Elaine Smith

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many bodies corporate and partnerships have been prosecuted under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 and how many have been convicted.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There have been no prosecutions or convictions recorded on the Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings Database under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many employers have been prosecuted under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 and how many have been convicted.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There have been no prosecutions or convictions recorded on the Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings Database under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been prosecuted under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 and how many have been convicted.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There have been no prosecutions or convictions recorded on the Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings Database under the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is given to Procurator Fiscal Deputes when dealing with cases relating to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Lesley Thomson: Section 1 of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it an offence to prevent or stop a person in charge of a child who is otherwise permitted to be in a public place or licensed premises from feeding milk to that child in that place or on those prem…

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what training is provided to Procurator Fiscal Deputes in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Lesley Thomson: The Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 makes it an offence to prevent or stop a person in charge of a child who is otherwise permitted to be in a public place or licensed premises from feeding milk to that child in that place or on those premises. Guidan…

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information is provided to mothers in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There are universal resources, available to all pregnant women, which include reference to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005. These are: The Ready Steady Baby! book provided at initial booking with maternity services. There is also a Ready Steady Ba…

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information is provided to companies in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government produced a leaflet on the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 which was issued to all employers in Scotland in 2006. It explains the implications of the Act for employers and employees. The leaflet is available online: http://www.s…

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what training is provided to police officers in relation to the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The training of police officers is a matter for Police Scotland.

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements it has made to support and encourage the breastfeeding of children by their mothers in each year since 2005.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has continuously made arrangements to support and encourage the breastfeeding of children by their mothers since 2005 through a range of activities and interventions which include: Year Activity 2005 The Breastfeeding etc. (Scotlan…

25 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is using its powers under section 4 (2) of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is using its powers under section 4(2) of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 to disseminate information promoting and encouraging breastfeeding through a number of initiatives and activities, such as: The Baby Friendly Initiat…

27 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it will cost Serco NorthLink to charter the MV Hildasay from 2012 to 2018.

Answer · Keith Brown: Under the terms of the charter agreement between Serco NorthLink and Seatruck the cost to Serco NorthLink of chartering the MV Hildasay is commercially confidential.

27 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost David MacBrayne Ltd to charter the MV Hildasay from 2006 to 2012.

Answer · Keith Brown: The MV Hildasay was chartered by David MacBrayne Ltd from 20 January 2010 until 30 June 2012. The cost of chartering the vessel is commercially confidential under the terms of the agreement signed by David MacBrayne Ltd.

27 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when Caledonian MacBrayne chartered the MS Clipper Ranger; when the charter will end, and what the cost has been.

Answer · Keith Brown: The charter agreement entered into by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd commenced on 19 September 2013 and is due to end in November 2014. The cost of chartering the vessel is commercially confidential.

27 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, what discussions it has had with Caledonian MacBrayne regarding the rates of pay for ratings on the MS Clipper Ranger.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland has had regular discussions with CalMac Ferries and Serco NorthLink Ferries about pay levels for employees of SeaTruck since this was first highlighted as an issue by both operators. We have made it clear, to both CalMac Ferries and Serco …

29 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of police misconduct hearings only being held internally, what protections are in place to ensure that they are conducted in a fair and impartial manner, and what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding this.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2014 and the Police Service of Scotland (Senior Officers) (Conduct) Regulations 2013 take into account the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service code of practice on discipline cases that promotes f…

27 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason police misconduct hearings are only held internally, and what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding this.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Police misconduct hearings are held internally in line with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) code of practice on discipline cases that should be used in all workplaces. In line with section 54 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) …

27 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that, in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights, police officers who have been found guilty of misconduct but who are not demoted or dismissed have a right to an independent and impartial tribunal.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Police Service of Scotland (Conduct) Regulations 2014 and the Police Service of Scotland (Senior Officers) (Conduct) Regulations 2013 take into account the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) code of practice on discipline cases that sho…

22 May 2014 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support Devro and its workforce following the announcement of major job losses.

