Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the condition of Dumbarton Academy is a cause for concern.
Answer · Maureen Watt: West Dunbartonshire Council has the statutory responsibility forthe provision and maintenance of school buildings in its area. Questions regardingthe condition of individual schools and investment priorities within the schoolestate are matters for the council…
24 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage West Dunbartonshire Council to revise its plans for school regeneration and provide Dumbarton Academy with a brand new school.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Governmentrecognises that school estate management planning for its area is a matter for WestDunbartonshire Council and has noted the council’s intention to consider its strategicplans for the regeneration of the school estate, including Dumbarto…
18 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive at what time and on what date the Minister for Parliamentary Business was made aware of any difficulties with motion S3M-1087 on the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill - UK Legislation.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8650 on 31 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
18 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive at what time and on what date the office of the Minister for Parliamentary Business was made aware of any difficulties with motion S3M-1087 on the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill - UK Legislation.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: There were no difficultieswith motion S3M-1087.</p>
16 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there were any outstanding bills to be paid by it to the Marcliffe of Pitfodels Hotel in Aberdeen as at 31 December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: No.</p>
16 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it paid for the First Minister’s overnight stays at the Marcliffe of Pitfodels Hotel in Aberdeen from May to December 2007 inclusive.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8524 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
16 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times and on what dates since May 2007 the First Minister has stayed overnight at the Marcliffe of Pitfodels Hotel in Aberdeen in his official capacity.
Answer · John Swinney: The First Minister has notstayed overnight in the Marcliffe of Pitfodels Hotel in Aberdeen inhis official capacity since May 2007.</p>
11 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7680 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 January 2008, whether the specific legislation published at public expense in Annex B to the White Paper “Choosing Scotland’s Future” is within the legislative competence of the Parliament.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I have nothing to add to myanswers to questions S3W-7680 and S3W-7681 on 9 January 2008.</p>
8 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16514 by Stewart Maxwell on 6 October 2008, whether it will list the amounts allocated to housing associations for home adaptations for disabled people in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008 to date, broken down by housing association.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We do not centrally record the amount of funding allocated to housing associations for home adaptations for disabled people. However, we do record the actual amounts spent by housing associations on home adaptations. The figures for 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008 …
21 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that it was appropriate for the First Minister to attend a press conference in St Andrew’s House in his capacity as First Minister on the issue of the Trump planning application, having been specifically prohibited from commenting on the matter as First Minister.
Answer · John Swinney: Yes. The First Minister wasdiscussing the position of the Scottish Government as set out in the answers to54 parliamentary questions on the matter. As in all his public statements onthe issue, the First Minister made no comment that could be interpreted asbei…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister first became aware that the Trump planning application was being called in, by what means and from whom.
Answer · John Swinney: I informed Mr Salmond afterI had made the decision to call in the planning application.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether telephone calls placed from private offices are listed by extension number.
Answer · John Swinney: Yes.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it ceased to record telephone calls between ministers, civil servants and special advisers about matters of substance.
Answer · John Swinney: There has never been acorporate policy in the Scottish Government advising staff that a formal minutemust be produced for particular telephone calls.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the advice provided by the Chief Planner and Head of Planning Decisions Division to the First Minister in his capacity as MSP for Gordon on 29 and 30 November 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: Officials offered verbaladvice to Mr Salmond, at his request, confirming that, as MSP for theconstituency where the development was proposed, he was entitled to representproperly the interests of his constituents and to speak to the developer and toany other …
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when on 4 December 2007 the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth spoke to the First Minister about the Trump planning application.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8107 on 22 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth had any discussions with the First Minister on 3 December 2007 about the Trump planning application.
Answer · John Swinney: I had no such discussionswith the First Minister.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any special adviser has made telephone or email contact with representatives from the Trump Organization since May 2007 and, if so, who.
Answer · John Swinney: We are giving considerationto the publication of information under Freedom of Information legislation thatrelates to this question. I will write to advise when this procedure has beencompleted.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner has ever held meetings with developers after a planning application had been called in since May 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: No.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many backbench MSPs have had meetings arranged for developers with the Chief Planner 24 hours after making telephone contact since May 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: Information in the formrequested is not held by the Scottish Government.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone calls from backbench MSPs the Chief Planner has received since May 2007 asking for meetings to be arranged with developers.
Answer · John Swinney: The Chief Planner regularlyreceives telephone calls from MSPs about planning matters. Information aboutthe number of calls is not held by the Scottish Government because a formal recordis not routinely produced for every call received, as many involve simply …
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth had any conversations about the Trump planning application with the First Minister on 2, 3 or 4 December 2007 prior to the application being called in and, if so, what the timing was of each conversation.
Answer · John Swinney: No such discussions tookplace.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executivewhen it intends to respond to all freedom of information requests in relation to the Trump planning application.
Answer · John Swinney: Freedom of Informationresponses will be published as soon as possible. Priority has been given toanswering parliamentary questions and to supporting relevant appearances at theLocal Government and Communities Committee.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7671 by John Swinney on 20 December 2007, whether it will publish the records of telephone calls between the Chief Planner and the First Minister in his capacity as MSP for Gordon and their content.
Answer · John Swinney: Information in the formrequested is not held by the Scottish Government.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner has been placed under any pressure by ministers or MSPs in relation to calling in the Trump planning application.
Answer · John Swinney: No.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Permanent Secretary has, together with his consideration of the behaviour of civil servants, considered the behaviour of ministers, including the First Minister, in the handling of the Trump planning application.
Answer · John Swinney: The Permanent Secretary has made clear, as part of his consideration of the behaviour of civil servants,that he received an assurance from the Chief Planner that he has, at no time, been instructed by any party toact improperly and that he feels he has applie…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the minute of the meeting between Scottish Government planning officials and the Trump Organization does not record the fact or detail of the telephone call to the Chief Executive of Aberdeenshire Council.
Answer · John Swinney: The minute of the meetingrecords the main points discussed by the participants. It was not necessary toproduce a verbatim record.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who made the request that the Chief Planner meet the Trump Organization on 4 December 2007 and when and to whom it was made.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-7701 on 20 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on who made the request that led to the meeting between the First Minister in his capacity as the MSP for Gordon and the Trump Organization on 3 December 2007 and on when and to whom this request was made.
Answer · John Swinney: Mr Salmond undertook thismeeting in his capacity as constituencymember for Gordon. It is not for the Scottish Government to comment on ministers’constituency business.</p><p>However, Mr Salmond has madeclear in earlier statements that the Trump Organization h…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the statement by the First Minister that the MSP for Gordon did not discuss the Trump planning application at his meeting with representatives of the Trump Organization on 3 December 2007 is accurate, given that he placed a call to the Chief Planner about this subject on the same …
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-7663 on 20 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what car journeys were made using the Government Car Service to and from the Marcliffe Hotel on 3 December 2007, showing who the passengers were and the timetable of all movements of the car involved on that day.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested islisted as follows.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=552> <thead> <tr> <td width=60 valign=top> <p>Time</p> </td> <td width=96 valign=top> <p align=center>Pick Up</p> </td> <td width=132 valign=to…