Parliamentary questions

Margo MacDonald

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

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided for exercise referral schemes in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Shona Robison: Between 1999 and present day the government have supported two exercise referral scheme pilots: NHS Highland received funding from the Government of £216,000 from 2004 to 2006 to appoint three full-time Active Referral Co-ordinators and Greater Glasgow were p…

18 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instigate national testing in reading, writing and maths for 10-year-olds to ensure that underachieving pupils have the opportunity to catch up before starting secondary school.

Answer · Keith Brown : 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/sor0326-01.htm">http://www.scot…

30 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to apply sanctions to companies that operate private parking facilities at hospitals without taking account of the reduction to the standard rate of VAT announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 November 2008.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is understood that there are three such parking facilities, as noted below: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh - officials in NHS Lothian are in discussion with their PFI contractor about how the reduction to the standard rate of VAT can be implemented;…

20 Jan 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide information on its position in respect of compliance with the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (2002/91/EC).

Answer · Alex Johnstone: In accordance with the Directive, an assessment of the energy performance of the Parliament building has been completed. An energy rating of B has been calculated and is displayed on a certificate in the main hall. The certificate states that a building of t…

12 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the items in the draft 2009-10 budget that are non-discretionary, the value of each and what percentage of the total budget these represent.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish ministers have full discretion over the spending priorities of the Scottish Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) budgets as agreed with HM Treasury and detailed in Paragraph 2.7(1) of Funding the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for <i …

1 Dec 2008 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will detail the circumstances under which police officers may enter the chamber, committee rooms or MSPs’ offices.

Answer · Alex Fergusson: I apologise for the delay in responding to this parliamentary question but I am now pleased to advise that the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding setting out the process whereby police officers may enter the Holyrood complex in execution of a search warra…

27 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any reports it has received regarding adverse reactions to Cervarix, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Shona Robison: The safety of medicines available on the UK market is reserved and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA report that between 14 April 2008 and 5 November 2008 there have been 83 suspected Adve…

27 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the reasons why Cervarix has yet to be licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Answer · Shona Robison: No. Licensing processes are completely independent of one another. In the UK we only use products that have received a European licence.

27 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what sources of advice it sought before accepting Cervarix as the preferred choice for its human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme.

Answer · Shona Robison: Procurement of the vaccine was undertaken on a UK wide basis by the Department of Health, as part of a formal EU procurement process. Both vaccines were scored against a number of pre-set scientific and cost effectiveness criteria. These criteria were shared …

23 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline its policy on armed protection for VIPs, either British or foreign nationals.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Policy relating to the protection of VIPs is reserved to the UK Government. It is an operational decision for the police to determine the level and type of protection provided to individual VIPs.

2 Oct 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider a full review of the current application process and issuing fresh guidance to organisations looking to gain rights of audience under sections 25 to 29 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990, in light of concerns that the Association of C…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The application from the Association of Commercial Attorneys was the first application for rights to conduct litigation and rights of audience in the courts. The case has been complex and it has taken some time to resolve the outstanding issues. However, I do…

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and (b) convictions have been obtained under section 116(5) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) West Lothian and (iii) Midlothian in each of the last two years.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Section 116 (5) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides for the penalties which apply to the offence of refusing to leave premises under sections 116 (1) and (2) of the act. Those sections do not come into force until 1 September 2009.

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and (b) convictions have been obtained under sections 115(4) and (5) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) West Lothian and (iii) Midlothian in each of the last two years.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Sections 115 (4) and (5) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provide for the penalties which apply to the offences of disorderly conduct and allowing disorderly conduct under sections 115 (1) and (2) of the act. Those sections do not come into force until 1 …

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and (b) convictions have been obtained under section 113(2) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) West Lothian and (iii) Midlothian in each of the last two years.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Section 113(2) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides for the penalties which apply to the offence of selling alcohol to a person who is drunk under section 113(1) of the act. That section does not come into force until 1 September 2009.

