Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital expenditure will be in 2010-11, also showing the projects to which the funding applies and the cost and phasing of each project.
Answer · John Swinney: The<i > Scottish Budget: Draft Budget 2010-11 </i>document, published on 17 September 2009, states a proposed capital budget for 2010-11 of £3.2 billion. The Scottish Government''s capital expenditure plans for 2010-11 are set out according to public expendit…
7 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what experts have been appointed to assist the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The inquiry Chairman, Lord MacLean, has not yet decided which witnesses, expert or otherwise, will be called upon to assist the inquiry. Lord MacLean has, however, appointed two assessors as identified on the inquiry''s website <a href="http://www.valeofleven…
7 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27590 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 September 2009, whether the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry will be held in Dumbarton or the Vale of Leven and what its reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is for the Chair of the Inquiry, Lord MacLean, to decide on an appropriate venue for the public hearings and evidence sessions. Lord MacLean met the Vale of Leven families on 25 September and this was one of the issues discussed. I understand no final deci…
7 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the funding for new primary schools will be announced; how many primary schools will be rebuilt, and over what timescale.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The first primary schools to benefit from the new school building programme will be announced by the end of the year. Our expectation is that the primary element of the programme will be completed by 2015.</p>
7 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in the Building better schools news release on 28 September 2009, when it anticipates completion of each of the 14 schools listed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Each of the 14 secondary schools identified to receive support is different and will therefore be planned and built in a timescale which is appropriate for the school, pupils and local community.</p>
7 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in the Building better schools news release on 28 September 2009, how much of its £800 million contribution has been allocated to each of the 14 schools listed and over which financial years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Each of the first 14 secondary schools to benefit from the new school building programme is different. Precise costings will not be known until the tendering and procurement processes are complete.</p>
1 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the provisional and outturn variances were for departmental expenditure limits (DEL) and other accounts outside DEL, in relation to allocation and consolidated accounts for 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Answer · John Swinney: The relevant provisional and final budget variances for DEL and Other accounts outside DEL in 2006-07 and 2007-08, as reported in the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts, are as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=416 > <t…
1 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27338 by John Swinney on 30 September 2009, whether it will restore the provision of written explanations for underspending by the Scottish Government and non-departmental public bodies when reporting end year flexibility, as has previously been the …
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government provide explanations of its underspends in the <i >Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts</i>, which are published in September each year and are available on the Scottish Government website. Non-departmental public bodies also publ…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the £7.2 million balance of the £15 million for the Home Insulation Scheme will fund, in light of the Official Journal of the European Union advert inviting tenders for the Home Insulation Scheme at £7.8 million.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to the answer to question S3W-27661 on 8 October 2009 which sets out how the total grant funding for the scheme is allocated. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the searc…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26890 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, whether it considers that the Energy Saving Trust should have complete ownership and responsibility for all the Energy Assistance Package and Home Insulation Scheme delivery targets.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish ministers have put in place governance arrangements with Energy Saving Trust for delivery of the Energy Assistance Package and Home Insulation Scheme. EST are responsible for delivering energy efficiency advice, managing the customer journey and refe…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26890 by Alex Neil MSP on 10 September 2009, whether the Energy Saving Trust appoints and has direct responsibility for contractors at Stage 1, 2 and 3 of the Energy Assistance Package or whether this is done by fuel suppliers.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27676 on 8 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26890 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, whether the Energy Saving Trust appoints and has direct responsibility for contractors on the Home Insulation Scheme.
Answer · Alex Neil: Yes. The Energy Saving Trust is responsible for the overall management and delivery of the Home Insulation Scheme, under terms and conditions prescribed by Scottish ministers.</p> low
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26893 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, for what reason the Energy Assistance Package takes households only to the level of an Energy Performance Certificate (Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) level of 41) rather than the higher level set out in t…
Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package offers a range of services and products to help tackle fuel poverty through improving energy efficiency, reducing fuel bills and maximising incomes. The package is not intended to bring properties up to a benchmark standard of en…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26892 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, how many small businesses based in Scotland are contractors in the delivery of the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27676 on 8 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26892 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, how many contractors are involved in the delivery of the Energy Assistance Package and where they are headquartered.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package (EAP) is delivered through a Scottish Government partnership with 10 primary delivery partners. These are: Energy Saving Trust; managing agent for stage 4 (currently Scottish Gas); Citizens Advice Direct; Pensions Service; Scotti…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26888 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, for what reason less than half of those surveyed for Stage Four of the Energy Assistance Package resulted in successful applications.
