Parliamentary questions
Ms Wendy Alexander
505 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Feb 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of committed grid investment there is and planned grid investment it envisages over the next 10 years, broken down by (a) year, (b) project and (c) investor.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government works to identify and deliver the reinforcement and further development of Scotland''s grid network that will connect and transport Scotland''s energy potential, deliver a low carbon generating mix and ensure security of future energy …
3 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on how an independent Scotland would use collateral in the remaining North Sea oil and gas reserves to support its banks.
Answer · John Swinney: Scotland''s remaining North Sea oil and gas reserves are estimated to have a potential wholesale value of £1 trillion and act as a significant source of tax revenue for the UK Exchequer. In the next six years alone, the North Sea is forecast to generate £60.5…
3 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on an SNP website, what its position is on how an independent Scotland would “easily support any financial rescue”.
Answer · John Swinney: With independence, Scotland would be able to choose the right policy responses to suit its particular circumstances. The recent global financial crisis affected countries large and small. Norway, for example, managed its own banking crisis in the early 1990s,…
1 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the position is regarding a new health centre in Linwood, for which planning permission was granted in 2008.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We are aware that Tesco has submitted a proposal of application to the local council and plans to hold a public exhibition of its plans in late November 2010. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is continuing to work with Tesco to agree how to move forward with thi…
19 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on revenue forecasts for the Scottish tax take for each major tax in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12.
Answer · John Swinney: Estimates of the tax revenue raised in Scotland from 2004-05 to 2008-09 are available in Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) 2008-09. The report is available at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/22160331/0">http://www.sco…
12 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who took the decision to sell the land obtained for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project under compulsory purchase powers; when the decision was taken; what consultation was taken before the decision, and on what dates offers of sale were made to the original owners.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Following the Scottish Parliament''s ratification of the Budget (Scotland) Act on 3 February 2010, which formalised the Scottish Government''s reluctant decision to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) branch line works; and in accordance with the requ…
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what sites in the United Kingdom have been selected for wind turbine manufacture; whether any sites in Scotland have been selected, and, if not, what information it has on the reasons for this.
Answer · Jim Mather: The recently published Stage 2 National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP) report provides the main source of information on a range of key sites for offshore wind manufacturing in Scotland. The report identifies the opportunity to create clusters of econ…
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive at what sites it is planning to run carbon capture and storage demonstration projects.
Answer · Jim Mather: Four carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration projects will be supported by the CCS Levy under the Energy Act 2010, with potential co-financing from the European Union under the New Entrants Reserve competition.</p> <p >One of these four demonstration …
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was given advance notice by the UK Government of the delay of targets for a roll-out of a universal broadband speed across the United Kingdom.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government was not given advance notice by the UK Government of the delay of its targets for a roll-out of a universal broadband speed across the United Kingdom.</p>
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it made to UK Government (a) before and (b) following the announcement it made of a delay in the roll-out of universal service obligation (USO) broadband speeds.
Answer · Jim Mather: Before the UK Government''s announcement on 15 July 2010 of the delay to its target for rollout of the universal service commitment for broadband, the Scottish Government has this year made the following representations to the UK Government on broadband:</p> …
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met UK ministers since May 2010 on the subject of broadband services.
Answer · Jim Mather: A meeting between Scottish and UK ministers on broadband, once the results of the UK Government''s superfast broadband market testing projects have been announced, is currently being sought. The last meeting between Scottish ministers and UK ministers on the …
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what written representations it has made to the UK Government since May 2010 on broadband services and whether it will publish them.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has made the following written representations to the UK Government on broadband since May 2010:</b></p> <p >1. 24 June 2010 “ Scottish position statement to the UK Government on broadband policy, arising from a Scottish stakeholder …
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided directly to support investment in (a) subsea cables, (b) grid capacity and (c) carbon capture and storage, in each year since 2005-06.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not provide funding to support investment in grid capacity. Investment in grid infrastructure is regulated by Ofgem, the UK energy regulator. Ofgem administer a price control regime to ensure electricity network operators can deve…
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered merging, or plans to merge Skills Development Scotland with the Scottish Funding Council.
Answer · Michael Russell: As we made clear in 2007, the Scottish Government is determined to simplify and streamline the public bodies landscape in Scotland, reducing costs and bureaucracy, but improving service delivery. Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council - …
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it considers that “the powers of independence and financial responsibility” would constitute “an alternative to a decade or more of Westminster-dictated cuts”, as outlined in its 2010-11 programme for government.
