Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many residential properties were owned by British Waterways in Scotland in each of the last five years of its operation, and where they were located.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for Scottish Canals. I understand that Scottish Canals do not hold this information which relates to the period prior to 2012 when the British Waterways Board was responsible for the canal network in Scotland, England and Wales.
23 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) capital and (b) revenue budget was for housing maintenance and repair for British Waterways in Scotland in each of the last five years of its operation.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government allocates grant-in-aid to Scottish Canals for its statutory duties under the Transport Act 1968. The allocation of this funding is an operational matter for Scottish Canals. I understand that Scottish Canals do not hold the information…
23 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Canals has a risk register for residential properties in its portfolio that require substantial upgrading or repair.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for Scottish Canals. I have asked Scottish Canals to respond to you directly on this question.
23 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received the Aberdeen School project comments and discussion document from Stephen Dick and, if so, whether it (a) has sought any geotechnical opinion on its content of the document and (b) will provide a substantive response.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has received the document from Mr Dick. Aberdeen City Council has provided categorical assurances that there is no evidence to support these claims, and the Scottish Government are liaising with the Council regarding technical analysi…
23 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-24818 by John Swinney on 4 September 2019, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding for what reason a visual inspection report is being relied on in the case of Brimmond School in Aberdeen, in light of the recommendation …
Answer · John Swinney: Under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, it is the statutory responsibility of local authorities to manage and maintain the school estate across Scotland. Accordingly, the question on the relevance of the use of visual inspections as part of those Brimmond Sc…
23 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-24817 by John Swinney on 4 September 2019, whether it will publish the reports regarding Brimmond School in Aberdeen by Buro Happold and by Fairhurst.
Answer · John Swinney: The reports by Buro Happold and Fairhurst were commissioned by Hub North Scotland, Aberdeen City Council's delivery partner for the Brimmond School project. Accordingly, the question on whether the reports will be published should be directed to Hub North Sco…
22 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland or any of its contractors use zero-hours contracts.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Transport Scotland is committed to supporting the Scottish Government’s initiative to encourage fair and progressive work practices. No staff employed by Transport Scotland, either directly or via the Temporary and Interim Staff Frameworks, are employed on z…
22 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints have been raised about home reports and the nature of these complaints.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not hold a central list of complaints raised about home reports. The correct recourse for anybody who has a complaint about a home report is through their surveyor.
22 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for making a complaint about an inaccurate home report.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: Home reports must be signed off by a fully qualified member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and as such they are bound to act in accordance with the RICS guidance. If there are concerns about surveyors, they should be brought to the at…
17 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the 9.18am and 9.48am rail services from Dumbarton East to Balloch have been cancelled until December.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This relates to the operational railway and is the responsibility of ScotRail.
17 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on ScotRail removing services between October and December due to leaves on the line; whether ScotRail requires its permission to do this and, if so, whether it has given permission.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This relates to the operational railway and is the responsibility of ScotRail.
17 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the ScotRail Alliance has spent on removing trees and vegetation from the sides of railway lines in each of the last five years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This relates to the safe operations of the railway and is Network Rail's responsibility.
14 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of people in Scotland who do not have a (a) passport and (b) driving licence.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: The Scottish Government does not hold passport data. Nationality and citizenship are matters that are fully reserved to the United Kingdom Government under the Devolution Settlement. The responsibility for issuing passports sits with HM Passport Office, which…
14 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on the number of people resident in Scotland who have had NHS treatment in England in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The following table shows the number of finished admission episodes (FAEs) for patients resident in Scotland who have received elective or emergency treatment as an inpatient or day case in hospitals in England in each year since 2009-10. Year FAEs 2009-10…
2 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the budget is for the Brexit Support Grant; how much has been committed to date, and how many businesses have (a) applied for and (b) been awarded the grant.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Enterprise has provided the following information. The Brexit Support Grant is funded, administered and delivered by Scottish Enterprise. A grant budget of £1.5 million is available in the 2019-20 financial year. A total of £550,000 has been commit…
2 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation was undertaken prior to the announcement of the Scottish European Co-Investment Fund, and with whom.
Answer · Derek Mackay: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I have passed your query to Steve Dunlop, the Chief Executive, and asked him to respond to you directly.
