Parliamentary questions
Hugh Henry
645 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Higher Photography candidates there were in each year since 2010.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The number of Photography candidates has increased steadily since 2010. The following table provides Photography candidate figures from 2010-2013. Photography Higher 2010* 2011 2012 2013 Candidates 947 1,153 1,495 1,729 The Higher Photography cou…
5 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14362 by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 May 2013, who would set the level of annual increase for pensions currently paid in Scotland by the Ministry of Defence if Scotland decided to leave the UK.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government will shortly publish a paper on pensions in an Independent Scotland, covering the future of state pensions, private pensions and public sector pensions.
5 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many closure notices have been (a) applied for and (b) enforced in 2013.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16590 on 3 September 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliament…
5 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many closure notices have been (a) applied for and (b) enforced in each accounting period since January 2007.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In March 2009, the Scottish Government and COSLA jointly published their Framework for tackling antisocial behaviour, Promoting Positive Outcomes: Working Together to Prevent Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland. Our emphasis since then has been to address the ca…
16 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-15798 by Alex Neil on 15 July 2013, whether it will list the services for which patients can be charged, broken down by amount charged.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 1998, allow for charges to be levied for glasses or contact lenses supplied by hospital eye departments, and the National Health Service (Dental Charges) (Scotland) Regulations …
18 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS provides all health services to patients free of charge.
Answer · Alex Neil: The primary purpose of any NHS organisation is to provide NHS care and the NHS provides treatment free of charge at the point of access. Unless legislation allows, the NHS cannot charge patients. For example, previously prescription charges were in place, bu…
17 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-14301 by Joe FitzPatrick on 1 May 2013, for what reason the letter sent by Hugh Henry MSP on 21 December 2012 was replied to by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 28 March 2013.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Convenor of the Greensyde Carers Group emailed all Scottish Ministers and MSPs on 17 December 2012. Mr Hugh Henry then sent a separate email to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing regarding the same correspondence on 21 December 2012. On the 2…
17 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recourse a member of the public has who is dissatisfied with the outcome of a Social Work Complaints Review Panel.
Answer · Alex Neil: A member of the public who is dissatisfied with the outcome of a local authority’s Social Work Complaints Review Committee may refer their complaint to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman for investigation. Should they still not be satisfied with the outc…
23 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the suggestion that, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK, any subsequent constitutional arrangement should recognise the role of the Church of Scotland in particular.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government’s paper Scotland’s Future: from the Referendum to Independence and a Written Constitution, published in February 2013 and available on the Scottish Government website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0041/00413757.pdf provides that a …
23 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Act of Settlement 1701 will remain in force with respect to the head of state in Scotland if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government believes that the discrimination against Catholics within the Act of Settlement should be removed from our law. The Scottish Parliament unanimously passed a motion as early as 16 December 1999 agreeing that the Act of Settlement has no…
23 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who the head of state will be if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Following a vote for independence in September 2014, Her Majesty the Queen (and her successors) will be the head of state in an independent Scotland from independence day.
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK, whether any significant changes to the terms of membership of the EU will be subject to a referendum.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Future Governments of an independent Scotland will be able to seek the views of the people of this country on a range of issues safe in the knowledge that the will of the Scottish people would be respected by a Scottish Parliament, with the full range of powe…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK, whether membership of the EU will be based on the terms of membership that currently apply to the UK.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland would enter negotiations with the EU as an existing part of the EU and with existing terms of membership as the basis for those negotiations. I refer the member to my speech on 26 February 2013 setting out the basis of Scotland’s continuing membershi…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK, whether there will be a referendum on any future decision to join the euro.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government agrees with the Fiscal Commission Working Group that retaining Sterling, in a currency union with the rest of the UK is in the best interests of both Scotland and the rest of the UK.
