Parliamentary questions

Jean Urquhart

147 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

27 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the European Union Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas 2014 to 2020 have beneficial implications for the purchase of forests by community bodies.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government’s priority is to support Scotland’s community empowerment agenda, in particular through encouraging asset and land ownership. We recognise that in a limited number of circumstances state aid can be a barrier to community aspirations. H…

27 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government to which body judicial oaths of office and allegiance will be directed in the event of independence.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has no plans to change judicial oaths of office and allegiance in the event of independence. These oaths will continue to be directed to the Queen and to the law itself.

27 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the European Court of Justice as a valid avenue of appeal in relation to criminal cases in which interim suspension of sentence is granted pending appeal on the grounds of violation of human rights.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A Scottish court can refer a question of interpretation of EU law to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for a preliminary ruling. It is for the courts to determine if the circumstances of any particular case permit or justify a reference to the ECJ. It would…

3 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing accredited courses in Polish at local authority schools and introducing exams in the subject at (a) National 4, (b) National 5 and (c) Higher level as part of the curriculum for excellence.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Local Authorities are responsible for decisions about what courses should be taught in schools and this includes whether to introduce any accredited courses in Polish. In terms of qualifications, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has validated Poli…

27 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether tolls can be levied on the use of (a) roads and (b) bridges and, if so, under what legislation.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has a clear policy against the use of road and bridge tolls now or any time in the future.

20 May 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to sustain employment in Caithness and north Sutherland.

14 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20903 by Keith Brown on 12 May 2014, for what reasons an alternative route certificate was not required.

Answer · Keith Brown: No existing road was included in the A87 Skye crossing, therefore there was no alternative route and a certificate was not required. A certificate would only be produced in certain circumstances. Firstly, the special road scheme for the A87 Skye crossing wou…

14 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20567 by Keith Brown on 22 April 2014, whether a special road scheme raised under section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 is itself a legislative instrument when it prescribes a route to be a special road and the types of traffic that may or may …

Answer · Keith Brown: A scheme made under section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 is a Scottish statutory instrument and is subordinate legislation.

14 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Road Traffic Act 1960 has been repealed in whole or in part and, if so, by what Act, and when the repeal provision came into force.

Answer · Keith Brown: Information regarding the status of the Road Traffic Act 1960 is in the public domain and can be obtained through the National Archives website at: www.legislation.gov.uk

28 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20531 by Keith Brown on 22 April 2014, whether this constitutes official confirmation that there is no reasonably convenient alternative route that has no ferry or toll.

Answer · Keith Brown: No.S4W-20531 confirmed that an alternative route certificate was not required.

16 Apr 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the impact is on crofting of the reintroduction of sea eagles.

4 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will adopt the Corran ferry crossing as part of the national trunk road system.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has no plans to include ferry crossings as part of the trunk road network.

2 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-20307 by Keith Brown on 2 April 2014 and given the interpretation of "prescribe" in section 142 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, whether a special road scheme under section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 is exercising powers of regulatio…

Answer · Keith Brown: The definition of “prescribed” in section 142 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 does not apply to section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 regulates, among other matters, the use of special roads authorised under …

2 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will place a copy of the alternative route certificate for the A87 Skye crossing in the Scottish Parliamentary Information Centre (SPICe).

Answer · Keith Brown: A certificate of this nature is not required. A certificate is required when another reasonably convenient route is available or will be built.

24 Mar 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions regarding school closures in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill will be applied retroactively to schools that have recently been proposed for closure.

21 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Ministers exercise a form of road regulation when a special road scheme prescribes types of traffic that may, or may not, use a route.

Answer · Keith Brown: Where a special road scheme has prescribed the classes of traffic that may use that road, the road is regulated by section 17(1 ) and (4) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 which provides that the special road shall not be used by traffic of any other cl…

7 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19901 by Keith Brown on 6 March 2014, whether section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 requires that the power to make a special road scheme is exercised by means of a statutory instrument.

Answer · Keith Brown: Section 143(1) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 requires the power to make or confirm a special roads scheme under section 7 of that Act to be exercised by statutory instrument.

24 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19745 by Keith Brown on 21 February 2014, whether a special road scheme made under section 7 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 in relation to a trunk road must be published as a general print or can be issued as a local and private non-print.

Answer · Keith Brown: Regulation 6 of the Scottish Statutory Instruments Regulations 2011 requires publication of special roads schemes, which are Scottish statutory instruments, on the Queen’s Printer’s website. A scheme would only be printed if it was laid before the Scottish Pa…