Parliamentary questions
Patricia Ferguson
1,079 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what external advice it has taken on the best way to deliver the services currently provided by the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: No external consultants have been involved in the assessment of options.</p>
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing the cultural site at Granton.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The process of site purchase has been completed subject to development conditions, and options are being considered for development of the site.</p>
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made toward finalising a wheelchair and seating service modernisation action plan.
Answer · Shona Robison: The NHS Wheelchair and Seating Services Modernisation: An Action Plan has been approved by ministers and will be published shortly.</p>
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18203 by Stewart Maxwell on 3 December 2008, whether a decision has been made on including the issue of top-up funding, low interest loans or equity release schemes, as a way to augment the Energy Assistance Package in the Scottish Government’s forth…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The issue of loans or equity release schemes goes wider than the Energy Assistance Package and involves a number of issues requiring detailed consideration. Thought is being given to how best to proceed in time for the forthcoming consultation. The consultati…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-18204, S3W-18198 and S3W 18199 by Stewart Maxwell on 3 and 5 December 2008 respectively, when it expects to announce the allocation of resources to deliver the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We announced in November that £55.8 million will be available for delivering the Energy Assistance Package for 2009-10, and in the Budget Bill in January that an additional £5 million will be allocated to tackling fuel poverty. The allocation of resources for…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18205 by Stewart Maxwell on 4 December 2008, and following the introduction of the Energy Assistance Package, whether it intends to trial alternative measures that could be added, at a later date, to the package of measures offered.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19941 on 27 January 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/Apps…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18205 by Stewart Maxwell on 4 December 2008, when it expects to be able to provide information on the insulation and energy efficiency measures initially to be included in the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19941 on 27 January 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/Apps…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18205 by Stewart Maxwell on 4 December 2008, whether it is considering under-floor insulation for houses with basements as one of the measures initially to be included in the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19941 on 27 January 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/Apps…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18205 by Stewart Maxwell on 4 December 2008, whether it is giving particular consideration to ways of addressing fuel poverty in tenements and tower blocks as part of its work in determining what measures will initially be included in the Energy Assi…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19941 on 27 January 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/Apps…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18205 by Stewart Maxwell on 4 December 2008, what measures it is using to determine the insulation and energy efficiency measures initially to be included in the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Evidence is being gathered, including from discussions with a range of stakeholders, on the practicality, cost and impacts of different insulation and energy efficiency measures for different types of housing. This will inform ministers'' choice of the measur…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19114 by Linda Fabiani on 7 January 2009, when it expects to report on the outcome of its examination into the scope to rationalise and streamline the activities of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments, Historic Scotland and the N…
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19938 on 2 February 2009. All answers to written 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/Business/PQA…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19114 by Linda Fabiani on 7 January 2009, how often it has met representatives of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments, Historic Scotland and the National Archives of Scotland as part of its examination of the scope to rationalise…
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19938 on 2 February 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/Apps…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-19114 and S3W-8632 by Linda Fabiani on 7 January 2009 and 31 January 2008 respectively, when it began to examine the scope to rationalise and streamline the activities of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments, Historic Scotland a…
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The First Minister announced the examination of the scope to rationalise historic archival, recording and scheduling functions and for streamlining the activities of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, Historic Scotland a…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-5404 by Linda Fabiani on 8 January 2009, whether it will provide details of the international examples that it is studying and taking account of, either directly or through the Glasgow 2014 working group, in relation to the preparation of the cultura…
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government and key partners are currently developing the detail of Scotland''s cultural legacy programme. As part of this work, the recently appointed Creative Programmer, based at the Scottish Arts Council, is studying the research and evaluatio…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-5404 by Linda Fabiani on 8 January 2009, whether it will detail the contact it has had with representatives of the Australian state of Victoria, either directly or through the Glasgow 2014 working group, regarding the cultural programme that accompan…
Answer · Linda Fabiani: During 2008, Scottish Government officials have met with representatives of the Australian State of Victoria on two occasions: with the Governor of the State of Victoria in April 2008, and with the Agent-General for the State Government of Victoria in October…
19 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-5404 by Linda Fabiani on 8 January 2009, whether it will provide details of the Glasgow 2014 working group at which it has been represented and at which the development of the cultural programme that will accompany the 2014 Commonwealth games was dis…
Answer · Linda Fabiani: To secure a lasting legacy for Scotland as a whole and effective cross government input, the Scottish Government has established the following six legacy groups: Healthier, Wealthier and Fairer, Safer and Stronger, Smarter, Greener and Sport. Cultural interes…
15 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the ministerial visits made to the Glasgow Maryhill constituency since 17 May 2008, showing which other MSPs or ministers were in attendance and broken down by (a) ministerial portfolio, (b) venue, (c) date and (d) purpose of visit.
