Parliamentary questions

Jackie Baillie

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

2 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4830 by John Swinney on 31 October 2007, how much was claimed in expenses by each special adviser.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4830on 31 October 2007 which provided overall travel and subsistenceexpenses for special advisers but this information was not broken down by individualname. Special Advisers are employed on the same terms and c…

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the recipients of the First Minister’s letter to all states party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The information requestedis as follows:London-Based Embassies<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=366> <tr> <td width=366 valign=top> His Excellency Mr Ahmad Wali Masoud </td> </tr> <tr> <td width=366 valign=top> His E…

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the responses received to the First Minister’s letter to all states party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty with regard to gaining observer status at their meetings.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: There are noplans to publish any responses received as this might prejudice free and frankdiscussion between governments.

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place to publish the responses received to the First Minister’s letter to all states party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty with regard to gaining observer status at their meetings.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: There are noplans to publish any responses received as this might prejudice free and frankdiscussion between governments.

30 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which minister was responsible for instructing that the Choosing Scotland’s Future white paper be printed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It was the collectivedecision of the Scottish Government.

30 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the costs of the publication of Choosing Scotland’s Future and, in particular, those pages containing the draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the memberto the answer to questions S3W-3301 and S3W-3331 on 12 September 2007. 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…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will continue and develop the media campaign to challenge attitudes to domestic abuse.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The 2007-08 campaignwill commence on Boxing Day with the main aim of highlighting the unacceptabilityof domestic abuse in our society. This year’s focus will highlight the effects thatdomestic abuse has on children and young people. As in previous years the t…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will improve and develop services for women and children experiencing domestic abuse.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentis committed to addressing all forms of violence against women, including servicesfor women and children experiencing domestic abuse.To assist in that process the Scottish Government is inthe process of developing a National Viol…

23 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue existing funding streams beyond March 2008 to help support women experiencing domestic abuse.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Until the currentSpending Review is complete the Scottish government will not be in a position tomake any announcements about funding, including the possible extension of existingfunding streams. However, we will make a decision about the future of the fundin…

10 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all costs, including staff time, arising from the organisation of the A National Conversation – Scotland’s Future without Nuclear Weapons conference.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The totalcost arising from the organisation of the A National Conversation – Scotland’s Future withoutNuclear Weapons conference was £4,843.37. This covers venue hire, catering,branding and technical support.Calculatingthe costs associated with officia…

10 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have been held with the (a) Scotland Office and (b) Ministry of Defence in advance of the A National Conversation – Scotland’s Future without Nuclear Weapons conference.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: No discussions wereheld with the Scotland Office. There were discussions at official level with theMinistry of Defence about representation and the submission of papers for the meeting.

10 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all those invited to attend the A National Conversation – Scotland’s Future without Nuclear Weapons conference, also indicating the organisations that they represent.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The list of thoseinvited to attend the conference is as follows:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=626> <thead> <tr> <td width=241 valign=top> Name </td> <td width=385 valign=top> Organisation<…

9 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the budget for NHS boards is allocated in recognition of rurality.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Arbuthnott Formulais the result of multiplying a series of indices together, and as such there isno specific share of the budget allocated for rurality. The formula includes anadjustment for the unavoidable excess costs of delivering services to remote an…

9 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the budget for NHS boards is allocated in recognition of levels of deprivation.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Arbuthnott Formulais the result of multiplying a series of indices, and as such there is no specificshare of the budget allocated for deprivation. The formula includes adjustmentsfor the “needs” of the population - based on indices for the age-sex profile…

9 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it recognises the additional cost of providing health services for people from (a) disadvantaged communities and (b) rural areas.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Currently the fundingfor Hospital and Community Health Services and GP Prescribing is distributed viathe Arbuthnott Formula. The formula assesses each health board’s relative need forfunding, using information about its population size and characteristics tha…

9 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the funding implications will be for each NHS board if the recommendations of the National Resource Allocation Committee are implemented.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: If any adjustmentsare made in health boards’ relative funding based on National Resource Allocation Committee’s (NRAC) report, I have confirmed that noboard would receive less funding than it does at present and any changes would bephased in over a number of …

9 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the recommendations of the National Resource Allocation Committee report.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The report raisessome very important issues which must be considered within the context of the currentSpending Review. I am currently studying the report and its recommendations carefully,and have sent it to the Convener of the Health and Sport Committee aski…

9 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether transitional funding for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Highland, following the dissolution of NHS Argyll and Clyde, will be available beyond 2009-10.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Based on current financialplans it is not expected that transitional funding will be required beyond 2009-10.We will continue to work closely with both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Highland on all aspects of financialplanning.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fines have been issued by local authorities in relation to the abuse of disabled parking bays since 1999.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requestedis not held centrally.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fines have been issued by the police in relation to the abuse of disabled parking bays since 1999.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requestedis not held centrally.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many disabled parking bays are advisory, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This information isnot held centrally.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many disabled parking bays are enforceable, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This information isnot held centrally.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many traffic regulation orders for disabled parking bays have been promoted by local authorities since 1999.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This information isnot held centrally.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is of births by (a) caesarean section and (b) natural delivery.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on thecosts of specific clinical procedures is not available centrally.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the running costs are of the community midwife unit at (a) the Vale of Leven Hospital, (b) Inverclyde Hospital and (c) the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The running costsof the community midwifery units at these three hospitals is not held centrally.Information in the Scottish Health Service Costs publication does not explicitlyidentify the costs associated with community midwifery at hospital level.

2 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any Cabinet Secretary or minister would be prepared to certify the provisions of the draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill to be within the legislative competence of the Parliament as required by section 31 (1) of the Scotland Act 1998 and, if so, which Cabinet Secretary or minister.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3306 on 12 September 2007. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29 by John Swinney on 30 May 2007, what travel, accommodation and subsistence allowances have been claimed by each special adviser since appointment.

Answer · John Swinney: The expenditure recordedin table A shows the total expenses incurred by special advisers since their appointmentin May. It includes accommodation and meals, travel expenses and personal incidentalexpenses. The expenditure was either incurred by the adviser an…

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29 by John Swinney on 30 May 2007, whether all special advisers have achieved satisfactory security, health and reference clearances.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4824 on 15 October 2007. 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…

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29 by John Swinney on 30 May 2007, whether a special adviser is leading on dealings with the Council of Economic Advisers and whether this is considered to be good practice.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4825 on 15 October 2007. 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…

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29 by John Swinney on 30 May 2007, whether Jennifer Erickson is employed on a full-time basis and how many hours she works.