Parliamentary questions
Jackie Baillie
9,397 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Head of Planning Decisions Division has in relation to any planning application and, in particular, what role he has in relation to the called-in Trump planning application.
Answer · John Swinney: Planning DecisionsDivision’s primary purpose is to consider planning applications and otherplanning cases notified or referred to Scottish ministers, advising ministers asappropriate. It is the role of the Head of Planning Decisions Division to leadand overse…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a formal record of the telephone call of 4 December 2007 between the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and the Chief Planner about the call-in of the Trump planning application.
Answer · John Swinney: The phone call was notformally minuted, a record is kept on file showing that the Cabinet Secretaryfor Finance and Sustainable Growth had agreed to call in the application.</p>
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Planner contacted the First Minister on 4 December 2007 about the Trump planning application and, if so, when.
Answer · John Swinney: The Chief Planner metrepresentatives of the Trump Organization on 4 December 2007.At the close of the meeting the Chief Planner telephoned Mr Salmond, in hiscapacity as MSP for Gordon, as a courtesy to say the meeting had taken placeand said that all discussi…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether members of the Trump Organization were with the First Minister when he called the Chief Planner on 3 December 2007.
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 plans it has to ensure that frontline staff in local authorities and other bodies that operate the concessionary travel scheme are properly trained to ensure that those who are entitled to the scheme under any of the qualifying criteria receive the card.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Staff within localauthorities who have responsibility for concessionary travel have been issuedwith a copy of The National Bus Travel Concession Scheme for Older and DisabledPersons (Eligible Persons and Eligible Services) (Scotland) Order 2006 which explains…
20 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the information provided to local authorities and other bodies that provide concessionary travel cards to ensure that people with learning disabilities who are entitled to the cards receive them and that they are fully aware of the 15 qualifying criteria under which…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Guidance notes which areissued to local authorities are reviewed on a regular basis to provide as muchinformation as possible to staff who deal with the validation of applicationforms for Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People.</p><p>The …
18 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in how many cases since May 1999 ministers have called in a planning application after the local authority has rejected it.
Answer · John Swinney: Scottish ministers have no powerto call in a planning application after the written notice of refusal has been issuedby a planning authority.</p>
18 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all telephone calls about the Trump Organization’s planning application for a golf course, hotel and residential development on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire between civil servants, ministers or special advisers and representatives of (a) the Trump O…
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government doesnot hold this information.</p>
14 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what further action it will take to combat fuel poverty.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We have allocated £45.9 millionin each of the years 2008-11 to fuel poverty programmes. I am currently reviewingthese programmes to ensure they are still fit for purpose and serve the needs of the people of Scotland.</p>
14 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the full Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum last met.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The forum last met on 20 June2006.</p>
14 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconvene the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I am currently carrying out areview of fuel poverty programmes. As part of this review, I will consider whatwould be the most appropriate avenue for stakeholder engagement.</p>
14 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all the hospitality provided at the Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, New York during the VisitScotland event on 2 and 3 December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: An event was held at the TrumpNational Golf Club to welcome participants to the Globalscot Conference and to givethem an opportunity to network with each other. This comprised a two and a halfhour-long reception at which food, refreshments and music were prov…
14 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth or the First Minister will apologise to the Parliament for any factual inaccuracies by special advisers on 13 December 2007 when briefing the media about the telephone conversations between the Chief Planner and Chief Execut…
Answer · John Swinney: Special advisers didnot brief factual inaccuracies to the media.</p><p>All information given to Parliament on this issue hasbeen correct.</p><p>The BBC approachedScottish Government officials on 12 December 2007 with questions relating to the Chief Planner’s …
14 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why VisitScotland selected the Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, New York as a venue for an event, given that it is separately located from the main event venue.
