Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the reason was for the revisions made to the Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland 2014-15 report subsequent to publication and what change was made to Scotland’s Net Fiscal Balance in table A10.
Answer · John Swinney: An error was identified in the North Sea revenue figures and net fiscal balance estimates contained in table A.10 of the Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland 2014-15. This was corrected as soon as it was brought to the attention of Scottish Government st…
10 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many revised versions of the (a) Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland 2014-15 report and (b) accompanying charts and tables were produced after publication at 9.30am on 9 March 2016, and how these revisions were communicated to (i) the Parliament and (ii) other stakeholders.
Answer · John Swinney: A revised version of the Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland report was produced following publication on 9 March 2016, after minor errors were discovered. Changes were put through in the online text and accompanying spreadsheets and a new PDF was also …
10 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the transfer of responsibility for the funding of adult care hospices from NHS boards to Integration Joint Boards will be accompanied by the existing level of resource and any additional resource arising from historical anomalies.
Answer · Shona Robison: Palliative and end of life care will be the responsibility of the new Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) and so fair and proportionate resources should transfer to the IJBs. The Scottish Government will provide strategic commissioning guidance on palliative and …
10 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it (a) first and (b) last met representatives of St Margaret of Scotland Hospice about funding.
Answer · Shona Robison: St Margaret of Scotland Hospice and Scottish Government officials first met to discuss funding on 13 February 2007. Most recent meeting was on 23 December 2015.
10 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a national policy on the funding of adult care hospices.
Answer · Shona Robison: As set out in the answer to question S4W-30715 on 22 March 2016, Chief Executive Letter 12 (2012) sets out the current planning arrangements between NHS boards and independent adult hospices http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2012_12.pdf. All answers to w…
10 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the formula is for the allocation of funds to adult care hospices.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30715 on 22 March 2016. 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/parliamentarybu…
10 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it pays to each adult care hospice per bed per year.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is currently a matter for individual NHS boards to commission directly with the independent adult hospices within their geographical area. Chief Executive Letter (CEL) 12 (2012) makes it clear that NHS boards should fund 50% of agreed running costs of inde…
10 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether additional funding has been provided to public sector employers as a consequence of the cost of the abolition of national insurance contracted out rates.
Answer · John Swinney: National Insurance policy is a reserved matter. The introduction of the single-tier pension through the Pension Act 2014 led to the abolition of the ‘contracted-out rebate’ by the UK Government. The abolition of the rebate will lead to increased costs for emp…
10 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost to public services in Scotland is of the abolition of national insurance contracted out rates, broken down by service.
Answer · John Swinney: National Insurance policy is a reserved matter. The introduction of the single-tier pension through the Pension Act 2014 led to the abolition of the ‘contracted-out rebate’ by the UK Government. The abolition of the rebate will lead to increased costs for emp…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27766 by John Swinney on 27 October 2015, whether it will now confirm what the unitary payments were (a) before and (b) after.
Answer · John Swinney: Unitary charges are finalised when a project reaches financial close; accordingly, it is not possible to set out a ‘before’ and ‘after’ unitary charge.
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28762 by Jamie Hepburn on 10 December 2015, how much of the £35.4 million budgeted for 2015-16 it has spent.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government has transferred all of the £35.4 million budgeted to Independent Living Fund Scotland.
