Fiona McLeod

2 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Town Centre Action Plan takes into consideration the apportionment of community burdens for properties being converted from commercial to residential use.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Neither the Town Centre Action Plan nor the subsequent Town Centre Housing Fund make reference to community burdens. Part 2 of The Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003 contains provisions on community burdens. These obligations are typically set out in the i…

10 Mar 2014 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the distribution of and costs associated with Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Since its launch in November, demand for Scotland’s Future – Your guide to an independent Scotland has exceeded 100,000 copies.  Scotland’s Future - Your guide to an independent Scotland has been available to order at no cost to individuals in hard copy or d…

3 Mar 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote equality.

28 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what statutory requirements there are on local authorities for the maintenance of its school estate buildings that are included in merger or closure plans.

Answer · Michael Russell: Section 17 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 places a statutory duty on local authorities to maintain their school buildings. This applies to school buildings which are included in merger or closure plans whilst still in use.

26 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms there are for people to apply to be permanently excused from jury service because of (a) chronic and (b) incurable physical ill health.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The categories of persons automatically disqualified or excused from jury service are set out in schedule 1 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1980. These categories do not include those suffering from chronic and/or incurable physica…

26 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the physical ill health criteria are for excusal from jury service.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There are no statutory criteria for excusal from jury service on the grounds of ill health. This is a matter for the Sheriff Clerk’s discretion. Further information on excusal from jury service is available from the Scottish Court Service’s website at: http…

29 Jan 2014 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11204 by Fiona Hyslop on 27 November 2012, whether it will provide an update on the final costs of the Scottish Government visit to Chicago in September 2012.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The projected costs £468,580, previously estimated in answer to Parliamentary Question S4W-11204 on 27 November 2012, covered both Scottish Government and Visit Scotland expenditure. On finalising costs, VisitScotland spend was £414,731, this is almost £3,0…

20 Jan 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers local authorities have to exempt care home residents from council tax payments on their unoccupied properties.

20 Jan 2014 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of recent reports on how the UK Government’s economic strategy is impacting on inequality in Scotland.

13 Jan 2014 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to mitigate the effects of the so-called bedroom tax.

10 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers local authorities have to ensure that private owners maintain properties to an acceptable standard.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Owners of private property are responsible for repairing and maintaining their property. Under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 local authorities can use work notices to require private home owners to carry out work on substandard property and maintenance ord…

6 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to small businesses.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution small businesses make to our economy and is committed to maintaining a supportive environment to assist them to grow and thrive. Small businesses are benefiting from policies which: improve busines…

18 Dec 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are available to (a) it and (b) local authorities to help maintain listed buildings.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The majority of listed buildings in Scotland are in private ownership and their maintenance is therefore the responsibility of the owner, as is the case with any building. However, the Scottish Government, through Historic Scotland, makes grant funding of som…

2 Dec 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it would support a national "dementia-friendly" accreditation scheme.

27 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are open to communities that feel that their community council is failing to represent them properly.

Answer · Derek Mackay: If communities feel that their community council is failing to represent them properly, their first point of contact is the community council liaison officer in their local authority area. The Scottish Government is keen to encourage as many people as possib…

27 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers local authorities have to ensure that community councils regulate their (a) business affairs and (b) conduct.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Local authorities have no specific powers to ensure that community councils regulate their business affairs and conduct. However, the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 sets out the requirement that local authorities introduce community council schemes for…

22 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available to parents whose children are sent to other parts of the UK for specialist hospital treatment.

Answer · Alex Neil: It is the responsibility of those NHS boards commissioning specialist services for children in other parts of the UK to determine the appropriate level of support to provide their parents.

20 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what procedures local authorities follow when ascertaining the capacity of (a) existing schools and (b) new build schools.

Answer · Michael Russell: The procedures for ascertaining the capacity of both existing and new schools is a responsibility of individual local authorities. This means that each local authority has its own policy at present, however, in response to Recommendation 23 of the Commission …

18 Nov 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote Carers Rights Day.

11 Nov 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill will contain mechanisms to ensure that the uptake of fair and ethically-traded goods and services through public procurement is monitored.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Model of Procurement is not just about cost and quality, but about the best balance of cost, quality and sustainability. The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill will introduce a sustainable procurement duty, requiring public bodies to consider ho…

7 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 in relation to community councils.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Local authorities have statutory oversight of community councils. The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 sets out the requirement that local authorities introduce community council schemes for their area, outlining various arrangements including elections, …

4 Nov 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth has had with the First Minister regarding the economic opportunities arising from his recent visit to China.

21 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made by Scottish Opera in appointing a new music director.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The recruitment of new musical director is an operational and artistic matter for Scottish Opera. I understand that the process of recruiting a new musical director is already underway.

17 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Succession (Scotland) Act 1964 prevents a person from leaving their entire estate to their spouse to the exclusion of any children.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scots law provides that a spouse or civil partner and children can claim legal rights to a fixed share of a deceased’s moveable (cash, shares etc.) estate regardless of whether the deceased left a will (and what it said) or died without making a will. These …

2 Oct 2013 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the names of its special advisers; what their responsibilities are; what their pay bands are for 2013-14; how many special advisers are in each pay band, and what the total salary cost of employing special advisers was in 2012-13.

Answer · John Swinney: There are currently 13 special advisers. They are appointed in accordance with Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 by the First Minister as a special adviser for the purpose of providing assistance to the Scottish Ministers. The total…

16 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed Sustainable Procurement Bill will include provisions relating to fairly traded products.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Bill is aimed at ensuring public procurement processes are transparent, streamlined and proportionate and that they take into account social and environmental sustainability, including fair trade where appropriate. The Bill w…

2 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are available to enforce nature conservation legislation regarding marine protected areas.

26 Aug 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the latest employment figures.

17 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a mechanism for insisting that local authorities follow the Scottish Commissioner for Children and Young People's guidance on consulting with children and young people on school closures and other significant changes.

3 Jun 2013 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what impact a reduction in winter fuel payments would have on older people in Scotland.