Answer · Alex Neil: The applications referred to in the answer to question S3W-26888 were all at different stages of the process, but we would expect most to follow through to successful installation of measures. A minority of applications will be found not to be eligible at sur…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26887 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, whether the installation of 173 central heating systems by the end of August 2009 is lower than expected.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27669 on 8 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26887 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, what target was set for the installation of central heating systems as part of the Energy Assistance Package, excluding legacy installations.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27669 on 8 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26885 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, what the call rate was immediately before and immediately after the recent direct mail activity.
Answer · Alex Neil: Energy Saving Trust has undertaken and is planning a range of activity to market the Energy Assistance Package including a number of different direct mailings. The rising number of callers in each month to date is given in the following table.</p> <table bo…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26884 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, whether the figure of 75,000 individual contacts is based on the actual number of different people calling rather than the number of separate calls.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27669 on 8 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26883 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, what the previously agreed targets are for the number of callers and those receiving assistance at each stage of the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27669 on 8 October 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26883 by Alex Neil on 10 September 2009, whether the number of callers and those receiving assistance from the Energy Assistance Package are in line with the original targets.
Answer · Alex Neil: Indicative targets set for Energy Saving Trust were to achieve 75,000 individual contacts from potentially fuel-poor clients for the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) in 2009-10. It was expected that 50,000 referrals would be made under stage 2, 30,000 at stag…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Housing and Communities last met the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum and what matters were discussed.
Answer · Alex Neil: The independent Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum meets quarterly. The Minister for Housing and Communities has not met the forum as a collective group but has met with individual member organisations at a number of different events. For example, the minister addre…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the contract for managing the Energy Assistance Package and the Home Insulation Scheme was awarded following EU procurement and tendering rules.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Saving Trust was appointed as managing agent for the Energy Assistance Package and Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) by Scottish ministers by way of grant funding using powers contained in section 153(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as vari…
24 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what management fee is being paid to the Energy Saving Trust for the Energy Assistance Package and the Home Insulation Scheme.
Answer · Alex Neil: An additional £3.7 million is being provided to Energy Saving Trust this year to manage the Energy Assistance Package (EAP). This covers costs of providing direct advice and support to clients, costs of liaising with other EAP delivery partners, including dat…
23 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long on average it takes from initial request to the Energy Savings Trust to the installation of a new central heating system and how this compares with previous schemes.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package is a holistic approach to tackling fuel poverty that addresses both the home and householder, and includes services to maximise income, reduce fuel bills and improve energy efficiency. Stage 4 of the package offers a menu of enha…
22 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken following publication of the report, Lessons Learned from NHS QIS visits to NHS Orkney, NHS Grampian and NHS Highland following Clostridium difficile incidents: Overview Report - June 2009, and how progress will be monitored.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Following publication of the report, all NHS board chairs and chief executives were asked to review the content of the NHS QIS report and ensure the lessons learned were considered in the context of their own NHS board. This was followed up with visits by Sco…
22 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether antimicrobial prescribing policies apply to care homes.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: All persons authorised to prescribe antimicrobial agents in healthcare settings, including care homes, are required to adhere to local antimicrobial prescribing policy.</p>
22 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will limit the number of GPs prescribing to patients in care homes.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We have no plans to limit the number of GPs prescribing to patients in care homes. </p> <p >Any GP of an individual practice in Scotland, where a patient has their name on the list, is required to prescribe for the patient as appropriate. Should it be deemed…
22 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been incidents or outbreaks of Clostridium difficile in care homes that have been investigated by the Care Commission.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Care Commission is responsible for ensuring that care homes meet the legislative requirement to have appropriate procedures for the control of infections. Care homes are required to notify the commission of any outbreaks of infectious diseases that occur,…