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK and the rest of the UK leaves the EU, whether Scotland will continue to use the pound sterling.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government agrees with the Fiscal Commission Working Group that retaining Sterling, in a currency union with the rest of the UK is in the best interests of both Scotland and the rest of the UK. This would provide a workable currency from day one …
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK, whether the people of Scotland will be given the right to vote on membership of the EU.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Membership of the world’s largest single market is important to Scotland and is currently at threat due to the ill-judged stance being taken by the UK Prime Minister towards the UK’s relationship with the EU. The Scottish Government has no desire to leave the…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK, whether decisions on the terms of the separation made by politicians will be voted on by the Scottish electorate.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15215 on 13 June 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK, who will decide whether the terms of the negotiations with the UK Government are acceptable.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government’s paper on Choosing Scotland Future, published in August 2007 and available on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/08/13103747/0, said in para 3.16 that issues to be negotiated: “are likely…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK and is a member of the EU, whether students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland can be prevented from taking capped places at Scottish universities.
Answer · Michael Russell: We are confident that we can maintain free education for Scots residents and maintain the balance of students from within and outwith Scotland post-Independence. Scotland can and will maintain its distinctive approach. We will set out our own plans for higher…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many undergraduate students from (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland are enrolled at Scottish universities in 2012-13.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Higher Education Statistics Authority produces statistics for students in Higher Education Institutions. The latest data on students in Higher Education Institutions is for the academic year 2011-12. Information for 2012-13 will not be available until ear…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK, whether the cap on student numbers will be maintained at the current level.
Answer · Michael Russell: We are confident that we can maintain free education for Scots residents and maintain the balance of students from within and outwith Scotland post-Independence. Scotland can and will maintain its distinctive approach. We will set out our own plans for higher…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK, what guarantee it can provide that the number of Scottish students at Scottish universities will be maintained at the current level.
Answer · Michael Russell: We are confident that we can maintain free education for Scots residents and maintain the balance of students from within and outwith Scotland post-Independence. Scotland can and will maintain its distinctive approach. We will set out our own plans for higher…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if Scotland separates from the rest of the UK and has a different immigration policy from the rest of the UK, whether it can guarantee that there will be no border controls between Scotland and England.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: An independent Scotland would implement its own immigration policies and negotiate to remain within the common travel area, maintaining an open border between Scotland and England. This would be a similar arrangement to that which already exists between the R…
15 May 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons schools continue to report problems in the recruitment of supply teachers.
19 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether pensions paid in Scotland by the Ministry of Defence will be guaranteed to be paid at the same level as in the rest of the UK if Scotland decides to leave the UK.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is unequivocal in its support of veterans, and fully recognises and acknowledges the huge debt that Scotland owes to the servicemen and women of many nationalities who have trained and fought together as part of the UK military. All pe…
17 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timescale is for ministers to respond to letters from MSPs.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The target time for ministerial replies to all correspondence is 20 working days.
16 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether matters otherwise protected by data protection legislation are regarded as being in the public domain once they have been discussed in an open civil court hearing.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Data Protection Act applies to the processing of personal data. It cannot be assumed that personal data can be disclosed once it has been discussed in an open civil court hearing. Organisations subject to the Act have certain obligations when deciding ho…
4 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it will cost "to improve the quality of information going to parents about Curriculum for Excellence" and “produce a new publication to be provided to every parent in Scotland” as announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 27 March 2013.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is continually looking at ways to respond to requests to improve information and engagement with parents on Curriculum for Excellence. In response to direct feedback from parents, a new leaflet for parents is being developed in partner…
4 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it will cost Education Scotland to develop the website with schools data for parents, which was announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 27 March 2013, and whether it will be developed in-house.
Answer · Michael Russell: Education Scotland are about to start scoping the work and finalising the requirements. After this phase is complete, it will be possible to estimate costs. The existing websites, Parent Zone and Scottish Schools Online are currently managed and developed in-…
4 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how much it will cost and (b) who it will work with to develop the senior phase benchmarking tool announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 27 March 2013.
Answer · Michael Russell: The development of the Senior Phase Benchmarking Tool is estimated to cost £0.7 million over the three financial years 2011-12 to 2014-15. The tool will be launched in August 2014. The tool is being developed through a project-based partnership involving the…