Parliamentary questions

Patricia Ferguson

1,079 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

24 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget will be for Creative Scotland.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Creative Scotland will inherit the combined grant-in-aid of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen. Their combined grant-in-aid in the present financial year amounts to £50.32 million. In 2009-10 and 2010-11 I will also provide £2.5 million per annum a…

24 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisation it considers should provide support to the creative industries.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: As I said in my statement to the Parliament on 18 June, public bodies will work in partnership to support the creative industries. That creative partnership will be represented in a creative industries forum. The forum will act as a catalyst, bringin…

24 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the results of the parliamentary vote on the Creative Scotland Bill on 18 June 2008 (Official Report, c. 9912) whether it will consult the Parliament before concluding its deliberations on the way forward for the arts in Scotland.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government remains committed to the establishment of Creative Scotland. In this context, I welcome the support of the Parliament for the principles of the Creative Scotland Bill. The government regrets, however, that the Parliament voted against …

20 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the additional police officers funded through Glasgow’s Community Planning Partnership are in addition to the Scottish Government’s target complement.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Yes, the additional police officers funded through Glasgow’s Community Planning Partnership are in addition to Strathclyde’s share of the 1,000 additional recruits that the government is funding.

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it considers that the Glasgow Housing Association should now take as a result of the housing regulator’s assessment of the Mazars report into second stage stock transfer in Glasgow.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14004 on 13 June 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/webapp/w…

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take as a result of the housing regulator’s assessment of the Mazars report into second stage stock transfer in Glasgow.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Ministers have met with Glasgow Housing Association and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum. Both organisations have agreed to take forward discussions on the areas for further exploration indentified in the regulator’s assessment, with the other local hou…

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive at what pace it believes that progress towards second stage stock transfer in Glasgow should move.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Progress is already being made, and it is for Glasgow Housing Association and the local housing organisations to agree realistic timescales. We are clear that we want to see second stage transfer take place where it can be sensibly achieved and in t…

9 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts all of the conclusions of the housing regulator’s assessment of the Mazars report into second stage stock transfer in Glasgow.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Housing Regulator’s report provides an independent assessment of the Mazars report and clearly sets out areas that require further exploration.

2 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8634 by Stewart Maxwell on 31 January 2008, what progress has been made towards publication of the responses to the review of sportscotland received from stakeholders.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: On 21 January 2008 Sports Directorate officials contacted the stakeholders whose written responses were subject to FOI and asked for their consent to release them under FOI. Due to the limited response we have now contacted all stakeholders to advise we are n…

2 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9986 by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 February 2008, whether a nationally set waiting times target exists for children to be assessed prior to receiving speech therapy.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Currently there are no waiting times targets for children to be assessed prior to receiving speech and language therapy. Patients are seen on the basis of clinical need. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that patients have rapid acces…

2 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9987 by Nicola Sturgeon on 26 February 2008, what information it has received from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in respect of the possible outsourcing of occupational health services; what progress it has made in monitoring the developments of this …

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Officials from the Scottish Government and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde continue to liaise at regular intervals on this matter. Our current information is that the board are continuing with their deliberations but no decisions have been made. The Sc…

2 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the findings of the Scottish Housing Regulator’s scrutiny of the Mazars report on second stage stock transfer.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Housing Regulator’s assessment of Mazars’ report was released on Friday 6 June. A copy is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45780) and on the Scottish Housing Regulator’s website <a href="www.scottishhousingregu…

2 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11537 by Shona Robison on 18 April 2008, when the outcome of the robust trials to establish the comparative benefits of bilateral implantation will be known.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13752 on 11 June 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/webapp/…

2 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11537 by Shona Robison on 18 April 2008, how many trial cases to establish the comparative benefits of bilateral implantation are being pursued.

2 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11537 by Shona Robison on 18 April 2008, who is carrying out the robust trials to establish the comparative benefits of bilateral implantation.

2 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11537 by Shona Robison on 18 April 2008, where the robust trials to establish the comparative benefits of bilateral implantation are taking place.

Answer · Shona Robison: Preliminary work has been undertaken to establish a UK randomised control trial entitled “A pilot study for a multi-centre randomised control trial of the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of bilateral cochlear implementation compared with unilateral cochl…

30 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates since 14 May 2008 it has (a) discussed and (b) corresponded on the issue of the Stockline disaster with the Department for Work and Pensions.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13722 on 11 June 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/webapp/…

30 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what correspondence it has entered into since 14 May 2008 with the Department for Work and Pensions concerning the public inquiry into the Stockline disaster.

30 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had since 14 May 2008 with the Department for Work and Pensions concerning the public inquiry into the Stockline disaster.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government and the Department for Work and Pensions in their capacity as joint sponsors of the ICL public inquiry have corresponded and had discussions on a range of issues relating to the inquiry. Specifically since 14 May 2008, Scottish ministe…

15 May 2008 · Written Question

Answer · Linda Fabiani: My answer to question S3W-13054 on 27 May 2008 described the core functions of public bodies in support of the creative industries, and that the bodies noted there, as well as other important partners, will work together in a creative economy forum to ensure …

15 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how support is provided to Scotland’s creative industries.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Public bodies in Scotland work in partnership to provide support to creative industries. The enterprise bodies and the activities of the business gateway focus on accelerating economic growth through key sectors and companies with particular growth p…

2 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the provision of bilateral cochlear implants for children.

Answer · Shona Robison: The policy of the National Cochlear Implantation Programme is to continue to provide cochlear implantation unilaterally to adults and children, pending the results of robust trials that establish whether the incremental benefits of bilateral implantation over…

2 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9932 by Richard Lochhead on 4 March 2008, how much of the budget allocation to local authorities has been identified as being available for land remediation.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There is no separately identified funding allocation to local authorities for land remediation in the budget. From 2008-09, the former ring fenced specific grant has been subsumed within the general local government settlement. It will be for each council to …

2 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the mileage rate for volunteer drivers was last increased by the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Answer · Shona Robison: The mileage rate for volunteer drivers was last increased by the Scottish Ambulance Service on 1 January 2001. The ambulance service continues to review the rate regularly and should it determine that it is insufficient to cover costs then it will seek to inc…

6 Mar 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its priorities are for tourism.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government's purpose is to create a more successful country through increasing sustainable economic growth. A strong tourism industry directly supports that purpose, and also our strategic objective to realise our full economic potential with mor…

28 Feb 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what priority it places on tackling deprivation in Glasgow.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We are committed to tackling deprivation in Glasgow and across all of Scotland. We want to encourage Glasgow''s public services to work together with the voluntary sector and local communities to maximise the impact of all of the resources provided t…

19 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering the introduction of a social insurance and maintenance programme as part of the free central heating programme.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: This issue is not currently being considered given the pressure already on the programme. All beneficiaries of the central heating programme are advised that their heating system is under full warranty for 12 months after installation and that maintenance and…

19 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6277 by Stewart Maxwell on 21 November 2007, what progress has been made on the review of the central heating programme and when the outcome of the review will be reported to the Parliament.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Officials are in the process of concluding the review. I will be discussing this in due course with stakeholders in the field and with the Communities and Local Government Committee.

19 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reviewed the protocol, signed by the Health and Safety Executive and Scottish police forces in 2005, whereby all deaths at work are treated as potential homicides.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: A Protocol for Liaison on Work Related Deaths between the Health and Safety Executive, Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the British Transport Police and Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service was published in October 2006. It emphasises t…

18 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion has taken place with staff representatives regarding the possible outsourcing of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s occupational health services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Discussion with staff representatives is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to take forward locally through the well established Partnership mechanisms that all boards are required to have in place.