Parliamentary questions

Jackie Baillie

9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

29 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14397 by Derek Mackay on 21 February 2018, which other bodies are considering the option of applying a project bank account to projects due in 2019, which are estimated at £175 million.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The other bodies which are considering the option of applying a project bank account to projects estimated at £175m due on site in 2019 are as follows: 1. City of Edinburgh Council 2. NHS Highland 3. NHS Tayside 4. NHS National Waiting Times Centre

29 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14397 by Derek Mackay on 21 February 2018, which four bodies have advised it that they have one project for which a contract containing a project bank account will be awarded in 2018.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The following "other public bodies" that are referred to in project bank account (PBA) guidance each have one project for which a contract containing a PBA will be awarded in 2018: 1. Scottish Rural College 2. Clackmannanshire Council 3. Perth & Kinross Co…

29 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the terms of reference are for the review of the Scottish Business Pledge.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Terms of Reference for the Review of the Scottish Business Pledge have been published and are available at: https://scottishbusinesspledge.scot/information/scottish-business-pledge-review-2018-terms-of-reference/ .

29 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who will undertake the review of the Scottish Business Pledge.

Answer · Keith Brown: The review will be progressed by Scottish Government officials working with existing Pledge companies, business support delivery partners, business organisations, and the wider business community.

29 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the findings of the review of the Scottish Business Pledge will be published, and whether they will be presented to the Parliament.

Answer · Keith Brown: The review will be completed over the summer, and outcomes made public after the Parliamentary recess.

21 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many water rates appeals have been (a) submitted and (b) resolved in the last year, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Household water and sewerage charges are based on Council Tax Bands. Non-domestic water and sewerage charges are based on meter readings where meters are installed. Unmeasured charges, such as drainage, are based on Rateable Values. From 1 April 2018, the Ra…

8 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-14750 and S5W-14749 by Derek Mackay on 6 March 2018, when it will publish the outcome of its deliberations on improving payment practice in procurement.

Answer · Derek Mackay: As noted in my answer to S5W-14749, the Government is committed to improving the level of performance of public sector contracts in Scotland. However, the issues associated with matters such as prompt payment practices are complex and require careful consider…

8 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14634 by Humza Yousaf on 28 February 2018, which suppliers have been appointed to undertake work on the rail contracts that were previously run by Carillion, and whether they are employing workers who are (a) self employed or (b) on zero-hours contr…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Network Rail has advised that the transition process is underway for Carillion’s rail projects in Scotland and is expected to conclude in the forthcoming weeks. As part of this process, Network Rail has advised that the IEP Gauging Project, is now being deliv…

7 Mar 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce ambulance waiting times.

6 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to West Dunbartonshire Council’s decision to reduce facility time for trade union conveners, and whether the First Minister was made aware of the proposal before her meeting with the STUC on 5 March 2018.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government believes that employers should take a progressive approach to relations with trade unions. It is for each council to decide how to deal with such matters in respect of their staff. Councils are autonomous bodies, responsible for managi…

6 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it sought advice from the European Commission regarding whether its support for Glasgow Prestwick Airport was compatible with state aid rules.

Answer · Keith Brown: When purchasing Glasgow Prestwick Airport, the Scottish Government sought external legal advice to ensure compliance with European Union State Aid rules. The Scottish Government has not approached the European Commission for advice on this matter.

6 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been transported by the Scottish Ambulance Service's patient transport in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. You may wish to contact the Scottish Ambulance Service directly to request this data.

6 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff have been employed by the patient transport service exclusively for transporting patients in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

6 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many vehicles the patient transport service has had that have been used exclusively to transport patients in each year since 2010, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

6 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what changes have been made by the Scottish Ambulance Service to the criteria for accessing patient transport; when the changes were made, and whether there was any consultation undertaken in advance.

