Parliamentary questions
Elaine Murray
2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will amend the water rates exemption scheme for charities to extend eligibility for it to those established after March 1999.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The proposals for the exemption scheme are set out in the government’s consultation document at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/11/9119. In this document, the government recognised that the ineligibility of organisations created since 1999 is…
3 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the water rates exemption scheme for charities will next be reviewed.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21259 on 30 May 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
19 May 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the new chair of NHS Dumfries and Galloway will be appointed.
Answer · Alex Neil: Philip Jones, the new Chair of NHS Dumfries and Galloway begins his term of appointment on 2 June 2014.
19 May 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many vacancies there are on the board of NHS Dumfries and Galloway and when these will be filled.
Answer · Alex Neil: There are no vacancies on the board of NHS Dumfries and Galloway. Philip Jones, the newly appointed chair of the board and four new non-executive directors: Laura Douglas; Gillian Stanyard; Robert Allan; and Penny Halliday begin their appointments on 2 June 2…
12 May 2014 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government plans to introduce a lower threshold than £150,000 for claims heard in the sheriff courts, following the recommendation in the Justice Committee’s report on the Courts Reform (Scotland) Bill.
9 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what power planning applicants have to instruct a government reporter's inquiry regarding what information is made public and the format in which it is produced.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Hearings or inquiries take place in public and anyone is free to attend and to report on the evidence. Reporters from the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA), who handle cases on behalf of Scottish Ministers, are responsible for the cond…
2 Apr 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland records all (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory stop and search incidents; what information about each incident is collected; whether it will publish details of the number of incidents, broken down by the (i) age, (ii) gender and (iii) ethnicity of the person stop…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is a matter for Police Scotland. I have alerted the Chief Constable to your question and I have asked him to reply to you direct.
12 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which community groups have been contacted by Transport Scotland in connection with (a) the consultation on a 20 mph speed trial on the A7 in Langholm and (b) the statutory consultation in respect of the speed limit order required to promote any change in the speed limit.
Answer · Keith Brown: As yet no community groups have been contacted by Transport Scotland in connection with the 20 mph speed limit pilot consultation or the statutory consultation. Transport Scotland is meeting the local authority on 1 April 2014 and will engage with the wider …
12 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19254 by Keith Brown on 3 February 2014, what meetings and other measures have been arranged by Transport Scotland to consult the wider community in Langholm about proposals for a 20 mph limit trial on the A7.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland is meeting the local authority on 1 April 2014 and will engage with the wider community shortly afterwards through meetings and other appropriate consultations. The form and timings of these consultations will be clarified after our discuss…
10 Mar 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many housing association newbuilds were completed in Dumfries and Galloway in 2013.
26 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that some mobile phone service providers do not permit calls to the police 101 number from pay-as-you-go services, and whether Police Scotland will raise this matter with the service providers.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. However, I understand that Police Scotland has an established process in place to record any problems with the 101 system. This, together with further checks carried out by Police Scotland, show that there is…
17 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what economic risks an independent Scotland would face if it was to use sterling without being in a formal currency union with the rest of the UK.
12 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether consideration of stage 2 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill will be delayed until after Lord Bonomy’s independent review group on corroboration has reported to ministers.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The general principles of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill including the corroboration reform have now been approved by the Scottish Parliament and the Bill will proceed with its parliamentary passage in the usual way. Lord Bonomy’s independent review wil…
12 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what resources it is providing to Lord Bonomy’s independent review group on corroboration for (a) research and (b) administration.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has seconded two officials to provide a secretariat to support the administration of the review. The conduct of the review and any research is a matter for Lord Bonomy.
12 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when will Lord Bonomy’s independent review group (a) first meet and (b) report its findings on corroboration to ministers.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The timings for reference group meetings are a matter for Lord Bonomy. The review is expected to take approximately a year.
12 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the membership is of the independent review group led by Lord Bonomy in relation to corroboration.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Lord Bonomy has confirmed the following membership for the reference group for the review: Rt Hon Lady Dorrian Sheriff Michael O'Grady QC Sheriff Norman McFadyen Ian Cruickshank David McKenna, Victim Support Scotland Joe Moyes, Scottish Court Ser…
12 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it prefers NHS general dental services to be provided by independent dental contractors or NHS board managed clinics.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Our preference is for NHS general dental services to be provided by independent contractors where possible. However, it is recognised that some patients with complex treatment needs are not able to be seen by independent contractors. It is also the case that…
11 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Guide Dogs Scotland will be invited to attend the summit on dangerous dogs.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Yes, Guide Dogs Scotland will be invited to attend the summit on responsible dog ownership, which will be held in March 2014.
10 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the curriculum for excellence addresses the threats posed to children and young people through internet access and social media.
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether staff employed in the Dumfries police control room who relocate to the control room in Govan will receive (a) travel and (b) accommodation expenses and, if so, for how long.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. However, I understand that all staff will be offered the option of alternative posts, re-training or offered the option to apply for voluntary release/early retirement, there…
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether firefighters employed in the Dumfries Emergency Control Centre who relocate to the control room in Johnstone will receive (a) travel and (b) accommodation expenses and, if so, for how long.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Employees relocating to other locations within the organisation is an operational matter for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and I have asked them to respond directly to you on this matter.
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the redeployment opportunities are in Dumfries and Galloway for firefighters employed in the Dumfries Emergency Control Centre.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Redeployment of staff displaced as a result of the restructuring of the single service is an operational matter for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and I have asked them to respond directly to you on this matter.
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government to whom the (a) the Chief Constable, (b) Scottish Police Authority Board and (c) Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board is accountable.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 Act sets out clear roles and responsibilities for the Scottish Police Authority, the Chief Constable of Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board, including who they are responsible to.
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the duties of (a) Police Scotland, (b) the Scottish Police Authority and (c) the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are regarding participating in community planning in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Section 17 (2) (f) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 places a duty on the Chief Constable to designate local commanders and ensure that adequate arrangements are in place for the policing of each local authority area. Section 46 of the Act se…
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service consulted on the closure of the Dumfries Emergency Control Centre.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The closure of the Dumfries Emergency Control Centre is an operational matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and I have asked them to respond directly to you on this matter.
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Scottish Police Authority consulted on the closure of the Dumfries police control room.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The decision to close the police control room in Dumfries is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. I am however aware that consultation and liaison with staff affected will be undertaken at each phase of the closure plan.
3 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration was given to the formation of a joint control room for police and fire and rescue services in Dumfries and Galloway.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. However, I am aware that Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have held discussions relating to joint control rooms over the last few months.
27 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it will give to the project, the Star of Caledonia.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Creative Scotland, Scotland’s national development body for the arts, screen and creative industries, supports quality and excellence in the arts, including public art. Creative Scotland provided £49,000 support to this project during the development phase. …
20 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when consultation on the 20mph speed limit trial on the A7 in Langholm is expected to conclude.
Answer · Keith Brown: The consultation will take place over the next few months. We hope to be able to deliver a 20 mph limit by the spring or early summer. This will depend on the outcomes both of the consultation with the community and the statutory consultation taken in respect…
20 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how Transport Scotland is consulting with the local community on the 20mph speed limit trial on the A7 in Langholm.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland is already engaging with the local authority and will shortly do so with the wider community through meetings and other appropriate measures.