Parliamentary questions
Pauline McNeill
2,367 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the guidelines issued to NHS boards in relation to access to pharmacies are compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is not aware that any existing guidance related to Community Pharmacy in Scotland issued by the Scottish Government including through the NHS is inconsistent with the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.</p>
12 Jan 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it issues to NHS boards to ensure that disabled people have access to pharmacies.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Achieving Fair Access guidance was issued in October 2006, to help NHS Scotland meet the needs of disabled people.</p> <p >Health Facilities Scotland issued in August 2007 a non-binding guidance note SHPN 36-3 Community Pharmacy Premises in Scotland for …
10 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what a 3.6% reduction amounts to in terms of Glasgow City Council’s budget.
Answer · John Swinney: Glasgow City Council''s indicative revenue funding will be £1,391.8 million in 2011-12, a reduction of £51.5 million from 2010-11. Glasgow City Council''s total funding will remain the highest per head of any mainland local authority in Scotland.</p>
10 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it revised the reduction in Glasgow City Council’s budget from 2.6% to 3.6%
Answer · John Swinney: The local government funding package agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA''s Leadership resulted in an average reduction in revenue funding of 2.6% across Scotland. Once this total was distributed between all 32 local authorities using the relativ…
8 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland will brief MSPs on the response to the cold weather conditions.
Answer · Keith Brown: A statement on the severe weather conditions was made to the Parliament on 8 December 2010 and a copy of this can be found at:</p> <p >http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-10/sor1208-02.htm#Col31271.</p> <p >In ad…
8 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the frequency of updates from Transport Scotland in December 2010 on the impact of the cold weather conditions.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Traffic Scotland website is updated as soon as information has been validated by the Traffic Scotland operator. During the severe weather in December, the information was regularly updated to reflect the changing road and weather conditions.</p>
8 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with police forces concerning how to respond to cold weather conditions.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government Resilience Room was activated on 25 November 2010 and has been liaising on a daily basis with the various agencies involved in responding to the consequences of the cold weather conditions, including the police forces. The resilience r…
8 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police vehicles were used to deal with matters arising from the severe weather conditions between 1 and 6 December 2010.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not recorded by the police and is not held centrally.</p>
8 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a representative of (a) Amey plc and (b) BEAR Scotland has been present at the meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience discussing the 2010-11 winter conditions and, if so, at which meetings.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Representatives of Amey plc and BEAR Scotland have not been present at the meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience.</p> <p >Transport Scotland officials have, however, attended all the meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee dis…
8 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how often and (b) for how long the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience dealing with the 2010-11 winter conditions has met between 11 November and 8 December 2010.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Between 11 November and 8 December 2010, the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience met on the following occasions and discussed the 2010-11 winter conditions. Each meeting lasted between one and two hours:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0…
8 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers are members of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience dealing with the 2010-11 winter conditions.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The following ministers are members of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience dealing with severe weather: First Minister; Cabinet Secretary for Justice (Chair); Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing; Cabine…
8 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who has attended the meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience to discuss the 2010-11 winter conditions.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience to discuss severe winter weather have been attended by the following ministers: the First Minister; Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing; Cabinet Secre…
8 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which minister is chairing the meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience to discuss the 2010-11 winter conditions.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I am the standing chair of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Scottish Government Resilience. Meetings of the Cabinet Sub-Committee which have taken place to discuss the 2010-11 winter conditions, the first of which took place on 24 November 2010, have also been ch…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidelines were issued to police forces concerning how to assist members of the public caught up in cold weather conditions following the winter of 2009-10
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No guidelines were issued to police following the winter of 2009-10. Police forces, working in partnership with other agencies under local strategic co-ordination groups, agree the operational response according to local circumstances.</p>
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources were given to local authorities for cold weather conditions following the winter of 2009-10
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government provided an extra £5 million, which was allocated to all 32 Scottish local authorities, to support the repair of potholes resulting from the severe weather last winter.</p>
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources were allocated for cold weather conditions following the winter of 2009-10
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Winter of 2009-10 was the coldest in Scotland since 1962-63 and the second coldest since records began in 1914. However, by working together central and local government ensured that Scotland kept moving. In doing so, a number of lessons were learned which we…
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) snow ploughs and (b) gritting vehicles are under the control of Transport Scotland
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland has 173 snow ploughs/gritters under its control through the Trunk Road Operating Company contracts and the M6 and M77 Design, Build, Finance and Operate (DBFO) contracts. These figures exclude loading tractors and footway treatment vehicles…
22 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how long the reporter has taken to report on the compulsory purchase order at Corunna Street, Glasgow.
Answer · Alex Neil: The public local inquiry to hear objections against this compulsory purchase order commenced on 13 January 2010 and concluded on 20 May 2010. The inquiry and the evidence presented raised both complex and unique issues that required very careful consideration…
22 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be issued on the compulsory purchase order for Corunna Street, Glasgow.
Answer · Alex Neil: The report of the public local inquiry into objections to the Corunna Street Glasgow compulsory purchase order has been received and is being considered. A decision will be issued once these considerations have been completed. While no precise date can be giv…
19 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it decided not to pay HM Revenue and Customs to carry out the work required to allow the operation of the scottish variable rate.
Answer · John Swinney: As was made clear in the parliamentary debate on the Scottish Variable Rate (SVR) on Wednesday 24 November, the Scottish Government has been in dialogue with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) since 2007 about the work required to re-establish the capability of HM…
19 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met HM Revenue and Customs to discuss its decision not to make the payment to carry out the work required to allow the operation of the scottish variable rate.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. 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 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it did not hold a consultation prior to its decision not to pay HM Revenue and Customs to carry out the work required to allow the operation of the scottish variable rate.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. 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 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its decision not to pay HM Revenue and Customs to carry out the work required to allow the operation of the scottish variable rate was agreed by the Cabinet.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. The decision to continue in dialogue with HMRC and to seek adequate and reliable information about costs and timescales was mine.</p> <p >All answers to written parliamentary questio…
11 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning to provide public information on safety for cyclists.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government already provides public information on cycle safety through Road Safety Scotland and Cycling Scotland road safety campaigns. Also, Cycling Scotland administers the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme which provides skills training and infor…
11 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to encourage local authorities to promote information on cycle routes.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government provides funding to Sustrans and Cycling Scotland to work in partnership with all local authorities to promote cycling on all parts of the National Cycle Network and on local roads. Local authorities also receive funding through the Cy…
11 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure better safety for cyclists.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government takes road safety very seriously and is committed to making the roads safer for all road users, including cyclists. Scotland''s Road Safety Framework to 2020, sets out our aims and commitments.</p> <p >As part of the Cycling Action Pl…
11 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to encourage more people to cycle.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is supporting a range of initiatives to encourage people to cycle to work, school and for other journeys. Funding has been available for projects which encourage cycling including extending the National Cycle Network and providing safe…
11 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated for proficiency in cycling.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As part of the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland, the Scottish Government has allocated £355,000 this year to Cycling Scotland to support local authorities in delivering cycle training.</p>
11 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be changes to the appointment of the Scots Makar.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Discussions are ongoing to agree a new process for appointing the next Scots Makar. An announcement will be made once the process has been finalised.</b></p>
11 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will appoint a new Scots Makar.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Arrangements to appoint a successor to Edwin Morgan are currently being finalised. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37491 on 24 November 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the searc…