Answer · John Swinney: The most effective way to reduce public sector borrowing is to promote sustainable economic growth. Faster economic growth will boost tax revenues, protect jobs and make addressing the legacy of debt left by the previous UK Government that much easier. Howeve…
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish plans on how “financial independence within the union” might operate.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has set out how full fiscal responsibility in the UK - also referred to as devolution max - could operate in the National Conversation White Paper <i >Your Scotland, Your Voice </i>and the accompanying discussion paper <i >Fiscal Auton…
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how its plans for full fiscal autonomy differ from the arrangements in place for the funding of (a) the Basque Country, (b) Canadian provinces, and (c) American states.
Answer · John Swinney: The fiscal frameworks in the Basque Country, Canada and the USA demonstrate the additional economic levers and opportunities that more ambitious levels of fiscal responsibility can provide. For example, the Basque Country has used its responsibility for the t…
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which individual elements of the bail-out of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB/HBOS and the subsequent fiscal stimulus and emergency measures to support economic recovery it would have had responsibility for under its plans for full fiscal autonomy.
Answer · John Swinney: Under independence, the Scottish Government would have an opportunity to establish a regulatory regime that ensured sufficient safeguards were in place to address the weaknesses of the regulatory regime established by the previous UK Government. As highlighte…
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the actions taken to bail-out the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB/HBOS would have differed under financial independence as cited by the First Minister in the introduction to the 2010-11 programme for government.
Answer · John Swinney: Under independence, Scotland would have the opportunity to determine the best approach to regulating financial services in Scotland - including making decisions on partnerships with regulators in other countries - to provide an efficiently functioning market,…
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to update the Campaign for Fiscal Responsibility on its plans for the financing of Scotland in light of the most recent Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) report.
Answer · John Swinney: The most recent edition of <i >Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland</i> was published in June 2010, and is available on the Scottish Government website: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/22160331/0">http://www.scotland.…
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will define financial independence as cited by the First Minister in the introduction to the 2010-11 programme for government.
Answer · John Swinney: Under full fiscal responsibility the Scottish Government would be responsible for raising all revenues and providing public services in Scotland. This would provide the Scottish Government with a range of additional policy levers to protect jobs, promote econ…
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Council of Economic Advisers has considered the issue of full fiscal autonomy and, if so, what its views are.
Answer · John Swinney: At its ninth meeting the Council of Economic Advisers considered many issues related to increasing Scotland''s sustainable economic growth rate, including fiscal autonomy. The minutes of that meeting can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.…
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that its aims for fiscal responsibility match those for the Campaign for Fiscal Responsibility and, if not, in what way they differ.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that Scotland''s interests are best served with full fiscal responsibility under independence.</p> <p > </p>
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what new institutions would be required to support full fiscal autonomy and what function each institution would fulfil.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has discussed the institutional structures required under different forms of fiscal responsibility in the National Conversation White Paper <i >Your Scotland, Your Voice</i> and the accompanying discussion papers, which are available o…
23 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish plans on how full fiscal autonomy would have operated (a) since 2007, (b) in the current year and (c) in forthcoming years, including estimates of (i) revenues raised, (ii) what funds would be remitted to the UK Government and (iii) how debt interest payments would…
Answer · John Swinney: Estimates of the tax revenue which could have been raised in Scotland, and the associated level of public sector expenditure, under alternative fiscal frameworks would depend upon a number of factors, including the policy decisions at that time.</p> <p >Gov…
3 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the A9 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route non-profit distributing model has no estimated financial close date on its website.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The A90 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is currently the subject of legal challenges. These challenges will delay the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route until they are heard in the Court of Session and resolved. It is therefore not possib…
3 Sep 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the (a) M74/A725 North Junction, (b) M8 associated network improvements and (c) M8 Baillieston to Newhouse non-profit distributing model did not meet the financial close date of February 2010 currently posted on its website.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: For the latest position on these three road schemes, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35712 on 6 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be fo…
30 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS employees are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150,001 to £200,000 and (c) more than £200,000.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Individual salary information for NHS staff is not held centrally. However, tables showing the numbers of staff earning £50,000 and over (in bands of £10,000) is available from NHS boards'' annual accounts which are published on NHS boards'' individual websit…
30 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority employees are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150,001 to £200,000 and (c) more than £200,000.
Answer · John Swinney: Information at this level of detail is not held centrally. The pay of local authority employees is a matter for local authorities as independent corporate bodies.</p>
30 Aug 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees of non-departmental public bodies, public corporations and other public bodies not covered by agency status are paid (a) £100,000 to £150,000, (b) £150,001 to £200,000 and (c) more than £200,000.
Answer · John Swinney: Some of this information is already in the public domain.</p> <p >Employees of non-departmental public bodies and public corporations in Scotland earning more than £150,000 per year are listed on the Scottish Government website at: </p> <p ><a href="http://…