Parliamentary questions
Patricia Ferguson
1,079 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met officials from (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Creative Scotland to discuss the establishment of a film studio in Scotland and what matters were discussed.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International meet regularly about the screen sector, including screen production facilities, through the Film and Television Delivery Group. The Cabinet Secretary for F…
24 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to strengthen the guidance available concerning the enforcement of the Clean Air Act 1993 to address the emission of particulates from domestic wood burning stoves.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Clean Air Act is currently subject to a comprehensive review being undertaken jointly by the four UK administrations. One of the issues under consideration as part of the review is particulate emissions from wood burning stoves. Once the review is comple…
24 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following its review of local air quality management, when it will be in a position to issue guidelines concerning the emission of particulates from domestic wood burning stoves.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The analysis of responses to the consultation on the review of local air quality management (LAQM) was published at the end of 2013. The Scottish Government is currently developing proposals for overhauling LAQM, taking into account consultation responses, an…
6 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it supports job creation in north Glasgow.
17 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10376 by Fergus Ewing on 08 November 2012, how much it (a) has spent and (b) plans to spend on marketing and communications activity relating to Homecoming 2014 in (i) Scotland, (ii) the rest of the UK and (iii) the rest of the world, and what prop…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: VisitScotland has been provided with a core budget of £5.5 million by Scottish Government to deliver Homecoming 2014, of which £1.75 million has been allocated for dedicated marketing campaign activity. The detail of how this funding will be spent is held by …
12 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether pay negotiations for 2012-13 in respect of the staff of (a) the National Galleries of Scotland, (b) National Museums Scotland and (c) National Museums Scotland Enterprises Ltd have been concluded.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Negotiations with the recognised trade unions over the National Museums of Scotland’s (NGS) 2012-13 pay offer were concluded in January 2013. Pay for National Museums Scotland Enterprises Ltd was established in 1998 and has not been subject to government pay…
12 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on staff of the National Galleries of Scotland being asked to give up weekend working allowances.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Negotiations with the three recognised Trade Unions over the 2012-13 pay offer have not yet concluded. I understand that the National Galleries of Scotland has advised staff that it expects to make a final offer in early January and no longer intends to inclu…
12 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the staff of National Museums Scotland Enterprises Ltd are not covered by the Scottish Government public sector pay policy.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: National Museums Scotland Enterprises Ltd. (NMSE) was established as a commercial company to generate income in support of the public services provided and funded by National Museums Scotland. NMSE receives no public subsidy, being run as a wholly commercial …
12 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) National Museums Scotland, (b) National Museums Scotland Enterprises Ltd and (c) the National Galleries of Scotland regarding pay policy.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government routinely discusses with both the National Museums of Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland pay policy and current pay remit proposals in accordance with government pay remit approval processes. The Scottish Government has n…
11 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings regarding rail services the Minster for Transport and Veterans has agreed to with MSPs in the year to date, broken down by members of the (a) SNP and (b) opposition parties.
Answer · Keith Brown: I held four meetings with members of the SNP arising from the seven requests received, with a further meeting scheduled to take place this month. Of the two meetings requested by opposition members, one of the requests has been agreed to, pending the outcome…
11 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meeting requests the Minister for Transport and Veterans has received from MSPs who wished to discuss rail services in the year to date, broken down by members of the (a) SNP and (b) opposition parties.
Answer · Keith Brown: I received seven requests from SNP members and two from members of opposition parties.
13 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport will raise human rights issues during her visit to Sri Lanka.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18350 on 26 November 2013. The Scottish Government condemns human rights abuses wherever they occur. The Scottish Government uses its international engagement activity to help increase respect for, and underst…
13 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport will meet Sri Lankan Government ministers or officials during her visit to that country.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport attended a number of meetings and events in Sri Lanka organised as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. During her visit she briefed the Sri Lankan Sports Minister about Scotland and Glasgow’s pre…
12 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17994 by Keith Brown on 7 November 2013, what impact its proposals will have on the (a) frequency of trains, (b) level of service and (c) routes on the Maryhill railway line prior to electrification.
Answer · Keith Brown: There will be no impact on the current level of service provided on the Maryhill line.
12 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions (a) it and (b) its agencies have had regarding the linking Maryhill and North Clyde railway lines.
