Parliamentary questions

Alex Neil

3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23902 by Nicol Stephen on 31 March 2006, whether its statement that it was “not aware specifically” of the contents of file SEP 10/556 prior to its being opened to public view on 8 September 2005 indicates that it was aware of the file’s contents gen…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive wasaware that discussions on the role of North Sea oil revenue had taken place in thepast, but was not aware of the specific documents or exchanges in SEP 10/556.

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23915 by Nicol Stephen on 31 March 2006, on what basis it considers that file SEP 10/556 is of historical interest.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The file is of historicalinterest on the basis that it is over 30 years old.

5 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23934 by Nicol Stephen on 31 March 2006, whether file SEP 10/556 was reviewed by Executive officials prior to its opening for public view on 8 September 2005 or subsequent to its opening.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Priorto its opening for public view the file was reviewed by a records appraisalofficer in the National Archives of Scotland to check for data protectionissues and clear it for public access. Subsequent to its opening the papershave been read by Executive off…

31 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the outcome of its review into the council tax anomaly which has affected the residents of Abbeyfield Homes and similar establishments.

Answer · Tom McCabe: We are continuing to considerthe way forward and will make an announcement in due course.

31 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the KPMG audit of Scottish Enterprise’s finances; when the audit was commissioned and by whom, whether the audit was subject to competitive tender; what its cost will be and from which budget it will be paid; what the timescale is for completion of the audit; whether …

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive’sProcurement Directorate invited KPMG to tender for work on 28 March 2006. Thiswas not subject to competitive tender. The work is not an audit, that being theresponsibility of Audit Scotland. The cost is around £60,000 and will be met f…

28 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24179 by Lewis Macdonald on 24 March 2006, in what way this answer indicates whether the Executive has any plans to implement the Charter of Rights for People with Autism as adopted by the European Parliament.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The rights of all Scottishcitizens are protected under the European Convention on Human Rights, the HumanRights Act 1998 and the Scotland Act 1998. It is therefore not appropriate forthe Scottish Executive to adopt separate rights for people with autism spect…

28 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23744 by Cathy Jamieson on 24 March 2006, what was meant by her, “I understand why people are concerned”.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-23744 answered on 24 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.s…

28 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23744 by Cathy Jamieson on 24 March 2006 and given her confirmation of her statement at the Labour Party’s Scottish conference, whether it considers that coverage in the Sunday Mail was misleading as her statement does not explicitly indicate that sh…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have nothing to add to my answerto question S2W-23744 of 24 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21872 by Colin Boyd QC on 18 January 2006, whether, when it states that the forcible removal of an individual against their will may constitute the crime of abduction in Scots law, this means that in some cases it does constitute the crime of abducti…

Answer · Colin Boyd: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21871 on 18 January 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements it currently has planned for Scotland’s rail network and what its rationale is for each project.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland is investingin improvements across the rail network both in infrastructure enhancements andservice improvements to promote sustainable travel choices, support growth in the Scottish economy and improve access to jobs, training and services.…

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22475 by Patricia Ferguson on 26 January 2006, whether it sought clarification as to who might have been responsible for this reported comment and, if so, what information it has on who was responsible for it.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive did notseek clarification as to who was responsible for the comment “Does this make usmore inclined to forget about Hampden Park and consider other options? Sure it does, of course itdoes”, as reported in The Scotsman on 12 Novem…

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22495 by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006, whether it has a definitive figure for the number of communications it has received expressing concern that flights using Scottish airports have been involved in unlawful activity and, in particular, that t…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The majority of communicationswe have received on the subject of “extraordinary rendition” have been in the formof written parliamentary questions. Since 21 November 2005 there have been 149; of these, 85 were submitted by Alex Neil MSP.

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it to be in the public interest that a definitive view should be established in respect of the legality of the process of “extraordinary rendition” in both Scots law and international law.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has madeclear in previous answers that it has not approved and will not approve apolicy of facilitating the transfer of individuals through Scottish territoryor airspace to places where there are substantial grounds to believe they woul…

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22705 by Colin Boyd QC on 7 February 2006, in what way this answer indicates for whom the Executive considers it would be unhelpful if it speculated as to what would constitute a credible allegation in respect of the allegations that US agencies have…

Answer · Colin Boyd: Speculation would not be helpfulto anyone who was responsible for decisions in relation to criminal investigationsor proceedings.

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any NHS board has made representations to it seeking assistance with filling vacant consultancy posts.

Answer · Andy Kerr: TheExecutive has been in correspondence with all NHS boards regarding the filling ofvacant consultant posts and is fully committed to increasing the numbers of consultantsin post and reducing vacancy levels.NHS boards have drawn up detailedbusiness pla…

24 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to remedy any shortages of consultants within NHS board areas.

Answer · Andy Kerr: In August last year, wepublished the National Workforce Planning Framework to introduce a newannual workforce planning cycle for NHSScotland, aligned with service andfinancial planning. It sets processes in place at local, regional and nationallevels f…