Parliamentary questions
Alex Neil
3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Feb 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Scottish Parliament has the legislative competence to introduce a so-called wealth tax similar to that proposed by the Scottish Labour Party.
Answer · Derek Mackay: It is not possible for the Scottish Parliament to introduce a new tax unilaterally. Under the powers conferred by the Scotland Act 2012, the Scottish Government could make a case to introduce such a tax but would need the agreement of the UK Government to do …
29 Jan 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent report by Options for Scotland on alternative strategies for decommissioning, whether it will review its policy on decommissioning of offshore oil rigs, and, if so, whether it plans to ask the UK Government to do the same.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Options for Scotland Report focuses predominantly on the tax regime regarding the decommissioning of fixed oil and gas structures, namely the topsides and jackets of offshore oil and gas platforms. As you will be aware the UK Government approve and regula…
16 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what legal requirements there are on private car park providers to allocate parking spaces for the specific use of disabled drivers.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Equality Act 2010 states that providers of services to the public must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to remove barriers which may discriminate against disabled people. Private car park operators should provide larger ‘disabled’ parking spaces near to the …
15 Nov 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 can be used in Scotland by private car park providers to impose parking fines.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Private parking companies operating in Scotland cannot rely on the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 to administer parking charge notices in Scotland as the Act currently does not apply here. Private car park operators can charge for parking but, only those who…
23 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when a minister last met proprietors of road haulage companies, and what was discussed.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I met with the Road Haulage Association and Ferguson Transport and Shipping on 1 March 2017 to discuss issues relating to the A82 as well as road maintenance.
13 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what procedures police officers use when investigating allegations from a person that they have been sexually or indecently assaulted by a sibling or adult relative, and what differences there are in handling allegations (a) made by (i) a child against a child, (ii) a child against an ad…
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority. Where issues arise that concern the wider policy and legislative framework that Ministers are responsible for, then the Scottish Government would give due …
13 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many detentions in relation to (a) sexual offences and (b) indecency have been made under section 14 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 in each of the last three years, also broken down by how many involved a sibling being detained.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held centrally and is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.
13 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what standard of proof is applied by police officers to differentiate whether an allegation of sexual assault or indecency by a child against a sibling can be considered as sibling curiosity, including what elements in the case must be present.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority. Where issues arise that concern the wider policy and legislative framework that Ministers are responsible for, then the Scottish Government would give due …
13 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria police officers use when determining whether to detain a person under section 14 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, and under what circumstances officers would consider interviewing without detention.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority. Where issues arise that concern the wider policy and legislative framework that Ministers are responsible for, then the Scottish Government would give due …
13 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many detentions have been made under section 14 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 in each of the last three years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held centrally and is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority.
13 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what training is given to police officers regarding how to determine the difference between sibling curiosity and sexual abuse or indecency; who (a) provides and (b) is given this training, and at what stage in an officer’s career this is provided.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable, with oversight by the Scottish Police Authority. Where issues arise that concern the wider policy and legislative framework that Ministers are responsible for, then the Scottish Government would give due …
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who will decide on what action should be taken arising from the findings of the Police Scotland report on Operation Sandwood.
Answer · James Wolffe QC: If there is any report submitted by Police Service of Scotland alleging criminality by named individuals, the Law Officers consider it important that such allegations in accordance with normal practice are dealt with fairly and robustly by independent counsel…
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Lord Advocate will publish a substantive response to the letters sent to him on 7 June, 30 July and 15 December 2016 from members of the Justice for Megrahi committee, which sought clarification on the Crown Office and Police Scotland enquiries into criminal allegations arising …
Answer · James Wolffe QC: The correspondence referred to above has been responded to on 28 February 2017.
2 Feb 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains the case that neither the Lord Advocate nor the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service personnel involved in Lockerbie-related matters would take part in the consideration of the Police Scotland report on Operation Sandwood and that an independent counsel would con…
Answer · James Wolffe QC: As has been confirmed previously, in accordance with normal practice any report emanating from Operation Sandwood will be dealt with fairly and robustly by independent counsel, supported as required by a senior Procurator Fiscal with no prior involvement in t…
5 Dec 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will investigate claims that some staff affected by the restructuring plans of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have been advised by NHS management that they should not speak to MSPs, MPs or councillors regarding these proposals without first advising the NHS board that they are …
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has provided assurances that no such advice has been issued to staff. The Scottish Government is clear that all stakeholders, including staff and elected representatives, should be fully engaged and involved in NHS service change…
8 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will carry out a review of the role played by the Information Services Division (ISD) in NHS Dumfries and Galloway's breach of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 with regard to chronic pain waiting times information and whether the ISD needs to play a more proactiv…
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is not intending to carry out a review of the role of Information Services Division (ISD). National Services Scotland (within which ISD sits) and NHS Dumfries and Galloway, like other public bodies, are responsible for implementing the…
8 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take regarding the Scottish Information Commissioner's finding that NHS Dumfries and Galloway breached the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 by refusing to issue chronic pain waiting times information and "wrongly" claiming that it did not hold the informatio…
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Information Commissioner's finding is a matter for NHS Dumfries and Galloway to respond to. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of transparency for all public bodies and, as such, all NHS Boards are expected to full comply with the …
3 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints have been received under section 70 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 since 1999, also broken down by (a) the relevant education authority, (b) the subject matter of the complaint, (c) complaints investigated by HM Inspectorate of Education and (d) the outcomes of t…
26 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what inquiries are being carried out into the disclosures made by the directors of the Royal Bank of Scotland in relation to the bank’s rights issue in 2008 and whether the Lord Advocate is satisfied that the directors have complied with relevant statutory requirements since.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: Compliance with the relevant regulatory regime is a matter for the Financial Services Authority and not the Lord Advocate, whose role in respect of statutory requirements in respect of banks is limited to the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences…
21 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the amounts of the bonuses paid to executives of non-departmental public bodies, government agencies and companies owned by Scottish ministers in each year from 1999 to May 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The information for all the years requested is not held centrally and to locate and compile this information could only be done at disproportionate cost.</p>
22 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dog wardens are currently in the employment of local authorities, broken down by area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.</p>
22 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dogs have been impounded by dog wardens in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally. Dog wardens are the responsibility of local authorities.</p>
22 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dogs have been seized by the police in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Information in relation to the number of dogs seized by the police is not held centrally.</p>
22 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to commission research into existing dangerous dogs legislation.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has no plans at present to commission any research into existing dangerous dogs legislation.</p>
22 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dogs have been destroyed under the (a) Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and (b) Dogs Act 1871 in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Data on the number of dogs destroyed is not held centrally. The number of convictions under these Acts, for the last five years for which data is available, is given in the following table.</p> <p >Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts Under the Da…
22 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases were reported under section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and, of those, how many did not proceed to court in each of the last five years.
Answer · Frank Mulholland: A total of 1,577 charges under Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 were reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in the last five years. The following table shows the number of charges reported annually and the numbers that did not invo…
22 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many court orders requiring that a dog be kept under proper control have been made under section 2 of the Dogs Act 1871 and what the level of compliance has been in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
22 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average amount of compensation awarded in claims made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for dog bites was in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The average amount of compensation awarded in claims made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for dog bites in each of the last five years was as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=75 nowrap…
22 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many claims for compensation resulting from dog-bite incidents were (a) made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and (b) upheld in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The number of claims made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for compensation for injuries caused by dog bites in the last five years is as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=72 nowrap vali…
22 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many claims for compensation resulting from dog-bite incidents, made under the Animals (Scotland) Act 1987, have been upheld in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.</p>