Questions and answers

Question reference: S4W-05945

Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 31 May 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 13 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its procurement policy ensures that suppliers of its internet related services have a policy of blocking web pages that depict child sexual abuse.

The Scottish Government has incorporated a compliance and information assurance stage into the process for procuring its ICT and internet related services. The purpose of this is to ensure that regulatory requirements and content standards are met.

The Scottish Government’s own websites do not depict inappropriate content and internet access for staff is filtered to prevent access to inappropriate sites, include those containing pornographic or other offensive material. Scottish Government policies, including an IT Code of Conduct and the Civil Service Code, apply in determining the standards of conduct for civil servants.

Question reference: S4W-07301

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 from which budget the cost of using partner organisations in the consultation on a national parenting strategy is being met.

Question reference: S4W-07299

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 the role of partner organisations is in the consultation on a national parenting strategy.

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: S4W-07300

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 the cost is of using partner organisations in the consultation on a national parenting strategy.

Question reference: S4W-07303

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 when the national parenting strategy will be published.

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.

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