Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which body is responsible for financing communications and publicity associated with the introduction of the Scottish rate of income tax.
Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Government is meeting all the costs of HMRC’s implementation programme for the introduction of the Scottish rate of income tax, which includes those associated with communications and publicity related activity.
24 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether people living in Scotland will be required to advise HMRC where they are resident for tax purposes.
Answer · John Swinney: Scottish taxpayers will be identified by the address that HMRC holds for them and will be written to directly by HMRC to advise them that they are considered to be a Scottish taxpayer. The addressee will only need to contact HMRC if they disagree with this as…
23 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Joint Exchequer Committee has met in 2015 and what meetings are scheduled for the rest of the year.
Answer · John Swinney: The Joint Exchequer Committee has met on 7 July, 4 September and 23 September 2015. The Joint Exchequer Committee will continue to meet with the intention of reaching agreement on Scotland’s fiscal framework during the autumn.
22 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27233 by Fergus Ewing on 22 September 2015, what its direct annual spend on tourism has been in each year since 2007-08.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Direct annual expenditure on tourism since 2007-08, by VisitScotland (VS), Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is shown in the following tables: VS Annual Expenditure 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013…
22 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what increase in the number of civil servants there has been in (a) the total devolved civil service and (b) its core directorates, in what sections and at what cost, in each year since 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: Normally, the Office for National Statistics’ Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey series (QPSES) is used to provide numbers on public sector staffing in Scotland and those working for the Scottish Government. However, given the question covers both staf…
21 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-25949 by John Swinney on 16 June 2015, to what specific projects it will allocate the £304 million.
Answer · John Swinney: As outlined in the Draft Budget in 2015-16, we plan to use up to £304 million of borrowing to maximise our infrastructure investment in 2015-16. The borrowing will support the overall capital infrastructure programme rather than be allocated on an individual …
21 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recommendations of the Finance Committee in its 12th report 2015, Scotland's Fiscal Framework, what discussions it has had with UK ministers regarding establishing an independent body to advise on the calculation of the block grant, and what the outcome was.
Answer · John Swinney: We are discussing a number of issues through the negotiating of a fiscal framework and I will give an update in due course.
20 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy will make a statement on capital projects delayed as a result of the transition to the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA10).
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-04551 on 9 September 2015 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=10070
20 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will agree the block grant adjustment for 2015-16 with the UK Government.
Answer · John Swinney: The block grant adjustment with respect to the fully devolved taxes for 2015-16 was set out in correspondence to the Finance Committee in January 2015. This saw the Scottish budget reduced by £494 million. The correspondence also noted that any forestalling e…
20 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund are on independent fiscal scrutiny bodies and how the proposals for a Scottish Fiscal Commission (a) meet and (b) fail to meet these.
Answer · John Swinney: The International Monetary Fund report The Functions and Impacts of Fiscal Councils (July 2013) highlights a number of features of effective sovereign fiscal councils and recognises that the design of a fiscal council should “reflect country-specific characte…
20 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what material changes it will make to its proposals for a Scottish Fiscal Commission in light of the responses received to its consultation.
Answer · John Swinney: The Policy Memorandum published alongside the Scottish Fiscal Commission Bill summarises the policy changes which the Scottish Government has made to the Bill prior to introduction to address issues raised by respondents to our consultation on the Scottish Fi…
20 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what other countries have an independent fiscal scrutiny body and economic forecasts are done solely by the government.
Answer · John Swinney: OECD analysis of the roles and responsibilities of independent fiscal institutions shows that the fiscal institutions in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden assess official forecasts. This analysis is published at: htt…
20 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what other countries have an independent fiscal scrutiny body of which the members both advise and scrutinise government.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Fiscal Commission Bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament on 28 September 2015 provides for an independent commission to assess the reasonableness of devolved fiscal forecasts and estimates prepared by the Scottish Government. The Bill reflect…
17 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-04599 by John Swinney on 17 September 2015 (Official Report, c.3), what projects have been delayed as a result of the transition to the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 10).
