Parliamentary questions
Pauline McNeill
2,367 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Sep 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that pupils absent from exams due to illness have the right of appeal against grades given by the SQA.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Setting and assessing examinations in Scotland is the responsibility of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). SQA have fair and robust systems in place to ensure that, as far as is possible, candidates are not disadvantaged through illness or other cir…
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what eligibility criteria are used to assess access to open-market Homestake.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The previous open market Homestake pilot scheme was replaced in January 2008 by a new open market shared equity pilot scheme (OMSEP), which forms part of the Scottish Government''s low-cost initiative for first time buyers. OMSEP is principally targeted at al…
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make open-market Homestake available in Glasgow.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The new open-market shared equity pilot scheme (OMSEP) was launched in January 2008. The scheme is now available in ten local authority areas where there are affordability problems for first time buyers caused by a shortage in housing supply. OMSEP includes a…
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is taking forward the development of open-market Homestake.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The new open market shared equity pilot scheme (OMSEP) was developed on the basis of the findings of the Scottish Government''s evaluation of the former open market Homestake pilot scheme. In particular, a number of changes have been made to improve the targe…
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the level of fine repayment in Glasgow District Court.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is a matter for Glasgow District Court.</p>
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies there are at Glasgow District Court for stipendiary magistrates.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Two new stipendiary magistrates commenced their full-time appointments on Monday 1 September 2008. There are no vacancies at Glasgow District Court.</p>
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many stipendiary magistrates are employed at Glasgow District Court.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Glasgow District Court employs four full-time and three relief stipendiary magistrates.</p>
4 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what investment is planned for Glasgow District Court in order to modernise the accommodation.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The District Court buildings at St. Andrew Street and Turnbull Street are scheduled to transfer to the Scottish Court Service (SCS) in December 2008. Both buildings have considerable backlog maintenance problems and require substantial investment. SCS is ther…
2 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that the levy paid by the legal profession to fund the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission represents value for money and what recourse is available to the profession should complaints arise about the use of these funds.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission is responsible for setting the levy. Therefore, any questions about this should be directed to the Commission.</p>
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to minimise the cost to the taxpayer of the setting up of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In setting up the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC), the Scottish Government has used companies on the <em>Office of Government Commerce</em> contracts list for furniture and fit-out and for IT equipment. There was a competitive tendering exercise u…
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission’s budget will be spent on (a) investigation of complaints and (b) administration of the commission, also expressed as a percentage.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission is responsible for its own budget and questions about its spending should be addressed to the commission.</p>
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total set-up costs are for the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission and what budget has been set or anticipated for running costs in years one, two and three of operation.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A budget of £2,000,000 was allocated for setting up the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC). At present, the total set up costs are not yet known, but are expected to be within budget. Other than set up, the Scottish Government is not responsible for …
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what cost savings will be incurred through the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission’s sharing of resources with other organisations including the Executive.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Following set up, the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission is responsible for its own budget. Questions on these matters should be addressed to the commission.</p>
13 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff will be employed by the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission will start with a staff of 15. As the commission will be responsible for its own staffing, any further questions on this matter should be addressed to the commission.</p>
17 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of how the Cash Back for Communities scheme is operating in Glasgow.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are at present providing £2.238 million of funding under CashBack for Communities to the Scottish Football Association to roll out a range of free football activities across Scotland. These activities address playing and coach/volunteer development work. E…
17 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which communities in Glasgow are benefiting from the Cash Back for Communities scheme.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are at present providing £2.238 million of funding under CashBack for Communities to the Scottish Football Association to roll out a range of free football activities across Scotland. These activities address playing and coach/volunteer development work. E…
29 May 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the provision of a second scan for women in the 20th week of pregnancy.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government supports the provision of a second scan for women in the 20th week of pregnancy and we are working closely with the NHS, to ensure that this is delivered in those boards where it is not currently routine.</p>
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will monitor the Criminal Proceedings (Reform) Act 2007 in relation to the new fiscal fine powers contained in the Act.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A comprehensive programme of work has been put in place to ensure that the impact of the reforms to summary justice will be effectively monitored and evaluated. This work will encompass the new fiscal fine measures contained in the Criminal Proceedings etc. (…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what budget has been allocated to the Scottish Police Services Authority from 2007 for the Scottish Police College.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Police College is one of the police support services provided by the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). Since its establishment on 1 April 2007, the SPSA has been funded through grant-in-aid from the Scottish Government and was allocated …
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what training has taken place with procurators fiscal in relation to the Criminal Proceedings (Reform) Act 2007.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13334 on 9 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…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether new guidelines have been issued to procurators fiscal in relation to the Criminal Proceedings (Reform) Act 2007.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: All Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service staff involved in the new summary justice system introduced by the Criminal Proceedings etc. (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 have received two days of training, supplemented by e-Learning packages. Staff have also b…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the saving anticipated from the reform of summary justice.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The purpose of the summary justice reforms, as set out by the Scottish Government in the <i >Summary Justice Reform System Model</i> in 2007, is to improve the speed and effectiveness of the summary criminal courts in Scotland, by ensuring that only cases whi…
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what primary legislation will be necessary in relation to paragraph 13.1 in the Justice section of Efficiency Delivery Plans 2008-11.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Savings to be achieved by Courts Directorate are dependent on the passing of the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Bill. Some changes may also be required to the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 in order to improve the efficiency of legal aid expenditure although …
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what secondary legislation is required to achieve the efficiency savings identified in paragraph 13.1 in the Justice section of Efficiency Delivery Plans 2008-11.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A combination of amendments to working practices and secondary legislation will be required to achieve anticipated savings in legal aid expenditure.</p>
22 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a cap has been placed on the legal aid budget.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No cap has been placed on the legal aid budget. The allocation for this expenditure takes account of anticipated demand but additional funds will be provided if that demand is exceeded.</p>
20 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister will work with the Education Directorate-General and the Scottish Funding Council to (a) review in the long term the future funding needs of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and (b) provide in the short term the Academy with £600,000 to fund the gap…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Any review of the level of funding support for drama courses is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council to take forward in discussion with the institutions concerned, namely Queen Margaret University and the Royal Scottish Academy for Music and Drama. There…
20 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any concerns about delays to the programme for the redevelopment of Partick Interchange.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The redevelopment of the Partick Interchange is a matter for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). Delays to the programme have been due to engineering difficulties that are currently being resolved. SPT expect the redevelopment to be completed by the …
20 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport about the redevelopment of Partick Interchange.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The redevelopment of the Partick Interchange is a matter for Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT). Scottish Government previously provided funding to SPT towards the project through the integrated transport and public transport funds. The Scottish Gove…
16 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring has been carried out to ensure that the 140-day custody time limit has been safeguarded.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13115 on 29 May 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…
16 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the grounds for extending custody limits safeguard the rights of the accused not to be held beyond 140 days.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The 140 day custody time limit in High Court cases can only be extended by the court, on cause shown, having given all parties an opportunity to be heard. The Scottish Government is satisfied that this arrangement safeguards the rights of the accused, as was …