Parliamentary questions

Elaine Murray

2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

25 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action can be taken by people who had central heating installed under its Energy Assistance Package that they consider was poorly installed.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Central heating installed under the Energy Assistance Package is inspected when installed and at the end of warranty. Customers are asked to sign inspection reports to say that they are happy with their systems. If there were any issues they would have been i…

24 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding whether VAT is payable on fees paid by owners of non-residential mobile homes to site owners.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: VAT is reserved and not a matter for which Scottish Ministers have responsibility. Information related to the payment of VAT on fees at VAT-registered sites is set out in the UK HMRC VAT Notice 701/20: caravans and houseboats, from 27 December 2013, which is…

24 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Gas has responsibility for repairing central heating systems that were installed when it managed the Energy Assistance Package that are (a) damaged or (b) considered to have been poorly installed.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Scottish Gas is only responsible for repairing damaged or poorly installed central heating systems where the one year warranty is still valid. Any customers with systems outwith that period are responsible for the on-going maintenance of their systems.

24 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action can be taken by people who had central heating installed under its Energy Assistance Package that has become damaged.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Those who have had central heating installed under the Energy Assistance Package that has become damaged should contact Scottish Gas if their one year warranty is still valid. Those outwith the warranty period are responsible for the on-going maintenance of t…

1 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have responded to its funding settlement offer and what their response has been.

Answer · John Swinney: I am delighted to say that all 32 local authorities have now confirmed that they have agreed the full package of measures as set out in my letter of 27 January 2016. This means that we will have protected the council tax freeze for a ninth year; invested £250…

25 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many homes for social rent and how many for mid-market rent will have been built in Dumfries and Galloway between May 2011 and March 2016.

18 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will fully fund Dumfries and Galloway Council for the capital and revenue costs of the increase in early learning and childcare entitlement to 1,140 hours.

17 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice is provided to cyclists and walkers regarding safety when cycling or walking on rural roads.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government recognises that pedestrians and cyclists are some of our most vulnerable road users, and works with partners to provide education, advice and publicity campaigns promoting safe practices on all road types, including those in rural sett…

11 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authority will be responsible for enforcing the regulations regarding the microchipping of dogs after April 2016 in cases where the ownership of the animal changes without it being microchipped and the new and old owners live in different council areas.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016 have been considered by both the Delegated and Law Reform Committee, on 15 December 2015, and the Rural Affairs, Climate Change Committee, on 20 January 2015. They will be considered by the Scottish Parlia…

11 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there will be a minimum age for a person to be held responsible for ensuring that a dog is microchipped after April 2016.

11 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what penalties will be available if a dog owner (a) fails or (b) refuses to have their dog microchipped after April 2016.

11 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it supports regional theatre.

11 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received the Barnett consequentials arising from the flood relief funding announced by the UK Government for damage caused by Storm (a) Desmond, (b) Eva and (c) Frank and, if so, how much it has received and when.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government received confirmation of Barnett resource consequentials of £3.94 million in respect of the flood relief funding for damage caused by Storm Desmond on 9 December 2015. Notification of consequentials arising from storms Eva and Frank wa…

7 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether responsibility for paying the fee for the registration of a microchipped dog that is to be rehomed from April 2016 will lie with the former owner, the new owner or the organisation rehoming the dog.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The person responsible for microchipping/registering a dog given up for rehoming, or updating contact details relating to it, will depend on the age of the dog at the time of transfer. Under the Microchipping of Dogs (Scotland) Regulations 2016, from 6 April…

30 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding its budget for 2016-17.

23 Nov 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the South-West of Scotland Transport Partnership and what issues were discussed.

16 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has provided to support the regeneration of the Theatre Royal in Dumfries and what plans it has to provide future support.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Public funding for projects of this nature is provided by Creative Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland. Creative Scotland has awarded a grant of £100,000 towards the regeneration of the Theatre Royal in Dumfries and a grant application to Historic Env…

16 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has (a) introduced a scheme requiring all central heating boilers to be upgraded to a particular standard by 2016 and (b) authorised a commercial company or companies to contact consumers by phone regarding such a scheme.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government has neither introduced legislation requiring householders to replace or upgrade their central heating boiler, nor authorised any commercial company to contact consumers about such a scheme. A press release was issued on Friday 20 Nove…

10 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its most recent estimate is of the cost of hate crime to the economy.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not estimated the cost of hate crime to the economy. We are clear that there is no excuse for any form of hate crime – it is simply not acceptable and will not be tolerated. We are committed to continuing to work closely with publi…

10 Nov 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what statistics it compiles regarding the incidence of hate crimes.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government currently produces official statistics on the number of racist incidents recorded by the police in Scotland, including information on any crimes associated with those incidents. The 2013-14 bulletin was published on 24 November 2015. T…

28 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is examining the possibility of extending the Borders Railway to Carlisle.

Answer · Keith Brown: As co-signatory to the Borders Railway Blueprint document we are committed to feasibility work to extend the Borders Railway line towards Hawick and Carlisle. This work is being managed by Sestrans, the Regional Transport Partnership for the area. Transport S…

28 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what rights a landlord has to change the locks on their property if a tenant has moved out but has kept the keys to the landlord’s property.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: If the tenancy has been ended lawfully there is nothing to stop the landlord changing the locks. However, if the tenant still has a right to occupy the property, the landlord cannot change the locks without first obtaining an eviction order through the courts.

28 Sep 2015 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take in relation to the reported shortage of trading standards officers in Scotland.

11 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24003 by Derek Mackay on 21 January 2015, whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made with the speed limit trial.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Progress has been made with proposals for the 20 mph speed limit pilot by way of traffic surveys and engagement with the local authority. We are developing an integrated proposal for the 20 mph limit pilot encompassing both the trunk and local roads to provid…

31 Aug 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing the concerns raised by the Office for National Statistics regarding the transition to the European System of Accounts 2010 and whether local authorities will be fully compensated for any additional costs for their programmes.

24 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information was made available on Transport Scotland’s website regarding the closure of the A75 between the A76 and the A702 on 22 to 23 August 2015.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Through the Traffic Scotland service https://trafficscotland.org/ Transport Scotland provides a high quality public service delivering traffic information for road users on Scotland’s motorway and trunk road network. A news story advertising the proposed wor…

24 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who was notified in advance regarding the closure of the A75 between the A76 and the A702 on 22 to 23 August 2015.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, P&O Ferries, Stenaline, Alive Radio, Shopkeepers Association, Loreburn Community Council, Tesco, Morrison’s, Lidl, Tariff Country Store, Heathhall Garden Centre, Dalscone Farm, Peel Centre Retail Park, MacDon…

24 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consultation took place regarding the closure of the A75 between the A76 and the A702 on 22 to 23 August 2015, and who was consulted.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Initial consultation with both Police Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway Council began in November 2014. On 30 July 2015 a meeting was held between Transport Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Police Scotland and Scotland TranServ where suitable dates w…

31 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received a fixed penalty notice for driving offences in each of Police Scotland’s divisions in the last year.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Alternatives to court proceedings for moving motor vehicle offences can be issued by the police (conditional offers of a fixed penalty) and by the procurator fiscal (fixed penalty notices). Information on fixed penalty notices issued by Police Scotland is not…

31 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have received driver education as an alternative to a fixed penalty notice for driving offences in each of Police Scotland’s divisions in the last year.

Answer · Frank Mulholland QC: Driver education is not an alternative to a fixed penalty notice issued by the police for driving offences in Scotland. In limited circumstances, prosecutors can offer individuals reported to them for an offence of careless and inconsiderate driving under sec…