9 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that Scotland-based businesses can bid for its publishing, print, design and associated services contract that was announced on 17 February 2014.

Answer · John Swinney: The publishing, print, design and associated services requirement was advertised on the Public Contracts Scotland portal, which is the main portal for contracting opportunities throughout Scotland. It is free for suppliers to register on the portal should the…

9 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it gave to the economic impact on (a) communities and (b) Scotland-based businesses of the tendering process for its publishing, print, design and associated services contract that was announced on 17 February 2014.

Answer · John Swinney: Historical management information confirms that the strategy adopted for publishing, print, design and associated services allows for extensive supply chain activity through sub-contracting routes with a range of local economic impacts. The current supplier h…

9 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the tendering process for its publishing, print, design and associated services contract that was announced on 17 February 2014 is a new approach to such services and, if so, for what reason it was introduced.

Answer · John Swinney: The approach to the delivery of such services has varied slightly in that the requirement now includes provision of promotional items, display materials and DVD duplication. The provision of a fully managed service for publishing, print, design and associated…

9 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its publishing, print, design and associated services contract that was announced on 17 February 2014 could be delivered by a single company and, if so, what information it has on how many Scotland-based companies could do so.

Answer · John Swinney: Services for publishing, print and design will not be delivered by a single company because these services are included under a number of frameworks. Scottish Procurement advertised for a single supplier to deliver a fully managed service for publishing, prin…

9 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what methods have been used to advertise the tendering process for its publishing, print, design and associated services contract that was announced on 17 February 2014.

Answer · John Swinney: The tendering process for the publishing, print, design and associated services framework was advertised on the Public Contracts Scotland tendering portal and also advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union.

23 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the Expert Ferry Group has met; who attended the meetings, and whether it will publish the (a) draft and (b) final minutes of the meetings.

Answer · Keith Brown: There have now been two meetings of the Expert Ferry Group, with the next meeting scheduled for 14 May 2014. Minutes of each meeting, including details of who attended, are published on the Transport Scotland website: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/wate…

23 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the names of all former and current members of the Expert Ferry Group.

Answer · Keith Brown: Details of the current members of the Expert Ferry Group can be found on the Transport Scotland website: http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/water/expert-ferry-group Professor Neil Kay was formerly a member of the Expert Ferry Group, however he resigned fro…

23 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to prevent private operators from promoting their interests at the Expert Ferry Group, and whether members of the group can redact sections of official minutes of the group's meetings.

Answer · Keith Brown: Only one of the 10 members of the group is a private ferry operator. The other members cover a broad range of interests and are mostly drawn from the public or academic sectors. Transport Scotland provides secretariat support to the Expert Ferry Group and Tr…

23 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the interests of workers in the ferry industry are represented on the Expert Ferry Group.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20827 on 2 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/parliamentarybusi…

23 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason trade union representatives are not included in the membership of the Expert Ferry Group.

Answer · Keith Brown: Membership of the Expert Ferry Group is on the basis of an individual’s knowledge and expertise rather than as a representative of a particular stakeholder group. Members of the Expert Ferry Group include key transport professionals, academics and operators o…

23 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17189 by Fergus Ewing on 26 September 2013, what assessment it has made of how the recommendations in the Civil Aviation Authority’s recent review of the safety of helicopter operations will affect workers in the (a) offshore oil and gas and (b) hel…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The recommendations in the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) review will have a positive impact on the safety of offshore workers travelling to and from their place of work. With the oil and gas industry and the rest of the country we were shocked and saddened…

23 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential impact on employment in Scotland, whether it has made an assessment of the UK Government’s report on the gas leak from a platform in the Elgin-Franklin Field between March and May 2012, and what information it has on when the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal …

Answer · John Swinney: Although the regulation of health and safety is not a devolved matter, the Scottish Government were fully aware of the Elgin Gas Leak incident and co-operated with the UK government to minimise and monitor environmental impact and to plan for and assist in th…