Parliamentary questions
Brian Adam
1,580 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many modern apprenticeship in tourism places were taken up in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Tourism is one pathway within the hospitality modern apprenticeship framework.</p> <p >The numbers starting the hospitality modern apprenticeship framework for the last five years are as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > …
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many adult modern apprenticeship in tourism places were completed in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Tourism is one pathway within the Hospitality Modern Apprenticeship framework.</p> <p >The numbers of adults (aged 20 and above) completing the Hospitality Modern Apprenticeship framework for the last five years are as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspac…
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many adult modern apprenticeship in tourism places were taken up in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Tourism is one pathway within the hospitality modern apprenticeship framework.</p> <p >The numbers of adults (aged 20 and above) starting the hospitality modern apprenticeship framework for the last five years are as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacin…
9 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the public inquiry into infection with hepatitis C and HIV from NHS treatment with blood and blood products, when it intends to formally set up the inquiry.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The public inquiry into infection with hepatitis C/HIV from NHS treatment with blood and blood products will be set up on 13 January 2009. The Right Honourable Lord Penrose has been appointed to chair this Inquiry, to be known as the Penrose Inquiry, and the …
16 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether drug treatment and testing orders include testing for hepatitis C.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The tests carried out as part of a Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTOs) are focussed on testing for the presence of a range of illegal drugs.</p> <p >Whilst testing for hepatitis C does not form part of the testing regime, the treatment aspects of a DTTO…
2 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legislative consent motions it will lodge in the Parliament in connection with the legislative programme of the UK Government to be announced in the Queen’s Speech on 3 December 2008.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: In accordance with the Sewel Convention, the UK Parliament does not legislate with regard to devolved matters in Scotland without the consent of the Scottish Parliament.</p> <p >This is an important part of the devolution settlement, which acknowledges the s…
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in recruiting foreign dentists to work in the NHS.
Answer · Shona Robison: The tender process for the contract of the recruitment of foreign dentists to work in the NHS in Scotland is now complete. A recruitment company has been identified and the recruitment process shall soon commence.</p>
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its performance was in answering ministerial correspondence in the third quarter of 2008.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: In the quarter July to September 2008, 9,941 letters were received by ministers and 95% received a reply within our target of 20 working days.</p>
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many itinerant metal dealing licences were issued in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p>
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the threshold is for entitlement to a metal dealing exemption warrant and when this was last changed.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The threshold for exemption from the need to obtain a metal dealer''s licence is set out in section 29(1) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. It is currently £100,000 and has not changed since the act came into force. A task group was set up by the p…
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many licensed metal dealers there were in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> <
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many metal dealing licences were issued in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> <
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many metal dealing exemption warrants were issued in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p>
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many metal dealing licences were revoked in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p>
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to strengthen legislation in relation to metal dealing.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Metal dealing is covered by sections 28 to 37 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. Under those provisions, the 32 local authorities are responsible for licensing metal dealers and itinerant metal dealers. A task group was set up by the previous admini…
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government on European Union or global attempts to stop illegal metal trading.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There have been no discussions with the UK Government on European Union or global attempts to stop illegal metal trading and there are no plans at present to discuss the issue.</p>
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has offered businesses to combat metal thefts.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No such advice has been provided. It is primarily for the police to advise on measures to prevent all aspects of crime, including metal thefts.</p>
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there were in relation to metal thefts in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p>
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value of stolen metal was in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p>
31 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many metal thefts there were in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p>
30 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether changes to the location of key personnel for the NorthLink Ferries contract has any implications for the openness and transparency of this contract and for any future retendering of the route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The location of individual staff posts is an operational matter for NorthLink to consider. In circumstances where changes resulted in NorthLink buying in services from a sister company, or any other company, it would be for NorthLink to agree appropriate comm…
30 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the current NorthLink Ferries contract is sufficiently open and transparent.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are satisfied that the Northern Isles ferry contract between Scottish ministers and NorthLink Ferries Ltd is sufficiently open and transparent.</p>
30 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NorthLink Ferries contract requires ministerial consent for any changes to how the contract is administered.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The contract between Scottish ministers and NorthLink Ferries Ltd is a legally binding agreement that specifies the approved ferry services to be delivered. NorthLink cannot alter the terms and conditions of the contract or make changes to the approved ferry …
30 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been advised by NorthLink Ferries of any job restructuring.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: NorthLink Ferries Ltd advised us on 17 October 2008 that financial processing work currently located at its offices in Lerwick is to be relocated to Aberdeen and Gourock. This follows a decision by its parent company, David MacBrayne Ltd, to restructure fina…
17 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its performance was in answering ministerial correspondence in the second quarter of 2008.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: In the quarter April to June 2008, 11,094 letters were received by ministers and 94 % received a reply within our target of 20 working days.</p>
4 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to enhance the level of hospital nursing care provided for elderly people.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government continues to work with stakeholders to ensure that elderly and vulnerable people get the care they deserve.</p> <p ><i >Delivering Care, Enabling Health</i>, Scotland''s strategy for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, r…
1 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of discussions between representatives of the emergency services boards and cabinet secretaries at the end of July 2008 on implementation of recent changes to the police and fire and rescue services pensions.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: John Swinney and I met with representatives of COSLA, ACPOS and the Scottish Police Authorities Conveners Forum on 31 July. The main outcome was agreement that the Scottish Government should continue to press its case with the Treasury for additional funding …
1 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the Barnett consequentials for the recent changes to the police and fire and rescue services pensions.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No. Barnett consequentials only arise as a result of increases in provision for comparable spending areas in Whitehall Departments. HM Treasury maintains that these circumstances do not apply in this case, although discussions are continuing.</p>
1 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of failure to complete legally binding house sales have occurred in the last year and whether it intends to discuss this issue with the Law Society of Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Information on the number of failures to complete legally binding house sales in Scotland is not held centrally.</p> <p >We have no plans to discuss this specific issue with the Law Society of Scotland but officials meet regularly with representatives of the…
1 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many vehicles have been seized under section 3 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 or section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in each year since 1999.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The information the member has requested is not held centrally.</p> <p >The powers to seize vehicles are under section 6 of the Control of Pollution (Amendment) Act 1989 and are exercised by police and local authorities.</p>