Parliamentary questions
Patricia Ferguson
1,079 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the findings of the inquiry, chaired by Lord Gill, into the explosion at the ICL Plastics factory in Glasgow in 2004.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The ICL Inquiry is an independent inquiry established jointly by the Scottish ministers and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under the Inquiries Act 2005. The act provides that the way in which the Inquiry is conducted, including the delivery of a…
30 Apr 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice to ensure the safety of vulnerable communities.
Answer · Alex Neil: Both the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, along with other Cabinet colleagues, regularly discuss a wide range of issues including the safety of vulnerable communities.</p>
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19941 by Stewart Maxwell on 27 January 2009, what arrangements have been established to monitor the impacts of the Energy Assistance Package and to keep under review the range of measures provided.
Answer · Alex Neil: Monthly information will be provided to the Scottish Government by the range of organisations delivering the different elements of the Package, and the Energy Saving Trust will publish summary information on its website. Ministers have also asked the Scottish…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-21691 by Alex Neil on 27 March 2009 and S3W-19942 by Stewart Maxwell on 27 January 2009, which of the insulation and energy efficiency measures provided by the Energy Assistance Package at Stages 3 and 4 have been included to address fuel poverty i…
Answer · Alex Neil: Eligible householders in tenement flats and tower blocks can access the full range of measures available at stages 3 and 4 of the Energy Assistance Package where the property can take the measure, and there is agreement from neighbours around access to shared…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21691 by Alex Neil on 27 March 2009, for what reasons it has decided not to include under-floor insulation for houses with basements as part of the draught proofing/insulation measures during the first year of Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Alex Neil: Subsequent to the answer to S3W-21691 being tabled we have taken the decision to include under-floor insulation as one of the measures available at stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package, in circumstances where homes have a cellar that provides easy access …
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S3W-21692 and S3W-21693 and by Alex Neil on 1 and 3 April 2009 respectively, whether the funding for the Energy Assistance Package has been allocated to partner organisations on the basis of regional budgets or targets for the number of houses to be ass…
Answer · Alex Neil: Energy Assistance Package funding has not been allocated on a regional basis.</p>
19 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to respond to the latest quarterly housing statistics showing the lowest number of new build starts since 1980.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government recognises that the economic downturn has had a significant impact on housing supply and is taking a range of actions in response.</p> <p >As part of that, we are making a record investment of £644 million for affordable housing next…
18 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent meetings it has had with the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0326-01.htm">http://www.scot…
9 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18204 by Stewart Maxwell on 3 December 2008, whether a decision has been made on whether it intends to set regional budgets or a target for the number of houses in each region assisted under the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21692 on 1 April 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/…
9 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19946 by Stewart Maxwell on 27 January 2009, what progress has been made on finalising the allocation of resources for the different elements of the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Alex Neil: We held a stakeholder event for 120 delegates in Glasgow on 27 February 2009 to outline the new package and seek views on its shape and implementation. I addressed that event and outlined that the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) will be backed by a package o…
9 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19941 by Stewart Maxwell on 27 January 2009, whether it has finalised the measures to be included initially in the Energy Assistance Package and, if so, what those measures are.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package provides a four stage approach to helping people vulnerable to fuel poverty. This includes measures to help maximise income and reduce fuel bills at Stage 2, and measures to improve the physical energy efficiency of the home at S…
9 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-19855, which received a holding answer on 29 January 2009.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19855 on 12 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/…
26 Feb 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Glasgow City Council to discuss education provision.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Over the last month, officials from the Scottish Government have met with officials from Glasgow City Council on a range of issues related to education provision.</p> <p >These have included meetings regarding the implementation of 16+ Learning Choices, ente…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19955 by Shona Robison on 2 February 2009 and in light of the Budget (Scotland) (No.3) Bill, how much financial support will be provided to healthy living centres in 2009-10.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government will continue the healthy living centre (HLC) transition fund in 2009-10, providing up to £70,000 per HLC.</p> <p >The fund will continue to be administered by local health boards using a rigorous set of criteria, similar to that in 2…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19958 by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 February 2009, on how many occasions in 2009 death certificates issued in 2008 by the (a) Western Infirmary in Glasgow and (b) Gartnavel General Hospital were amended to show Clostridium difficile as a contributory facto…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) has confirmed that no amendments have been made to death certificates issued by these hospitals, and that June 2009 is the statistical cut off point for any amendments to death certificates issued in 2008.</p>
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19952 by Linda Fabiani on 2 February 2009, what areas of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments budget it expects to reduce as a result of the reduction to the 2010-11 budget.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments proposes in its Efficiency Savings Plan, submitted in March 2008, that savings will be made by collaboration with other public bodies on joint projects.</p>
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19952 by Linda Fabiani on 2 February 2009, for what reasons the budget for the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments has been reduced in 2010-11.
