Parliamentary questions

Andy Kerr

326 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

5 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to protect teachers from violence in schools.

Answer · Maureen Watt: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0205-01.htm">http://www.scot…

4 Dec 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of NHS Lanarkshire.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish Executive officials meet regularly with senior officials of NHS Lanarkshire. I meet regularly with all NHS chairs to discuss matters of importance to health and the NHS in Scotland. The most recent meeting was on 24 November. I also met with the seni…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether assets built under the Scottish Futures Trust will be accounted for on public sector balance sheets.

Answer · John Swinney: Under new public sector accounting arrangements governed by international financial reporting standards, to be adopted from April 2009, the balance sheet treatment of all public infrastructure assets, including those created through schemes in which the Scott…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether assets built under the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) will be under the control of the SFT company.

Answer · John Swinney: As was made clear in the strategic business case for Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), set out in Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605) published in May 2008, there are no immediate plans for SFT to own or control public infrastruc…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will provide to local authorities under the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust will offer support to local authorities in developing national strategies for planning, funding and delivering schools, housing, waste disposal and flood defence projects and programmes. It will provide expertise in infrastructure p…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will still receive level-playing field support under the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: Level Playing Field Support and Revenue Support for local authority PPP projects was subsumed within the total funding for local authorities under the concordat, with effect from April 2008. It is for local authorities to decide how to structure infrastructur…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the community hubs will fit operationally with the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: The hub initiative is now led and managed by the Scottish Futures Trust, in close collaboration with public sector partners.

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local bodies that wanted to participate in the community hubs pathfinder territories had signed a letter of intent by 10 October 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: I announced the pathfinder territories within the hub initiative during the debate on the Scottish Futures Trust on 13 November. The timing of signing of letters of intent is a matter for the bodies concerned. All the bodies in the South East pathfinder area …

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the community hubs will be financed and, specifically, what the role of the private sector will be.

Answer · John Swinney: There is financial backing from the Scottish Government of around £1.4 million for each pathfinder during its development stages. This will enable planning and development of proposals to establish a pipeline of projects for primary and community care facilit…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Futures Trust will raise money.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the strategic business case titled Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605), published on 20 May 2008, which explains the objectives of setting up the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) and lists early prio…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Futures Trust will have an agreed investment model.

Answer · John Swinney: As the publication Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605) makes clear, and as I have emphasised in my statement on 10 September and in the debate in the Parliament on 13 November, SFT will work collaboratively with the public an…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the Scottish Futures Trust’s operating model will be.

Answer · John Swinney: I have made clear, in my statement on 10 September and in the debate in the Parliament on 13 November that the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) will work collaboratively with public and private sectors in Scotland to maximise value for money from public infrastru…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the payroll costs of the Scottish Futures Trust will be.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17605 on 20 November 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/App…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget of the Scottish Futures Trust will be.

Answer · John Swinney: The Autumn Budget Revision, laid in the Parliament on 23 October 2008, includes a revised budget, including payroll costs, for the Scottish Futures Trust in 2008-09 of £440,000. This reflects current estimates of expenditure in 2008-09. The strategic business…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when a memorandum of agreement on how the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) will operate will be completed between the Scottish Government and the SFT board.

Answer · John Swinney: A management statement covering a range of relevant issues is currently being drafted.

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the board and chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust will be named.

Answer · John Swinney: I announced the appointment of two non-executive directors to the board of Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) on 7 November 2008. These are Councillor Jim Fletcher, Leader of East Renfrewshire Council, and Colin Maclean, former group head of Procurement and Supply …

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Scottish Futures Trust to have its own funding capability.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17615 on 20 November 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/web…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the monthly rate of building cost inflation was between May 2007 and October 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not centrally collect nor centrally hold information which would allow calculation of building cost inflation, in respect of projects funded by public bodies subject to the Scottish Public Finance Manual. Building cost inflation d…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of how it aims to save £150 million per annum under the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14558 on 17 July 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/Apps2/B…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken an assessment of the market for potential investors to get involved in projects using the non-profit distributing model.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has kept market capacity for all types of delivery vehicle under review. This overview will now be provided by Scottish Futures Trust. The non-profit distributing model has been followed in five projects in Scotland, and in ea…

6 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with banks and financial institutions in the last three months on the subject of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) and which of them have shown a willingness to participate in the SFT.

Answer · John Swinney: Many market interests, including banks and investment funders, have held discussions with the Scottish Government during the course of the Scottish Futures Trust development. Following the launch of SFT on 10 September, the body itself is now holding such dis…

3 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which aspects of its local income tax proposals will help persuade businesses to set up their corporate headquarters in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: Our proposals for local income tax, replacing the unfair council tax with a fairer local tax based on ability to pay, form a key part of our vision for a flourishing Scotland with resulting benefits for individuals and business.

3 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether HM Revenue and Customs was involved in the preparation of the local income tax proposals.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17448 on 11 November 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/App…

3 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times it has met HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to discuss HMRC collecting local income tax and on what dates these meetings were held.

Answer · John Swinney: Since May 2007, there has been on-going contact with the UK Government about our local income tax proposals, with the main channel being through HM Treasury.

20 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what data it has on the number of children with myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Answer · Shona Robison: Such data are not held centrally at present. As you know, the Scottish Public Health Network (SPHN) is currently undertaking a needs assessment on CFS/ME. Part of that work will involve identifying or confirming current service provision in Scotland…