Parliamentary questions
James Kelly
833 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 May 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many public sector employees are paid the living wage, broken down by (a) public body and (b) job role.
Answer · John Swinney: Since 2011, this Government has ensured all staff within our responsibility have been paid a living wage. We are committed to supporting the Scottish Living Wage for the duration of this Parliament, a decisive long-term commitment to those on the lowest incom…
2 May 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support places on courses at FE colleges.
Answer · Michael Russell: We have committed to a funding floor of £522 million this year, rising to £526 million in 2015-16. This very substantial funding supports our key commitment to maintain the number of full-time equivalent student places at college. Earlier this year, we annou…
28 Apr 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that all staff working on government contracts are paid at least the living wage.
31 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is accredited as a living wage employer.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is leading by example by ensuring all staff covered by our public sector pay policy, including the Scottish Government, are paid the Scottish living wage. The Scottish Government is currently funding the Poverty Alliance to promote th…
17 Mar 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it promotes the living wage.
14 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts have been put out to tender in each year since 2010-11 by each of its (a) directorates and (b) non-departmental public bodies and who the successful bidder was, also broken down by the (i) purpose, (ii) value, (iii) duration and (iv) number of people employed by the co…
Answer · John Swinney: The detailed information requested relating to the Scottish Government is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available. A copy will also be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 55…
10 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is no mention of Scottish Water in the white paper on independence.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Policy in relation to the operation of the water industry in Scotland, including Scottish Water, is already a devolved matter. The governance arrangements for Scottish Water are therefore not directly affected by the result of the referendum.
17 Feb 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Housing Regulator.
13 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Shadow Chancellor on 13 February 2014, how the Scottish financial services sector would be affected by Scotland separating from the UK in the absence of a formal currency union.
Answer · John Swinney: The Fiscal Commission Working Group considered in detail proposals for monetary and financial stability in their first report on a macroeconomic framework published in February 2013. Chapter 7 and 8 set out options, followed by their detailed recommendations …
13 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Shadow Chancellor on 13 February 2014, how the proposals in its white paper on independence on (a) welfare, (b) pensions, (c) tax and (d) a single energy market would be affected in…
Answer · John Swinney: The Fiscal Commission Working Group considered in detail proposals for monetary and financial stability in their first report on a macroeconomic framework published in February 2013. Chapter 7 and 8 set out options, followed by their detailed recommendations …
13 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19242 by John Swinney on 28 January 2014, in light of comments made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Shadow Chancellor on 13 February 2014, what advice its white paper on independence gives to non-depar…
Answer · John Swinney: For information about the proposals of the Scottish Government in these areas I would refer Mr Kelly to the following relevant sections in the publication ‘Scotland’s Future’ which can be found at: http://82.113.138.107/00439021.pdf (a) Currency, Chapter 3, …
13 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of comments made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Shadow Chancellor on 13 February 2014, what currency an independent Scotland would pursue in the absence of a formal currency union with the rest of the UK.
Answer · John Swinney: The Fiscal Commission Working Group considered in detail proposals for monetary and financial stability in their first report on a macroeconomic framework published in February 2013. Chapter 7 and 8 set out options, followed by their detailed recommendations …
30 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the Glasgow Fastlink project and when it will be completed.
Answer · Keith Brown: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is leading on the delivery of the Fastlink project. SPT has advised that construction on key sections of the route is well underway and this infrastructure is on schedule to be available for use in time for the Com…
28 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the Aecom report on the transport links between Glasgow and Glasgow Airport, and what the reason is for any delay.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Glasgow Airport Strategic Transport Network study was commissioned by Glasgow Airport Ltd with funding support from Transport Scotland, Renfrewshire Council and Glasgow City Council. Whilst a final report is expected by the client group very shortly it is…
28 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the new maintenance contracts for the north-east and south-east trunk roads will be in force.
Answer · Keith Brown: The commencement of service date for the new term maintenance contracts is programmed to be later this year.
28 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the decision to award and announce new maintenance contracts for the north-east and south-east trunk roads has been taken on schedule.
Answer · Keith Brown: The procurement process associated with the two trunk road term maintenance contracts has been extended.