Answer · Keith Brown: The issue of linking Maryhill and North Clyde railway lines was discussed at the meeting of 1 November between Transport Scotland and Strathclyde Passenger Transport officials.
12 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-18000 by Keith Brown on 7 November 2013, when (a) it and (b) Transport Scotland last discussed with Strathclyde Passenger Transport the (i) future of the Maryhill railway line and (ii) Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme and control period (CP) …
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland officials met with SPT 1 November 2013 to discuss the (i) future of the Maryhill railway line and (ii) Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme and control period (CP) 5 proposals, with SPT being updated on current progress. To re-iterate, …
12 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17994 by Keith Brown on 7 November 2013, in what cost period the electrification of the Maryhill railway line will be included.
Answer · Keith Brown: This will be considered as part of the regulatory process for Control Period 6 (2019 – 2024).
12 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17994 by Keith Brown on 7 November 2013, for what reason the electrification of the Maryhill railway line was not subsequently included in the control period (CP) 5 proposals.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Ministers’ High Level Output Specification for control period 5 (CP5) included a requirement for the rail industry to develop and deliver a rolling programme of electrification covering 100 single track kilometers per annum following the completi…
12 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17994 by Keith Brown on 7 November 2013, for what reasons the adapted plans excluded the electrification of the Maryhill railway line.
Answer · Keith Brown: Electrification of the Maryhill railway line is not required to deliver the outputs of the initial phase of Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme.
29 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what cost saving resulted from not including the Maryhill railway line in the electrification programme.
Answer · Keith Brown: The estimated costs for electrification of Maryhill line was around £25 million inclusive of the necessary route clearance works (structures etc).
29 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) regarding the future of the Maryhill railway line.
Answer · Keith Brown: There have been no recent discussions with SPT regarding the future Maryhill line.
29 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to (a) the services running on the Maryhill railway line using the direct route from Anniesland to Queen Street and (b) keeping open the stations serving that route.
Answer · Keith Brown: As stated publicly on numerous occasions previously, the Scottish Government remains committed to both the running of Maryhill services through the direct route from Anniesland to Queen Street, and to the lines and stations in the Glasgow area.
29 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what service enhancements it is planning or considering to (a) boost passenger numbers on and (b) ensure the continued operation of the Maryhill railway line.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17997 on 7 November 2013. 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/parliamentar…
29 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what investment is planned to (a) boost passenger numbers on and (b) ensure the continued operation of the Maryhill railway line.
Answer · Keith Brown: In the next franchise, measures will be put in place to boost patronage on lightly-used services. More details will be made available in the specification for the ScotRail franchise which will be published later this month.
29 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Maryhill railway line will be electrified.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17994 on 7 November 2013. 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/parliamentar…
29 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the electrification of the Maryhill railway line has not been included in the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme or control period (CP)5 proposals and what consequent issues it foresees for the continued operation of the line.
Answer · Keith Brown: Electrification of the Maryhill line was proposed as part of the initial Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP). Constraints on access to Queen Street High Level would have meant some trains being removed and Anniesland services moving to the low l…
14 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether and, if so, for what reason it has excluded unincorporated organisations from bidding for funding from the small grants scheme for international development.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: In order to be eligible to apply for funding under the Small Grants Programme applicant organisations must constitute a “legal person”, meaning it is legally constituted and can enter into a contract. This status is achieved by becoming an incorporated organi…
14 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what organisations are eligible to bid for funding from the small grants scheme for international development.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Any organisation with a base in Scotland and that meets the following criteria are eligible to bid for funding from the Small Grants Programme for International Development: The Small Grants Scheme is targeted at small international development organisations…
14 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance is available to owners of tenement properties when agreement cannot be reached concerning the need for repairs of which the cost would be shared among the building owners.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Where the title deeds are silent or if they are unclear, the Tenement Management Scheme at schedule 1 to the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 allows majority decisions on maintenance work, including repairs. Section 8 of the 2004 Act imposes a positive obligati…
14 Oct 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consolidate housing legislation.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The purpose of consolidating legislation is to give effect to recommendations of the Scottish Law Commission, or of the Scottish Law Commission and the Law Commission jointly. We have no plans to introduce such legislation. However, it is our intention to int…