Answer · John Swinney: A wide range of factors can have an impact on the delivery timetable for infrastructure projects. Twelve projects being delivered through the hub programme are working to delivery timetables that are affected by current consideration of classification issues:…
15 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the blood pressure clinic at the Vale of Leven hospital is being removed.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27525 on 28 September 2015. 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/parliamenta…
15 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent the removal of the blood pressure clinic from the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27525 on 28 September 2015. 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/parliamenta…
15 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the removal of the blood pressure clinic from the Vale of Leven Hospital to be consistent with the aims and objectives of the Vision for the Vale.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-27525 on 28 September 2015. 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/parliamenta…
15 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it was made aware of the decision to remove the blood pressure clinic from the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed changes to the blood pressure clinic at the Vale of Leven Hospital in September 2015. The changes reflect the diminishing level of demand for the clinic which moved from weekly to fortnightly in 2014. NHS Greater Glasgo…
15 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27250 by Paul Wheelhouse on 8 September 2015, for what reason funding for award has been reduced from £220,000 in 2012-13 to £100,000 in 2015-16.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Mark Scott Leadership for Life Award is run by the Outward Bound Trust. The Scottish Government worked in partnership with the Outward Bound Trust to agree a package of funding for the award between 2012-15. As part of this agreement the funding was struc…
15 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the consequences for jobs and revenue in the North Sea oil and gas sector of Goldman Sachs predicting a fall in the price of oil to $20 a barrel.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: There are a wide range of oil price forecasts. For example, HM Treasury publishes a monthly summary of independent oil price forecasts for 2016. In the latest publication, the highest oil price forecast is $80 and the lowest is $51.3. This time last year th…
14 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether robotic radical prostatectomy is available from the NHS.
14 Sep 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government will bring forward revised proposals for greater independence of the Scottish Fiscal Commission following the recent consultation.
11 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will monitor the performance of the new personal injury courts, and whether it will publish the results.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The progress and implementation of the measures in the Courts Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 are regularly monitored through the Making Justice Work Programme 1 Board – Effective Courts and Tribunals Programme, including the Scottish Government, the Scottish Cour…
11 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the alleged victims in personal injury cases will have to pay more for access to the same service in a lower tier court than was the case previously.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Before 22 September 2015, those raising a personal injury action for any amount could do so in a local sheriff court or, if the claim was for more than £5,000, in the Court of Session. From 22 September 2015, there will be greater choice for those with perso…
11 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many sheriffs will serve in the new personal injury courts; whether they will sit (a) in rotation or (b) simultaneously and what information it has regarding how many have had specific experience of personal injury cases.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Courts Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
11 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that people with mesothelioma are having to wait for more than six months to obtain access to their medical records.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is vital that people with mesothelioma can access their records within a reasonable time given the seriousness of their condition and the possible effects on associated compensation claims. Mesothelioma sufferers have the right (as do all NHS patients) to …
11 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made regarding the levels of mesothelioma and other conditions that have arisen because of suspected exposure to asbestos in schools.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the lead agency for safety in the workplace and has responsibility for enforcement of the related asbestos legislation and regulations. A report published in 2014 by the HSE titled Mesothelioma in Great Britain 2014: M…
11 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been in each of the last five years for breaches of health and safety legislation regarding asbestos.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Health and Safety Executive, a UK agency, is the lead for safety in the workplace and has responsibility for enforcement of the related asbestos legislation and regulations. The latest available Scottish court statistics cover the last five years from 20…
11 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial support is available to local authorities to tackle asbestos in schools.
Answer · Angela Constance: Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, responsibility for the control and management of asbestos in local authority schools rests with the local authority.
11 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of schools contain asbestos.
Answer · Angela Constance: This information is not held centrally. However, under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, local authorities are required to make and keep an up to date record of the location of all schools which contain, or are presumed to contain, asbestos.