Parliamentary questions

Jackie Baillie

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

11 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what reports the Council of Economic Advisers (a) has produced and (b) is planning.

Answer · John Swinney: An Annual Chair’s Report is published by the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, Crawford Beveridge. The reports are published at the following address: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Council-Economic-Advisers/Reports The reports of the Fi…

11 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the membership is of the Council of Economic Advisers.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23832 on 14 January 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/parliamentar…

11 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget is of the Council of Economic Advisers.

Answer · John Swinney: The costs associated with each meeting of the Council of Economic Advisers are available at the following address: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Council-Economic-Advisers/disclosures Members of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) and any asso…

11 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Council of Economic Advisers last met and what dates are scheduled for future meetings.

Answer · John Swinney: The Council of Economic Advisers meets twice each year, and the council last met on 12 November 2014. The dates of future meetings will be announced in due course.

9 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the Scottish Fiscal Commission's budget is and what reports (a) it has produced and (b) are planned.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Fiscal Commission has been allocated an indicative annual operating budget of £20,000. The Scottish Government will however ensure that the commission has access to the necessary resources to enable it to fulfil its functions. The Scottish Fisca…

9 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many third sector organisations applied for Section 10 Grant Scheme funding for 2015-16, and how many applications have been approved.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: A total of 51 organisations applied for Section 10 funding. All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application in due course.

9 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons were for any delays in notifying third sector organisations of the outcome of their application for Section 10 Grant Scheme funding for 2014-15.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: It has taken longer than initially estimated to complete the process, due to both the number of applications received and the overall amount requested by third sector organisations. When it became clear that the appraisal and decision would require more time…

9 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of reports that third sector organisations are notifying staff of redundancies because of delays in announcing whether their application for Section 10 Grant Scheme funding has been approved.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: All organisations are advised that they should not become solely reliant on Section 10 funding nor expect it to be renewed following a subsequent application. They are advised of the importance in seeking alternative sources of funding and must have adequate…

9 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitent that third sector organisations applying for Section 10 Grant Scheme funding for 2015-16 would "be notified of the outcome [of the application] by December 31, 2014", how many have yet to be notified, and what the reason is for the delay.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23932 on 20 January 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…

9 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many third sector organisations applied for Section 10 Grant Scheme funding in 2014-15, and how many applications were approved.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In 2014-15 there were 32 applications received, 14 of which were funded from Section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

9 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which third sector organisations received Section 10 Grant Scheme funding in 2014-15.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In 2014-15 there were 32 applications received, 14 of which were funded from Section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. They were: CALL Scotland University of Edinburgh Deafblind Scotland Hearing Link Pain Association Scotland Partners in Advoca…

5 Jan 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what reassurances the Scottish Government can give workers in the oil and gas industry whose jobs are at risk.

3 Jan 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on when the Scottish Fiscal Commission last met and what the dates are for future meetings.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Fiscal Commission meets as required in order to fulfil its remit to provide independent scrutiny of Scottish Government forecasts of devolved tax revenue and of the economic determinants underpinning Scottish Government forecasts of non-domestic …

3 Jan 2015 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the Scottish Fiscal Commission's budget is and what reports (a) it has produced and (b) are planned.

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23268 by Alex Neil on 5 December 2014, how many of the listed public authorities with more than 150 employees have not published an equal pay statement since the public sector equality duty was established.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012 came into force on 27 May 2012. Listed authorities with more than 150 employees were required to publish statements on equal pay etc. by 30 April 2013 and every fourth year after that. The …

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23159 by Margaret Burgess on 27 November 2014, when the data will be published.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland (HEEPS) Delivery Report for 2013-14 was published on 22 December 2014 and is available on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/warmhomes/heeps.

18 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23155 by Margaret Burgess on 27 November 2014, who the members are of the stakeholder working group.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Members of the stakeholder working group, which has been set up to help identify proposals for consultation on minimum standards of energy efficiency in private sector housing, represent a range of interests, including environmental, local authority, private …

17 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23546 by Fiona Hyslop on 17 December 2014, how much financial support it will provide for the establishment of a film/TV studio.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer you back to the answer to PQ S4W-23546 supplied on 17 December 2014.

16 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the charges set by (a) local authorities and (b) private crematoria for (i) burial plots or cremations and (ii) interment of remains can lead to a so-called postcode lottery for people who have to meet funeral costs, and what the reasons are for its position on …

Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23697 on 8 January 2014. 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/parliamentary…

16 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it offers to people who experience difficulties in meeting funeral costs.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Funeral costs payments are currently reserved to the UK Government, and are awarded by the Department for Work and Pensions through its Regulated Social Fund scheme.

16 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the charges set by (a) local authorities and (b) private crematoria for (i) burial plots or cremations and (ii) the interment of remains, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

16 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will use its proposed new power regarding funeral payment benefit to help support people who experience difficulties in meeting funeral costs.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Under the Smith Commission’s proposals, the Scottish Government would have full autonomy to deliver assistance with funeral costs to help those in need. We plan to consult widely with stakeholders and service users in the coming months on how we can use these…

16 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report in the Daily Record on 8 December 2014 that, in the last five years, almost 2,500 people in Scotland have been buried in unmarked local authority graves.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government is currently preparing a consultation paper on recommendations made by the Burial and Cremation Review Group and the Infant Cremation Commission to modernise and improve many aspects of burial and cremation in Scotland. As part of the …