- Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 October 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 28 October 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will present its coordinated approach on tackling sectarianism.
Answer
I can confirm that the Scottish Government''s strategy on tackling sectarianism will be presented on 23 November 2009 at an event I will be hosting to mark the achievements of those organisations that have been working in this area. I will be inviting those MSPs who have noted their interest in this work to the event.
- Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 October 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have employees engaged as HMIE Associate Inspectors.
Answer
All 32 local authorities have associate assessors who work with HMIE.
- Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 26 October 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of HMIE Associate Inspectors represents paid employees of local authorities and from which departments they are drawn.
Answer
At 4 October 2009, 71% of associate assessors were employed by local authorities. The remainder were employed in areas including the voluntary sector, the health service, police and colleges.
Within local authorities, the associate assessors are drawn from education, social work, community learning and development and children''s services departments.
- Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 23 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what cultural, trade or other engagements it has had with Armenia.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not have active cultural, trade or other engagement with Armenia. However, His Excellency Mr Vahe Gabrielyan, the Armenia Ambasador to the United Kingdom, paid a courtesy call on Mr Nicol Stephen MSP, the then Deputy First Minister, on 6 October 2005.
- Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 September 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 3 September 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what support the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment provides to local authorities to allow local residents to make use of unused derelict lands in urban areas for the purpose of community growing projects, gardens and orchards.
Answer
This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0903-01.htm
- Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 June 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting Scottish literature in schools during the Year of Homecoming.
Answer
This Government is committed to promoting Scottish culture and heritage in schools. Curriculum for Excellence explicitly promotes the value of the culture, languages and literature of Scotland and encourages teachers to introduce Scottish literature into teaching and learning.
The Year of Homecoming offers an ideal opportunity to promote Scottish literature in schools and is supported by Learning and Teaching Scotland through the provision of resources and space for schools to share practice. The opportunities Curriculum for Excellence offers in raising awareness of the legacy and vibrancy of Scottish literature will develop beyond 2009, enabling our young people to better develop their understanding and knowledge of Scotland and its place in the world.
- Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 28 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the potential benefits of vitamin D supplements as a preventative measure against the occurrence of multiple sclerosis.
Answer
The Scottish Government is aware that research has been carried out in relation to vitamin D and multiple sclerosis. We recognise the importance of vitamin D in a number of health issues.
Additionally, the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) has recently funded two research projects into MS, totalling £262,000. These projects are based at University of Glasgow and University of Stirling.
- Asked by: Bill Kidd, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 23 April 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many betting shop licences have been issued in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) parliamentary constituency.
Answer
This is a matter for the Gambling Commission and Licensing Boards. The information requested is not held centrally.
