Parliamentary questions

Linda Fabiani

2,507 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

29 Jun 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the impact of the UK Government's proposed housing benefit reforms will be on access to social rented housing in Scotland.

15 Jun 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions are available to local authorities in cases of antisocial behaviour by tenants of private landlords.

17 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is able to assist community groups or trusts that wish to acquire assets from local authorities.

Answer · John Swinney: It is for local authorities as independent corporate bodies to decide whether they dispose of their assets to community groups or trusts. New Regulations were introduced on 1 June 2010 simplifying the procedures local authorities must follow when considering …

17 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the disposal of assets from local authorities to community groups or trusts.

Answer · John Swinney: It is for local authorities as independent corporate bodies to decide whether to dispose of their assets to community groups or trusts. However, the Scottish Government recognises, that in the right circumstances, community asset ownership can be a powerful w…

14 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to inventors in relation to marketing their inventions.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of innovation as a key driver of long-term sustainable economic growth. Our focus is on creating a flexible, supportive business environment and we look to our enterprise agencies to deliver support for Scotti…

13 Jan 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the next meeting of the Audiology Services Advisory Group will be held.

Answer · Shona Robison: The next meeting of the Audiology Services Advisory Group will take place on 9 February 2011.

7 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what companies or other organisations it (a) wholly owns, (b) partially owns only with other public authorities listed in Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and (c) partially owns with organisations or individuals not listed in Schedule 1 to the Act.

Answer · John Swinney: (a) Companies in which the Scottish Ministers are the sole shareholder and companies limited by guarantee established solely by the Scottish Ministers are as follows: Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd; David MacBrayne Ltd; Highland…

15 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult on a draft Bill on self-directed support.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has today published a consultation on a draft Bill on self-directed support. The consultation can be found on the Scottish Government website using the following link: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publ…

21 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities give grant funding to Citizens Advice Bureaux in their areas.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37035 on 19 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ap…

21 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities fund an in-house money advice service.

Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

24 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications of a rise in VAT from 17.5% to 20% would be for each Scottish local authority.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has made no estimation of the cost to local authorities as a result of any increase in VAT. Section 33 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 provides all local authorities with the power to recover VAT incurred from supplies of goods and ser…

19 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will write to the UK Government asking that it confirm that VAT will not be imposed on new house building and that consideration will be given to removing VAT for rehabilitation works to older buildings in order to boost the construction industry and assist in the conservation …

Answer · Alex Neil: I have written to the UK Government reiterating our support for a reduction in VAT for maintenance and repair activity and expressing concern about the negative effects that charging VAT on new build properties would have on both the construction sector and t…

13 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought clarification from the UK Government that the pledge in its coalition agreement to end detention of children in Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre will be extended to ensure the ending of dawn raids in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Russell: I welcome the Immigration Minister''s recent announcement that the detention of children at Dungavel is to end immediately. However, I remain opposed to detaining children of asylum seekers anywhere in the UK, including those who may be transferred from Scotl…

13 May 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S3W-28748 by John Swinney on 16 November 2009, how it monitors the number of small and medium-sized enterprises that compete for public sector contracts.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government''s Public Contracts Scotland portal captures information on the number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that express an interest in contracts advertised on the portal. Since PCS was launched in October 2008, 83% of notes of…

18 Mar 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with the UK Government in relation to minimum pricing for alcohol.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We have regular discussions with the UK Government about alcohol policy and we are pleased that only last week at the debate in the House of Commons on the Health Select Committee''s report on alcohol, the UK Government did not rule out minimum pricing for al…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Scotland is represented on the BMA’s Medical Fair and Ethical Trade Group.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Scotland is not represented on the BMA''s Medical Fair and ethical Trade Group. In December 2008, the Scottish Government published The Scottish Procurement Policy Handbook, which provides detail on both ethical standards of business and …

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the guidance on the ethical purchasing of medical supplies being developed by the BMA for the NHS in England.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Through NHS National Procurement, the centre for expertise for all procurement by NHSScotland, we are aware of the guidance on the ethical purchasing of medical supplies being developed by the BMA for the NHS in England. NHSScotland will link into this guidan…

29 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the work of the BMA to promote ethical purchasing policies for medical supplies for the NHS.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Through NHS National Procurement, the centre for expertise for all procurement by NHSScotland, we are aware of the work of the BMA to promote ethical purchasing policies for medical supplies for the NHS.

8 Oct 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect inherited PFI/PPP payments will have on its future budgets.

Answer · John Swinney: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1008-01.htm">http://www.scott…

14 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with vehicle fuel vendors about fitting vapour recovery fuel pumps.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Regulations were introduced in December 2008 which require petrol vapour recovery equipment (stage II controls) to be fitted at petrol pumps at all large petrol stations across Scotland by 2012. These controls were introduced following consultation with vehic…

14 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations cover the use of carcinogens in vehicle fuel.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: European Directive 98/70/EC (as amended) sets out the environmental fuel quality specifications for petrol and diesel fuels in the European Community. This restricts the content of a number of substances including benzene, aromatics and polycyclic aromatic hy…

14 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the environmental and public health effects of benzene and other aromatics when used in vehicle fuel.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: European Directive 98/70/EC sets limits for the content of aromatics and benzene in petrol. The Directive is regularly reviewed, most recently in 2007, and any amendments take account of the most up to date advice from health professionals and other relevant …

14 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence has been of cancers affecting the head in each year for which information is available.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Please note that cancers of the head and neck are not separated for Information Services Division (ISD) statistics. Data on the number of people diagnosed with head and neck cancers is available for Scotland by NHS Region and NHS board and years (1…

14 May 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what cross-border co-operation there has been between NHS Scotland and its English counterpart in combating the flu outbreak.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS in Scotland and in the rest of the UK have worked closely together on flu pandemic planning. From the outset of the emergence of the Influenza A H1N1 strain, Health Protection Scotland has proactively linked with the Health Protection Agency in Englan…

5 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which community health partnerships have a combined falls prevention and bone health strategy in place.

Answer · Shona Robison: The following table represents the current position on falls prevention and bone health strategies for all community health partnership areas. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=156 valign=top > <p align=cen…

5 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a composite response to the recommendations made by the five action groups, including the Accountability and Governance Action Group, to improve external scrutiny and complaints handling for public services.

Answer · John Swinney: I have today published on the Scottish Government''s website our response to the recommendations made by all five scrutiny improvement action groups. Those who contributed to the action groups and our delivery partners have also been informed directly. Togeth…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission a route action plan study for the B758.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-32666 on 29 March 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the last safety audit was carried out on the B758 and which parts of the route were covered by it.

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many road traffic accidents there were on the B758 in each of the last five years and, of these, how many resulted in fatalities and serious injuries, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Data about injury road accidentsare collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which oneor more people were injured and which become known to the police.…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the latest Route Accident Reduction Plan studies carried out on the B758.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The B758 is classed as a localroad and is, therefore, the responsibility of those local authorities through whichthe route runs.