Answer · John Swinney: All available information held within the Scottish Government is shown in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=144 valign=top > <p align=center >Name</p> </td> <td width=108 valign=t…
8 Jan 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Directorate for Europe, External Affairs and Culture has in the cultural programme that will accompany the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and what progress has been made with that programme.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: <i >This PQ 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/sor0108-01.htm">http://www.scottish.pa…
6 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the ministerial visits made to the Glasgow Maryhill constituency since 17 May 2007, showing which other MSPs or ministers were in attendance and broken down by (a) ministerial portfolio, (b) venue, (c) date and (d) purpose of visit.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p>
16 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the role, function or operation of Historic Scotland.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the public bodies landscape is simpler, more focused and easier to navigate, by bringing together organisations with similar skills, expertise and processes. The role, function and operation of Historic Sc…
16 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the future of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the public bodies landscape is simpler, more focused and easier to navigate, by bringing together organisations with similar skills, expertise and processes. As part of this approach, we are examining the …
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has committed future funding to the Lighthouse in Glasgow in order that the second Six Cities Festival can proceed.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18356 on 11 December 2008. It is not our intention to fund a second Six Cities Festival. We have, therefore, committed no project funding to The Lighthouse for this purpose.</p> <p >We are not convinced that t…
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it currently provides to the Lighthouse in Glasgow for the funding of the Six Cities Festival.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: We currently provide no funding to The Lighthouse for a Six Cities Festival.</p> <p >Funding provided for the Six Cities Festival 2007 was for specific projects. The Lighthouse acted as the co-ordinator for this work and the festival was not core funded. The…
25 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, as a result of the transition to the new Energy Assistance Package, there will be an impact on people who have registered for the existing central heating and warm deal programmes.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: No. Those who apply under the existing programmes up to 31 March 2009 will continue to have their applications progressed as now.</p>
24 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning to carry out pilot studies to address fuel poverty in tenements and tower blocks as suggested by the Fuel Poverty Forum.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: In its report, the Fuel Poverty Forum noted that further research and development are needed to trial alternative measures which could be added to the package of measures offered at Stage 4 at some later date. The Scottish Government is working with stakehold…
24 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in relation to the Energy Assistance Package, whether it intends to set regional budgets or a target for the number of houses in each region assisted under the package.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: In its report, the Fuel Poverty Forum proposed that regional budgets or regional targets should be set for Stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package based on the proportion of Scotland''s fuel poor in each region according to the latest Scottish House Conditio…
24 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is exploring equity release schemes or development of the Scheme of Assistance process for those who are not entitled to assistance under stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Fuel Poverty Forum recommended that funding for the Energy Assistance Package could be further augmented through top-up funding or low-interest loans, or equity release. The Scottish Government is intending to consult on a number of issues related to the …
24 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering how people with acute or pre-existing health conditions that could be affected by cold or damp housing but are not included in the criteria for receiving help at stage 4 of the Energy Assistance Package can be provided with the energy efficiency measures provided…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: In its report, the Fuel Poverty Forum noted that there was a concern that some people with acute or pre-existing health conditions that may be affected by cold or damp housing would not be included in the eligible groups benefitting from Stage 4 of the Energy…
24 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are specific criteria for the provision of a subsidy to those who do not qualify for free standard insulation measures under stage 3 of the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18200 on 3 December 2008. 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/App…
24 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide information on the subsidy that will be provided to those who do not qualify for free standard insulation measures under stage 3 of the Energy Assistance Package.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The level of subsidy for those who do not qualify for the free measures under the Energy Assistance Package will be a matter for the individual energy companies as part of their programmes to meet the carbon emissions reduction target. As now, the Energy Savi…