Questions and answers

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 ��˿�� 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-00569

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2007
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 June 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive what the duration of the free school meals pilot schemes will be.

Question reference: S3W-00570

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2007
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 June 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive how many free school meals pilot schemes there will be.

Question reference: S3W-00565

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 June 2007
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 18 June 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish targets on the reduction of child poverty.

The Scottish Governmentis absolutely committed to improving the life chances of all Scots and tacklingthe poverty and disadvantage which far too many Scots suffer.

We are committed tosharing the UK Government’s long-term target to eradicate child poverty by 2020.We are aware that poverty is about more than a lack of decent income. It is alsoabout ill health, educational achievement, access to services, and maximising opportunitiesin the labour market for parents. Policies across the Scottish Government are workingon all these areas and we will continue to work to maximise the impact these haveand ensure they are effectively joined-up at national and local level.

We are currently reviewingexisting policy commitments in this area and will make clear what our prioritiesare in the coming months. However, by developing policies that reflect our overarchingstrategic principles of making Scotland a Wealthier and Fairer, Healthier, Safer,Smarter and Greener nation, we will be taking meaningful steps towards tacklingchild poverty.

Question reference: S3W-00008

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2007
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 13 June 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a baseline in respect of pension entitlements has been set by the Scottish Prison Service in relation to the procurement process for the new prison at Low Moss.

Question reference: S3W-00003

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2007
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 13 June 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an in-house bid has been prepared for the new prison at Low Moss.

I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

The previous administration agreedthat a public sector led bid ought to be considered as part of the bidding processfor the new prison at Bishopbriggs. Appropriate governance arrangements were putin place to allow the bid team (Bridging the Gap – BtG) to operate independentlyof the SPS board.

In the event the arrangementsproposed by the BtG team did not comply with the relevant legislation with the resultthat the in-house team was eliminated from the procurement process at the pre-qualificationstage.

Scottish ministers are currentlyconsidering options for the future development of this site.

Question reference: S3W-00007

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2007
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 13 June 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a baseline in respect of terms and conditions for staffing has been set by the Scottish Prison Service in relation to the procurement process for the new prison at Low Moss.

Question reference: S3W-00006

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2007
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 13 June 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that a competitive in-house bid for the new prison at Low Moss will go forward.

I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

A Bridging the Gap (BtG) teamwas formed and resourced by SPS to ensure that a public sector led bid was preparedfor the proposed new prison at Bishopbriggs. Appropriate governance arrangementswere put in place to allow the team to operate independently of the SPS board. Thearrangements proposed by the BtG team in response to the pre-qualification questionnairedid not comply with the relevant legislation. The BtG team was accordingly eliminatedfrom the procurement process at the pre-qualification stage.

Scottish ministers are currentlyconsidering options for the future development of this site.

Question reference: S3W-00004

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2007
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 13 June 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the in-house bid for the new prison at Low Moss has been ruled out.

I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

Yes. The arrangements proposedby the Bridging the Gap (BtG) team did not comply with the relevant legislation.Accordingly, the BtG team was eliminated from the procurement process followingthe completion of the pre‑qualification questionnaire.

Scottish ministers are currentlyconsidering options for the future development of this site.

Question reference: S3W-00005

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2007
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 30 May 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive who is advising the in-house bid team in respect of the new prison at Low Moss on the procurement rules.

I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

The Bridging the Gap (BtG) teamwas formed and resourced by the SPS to prepare a bid for the new prison at Bishopbriggs;governance arrangements were put in place to allow the team to operate independentlyof the SPS board.

The BtG team made their own arrangementsregarding legal and other advice. They have confirmed that they are being advisedby Dundas & Wilson CS and Tribal Consulting.

Question reference: S3W-00009

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 May 2007
Current Status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 24 May 2007

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the statutory 28-day period to consider the planning implications of the Park Quadrant development in Glasgow.