Answer · Michael Russell: The budget figures in the answer to question S3W-19952 include the commission''s share of the agreed portfolio efficiency savings for the current spending review period. These apply to all public bodies in the portfolio.</p>
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19951 by Linda Fabiani on 2 February 2009, whether it has considered conducting a formal consultation on the future of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments.
Answer · Michael Russell: No formal consultation on the future of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland has been carried out.</p>
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19951 by Linda Fabiani on 2 February 2009, whether it will provide details of the stakeholders from whom it has received correspondence on its review of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments and whether it will publish the represen…
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government''s Simplification Programme did not specifically include a review of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. However, correspondence on the future of the Royal Commission has been received from one spe…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19950 by Linda Fabiani on 2 February 2009, what advice or comment has been sought or received from external sources or stakeholders, other than external consultants, on the best way to deliver the services currently provided by the Royal Commission o…
Answer · Michael Russell: We have not sought comment from external sources or stakeholders on the future status of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Correspondence on the future of the Royal Commission has been received from one special interest…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19953 by Linda Fabiani on 2 February 2009, what steps it is taking to ensure that the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments will retain charitable status following any rationalisation.
Answer · Michael Russell: Any decision taken on the future status of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland will take account of the position in relation to Charitable Status and would, if necessary, be discussed with the Office of the Scottish Charit…
10 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19949 by Linda Fabiani on 2 February 2009, what options are being considered for the development of the cultural site at Granton.
Answer · Michael Russell: Options being considered relate to the phasing of the archive storage needs of the National Collections, including the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.</p>
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions death certificates issued by the (a) Western Infirmary in Glasgow and (b) Gartnavel General Hospital have been changed to show Clostridium difficile as a contributory factor in 2008.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: GROS advise that to date no death certificates registered by GROS in 2008 for the hospitals concerned were amended in 2008 to show clostridium difficile as a contributory factor.</p>
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths at the (a) Western Infirmary in Glasgow and (b) Gartnavel General Hospital had Clostridium difficile as a contributory factor in 2008.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advise that there were six deaths at the Western Infirmary and six deaths at the Gartnavel General hospital between January and December 2008 where Clostridium difficile was a contributory factor in the deaths.</p> <p >I refer t…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths at the (a) Western Infirmary in Glasgow and (b) Gartnavel General Hospital were directly attributed to Clostridium difficile in 2008.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde advise that there were eight deaths at the Western Infirmary and 18 deaths at Gartnavel General hospital between January and December 2008 which were directly attributed to Clostridium difficile. It should be noted that these are…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much support it anticipates offering to healthy living centres in 2009-10.
Answer · Shona Robison: Discussions are currently on-going regarding how much support will be offered during 2009-10.</p> <p >Further decisions will need to be determined once budget positions for 2009-10 have been resolved.</p>
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to healthy living centres.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government established a transition fund of up to £2.5 million in February 2008 to help those healthy living centres at risk of closure, due to funding shortfalls as a result of the ending of their Big Lottery funding, to maintain their activitie…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments will retain its charitable status following any rationalisation.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: Charitable status for any organisation is dependent on eligibility as assessed by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.</p>
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its budget allocation will be to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in each of the next three years.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The budget allocation for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland is £4,553,000 in 2009-10 and £4,445,000 in 2010-11. No budget has yet been agreed for 2011-12 as this falls into the next spending review period.</p>
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out a public consultation exercise before coming to a definitive view on the future of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The government has received a number of letters from stakeholders and these views have been taken into account in assessing the options for simplification. We continue to welcome the views of stakeholders who submit these in correspondence.</p>