Jackie Baillie

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 it will provide details of the status, responsibilities and contract terms of Jennifer Erickson.

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 it will clarify the length of the short-term contract under which Jennifer Erickson was appointed to establish the Council of Economic Advisers.

Answer · John Swinney: Jennifer Ericksonhas been engaged on a contractual basis since 1 June as a self-employed consultant.Her remit is:</p><p>1. Working to the First Minister and the CabinetSecretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, and in collaboration with the Director-Genera…

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, how many special advisers there are now; what their specific responsibilities are, and what the cost is of their employment.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5415 on 15 October 2007 which set out the current number of special advisersand their responsibilities. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the parliament’s website, the search facilit…

26 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to improve the accuracy of civil judicial statistics and when these will be implemented.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4623 on 23 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…

26 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations for reform of civil judicial statistics have emerged following the review of civil judicial statistics and when these will be implemented.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Governmentis reviewing the scope, quality and presentation of statistics on the civil justicesystem, and will make and implement recommendations for change to ensure that accurate,relevant and timely statistics are collected in a consistent way a…

26 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when civil judicial statistics for 2003, 2004 and 2005 will be made publicly available.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: It is believed thatsome of the data contained within the <i>Civil Judicial Statistics</i> publicationcontain significant inaccuracies and as a result the publication has been suspendedwhilst these inaccuracies are investigated. The latest available publicatio…

26 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many diligences were executed, including summary warrant, in each year since 2002.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requestedfor 2002 is given in tables 5.4 and 5.5 of <i>Civil Judicial Statistics 2002</i>,which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18897/33079">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18897/33079</a…

26 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many diligences were executed under summary warrant for (a) community charge, (b) council tax and (c) other summary warrant in each year since 2002.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4621 on 23 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…

26 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for conjoined arrestment orders were made and granted in the sheriff courts in each year since 2002.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requestedfor 2002 is given in table 5.3 of <i>Civil Judicial Statistics 2002</i>, which canbe found at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18897/33079">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18897/33079</a>.</p><p>…

26 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for (a) warrant sales, (b) reporting of poindings and (c) reports of sales were disposed of in the sheriff courts in each year since 2002.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requestedfor 2002 is given in table 5.2 of <i>Civil Judicial Statistics 2002</i>, which canbe found at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18897/33079">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18897/33079</a>.</p><p>…

26 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for extensions of time to pay debts were made in the sheriff courts in each year since 2002, broken down by type of order.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requestedfor 2002 is given in table 5.1 of <i>Civil Judicial Statistics 2002</i>, which canbe found at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18897/33079">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2004/02/18897/33079</a>.</p><p>…

26 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will implement its proposal to exempt dwelling houses from land attachment.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Governmentis concerned that the provisions relating to land attachment, contained in the Bankruptcyand Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007, should not have the unintendedconsequence of homelessness for a relatively small debt.</p><p>The Scottish G…

26 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report to the Parliament on a new approach to bankruptcy for debtors with low income and low assets.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Bankruptcy andDiligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 contains provisions outlining a scheme whichwill allow debtors with low income and low assets, who are often unable to obtaindebt relief under the current rules, to apply for their own bankruptcy.</p><p>On …

20 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that consistent standards are maintained by local authorities for processing form NCT002.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The NCT002 detailsthe criteria which requires to be met by anyone applying under the mentalhealth category and requires an authorised signatory from a recognised establishmentto confirm that an applicant meets the criteria.</p><p>All local authoritieshave bee…

20 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many claims for national entitlement cards for free bus travel have been rejected following submission of form NCT002, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Anyone who submitsan application for Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel for Older and Disabled People accompaniedby a fully completed NCT002 authorised by an appropriate person will have theirapplication processed and will be issued with a national entitlement car…

20 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many national entitlement cards for free bus travel have been renewed following submission of form NCT002, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland does not hold this information as the renewal ofnational entitlement cards is the responsibility of local authorities. As such,any available information relating to card issue statistics is held by them.</p>