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and (b) convictions have been obtained under section 112(3) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) West Lothian and (iii) Midlothian in each of the last two years.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Section 112 (3) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides for the penalties which apply to the offences of obtaining alcohol by or for a drunk person under sections 112 (1) and (2) of the act. Those sections do not come into force until 1 September 2009.…

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and (b) convictions have been obtained under section 111(4) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) West Lothian and (iii) Midlothian in each of the last two years.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Section 111 (4) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides for the penalties which apply to the offences of being in or entering premises in which alcohol is sold while drunk under sections 111 (1) and (2) of the act. Those sections do not come into force …

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and (b) convictions have been obtained under section 109(4) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) West Lothian and (iii) Midlothian in each of the last two years.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Section 109 (4) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides for the penalties which apply to the offence of sending a child or young person to obtain alcohol under section 109 (1) of the act. That section does not come into force until 1 September 2009.…

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and (b) convictions have been obtained under section 108(9) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) West Lothian and (iii) Midlothian in each of the last two years.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Section 108 (9) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides for the penalties which apply to the offence of allowing the delivery of alcohol by or to a child or young person under sections 108 (2) and (3) of the act. Those sections do not come into force un…

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and (b) convictions have been obtained under section 107(4) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) West Lothian and (iii) Midlothian in each of the last two years.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Section 107 (4) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides for the penalties which apply to the offence of allowing the unsupervised sale of alcohol by a child or young person under section 107 (1) of the act. That section does not come into force until 1 …

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and (b) convictions have been obtained under section 106(5) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) West Lothian and (iii) Midlothian in each of the last two years.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Section 106 (5) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides for the penalties which apply to the offence of knowingly allowing a child or young person to consume alcohol under Section 106 (2) of the Act. That section does not come into force until 1 Septemb…

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and (b) convictions have been obtained under section 105(7) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) West Lothian and (iii) Midlothian in each of the last two years.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Section 105(7) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides for the penalties which apply to the offence of purchasing alcohol for a child or young person under section 105(4) of the act. That section does not come into force until 1 September 2009. <p …

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and (b) convictions have been obtained under section 103(2) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) West Lothian and (iii) Midlothian in each of the last two years.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Section 103 (2) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides for the penalties which apply to the offence of allowing the sale of alcohol to a child or young person under section 103 (1) of the act. That section does not come into force until 1 September 200…

8 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been sent to the Procurator Fiscal and (b) convictions have been obtained under section 102(5) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 in (i) Edinburgh, (ii) West Lothian and (iii) Midlothian in each of the last two years.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Section 102 (5) of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 provides for the penalties which apply to the offence of selling alcohol to a child or young person under section 102 (1) of the act. That section does not come into force until 1 September 2009.

15 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14434 by Linda Fabiani on 14 July 2008, whether a minute of the meeting was taken which might be accessed by MSPs and constituents.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: This was an informal, introductory discussion of which no minute was taken.

20 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S3O-3776 by Linda Fabiani on 19 June 2008 (Official Report c. 10008), whether it will publish the agenda of topics discussed at the meeting in Paris.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I met Denis Simonneau, the Directeur de Cabinet for the French Minister for Europe in Paris on 3 June. There was no formal agenda for the meeting. The main items discussed were the priorities for the French Presidency of the European Union, and the proposal f…

20 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S3O-3776 by Linda Fabiani on 19 June 2008 (Official Report c. 10008), whether it will list whom she met during her visit to Paris.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: During my visit to Paris on 3 June, I had meetings with the Scottish Development International team based in Paris; representatives of the Global Scots and Global Friends of Scotland networks, and Denis Simonneau, the Directeur de Cabinet for the French Minis…

7 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to meet 100% of the costs of permanent work at the Royal Commonwealth Pool.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government does not intend to meet the full costs of refurbishment of the Royal Commonwealth Pool (RCP). When Scotland submitted its bid document for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, it was necessary for the Scottish Government to give a gu…

25 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of reports that small public houses and bars have seen significant reductions in their takings since the implementation of the smoking ban, it will make representations to Setanta Sport Holdings Ltd and British Sky Broadcasting to reduce the cost of commercial satellite …

Answer · Shona Robison: At present we have no robust evidence to indicate that the Scottish smoking ban has had an adverse effect on sales in Scottish pubs. In any event, however, commercial discussions of the nature proposed are a matter for the satellite and cable sports companies…

8 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what average (a) percentage and (b) number of qualified PE teachers remain in the profession five years after qualification.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The information requested is not held centrally as the school census does not collect sufficiently detailed data.

8 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what average (a) percentage and (b) number of one-year trained PE students secure permanent contracts at the end of their probationary years.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The information requested is not held centrally.