Parliamentary questions
Patricia Ferguson
1,079 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Nov 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council concerning the local government finance settlement for 2013-14.
Answer · John Swinney: I have not had any recent direct discussions with Glasgow City Council about the 2013-14 local government finance settlement but I wrote to the COSLA President, copied to all local authority leaders, on 20 September 2012 and announced the provisional allocati…
19 Nov 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to Scottish Water regarding any problems with the capacity of the sewer network.
19 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 16 November 2012, Sistema Scotland Funding, whether it will allocate funds to other communities wishing to establish El Sistema/Big Noise music groups.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government cross-portfolio funding package was allocated to the charity Sistema Scotland, not to a specific community. We are delighted to be able to support this excellent organisation, and that this funding will be used in delivering their ongo…
11 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fatal accidents involving police officers responding to blue light incidents there have been in each police force area in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information is provided in the following table. Year Central D&G Fife Grampian L&B Northern S/clyde Tayside Scotland 2007-08 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2008-09 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2009-10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2010-11 0 0 0 0…
11 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many fatal accidents involving emergency service vehicles there have been in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information is provided in the following table. Year Central D&G Fife Gramp L&B Northern S/clyde b Tayside Scotland 2007-08 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 2008-09 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 2009-10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2010-11 0 0 0 0 …
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate considers that the section 30 order being considered by the Parliament details an "agreed route to independence" (Official Report, c.13131).
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the Lord Advocate’s oral answer on 7 November 2012 (at Column 13130 – 13131; see: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=7541&mode=html#iob_68820).
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Lord Advocate’s statement “As a general principle, paragraph 2.31 of the ministerial code provides that law officers should be “consulted in good time before the Government is committed to significant decisions involving legal considerations.”” (Official Report, c. 13131)…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 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/parliamenta…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate considers that he gave advice to ministers on whether to appeal Catherine Stihler MEP’s recent freedom of information request and, if so, what that advice was; when, and to whom he gave it.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10549 on 12 December 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/parliamenta…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the report in the Sunday Herald on 4 November 2012, whether the Lord Advocate or the Solicitor General were consulted on the reported changes made to the Scottish Ministerial Code in December 2011 and, if so, when; by whom, and what advice they gave.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 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/parliamenta…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate considers that the comments in his letter to Ruth Davidson dated 30 October 2012 that the three government documents that state that an independent Scotland would continue to be a member of the EU were "underpinned by legal advice" are compatible with the Deputy…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to answer to question S4W-10557 on 12 December 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/parliamentarybu…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate considers that the exceptional circumstances outlined in his letter to Ruth Davidson of 30 October 2012 existed on 4 March 2012.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10551 on 12 December 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/parliamenta…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish all correspondence relating to the Deputy First Minister's request for permission to state the non-existence of legal advice on whether an independent Scotland would be a member of the EU.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 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/parliamenta…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government at what time on 23 October 2012 the Deputy First Minister (a) requested and (b) received permission to state the non-existence of legal advice relating to whether an independent Scotland would be a member of the EU.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10551 on 12 December 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/parliamenta…
8 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Law Officers consider that they were consulted on whether an independence referendum without a section 30 order would be legal and, if so, when; by whom, and what advice they provided.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In his letter of 30 October to Ruth Davidson MSP which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 54425) the Lord Advocate confirmed the importance of maintaining the long-standing convention against disclosure of the fact or c…
5 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time for infertility treatment is, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not currently collected centrally by Information Services Division. The National Infertility Group was set up, in April 2010, to address the inequity of access to IVF treatment across Scotland. The Group will consider current waiting time…
5 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to NHS boards regarding the management of waiting times for infertility treatment.
Answer · Michael Matheson: National guidelines were developed by the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland (EAGISS) in 2000. These guidelines were subsequently reviewed, and in 2007, further recommendations were made on age and time between treatments. All NHS Boar…
26 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who approved the decision not to pursue the appeal against the ruling of the Scottish Information Commissioner regarding an independent Scotland's position in the EU and on what date.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 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/parliament…
26 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who recommended that it should not pursue the appeal against the ruling of the Scottish Information Commissioner regarding an independent Scotland's position in the EU and on what date.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 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/parliamenta…
26 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings were held regarding its decision not to pursue the appeal against the ruling of the Scottish Information Commissioner regarding an independent Scotland's position in the EU and on (a) what dates and (b) who attended.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 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/parliamenta…
26 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who was involved in making the decision not to pursue the appeal against the ruling of the Scottish Information Commissioner regarding an independent Scotland's position in the EU.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 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/parliamenta…
26 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its grounds were for not pursuing the appeal against the ruling of the Scottish Information Commissioner regarding an independent Scotland's position in the EU.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to my statement of 23 October 2012 (at Columns 12408 - 12409).
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09922 by Derek Mackay on 24 October 2012, what recent discussions it has had with the Coal Authority regarding homeowners who have been advised that there are mine workings on or near their property.
Answer · Derek Mackay: There have been no recent discussions with the Coal Authority on this matter.
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09922 by Derek Mackay on 24 October 2012, what advice it offers homeowners whose property values might fall because of the likelihood of mine workings on or near their property.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government does not offer advice on this matter. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-09922 on 24 October 2012, which sets out the responsibilities of the Coal Authority. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Solicitor General considers that she read (a) the whole of or (b) any part of (i) Choosing Scotland’s Future, (ii) Your Scotland, Your Voice and (iii) Your Scotland, Your Referendum before publication and, if so, on what date and what was asked of her.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-10549 and S4W-10557 on 12 December 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.…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Lord Advocate considers that he read (a) the whole of or (b) any part of (i) Choosing Scotland’s Future, (ii) Your Scotland, Your Voice and (iii) Your Scotland, Your Referendum before publication and, if so, on what date and what was asked of him.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to questions S4W-10549 and S4W-10557 on 12 December 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…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date consent was sought by Nicola Sturgeon to allow her to announce in her statement on 23 October 2012 that there was no legal advice; on what date it was granted, and for what reason.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the Lord Advocate’s letter of 30 October 2012 (bib number 54425) to Ruth Davidson MSP and his oral answer on 7 November 2012 (at Column 13130 – 13131; see: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28862.aspx?r=7541&mode=h…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Law Officers' consent was sought to release information on whether legal advice had been sought regarding an independent Scotland's membership of the EU prior to the consent granted to the Deputy First Minister to allow her to make her statement on 23 October 2012.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10551 on 12 December 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/parliamenta…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether under section 2.35 of the Scottish Ministerial Code it is possible for ministers to both state whether legal advice exists and the contents of that advice with the Law Officers' consent.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Under paragraph 2.35, “the fact that legal advice has or has not been given to the Scottish Government by the Law Officers and the content of any legal advice given by them or anyone else must not be revealed outwith the Scottish Government without the Law Of…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since May 2007 the Law Officers have had discussions with (a) ministers, (b) special advisers or (c) officials regarding a minister seeking the Law Officers' permission under section 2.35 of the Scottish Ministerial Code to publicly state whether legal advice exists and any…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 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/parliamenta…
25 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Law Officers discussed with ministers giving permission for the release of information about the legal advice prior to the decision to appeal Catherine Stihler MEP’s recent freedom of information request in court.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10568 on 12 December 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/parliamenta…