Margaret Smith

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are veterans, broken down by those from the (a) Royal Navy, (b) RAF and (c) Army, expressed also as a proportion of the total prison population.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The following tableillustrates those prisoners who have reported as having been a member of any of the armed forces.</p><p>The percentag…

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to tighten planning rules to ensure that at least 25% of new housing developments are affordable homes.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Planning Advice Note74 on affordable housing advises planning authorities that a benchmark of 25% ofnew housing development should be allocated for affordable housing provision wherea need has been established. The PAN was introduced in 2005 and its effects w…

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with developers on meeting the target that 25% of new housing developments should be affordable homes.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Executive hasfrequent discussions with both Homes for Scotland and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations with regard to thedelivery of new affordable homes. The new Housing Supply Task Force willprovide a further opportunity to engage with key h…

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it assesses the progress of developers in meeting the target that 25% of new housing developments should be affordable homes.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-1252 on 9 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be foundat <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what percentage of new housing developments over the last year 25% of land for affordable housing has been set aside.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This informationis not held currently by the Scottish Executive. However, we are introducingnew monitoring arrangements this autumn which will measure the extent ofaffordable housing and associated contributions that have been secured throughthe planning syst…

11 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet received any legal opinion or advice on 5 June 2007 from the Lord Advocate or the Solicitor General to inform its discussion about the memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: By long standing convention,recognised in the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, the government does not disclose the matterson which it has, or has not, taken the advice of the Law Officers, nor does it disclosethe content of such …

11 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet discussed the memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments at its meeting on Tuesday 5 June 2007 and whether the Lord Advocate or the Solicitor General was present at that meeting.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: By long standing convention,recognised in the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, governments do not disclose information onthe deliberations of their Cabinet, nor who attended particular Cabinet meetings.I refer, however, to the ter…

11 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Lord Advocate first had sight of the memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-860 on 25 June 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.sear…

11 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Lord Advocate was first made aware of the memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The Memorandum ofUnderstanding between the United Kingdom and Libya which was signed on 29 May 2007was brought to my attention, along with a copy of the memorandum, on Friday 1 June2007.</p>

11 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with the UK Government about the memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments and when such discussions took place.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The UK Governmentdid not consult the Scottish Government on the Memorandum of Understanding withLibya.</p>

11 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it first received a copy of the memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments and from what source.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: On Friday 1 June,from the Home Office.</p>

11 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it first became aware of the existence of a memorandum of understanding between the UK and Libyan governments.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: On 1 June 2007. Before then we had only an indication that onemight exist.</p>

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it anticipates that any forthcoming sexual offences Bill will propose the removal of the gender-specific element of rape offences.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It would not be appropriateto speculate on the contents of the Scottish Law Commission’s forthcoming reporton rape and sexual offences. However, their <i>Discussion Paper</i>, published inJanuary 2006, included measures to amend the definition of rape so that…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce a sexual offences Bill following the work of the Scottish Law Commission on rape and other sexual offences and, if so, when it expects the Bill to be introduced.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We will determinehow best to take forward the Scottish Law Commission’s work when we receive theirreport and draft bill.</p>

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the Scottish Law Commission on its work on rape and other sexual offences.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Law Commissionis currently working on its report on rape and other sexual offences. It is expectedthat it will report to ministers in autumn 2007.</p>

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake up-to-date studies on journey patterns for all vehicles crossing the River Forth to inform the decision on the best route for a further Forth crossing.

Answer · Tavish Scott: An Origin/Destination surveywas undertaken on north bound Forth Road Bridge traffic on 20 March 2007to update the existing information. The results of the new survey will be comparedwith the existing data and used to inform the decision on the Forth crossing.…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultants involved in evaluating the potential routes and options for a further Forth crossing have relevant experience in building (a) bridges, (b) tunnels and (c) submerged tubes.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The consultants have an extensiverange of UK and international expertise in building bridges, tunnelsand immersed tube tunnels. Examples of Jacobs and Faber Maunsell’s experience canbe found on their websites at <a href="http://www.jacobs.com/">www.jacobs.com…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether full geological samples will be taken on all possible routes for a further Forth crossing.

Answer · Tavish Scott: A geotechnical investigationwill be made of the route corridors taken forward into the STAG appraisal: thiswill be in the form of a desk study to inform the current work and will be followedby intrusive investigations collecting data and samples once the rout…

19 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers will be involved in decisions about who is liable for financial contributions and the amount of contributions to be made in respect of the cost of the relocation of the Royal Highland Showground.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Funding the cost of this relocationis a matter for negotiation between the Royal Highland and Agricultural Societyof Scotland (RHASS) and BAA.</p>

16 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will examine the case for taking account of day visitors and the services they require in its review of the formula for the distribution of GAE funding to local authorities.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Although data on tourists andcommuters are currently included in the local government funding distribution formula,no reliable data are held centrally, specifically, on day visitors within Scotland. Toaddress this, the Scottish Executive is currently working …

13 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to consult and involve the communities of South Queensferry and West Lothian in respect of decisions about the type and location of a further Forth crossing.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland willhold public information events during the summer to inform local communities andbusinesses about the work on the project.</p>

31 Jan 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Strategic Transport Appraisal Guidance is being taken into account in the evaluation of a further Forth crossing and when a decision will be taken.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Forth Replacement CrossingStudy which is currently underway is using the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance(STAG) to appraise the emerging options.</p>

17 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposed relocation of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland’s Highland Showground from Ingliston to Norton Mains will be paid for and whether there will be any cost to Scottish taxpayers.

Answer · Des McNulty: It is not possible to be definitiveat this point about how the relocation of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Societyof Scotland’s Showground from Ingliston to Norton Mains will be paid for and whetherthere will be any cost to Scottish taxpayers. Studies a…

15 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the standard Strategic Transport Appraisal Guidance technique is being applied when comparing the options for a new Forth crossing.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2O-11967 on the 8 February 2007.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…

28 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has put in place to improve the sustainability of public sector buildings.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Scotland’s Sustainable Development strategy sets the agendafor change needed to raise sustainability standards. It emphasises the need forpublic bodies to play their part, not least with the management of the publicestate.</p><p>the Scottish Executive require…

27 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to reduce the number of young smokers.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Last summer, a sub-group of the Scottish Ministerial Working Group on Tobacco Control, the Smoking Prevention WorkingGroup, was set up to make recommendations to assist the development of a new long-termsmoking prevention strategy. The group was also asked to…

27 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle childhood obesity.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We are already tackling childhoodobesity through the implementation of our diet and physical activity strategies.We have already introduced nutrition guidance for early education and childcaresettings, funded over 600 Active Schools Co-ordinators, implemented…

27 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what systems it has in place to monitor the impact of the NHS consultants’ contract and other pay agreements on staff performance and service outputs.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive HealthDepartment is clear about the need to fully realise the benefits of the new contracts.In 2005 the department set out its requirements for health boards to develop plansto ensure that they maximised the benefits to patients of the …

27 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to increase the number of prosecutions of licensees who sell alcohol to customers who are drunk.

Answer · John Beckett: The Crown Office and ProcuratorFiscal Service (COPFS) is Scotland’s sole prosecution authority. The decision whether to prosecute is based on the factsand circumstances of each individual case and COPFS does not have operational targets relating to the number…

23 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to retain staff and boost morale in the Scottish Prison Service.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>The SPS offer attractive termsand conditions of employment. In general, the SPS has no concerns relating to staffretention.</p><p>To …