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people received support from the Independent Living Fund in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Responsibility for the Independent Living Fund (ILF) transferred from the UK Government to the Scottish Government on 1 July 2015. Data for the number of people in receipt of ILF prior to this date is therefore not the responsibility of the Scottish Governmen…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28765 by Jamie Hepburn on 10 December 2015, when the fund will be open to new claimants.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: As stated in the answer to question S4W-28765, work to open the Independent Living Fund to new users is currently underway, in co-production with disabled people and their representative organisations and statutory partners. Further detail will be announced i…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28762 by Jamie Hepburn on 10 December 2015, what the budget is for the fund for 2016-17, and how much has been set aside to meet administration costs.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The fund budget for the Independent Living Fund (ILF) for 2016-17 is £47.2 million. The Scottish Government has initially set aside an additional £1.1 million for administration costs for 2016-17, however the final budget is still to be agreed between Scottis…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28360 by Jamie Hepburn on 19 November 2015, whether it has made the transitional financial arrangements to cover the gap between the end of carer information strategy funding and the commencement of funding from the Carers (Scotland) Act 2015.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: As I announced in the chamber during the Stage 3 debate on the Carers Bill on Thursday, 4 February 2016, The Scottish Government has committed £4.75 million to NHS Board Carer Information Strategies in 2016-17. We have notified health boards of their allocati…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28792 by Shona Robison on 5 January 2016, when it will publish the report of the findings of the national conversation.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30523 on 17 March 2016. 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/parliamentarybu…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28662 by Margaret Burgess on 14 December 2015, whether it will provide an update on how much has been paid in 2015-16.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Registered Social Landlord (RSL) Adaptations budget of £10 million has been fully allocated and, following the conclusion of a recent review of the planned adaptations expenditure of all RSLs, we are confident the £10 million will be drawn down in full. W…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants it employs, and how this compares with 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government HR official statistics publication of 16 March 2016 contains the most recent staffing position, showing that at 31 December 2015 there were 5,120 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees in Core Scottish Government directorates: http://ww…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Ministerial Advisory Group on Child Poverty has met since 2015.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: In 2015, the Ministerial Advisory Group on Child Poverty met on 28 May 2015, and again with officials on 15 September 2015. This year, the Ministerial Advisory Group on Child Poverty met, along with other stakeholders including the Independent Poverty Adviso…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to questions S4W-26058 and S4W-26590 by John Swinney on 23 June 2015 and 25 November 2015, for what reason it has not completed its response to the consultation and whether it will confirm on what date it will do so.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-29921 on 8 March 2016. In light of that answer, there is no fixed date for when I will come to Parliament with a response to the consultation. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28796 by Shona Robison on 15 December 2015, what partner groups are involved, also broken down by how much they are paid for their participation.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30523 on 17 March 2016. 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/parliamentarybu…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28789 by Shona Robison on 5 January 2016, in light of the information not being provided in the answer to question S4W-28792, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding how many (a) email, (b) website and (c) written respon…
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30523 on 17 March 2016. 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/parliamentarybu…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-28789 by Shona Robison on 5 January 2016, in light of the information not being provided in the answer to question S4W-28792, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding how many people attended each Healthier Scotland Natio…
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30523 on 17 March 2016. 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/parliamentarybu…
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it expects to collect from residential Land and Buildings Transaction Tax in 2015-16.
Answer · John Swinney: Revenues from Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) remain firmly on track and overall devolved tax revenues are expected to exceed the Scottish Government's forecast for 2015-16. Residential LBTT revenues in the year to date remain broadly in line with …
8 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27757 by John Swinney on 27 October 2015, whether the contracts have been signed and, if so, whether it will now provide the information that was requested.
Answer · John Swinney: Information on when contracts have been signed is given in the following table: Project Planned Date Actual Date Ayr Academy Q3 2015 7 January 2016 Dalbeattie Learning Campus Q3 2015 25 January 2018 Newbattle High School Q1 2015 12 February 2016…
7 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-30050 by Shona Robison on 23 February 2016, for what reason it has referred to national guidance that is not relevant to the closure of ward six at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: A direct answer was given to the question put in S4W-30050. The reference to the national guidance was made to provide context, as it explains which NHS service changes are subject to ministerial approval.
7 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the £125 million being directed to integration authorities in 2016-17 is for the living wage and how much is for additional cost pressures.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30439 on 23 March 2016. 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…
7 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy, during a telephone conference with local authority chief executives and directors of finance stated that the (a) voluntary, (b) independent and (c) private sector would be expected to pay 25% of the costs of implementat…
Answer · John Swinney: The fair work agenda in social care is a priority for and responsibility shared between the Scottish Government, local authorities and care providers and all partners are expected to make a contribution. During a telecom briefing to chief executives, I refer…
7 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that it does not create a two-tier care workforce in the same organisation through the implementation of the living wage of £8.25 per hour for people engaged in adult social care.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-30440 on 23 March 2016. 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…
7 Mar 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether staff providing child social care in the (a) voluntary, (b) independent and (c) private sector have been considered in the allocation of funding for the implementation of the living wage of £8.25 per hour.
Answer · Shona Robison: We encourage all employers to pay the living wage and for local partners to expand on this initiative to include other groups of workers where this is affordable, sustainable and meets local priorities.