Parliamentary questions

Jackie Baillie

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

1 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on tackling the gender pay gap in each year since 2007-08.

Answer · Angela Constance: Since 2007-08 the Scottish Government has committed £3,912,003 to fund projects aimed at tackling the gender pay gap and occupational segregation which is a cause of the gender pay gap. Funding is provided to a range of organisations including: Close the Gap,…

1 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help reduce the gender pay gap.

Answer · Angela Constance: One of the strategic aims of the Scottish Government’s public sector pay policy is to ensure that pay is fair and non-discriminatory and to protect jobs and services. All public bodies covered by this policy are expected to review their pay systems annually a…

1 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the gender pay gap has been for (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees in each year since 2007-08.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) provides information about the levels, distribution and make-up of earnings and hours worked for employees in all industries and occupations. The latest data provides a snapshot of earnings as at 17 April 2013. T…

30 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide grant funding to assist domestic households with first time connections to the water main.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In Scotland, there are over 20,000 private water supplies of which some 10% are larger supplies supplying commercial premises or large communities. It is essential that before any funds are allocated that there is a fuller understanding of the location, natur…

30 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any of the £3.5 billion investment by Scottish Water announced on 29 September 2014 is for first time connections to the water main.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The £3.5 billion investment is designed to address, in the main, priorities that arise on the public network from the need to meet mandatory standards in relation to drinking water and the environment. This also includes sums necessary to accommodate growth i…

30 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available for first time connections to the water main.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish Water is required by The Provision of Water and Sewerage Services (Reasonable Cost) (Scotland) Regulations 2011 to make a contribution towards the costs of connecting new customers. The amounts payable and terms under which these are paid are set out…

24 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost of the public inquiry into Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital has been and how this compares with the costs of other recent public inquiries.

Answer · Alex Neil: The information on inquiry costs is set out in the following table: Inquiry Cost ICL Inquiry £1.9 million Fingerprint Inquiry £4.75 million Penrose Inquiry (ongoing) £11.5 million (as at 31 August 2014) Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry (ongoing) £10.…

24 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the report from the public inquiry into Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital will be published.

Answer · Alex Neil: I have recently been advised by Lord MacLean, Chairman of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry that he intends to publish his report on Monday 24 November 2014 at Fifteen Ninety Nine, 232-242 St Vincent Street, Glasgow (the premises of the Royal College of Phys…

23 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities have been advised that they can cancel arrears of the so-called bedroom tax arising in 2013-14 and when it will issue guidance on the matter.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The management of arrears, including those related to the bedroom tax, is a matter for landlords as part of their responsibility to manage their tenants, stock and finances. The cap for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) will be lifted once the power to d…

22 Sep 2014 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on raising the minimum wage to £8 per hour.

11 Aug 2014 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether there will be foodbanks in an independent Scotland.

17 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS has (a) sold or (b) passed-on the names and addresses of patients to commercial companies in the last five years and, if so, for what reason.

Answer · Alex Neil: No NHS Scotland board has sold patient information in the last five years. The only circumstances where the names and addresses of patients pass from NHS Scotland to a third party would be where they were providing a specific set of services for NHS Scotland …

10 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21351 by John Swinney on 9 June 2014, for what reason no diversity training for external selection panel members specific to the workstream has been delivered.

Answer · John Swinney: The key findings report from the event Women On Board: Quality through Diversity held in November 2013 included an action: “training in unconscious bias, equality and diversity for everyone involved in the recruitment process”. The Scottish Government’s Publi…

10 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21350 by John Swinney on 9 June 2014, whether the events are evaluated on a (a) formative or (b) summative basis and, if so, whether it will publish the evaluation (i) methodology and (ii) findings.

Answer · John Swinney: Events held by the Public Appointment Centre of Expertise vary greatly, from hosting a stand at a conference to organising large events such as Women On Board: Quality through Diversity, held in November 2013. As such, not every event is evaluated, and method…

26 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will decide whether to cover VAT on fees for safeguarders.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government cannot pay VAT on fees for safeguarders, reflecting the positions set out in HM Revenue and Customs and Scottish Public Finance Manual guidance.

26 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is required to cover VAT charges on fees for safeguarders.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: VAT is not payable on fees for safeguarders.

26 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received representations on the issue of the payment of VAT on safeguarders' fees and, if so, when, and what action it has taken as a result.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: There are some 180 serving safeguarders in Scotland. The Scottish Government is aware of representations from two safeguarders on the issue of the payment of VAT. Both enquires were received in January 2014, with a follow-up from one individual in April 2014.…

26 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how VAT on safeguarders fees was dealt with when the fees were paid by local authorities; how it is dealt with under Children 1st, and what the Scottish Government's position is on the matter.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The payment of safeguarders prior to the 2011 Act was a matter for local authorities. It is understood that the method and range of payments varied between local authorities as well as in respect of individual safeguarders. Prior to the 2011 Act and associate…

26 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether fees paid to safeguarders by Children 1st are subject to VAT and what discussions it has had with HM Revenue and Customs about the matter.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Fees payable to safeguarders by Children 1st are not subject to VAT. No direct discussions have been held with HM Revenue and Customs, as the position on VAT applicability is in line with HM Revenue and Customs guidance and the Scottish Public Finance Manual.…