Parliamentary questions

Karen Gillon

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

23 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been made allocated to South Lanarkshire Council for flood prevention in each year since 2005 and how much will be allocated in each year to 2011.

Answer · Michael Russell: These are the amountsallocated to South Lanarkshire Council since 2005 are shown in the followingtable:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=71 valign=top> Year </td> <td width=77 valign=top> <…

20 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on how fishing quotas should be identified and whether the Scottish Government will carry out a consultation of stakeholders to establish their views on the issue.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government believes that total allowable catches (TACs) should be set in line with scientific advice on the biological state of the stock, taking into account the socio-economic impact of TAC variations on the fishing industry and fisheries commu…

16 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that membership of the European Union would require an independent Scotland to be part of a common fisheries policy.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Negotiationswould be required on the detailed terms of continued membership of the EuropeanUnion of an independent Scotland. Full membership would of course provide Scotland with a greater influence in negotiations on the muchneeded reform of the Common Fishe…

14 Nov 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it believes that Scotland¿s law on culpable homicide can be developed.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We have no plans tochange the common law on culpable homicide. We consider that the Corporate Manslaughterand Corporate Homicide Act 2007 addresses the problem identified by the Transcocase. The act sends a robust message to organisations that failures…

9 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that membership of the European Union requires Scotland to participate in a common fisheries policy.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Scotland's membership of the European Union,currently as part of the United Kingdom, requires it tomeet all obligations with relevance to its devolved competences, including the CommonFisheries Policy (CFP). Full membership as an independent state would of c…

6 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to conduct an audit of common good fund assets across Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: We have no plans tocommission an audit of common good assets held by local authorities across Scotland. It is the responsibility of local authorities as trusteesto manage assets held for the common good according to sound asset management principles.

6 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make additional revenue available to local authorities to enable them to increase the funding available to community councils.

Answer · John Swinney: Our general approachis to reduce “ring-fencing” of funding and be less prescriptive about how localauthorities spend money. It will remain the case that each local authority willdecide what proportion of their revenue should be available to fund community cou…

6 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will proceed with the SNP manifesto commitments on community councils and, if so, which commitments and when these will be implemented.

Answer · John Swinney: We are proceedingwith all of the SNP manifesto commitments relating to community councils. No datehas yet been set for the implementation of any proposals or recommendations thatresult from these commitments.

6 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to expand the role of community councils.

Answer · John Swinney: We are currently consultingstakeholders, through the Community Council Working Group and through a series ofmeetings with people who have a particular expertise in empowering communities,on the potential for developing the role of community councils. This inc…

6 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase the grant it gives to the Association of Scottish Community Councils and, if so, when it will do so.

Answer · John Swinney: The Association ofScottish Community Councils (ASCC) receives an annual grant of £25,000 from the Scottish Government. The ASCC was advised in April 2007 that options for futurefunding would be addressed on completion of the spending review. We will considerc…

2 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that Scotland should remain a party to the Common Fisheries Policy.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scotland is best placed to manage its fisheries. Thecurrent constitutional settlement presents an obstacle to our withdrawal from theCFP. In the meantime we will be unrelenting in pursuing radical change to the regime.A key guiding principle will be to increa…

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will open the International Development Fund for new applications.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5748 on 8 November 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 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the Common Fisheries Policy.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No. The Common Fisheries Policy has not served Scotland’s interests or the interests of its fishing communities.

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms there are for complaints about the actions of water bailiffs.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the case of waterbailiffs appointed by the Scottish ministers, Scottish ministers would considerany complaints of inappropriate action and take appropriate steps. In the case ofwater bailiffs appointed by District Salmon Fishery Boards, individual boards w…

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for monitoring water bailiffs.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Water bailiffs areduty bound to operate within the law. Sponsor organisations and District SalmonFishery Boards should monitor the activities of their own bailiffs.

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects a Sunday service to be operational on the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: An hourly Sunday servicewill operate between Larkhall and Partick from the next timetable change date, 9December 2007.

24 Oct 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in taking forward the Scotland Malawi Partnership.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: A Joint CommissionReview meeting was held with the Government of Malawi in July 2007.We reaffirmed ourcommitment to the Co-operation Agreement with Malawi and the four subject strands.We agreed to developa clearer focus on activity within those …