28 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many bus services (a) FirstGroup and (b) Stagecoach has withdrawn since 2007.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally as the registration of bus services is the responsibility of the office of the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland.
16 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has provided to non-departmental public bodies regarding the impact of an independent Scotland on their operations in terms of (a) currency and (b) EU membership.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has not provided formal advice to non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) on either of these issues. It will be for individual NDPB boards to determine their own forward planning based on the proposals outlined in Scotland’s Future: You…
14 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what publications it has issued since 1 May 2011 and what the (a) circulation was and (b) production costs were.
Answer · John Swinney: A list of official publications, together with the total cost per publication, for the financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13 has been provided to the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre (SPICe), Bib number 55625. Information on circulation is not held cent…
14 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) the Scottish Futures Trust, (b) the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, (c) David MacBrayne Ltd, (d) Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, (e) Scottish Canals, (f) Scottish Water, (g) Transport Scotland, (h) the Scottish Housing Regulator, (i) the Drinking Water Quality Re…
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally, however, Section 31 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 imposes duties on listed public bodies to publish information on expenditure that they have incurred on or in connection with: a) public rel…
10 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the (a) agenda, (b) list of attendees, (c) minutes, (d) details of the purpose of and (e) outcome of each meeting between ministers regarding the land for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project since 17 September 2009.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold any such documents. I refer the member to S4W-19155 answered on 22 January 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: …
10 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the (a) agenda, (b) list of attendees, (c) minutes, (d) details of the purpose of and (e) outcome of each meeting that (i) ministers and (ii) officials have had with (A) public bodies, (B) external stakeholders, (C) MSPs and (D) members of the public regarding the…
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has kept Parliament fully informed, regarding the land for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link through the answers provided to the following parliamentary questions lodged on the subject since February 2010: Parliamentary Question Date of …
19 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Deputy First Minister will provide further information to the Parliament on the purchase of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Deputy First Minister wrote to the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee on 4 February 2014 providing an update on the purchase of Prestwick Airport.
19 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17905 by Keith Brown on 1 November 2013, what discussions it has had with (a) the three Ayrshire councils, (b) Scottish Enterprise and (c) other members of the multi-agency group formed following its purchase of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Multi-Agency Group (MAG) was formed in early 2013 and has comprised Transport Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, the three Ayrshire Councils and others with an interest in the future ownership of Glasgow Prestwick Airport. Since the Scottish Government’s acqu…
19 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monetary or other investment has been made into Glasgow Prestwick Airport since its purchase and what return on investment is expected.
Answer · Keith Brown: In addition to the purchase price of £1, the Scottish Government has provided Glasgow Prestwick Airport with £3 million in working capital for 2013-14. We expect all investment to generate a reasonable rate of return for the taxpayer over the long term.
19 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects Glasgow Prestwick Airport to return to profit.
Answer · Keith Brown: This information will be published in due course.
19 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a business plan for Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Answer · Keith Brown: We will set out our plans and aspirations for Glasgow Prestwick Airport shortly. The work being carried out to prepare such plans was set out in the Deputy First Minister’s letter to the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee on 4 February 2013.
28 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, with reference to the white paper on independence, what stakeholders it consulted regarding air passenger duty and how their input informed the Scottish Government’s position.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government regularly discusses air passenger duty with the aviation industry as part of our normal stakeholder engagement. The aviation industry has made clear for some time that air passenger duty is detrimental to the sector and that its reduct…
20 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10220 by Keith Brown on 26 October 2012, what percentage of contracts for the Queensferry Crossing has been allocated to (a) Scottish and (b) non-Scottish companies and how much these contracts are worth.
Answer · Keith Brown: As of 30 June 2013, 216 out of 368 subcontracts (59%) for the Forth Replacement Crossing project have been awarded to Scottish firms and 152 (41%) to non-Scottish companies. The total value of Scottish subcontracts is approximately £82 million out of a total …
15 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of (a) the progress of and (b) due diligence in the pipeline project from Kirriemuir sewage works to the River Dean.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Output Monitoring Group, chaired by the Scottish Government, is monitoring the progress of delivery of all projects including that at Kirriemuir. Its quarterly progress reports are published on the Government's website. The project at Kirriemuir is requir…