2 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the Scottish Enterprise budget is for the Scottish European Growth Co-Investment Programme; over what time period the programme is available, and how much has been committed to date.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Enterprise budget for the Scottish European Growth Co-Investment Programme is £50 million over 3 years to 30 June 2020. As at 31 August, £2.8m had been committed to match investment alongside the European Investment Fund, and individual Fund Man…
2 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the budget is for the Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund; over what time period the fund is available, and how much has been committed to date.
Answer · Derek Mackay: As part of the Scottish Programme for Research, Innovation and Technology Eco-System (SPRITE), the maximum budget available for the Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund (AMCF) is £14 million with allocations for that figure dependent on detailed future asse…
2 Oct 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-23944 by Derek Mackay on 27 June 2019, whether it will provide a breakdown of how the £54.7 million that has been allocated to it to deal with Brexit preparation in 2019-20 will be spent, broken down by portfolio.
Answer · Derek Mackay: This £54.7 million is included within the 2019-20 Scottish Budget and is fully absorbed in supporting work already underway, including EU exit preparation. A full breakdown of money allocated to EU Exit preparation is contained within theScottish Government …
2 Oct 2019 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides for pupils with additional support needs.
27 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additionality the proposed Scottish National Investment Bank will provide over and above existing arrangements.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The mission-based approach alongside a commitment to £2 billion capital for the Bank ensures that investment in Scotland’s economy is directed to the areas of highest national priority, such as transition to a zero net carbon economy.
27 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much financial transaction money is being used to capitalise the proposed Scottish National Investment Bank and what the repayment profile is.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The consultation paper last year, recent draft budgets and the Financial Memorandum set out that of the £2 billion of capital for the Scottish National Investment Bank, £490 million is to be provided by March 2021 as pre-cursor investments for the Bank, inclu…
27 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cumulative cost is of the development and running of the proposed Scottish National Investment Bank from 2018-19 to 2023-24 when the bank is projected to cover its costs.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Financial Memorandum that accompanied the Scottish National Investment Bank Bill (Table 2 on page 6) sets out the projected resource cost requirements for establishment of the Scottish National Investment Bank. The cumulative costs are expected to amount …
27 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments by the Royal Society of Edinburgh in a briefing paper to MSPs ahead of the stage 1 debate on the Scottish National Investment Bank Bill, whether it plans to review the figure of £25 million for the annual running cost of the proposed Scottish National Investment Ban…
Answer · Derek Mackay: £25 million per annum is 1.25% of a £2 billion portfolio. The Financial Memorandum set out projections (Table 5, page 11) which showed anticipated annual operating costs at the point of the Bank’s establishment in 2020-21, and up to 2024-25, being below the m…
27 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken a review of the experience, efficacy and impact of existing financial transaction funding arrangements through the Scottish Investment Bank located in (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) the Scottish Futures Trust and (c) other government agencies and, if so, whether i…
Answer · Derek Mackay: The allocation of financial transactions is part of the annual budget exercise, which takes account of the experience, efficiency and impact of previous financial transaction funding arrangements as well as opportunities to make best use of this form of fundi…
27 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the economic impact on Scotland of the current oil price being $60 a barrel, and how this compares with the price of $140 in 2014.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The global fall in the oil price in 2014 resulted in a challenging environment for the oil and gas industry, and in particular its workforce and the supply chain, with the resulting economic impacts being felt most strongly in the North East of Scotland. Over…
27 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will recommence the publication of its oil and gas analytical bulletin.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government produces regular publications providing detailed information on oil and gas. Oil and Gas Production Statistics 2018 was published in September 2019 and contains estimates of oil and gas production activity in Scotland, including produ…
27 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09707 by Keith Brown on 20 June 2017, when it will publish its retail strategy co-produced with the Scottish Retail Consortium.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: We are committed to developing a retail strategy that addresses the challenges faced by the sector in Scotland. This will be produced in conjunction with stakeholders and published in due course.
27 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the recent call from Usdaw and the Scottish Retail Consortium for an industrial strategy for retail, and what action it will take to realise this.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-25544 on? 10 October 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…
26 Sep 2019 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what factors it takes into consideration when deciding on the number of university places that are allocated each year for undergraduate medicine courses.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Medical Undergraduate Group comprises key stakeholders from Scotland’s medical schools, NHS Education for Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council, NHS Scotland Boards, the General Medical Council, BMA Scotland, and senior Scottish Government officials. It …