Patricia Ferguson

1 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact will be on listed buildings in Scotland of the UK's Government's proposal to withdraw VAT relief on approved alterations to them and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The UK Government’s proposal is clearly a deeply regrettable step in the opposite direction from the approach that the Scottish Ministers advocate. Maintaining the VAT relief on alterations to listed buildings, and reducing the VAT rate applicable to repairs …

25 Apr 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in establishing a climate justice fund.

16 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-05407 by Bruce Crawford on 29 February 2012, which organisation will carry out the independent testing of the question.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government will finalise its proposals for the referendum in the light of the responses to Your Scotland, Your Referendum.

16 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take an impartial approach when working with the media regarding coverage of the independence referendum campaign and, if so, how it will ensure this.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Paragraph 1.19 of Your Scotland, Your Referendum states that it will be important to ensure fairness and an impartial approach to media coverage (including any referendum campaign broadcasts). The Scottish Government will work with broadcasters and other medi…

16 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the proposed (a) ballot paper and (b) question for the referendum on independence complies with the Electoral Commission’s guidelines that they should be set out "clearly, simply and neutrally" and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Yes. Paragraph 1.8 of Your Scotland, Your Referendum explains that the Scottish Government's preference is for a short, direct question about independence as set out in paragraph 1.10 (i.e. Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?). Parag…

16 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a white paper on its proposals for an independent Scotland cannot be published before a referendum bill receives Royal Assent and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government's proposals for independence will be published in a white paper once the Parliament has agreed the arrangements for the referendum to be held in autumn 2014 and these have passed into statute. We expect this to be in November 2013. Thi…

16 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it will publish the responses to Your Scotland, Your Referendum.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government will publish the responses to Your Scotland, Your Referendum in the summer.

16 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns, views, comments and responses to the Scotland’s Future consultation were taken into account when it developed the proposals in Your Scotland, Your Referendum.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government received comments from a range of individuals and organisations on the questions contained in Scotland’s Future and these were published in 2010. These comments helped to inform the proposals contained in Your Scotland, Your Referendum…

16 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will break down the responses to the Your Scotland, Your Referendum consultation by group and, if so, whether it will apply differential weighting to each group's response when it considers them.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: All those who respond to the consultation are asked to complete a Respondent Information Form which asks for a range of details, such as the country in which they are resident and whether they are responding on behalf of an organisation or as an individual. T…

19 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses to Rail 2014 - Public Consultation there have been.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland have received over 1,200 responses.

19 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the future of the rail stations in the Glasgow commuter area that were referred to in paragraph 7.10 of Rail 2014 - Public Consultation.

Answer · Keith Brown: We have no plans to close stations in Glasgow.

19 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its response to Rail 2014 - Public Consultation.

Answer · Keith Brown: The consultation closed on 20 February 2012 and it is only right that we respect the people who responded and take time to consider what they had to say before we come to conclusions. The Scottish Government's response will be set out to Parliament in due cou…

7 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the regulated period in the Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill has been set at 16 weeks and not the 34 weeks suggested in the previous Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill that was published in February 2010.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The draft Bill published in February 2010 did not set a referendum period of 34 weeks. The proposed period was described as beginning two weeks after Royal Assent and ending on the day of the referendum. The proposals in the Scottish Government’s consultatio…

7 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it anticipates that the independence referendum will have long and short campaigning periods and, if so, what (a) the length of these will be and (b) spending limits will be in place.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Long and short campaign periods are a feature of elections and do not apply to referendums. The proposed spending limits set out in Your Scotland, Your Referendum will apply during the 16 week regulated period before the Referendum. The regulated referendum p…

7 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers would be sufficient support for the inclusion of a full devolution question, as referred to on page 15 of Your Scotland, Your Referendum.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Your Scotland, Your Referendum specifically seeks views on the inclusion of a second question in the referendum and the voting system that could be used. All responses will be analysed and considered at the end of the consultation period, along with any other…

7 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what a strong social union between the rest of the UK and an independent Scotland, as referred to on page 3 of Your Scotland, Your Referendum, would look like.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The features and benefits of a strong social union between an independent Scotland and the rest of the UK are set out in paragraphs 8.2 and 8.18 to 8.22 of Your Scotland Your Voice, published by the Scottish Government in 2009. The First Minister has also det…

7 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scotland is presently a responsible member of the international community, as referred to on page 3 of Your Scotland, Your Referendum.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Paragraphs 8.3 to 8.4 of Your Scotland Your Voice, published by the Scottish Government in 2009, set out the role which Scotland can presently play in Europe and the wider international community.

