Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the work programme of the working group examining the removal of Trident from the Clyde.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The work programme of the Working Group on Scotland without Nuclear Weapons will be published on the Scottish Government website once finalised, and within three months of the first meeting.</p>
15 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the members of the working group examining the removal of Trident from the Clyde.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The list of members of the Working Group on Scotland without Nuclear Weapons is available on the Scottish Government website at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/swnw-working-group/membership">www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/swnw-w…
15 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the impact that the removal of Trident from the Clyde will have on jobs and the economy in the surrounding areas.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government asked the Working Group on Scotland Without Nuclear Weapons, as part of its remit:</p> <p >In the event of a decision to remove nuclear weapons from HM Naval Base Clyde, to examine the economic impact and to identify options for the …
15 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde replies to my letter dated 8 October 2007, and subsequent reminders dated 28 January and 29 February 2008, in relation to Agenda for Change.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is the responsibility of NHS boards to deal with any correspondence sent to them and ensure that appropriate responses are issued. Since receiving your question my officials have been in touch with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. I understand that a prelimi…
14 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers consider it their role to expedite planning applications under active consideration by planning authorities and independent statutory consultees to the planning process and, if so, what criteria they use to assess which applications to assist.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Government ministers at all times discharge their planning functions fairly and responsibly, having regard to all relevant planning legislation and the Scottish Ministerial Code.</p> <p >Paragraphs 6.7 “ 6.12 of the code are particularly relevant to…
14 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications currently under consideration by ministers or determined by ministers since June 2007 involve developers who it is aware have made a political donation to the SNP in the preceding 36 months.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This information is not held.</p>
14 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications have been publicly supported by ministers since June 2007, what those planning applications consisted of and the support provided, and whether it has any information on any of the applicants having made a political donation to the SNP in the preceding 36 mon…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This information is not held.</p>
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs associated with a register of second homes, in respect of its proposals for a local income tax, as set out in A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland, are likely to be.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the question S3W-11757, answered on 30 April 2008. 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/webapp…
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish further details on its plans for a register of second homes in respect of its proposals for local income tax as set out in A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland and, if so, when.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11757 on 30 April 2008. 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/webapp…
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the likely costs to HM Revenue and Customs associated with collecting the local income tax, as set out in A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11757 on 30 April 2008. 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/webapp…
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish the likely cost to HM Revenue and Customs associated with collecting the local income tax, as set out in A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland, before the end of the consultation period.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11757 on 30 April 2008. 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/webapp…
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the likely cost to employers associated with the implementation of the plans set out in A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11757 on 30 April 2008. 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/webapp…
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish the likely cost to employers associated with the implementation of a local income tax, as set out in A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland, before the end of the consultation period.
Answer · John Swinney: We are currently inviting all individuals and organisations with an interest in the abolition of council tax and the introduction of a local income tax to comment on our proposals and to provide specific relevant evidence where possible.</p> <p >An analysis …
9 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will commence consultation on the use of funds from dormant bank accounts, as promised during the parliamentary debate on 24 January 2008 (Official Report c. 5388).
Answer · John Swinney: The consultation process will begin with an initial scoping seminar to be held in Edinburgh on 13 May 2008, hosted by the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations. This will involve the Big Lottery Fund, national umbrella and intermediary bodies and volunt…
9 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhat guidance is available to people with learning disabilities to help them to opt out of the local authority tendering process for community care services and seek a direct payment to purchase their own services instead.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11705 on 23 April 2008. 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/webapp…
9 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what rights people with learning disabilities have to opt out of the local authority tendering process for community care services and request a direct payment to purchase their own services instead.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11705 on 23 April 2008. 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/webapp…
9 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether people with learning disabilities are able to opt out of the local authority tendering process for community care services and request a direct payment to purchase their own services instead.
Answer · Shona Robison: Since June 2003, every Scottish local authority has had a duty to offer people with learning disabilities and other disabled and elderly people who meet local authority eligibility criteria for community care, the opportunity to receive self-directed support …
26 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it would consider before removing comments left on the Ministers’ Blog section of the National Conversation website.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The criteria applied to moderating the National Conversation website are:</p> <p >1. All submitted comments are to be pre-moderated before publication. </p> <p >2. All published comments are liable to be removed from the site at any point after internal rec…
26 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were taken into consideration when developing measures to monitor comments left on the Ministers’ Blog section of the National Conversation website.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11333 on 23 April 2008. 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/webapp…
26 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of the upkeep and moderation of the Ministers’ Blog section of the National Conversation website.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No additional resources have been allocated to the National Conversation. The maintenance of the website is included as part of the overall responsibilities of the web team within the communications directorate.</p>
26 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is given to comments left on the Ministers’ Blog section of the National Conversation website.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Comments posted on the Ministers'' Blog section are moderated using the criteria developed for the National Conversation website. Comments posted also help to inform the development of the conversation more generally.</p>
26 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider moderating comments before they are published on the Ministers’ Blog section of the National Conversation website.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Comments submitted to the Ministers'' Blog section of the National Conversation website have been pre-moderated since the launch of the website in August 2007.</p>
18 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to review the traffic regulation order process in order to improve efficiency and reduce cost.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: When promoting Traffic Regulation Orders, local road authorities are required to follow the procedures contained in The Local Authorities'' Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. For trunk roads, Transport Scotland follow the procedures conta…
14 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who in the First Minister’s (FM’s) private office decided not to bring to the FM’s attention correspondence from Mr Donald Macdonald and an enclosure of correspondence between HBOS and Highland Council stating that without the relevant planning consents the bank would have “no option but …
Answer · Michael Russell: The decision was taken by the Assistant Private Secretary with responsibility for correspondence on the basis of established protocol upon receipt of the correspondence to the First Minister''s private office.</p>
14 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who in the First Minister’s private office decided not to bring to the First Minister’s attention correspondence from Mr Donald Macdonald and an enclosure of correspondence between HBOS and Highland Council intimating the prospective closure of the Macdonald hotel company and the complete…
Answer · Michael Russell: The decision was taken by the Assistant Private Secretary with responsibility for correspondence on the basis of established protocol upon receipt of the correspondence to the First Minister''s private office.</p>
14 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether standard operating practices and procedures were applied by the First Minister’s private office in relation to correspondence from Mr Donald Macdonald’s company and enclosures of further correspondence between Mr Macdonald’s company and the planning authorities, the Cairngorms Nat…
Answer · Michael Russell: Yes.</p>
14 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether correspondence from Mr Donald Macdonald and an enclosure of correspondence between HBOS and Highland Council intimating the prospective closure of the Macdonald hotel company and the complete resort operation, as received by email from the First Minister's constituency office mana…
Answer · Michael Russell: They were.</p>
14 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether correspondence from Mr Donald Macdonald and an enclosure of correspondence between HBOS and Highland Council intimating the prospective closure of the Macdonald hotel company and the complete resort operation, as received by email from the First Minister’s constituency office mana…
Answer · Michael Russell: They were not.</p>
14 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether standard operating practices and procedures were applied by the First Minister’s (FM’s) private office in relation to the receipt of correspondence from Mr Donald Macdonald and an enclosure of correspondence between HBOS and Highland Council intimating the prospective closure of t…
Answer · Michael Russell: Yes.</p>
14 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are standard operating practices and procedures in place in the First Minister’s private office for dealing with correspondence from constituents and others and, if so, whether it will publish these practices and procedures.
Answer · Michael Russell: There are standard operating practices and procedures in place for management of the First Minister''s correspondence by his private office. These practices are in line with the Scottish Government ministerial correspondence administration guidance for staff …