Answer · Shona Robison: In April 2012 the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) introduced the Patient Needs Assessment (PNA), a tool which ensures they provide the most appropriate assistance and advice to callers requesting access to Patient Transport Services (PTS). In December 2017 …

6 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children are on the waiting list for surgery at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Answer · Shona Robison: The number of children waiting for inpatient and day case treatment in a surgical speciality at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow on 31 December 2017 was 2,830. I have made £50 million available to NHSScotland - with £11.2 million being made available…

6 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) median and (b) longest waiting time is for children awaiting surgery at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Answer · Shona Robison: The median and 90th percentile waits for inpatients and day cases in a surgical specialty at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow in the quarter ending 31 December 2017 was 79 days and 212 days respectively. I have made £50 million available to NHSScotla…

6 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-14060 by Keith Brown on 6 February 2018, whether it will consider laying the Annual Reports and Accounts before the end of September each year to allow adequate time for scrutiny and in advance of parliamentary committee evidence-taking on the budge…

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government will endeavour to lay the Annual Reports and Accounts of both Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise before the end of September each year.

1 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much coal has been used to generate electricity in each year since 2010, and how much of this is imported coal.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The amount of electricity generated by Scotland's coal fired power stations during the years specified was as follows: Year Coal Generation (GWh) % of total electricity generated 2010 14,730 48.8% 2011 10,793 39.1% 2012 11,754 35.7% 2013 10,839…

1 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any industry shutdowns to ensure that residential homes continue to receive gas supplies.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The responsibility for gas balancing activities lies with National Grid where it provides relevant parties with information about potential or actual risks to the end-of-day National Transmission System physical system balance. There are a range of tools that…

1 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any concerns regarding the security of gas supply and, if so, whether it has raised these with the UK Government.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Security of gas supply is a reserved matter and one in which the Scottish Government has no formal functions. The UK gas system is subject to regular assessments of security of supply through National Grid’s twice-yearly ‘Outlook’ publications, the biennial E…

1 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what level of gas storage is available to mitigate exposure to international gas markets and energy price volatility.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The storage of gas in the UK is facilitated through commercially operated storage sites and is monitored by National Grid as part of its responsibility to ensure system balancing of supply and demand. The following link to National Grid's, Gas Ten Year State…

1 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any concerns regarding gas and electricity price volatility as a result of security of supply and, if so, whether it has discussed these with the UK Government.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Security of supply for both gas and electricity is a matter reserved and one in which the Scottish Government has no formal functions. It is a normal and necessary market reaction for prices to rise in answer to system tightness, driving a receptive and flex…

1 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cubic metres of gas are required on average to power the country for a (a) day and (b) week.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The volume of gas required to meet consumers demands is a reserved matter and one which the Scottish Government has no formal functions. The responsibility for ensuring consumers demands are met is carried out by National Grid and the gas distribution network…

1 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many cubic metres of gas are required on average to power the country for a (a) day and (b) week during challenging winter weather.

1 Mar 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what investment it is making in securing new gas storage.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The UK benefits from a diverse supply of gas where the market is able to deliver gas in excess of the maximum demand. Gas storage provides around 10% of this demand over the winter period, October to March. The responsibility for ensuring there is enough gas …

28 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, since SME Holding Fund Strategic Interventions was introduced, (a) how many and (b) what value of applications for support have been made to Business Loans Scotland Limited in each year; of these, how many were (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful; what the total value was of both, and …

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14979 on 7 March 2018. 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/parliamentarybusiness/2…

28 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, since SME Holding Fund Strategic Interventions was introduced, (a) how many and (b) what value of applications for support have been made to DSL Business Finance Limited in each year, and, of these, how many were (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful and what the total value was of both,…

Answer · Keith Brown: We are planning to publish a performance report on the SME Holding Fund next month. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-14261 on 21 February 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searc…

28 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what total funding has been made available to the SME Holding Fund Strategic Interventions in each year since its introduction.

Answer · Keith Brown: The SME Holding Fund was originally capitalised at £40 million through the European Regional Development Fund Managing Authority in 2016. This was increased to £50 million through an additional £10 million allocated to the fund under the auspices of the Scott…

28 Feb 2018 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which businesses have received funding from the Scottish Growth Scheme in each month since its establishment, broken down by amount.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Details on number of businesses and level of investment by each month is as follows: Month Total number of businesses Total level of investment October 2017 8 £ 7, 392,069 November 2017 4 £ 5, 571,471 December 2017 13 £ 10, 200,309 January 2018 …