7 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers the traits are of a responsible member of the international community, as referred to on page 3 of Your Scotland, Your Referendum.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Paragraphs 8.14 to 8.17 of Your Scotland Your Voice, published by the Scottish Government in 2009, set out the role and responsibilities of an independent Scotland in Europe and the wider international community.

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Historic Scotland staff have qualifications in (a) archaeology, (b) architecture and (c) conservation.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Scotland employs staff with the range and depth of skills and qualifications necessary to enable it to meet the objectives set by ministers. The total number of senior manager posts is 40 of which 22 have Archaeology, Architecture and Conservation as…

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with trade unions representing Historic Scotland staff concerning allegations of bullying.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Scotland staff are represented by 4 trade unions. The trade unions and Historic Scotland’s management are fully committed to their partnership agreement. This provides regular opportunities for both sides to discuss the health and welfare of staff. …

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate allegations of bullying in Historic Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In common with the Scottish Government and its associated bodies, Historic Scotland takes seriously any allegations of bullying. Its policy on bullying and harassment in the workplace reflects that of the Scottish Government and provides a number of ways for …

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Historic Scotland staff have requested transfers to other departments in the last four years, broken down by year.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scottish Government employers operate a “common citizenship” scheme which allows Historic Scotland and other employees to apply for internal vacancies in other organisations without making a formal request for a transfer to another department. In the last fou…

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff have left the employment of Historic Scotland in each of the last four years, broken down by the number of staff who have (a) left to pursue other employment opportunities, (b) taken early retirement and (c) left due to ill-health.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The following table gives data for each of the last four years on the number of staff who (a) resigned (b) took early retirement and (c) left due to ill-health. Staff may resign for a number of reasons, including to pursue other employment opportunities.   …

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason spending limits were increased in the consultation on the Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill published in January 2012 compared with the consultation on the Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill published in February 2010.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The proposed spending limits were increased in the light of responses to the government’s February 2010 consultation. The rationale for the proposals is set out in paragraphs 3.7 to 3.13 of the Scottish Government’s consultation paper Your Scotland Your Refer…

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it contacted the Electoral Commission in relation to the referendum (a) before or (b) during the drafting of the referendum consultation and whether it consulted the Electoral Commission on the formulation of the referendum question.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government had contact with the Electoral Commission on a number of occasions in relation to the proposals contained in the Government’s February 2010 consultation paper Scotland’s Future. The proposals in the current consultation paper (Your Sco…

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed referendum question will be independently tested.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Yes.

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the white paper on independence referred to on page 12 of Your Scotland, Your Referendum will deal with (a) the currency, (b) border control, (c) the welfare and social security system, (d) the taxation system, (e) international relations, (f) membership of international bodies or…

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05405 on 22 February 2012. 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/Apps2/Busine…

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what matters relating to an independent Scotland will be dealt with in the white paper on independence referred to on page 12 of Your Scotland, Your Referendum.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government will ensure that voters have all of the information they need about the referendum, and about independence, in order to be able to take an authoritative, well informed decision about Scotland's constitutional future. The comprehensive …

2 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the rights and responsibilities of a normal, sovereign state, as referred to on page 4 of Your Scotland, Your Referendum.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Paragraphs 2.11 to 2.13 of the Scottish Government’s white paper Your Scotland, Your Voice (published in November 2009) outlined the rights and responsibilities of an independent Scotland.

18 Jan 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its budget priorities are for Glasgow.