Answer · John Swinney: Another venue was required becausethe main venue at Armonk could not offer a facility for the exclusive use of theconference welcome and networking reception. The Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, waschosen because of its relative proximity, and suitabil…
14 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what events were attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on his visit to the United States of America on 2 and 3 December 2007, showing (a) the host organisation, (b) the venue, (c) who paid, and (d) the names of all the guests and organisations they represent…
Answer · John Swinney: On 2 December 2007, I attended the GlobalScot Welcome Reception, which washeld at the Trump National Golf Club, Westchester, New York. Scottish Enterprise arranged the reception and VisitScotlandBusiness Tourism Unit were the sponsor of the reception. The lis…
14 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there was any sponsorship or in-kind support for any of the events attended by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth during his visit to the United States of America on 2 and 3 December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: IBM Scotland provided £20,000in cash sponsorship towards the Americas Globalscot conference. VisitScotland BusinessTourism Unit provided £15,000 in cash sponsorship towards the Conference Networkingreception held at Trump National Golf Resort. Pernod Ricard p…
12 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7005 by John Swinney on 6 December 2007, when the Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) dispatched the data to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde; when civil servants were advised that there was a potential problem, and when ministers were similarly advi…
Answer · John Swinney: The data were despatched on 26 October 2007. Civilservants were advised of a potential problem on 23 November. Ministers were informedon 23 November.</p>
11 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6786 by Bruce Crawford on 3 December 2007, whether the review of the Scottish Ministerial Code will include consideration of having an independent adviser to investigate breaches of the code, similar to the approach taken by Prime Minister, Gordon Br…
Answer · Bruce Crawford: In line with the practice aftereach Scottish parliamentary election, the Scottish Ministerial Code is currentlybeing reviewed. The review will consider a number of issues and will be publishedin the near future.</p>
11 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6783 by Bruce Crawford on 3 December 2007, when the review of the Scottish Ministerial Code will be concluded.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The review is expected to beconcluded in the near future and a revised version of the code will be publishedby the First Minister soon after.</p>
11 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6782 by Bruce Crawford on 3 December 2007, what the likely date of publication is for the revised version of the Scottish Ministerial Code.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-7755 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…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the comments made by the Deputy First Minister on 6 December 2007 (Official Report, c. 4140), whether, in the interests of openness and transparency, it will publish the legal advice on the draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is the practice of successivegovernments, reflected in the Scottish Ministerial Code and the provisions of theFreedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, that the fact and content of legal adviceis not revealed.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the comments made by the Deputy First Minister on 6 December 2007 (Official Report, c. 4140), whether the draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill is competent and legal.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: <i >Choosing Scotland''s Future</i> says (at paragraph 5.9 and paragraph 3 on page 35) that as far as legislative competence is concerned, a referendum could be held under the authority of an Act of the Scottish Parliament, depending on the precise propositio…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will publish the advice that he received on the legal basis for calling in planning applications after they have been rejected by the relevant local planning authorities and where no appeal has been lodged.
Answer · John Swinney: It is Scottish Government practiceneither to confirm or deny whether legal advice has been received.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all those who have made representations that the Trump Organisation’s planning application for a golf development at the Menie Estate should be called in, subsequent to it being determined by the local planning authority.
Answer · John Swinney: We will in due course publisha list of all representations that have been received by the Scottish Government’sPlanning Directorate.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the occasions on which the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has discussed the Trump Organisation’s planning application for a golf development at the Menie Estate with the First Minister.
Answer · John Swinney: Some weeks prior to the meetingof the Infrastructure Services Committee of Aberdeenshire Council I advised theFirst Minister that I intended to determine the Menie Estate planning applicationif it required ministerial input as Mr Stevenson represented an Aber…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the occasions on which the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth (a) met and (b) spoke to Mr Jim Mackinnon, Chief Planner, between 20 November and 10 December 2007, also showing the matters discussed on each occasion.
Answer · John Swinney: The Chief Plannerand I discuss planning issues on a regular basis. We met on 20 November 2007 to discuss the National Planning Framework. On 26November, we met at a meeting of local authority planning directors. On 5 December,we met to discuss the Forth Repla…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the legislative basis is for the decision to call in the Trump Organisation’s planning application for a golf development at the Menie Estate, subsequent to it being determined by the local planning authority.
Answer · John Swinney: The call-in was made underSection 46 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. As the council had yet to issue notice ofits decision on the case the application was still live at the time when it wascalled in by the Scottish Government.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister has had contact with any representative of the Trump Organisation subsequent to his meeting with representatives of the organisation at the Marcliffe Hotel on 3 December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: Mr Salmond has had nocontact with the Trump Organization in his capacity as First Minister. Themeeting referred to was undertaken by Mr Salmond in his capacity asconstituency MSP for Gordon.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all minutes and other documentation relating to the Trump Organisation application for a golf development at the Menie Estate, Aberdeenshire, into which the First Minister’s Private Office has been copied since May 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: We are giving immediateconsideration to the publication of information alongside requests made underFreedom of Information legislation. I will write to advise when this has beenmade available.</p>
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the occasions on which the First Minister (a) met and (b) spoke to Mr Jim Mackinnon, Chief Planner, between 20 November and 10 December 2007, also showing the matters discussed on each occasion.
Answer · John Swinney: The First Ministermet Mr Mackinnon to discuss the National Planning Framework on 20 November 2007and the Forth Replacement Crossing on 5 December. On 7 December they discussedby telephone the current position with a development proposal for Aviemorewhich had …