20 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people receiving the lower level of Disability Living Allowance and entitled to national entitlement cards for free bus travel under transitional arrangements have been refused renewal as these schemes come to an end, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland does not hold this information as the issue and renewalof national entitlement cards is the responsibility of local authorities As such,any available information relating to card issue statistics is held by them.</p>

20 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with a learning disability and entitled to national entitlement cards for free bus travel under transitional arrangements have been refused renewal as these schemes come to an end, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland does not hold this information as the issue and renewalof national entitlement cards is the responsibility of local authorities. As such,any available information relating to card issue statistics is held by them.</p>

20 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people entitled to national entitlement cards for free bus travel under transitional arrangements have been refused renewal as these schemes come to an end, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland does not hold this information as the renewal ofnational entitlement cards is the responsibility of local authorities. As such,any available information relating to card issue statistics is held by them.</p>

18 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is its view that the Bill outlined at Annex B of the white paper, Choosing Scotland’s Future: A National Conversation, is within the legislative competence of the Parliament.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3306 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.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

10 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3696 by Linda Fabiani on 4 September 2007, whether it will provide a profile of the funding for international development for each year from 2007-08 to 2011-12.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I announced our commitmentto increase funding for international development to £9 million within the lifetimeof this Parliament, within the context of the current spending review. I cannotconfirm a funding profile until the current spending review is complete…

30 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3292 by Shona Robison on 27 August 2007, what action it will take if Argyll and Bute Council fails to meet its statutory responsibilities for the assessment and delivery of services to older people in its area.

Answer · Shona Robison: Ministers have a rangeof options for taking action where they consider that a local authority is failingto meet its statutory responsibilities. The appropriate action in any specific casewould depend on the facts and circumstances.</p>

30 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3292 by Shona Robison on 27 August 2007, whether it or Argyll and Bute Council has the more accurate assessment of need for community care services for older people.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’sneeds based methodology for distributing the core support for local government takesinto account a number of indicators of need. Each local authority is responsiblefor allocating this support taking into account not only its assessmen…

28 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the specific legal liabilities are for the buyer and seller in relation to property sales questionnaires.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The draft regulationswhich were the subject of recent consultation did not include proposals for specific legal liabilitiesfor a buyer or a seller in relation to a property sale questionnaire (PSQ), giventhat it was expected that PSQs would be referred to by …

28 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a seller will be allowed to alter the information contained in a property sales questionnaire once it has been completed.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The draft regulationswhich were the subject of recent consultation proposed that a seller would be allowed toalter the information contained in a property sale questionnaire.</p>

28 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that there are sufficient surveyors able to undertake single surveys when they are introduced.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Research carriedout by Tribal Consulting Limited titled <i>The Potential Impact of the SingleSurvey on the Property Industry’ </i>examined the ability of the surveyingsector in Scotland to handle the increase in demand for surveying services fromthe introduct…

28 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to institute an expiry time limit on single surveys.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The draftregulations which were the subject of recent consultation proposed that thesingle survey should be no more than 12 weeks old when the property was firstmarketed. However, there was no proposed time limit on the information in the singlesurvey. Rather…

28 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether purchasers’ information packs will be provided free, or at a reduced rate, to sellers on low incomes.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The draftregulations which were the subject of recent consultation proposed thatevery seller who marketed their property for sale would be under a duty toprovide, upon request, a single survey and a property sale questionnaire, whichwould form a purchaser’s i…

28 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the surveyors undertaking single surveys do not have conflicts of interest.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The draftregulations which were the subject of recent consultation provide forstrict criteria for approved providers and the intention is that they shouldmeet or match the professional standards, liability and redress provided bychartered surveyors. For a buy…

28 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned that the introduction of the single survey will artificially inflate house prices.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The published Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Single Survey (page 33) concluded that the provision of Single Survey by sellers would be unlikely to inflate house prices artificially. House prices are more likely to be influenced by macroeconomic …