Parliamentary questions
James Kelly
833 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of a finding by Jones Lang laSalle that most of the housebuilders it surveyed said that they believed that independence would result in less housing development, whether the white paper on Scottish independence will consider the implications for housing.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: There is no evidence to substantiate such claims. Independence will bring substantial economic benefits to Scotland and allow the development of tailored policies which best suit every sector of the Scottish economy, including housing. The Scottish Governmen…
2 Sep 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on the statement by the chief executive of Homes for Scotland that the country is “mired in a housing crisis".
20 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16718 by Fiona Hyslop on 15 August 2013, whether it will provide a breakdown of the costs associated with the trip.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As per paragraph 9.17 of the Ministerial Code, the Scottish Government publishes an annual list of all travel overseas by all Ministers by means of an answer to a parliamentary question. Costs and other information of overseas visits are also published on the…
6 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a monitoring system to ensure that companies contracted by it do not use so-called zero-hour contracts and, if so, how this operates.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Companies bidding for significant contracts are required to state whether they have been found guilty of any criminal offences, or have committed any acts of grave misconduct in the course of their business. The Scottish Government's standard terms and cond…
6 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) ScotRail and (b) Scottish Water staff are employed on so-called zero-hour contracts.
Answer · Keith Brown: No staff are employed by ScotRail or Scottish Water on so-called zero-hour contracts.
17 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what savings will be made as a result of the merger of Langside, Anniesland and Cardonald colleges.
14 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings and correspondence the special adviser (a) Geoff Aberdein, (b) Stuart Nicolson, (c) Noel Dolan, (d) Liz Lloyd, (e) Alexander Anderson, (f) Malcolm Fleming, (g) John MacInnes, (h) Alex Bell, (i) Ewan Crawford, (j) Colin McAllister, (k) David Hutchison, (l) John McFarlane and…
Answer · John Swinney: Special advisers meet and correspond with Yes Scotland on a regular basis and the details requested of those meetings and correspondence could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Special advisers act in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special …
13 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) meetings, (b) correspondence and (c) communications the Minister for Local Government and Planning has had with representatives of local authorities regarding the impact of the so-called bedroom tax on local authority (i) tenants, (ii) housing and (iii) budgets and what issues …
Answer · Margaret Burgess: As part of our partnership working ministers are in regular contact with local government on a range of issues including the UK Government’s reforms to the welfare system.? The latest COSLA and Scottish Government political meeting to discuss welfare reform t…
23 May 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent advice it has received regarding membership of the EU should Scotland separate from the UK.
20 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to invest in ports.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government values the contribution made by Scottish ports to the Government’s overall purpose of delivering sustainable economic growth, and continues to work closely with port operators to that end. A range of funding sources are available to Sc…
20 May 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had since March 2013 with the 2 Sisters Food Group regarding the future of Vion Cambuslang.
3 May 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to combat antisocial behaviour.
1 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce health inequalities in the Rutherglen constituency.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is committed through its strategy Equally Well to reducing those avoidable inequalities in health that exist across Scotland. Within the Rutherglen constituency area, the Government is involved in a range of initiatives with a number …
1 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle child obesity in the Rutherglen constituency.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Government Obesity strategy “Preventing Overweight and Obesity in Scotland: A Route Map Towards Healthy Weight” sets out our long term commitment to tackling overweight and obesity. For Children this includes action on diet, physical activity and behaviou…
29 Apr 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it oversees the application process for community pharmacies.
22 Apr 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the Lord Advocate’s opinion is on whether an independent Scotland would have to apply to join NATO as a new state.
15 Apr 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the 2 Sisters Food Group following its acquisition of the UK division of the Vion Food Group, in light of the impact on employment.
8 Apr 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the objectives are of the ongoing college merger process.
11 Feb 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to invest in capital projects.
31 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10940 by Nicola Sturgeon on 7 December 2012, whether it will provide a breakdown of all public money paid to companies involved in the (a) marketing, (b) sale and (c) execution of work and repairs, maintenance and upgrades relating to the Energy Ass…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: With regard to public money paid to companies involved with delivery of the Energy Assistance Package: (a) Marketing – expenditure in 2011-12 and provisional expenditure for 2012-13 by agencies used by the Scottish Government's Marketing Unit is as follows: …
31 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people its agencies employ on zero-hours contracts, broken down by agency.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government and its agencies do not employ people on zero hours contracts.
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Deputy First Minister's statement to the Foreign Affairs Committee in Edinburgh on 28 January 2013, that MI5, MI6 and GCHQ would share intelligence with a Scotland separated from the rest of the UK, what guarantee it has received from the UK Government on this matter.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12696 on 18 February 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/parliamenta…
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the Deputy First Minister's statement to the Foreign Affairs Committee in Edinburgh on 28 January 2013 that a Scotland separated from the rest of the UK would have independent domestic intelligence machinery, what the cost would be of (a) setting up and (b) running such machi…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: An independent Scotland will have security arrangements that are proportionate, fit for purpose, and reflect a full strategic assessment of Scotland’s needs and the threats we may face. In line with the recommendation of the Electoral Commission, the Scottis…
28 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether adjudications by the Pensions Ombudsman in relation to police pension commutation will apply equally in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Pensions Ombudsman has powers that apply throughout the UK. These are covered in section 151 of the Pensions Schemes Act 1993.
28 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the Government Actuary's Department's (GAD) position has been in relation to the Scottish administration and whether GAD has recommended that the Scottish police pension commutation tables should be reviewed, since 1998.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Government Actuary's Department's (GAD) has been actuarial adviser to the Scottish Government in respect of the Police Pension Schemes since their introduction. GAD issued advice to the Scottish Government (via the Scottish Public Pensions Agency) on revi…
28 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the actuarial advice from the Government Actuary's Department regarding Scottish police officers' pensions is based on statistical information relevant to Scotland only or as part of a UK-wide assessment.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There are various regulations relating to the Police Pension Schemes in Scotland under which the Government Actuary (either directly or via his appointment as the Scheme Actuary) has responsibility for setting or providing actuarial advice on factors. When co…
28 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what correspondence it has had with the Home Office since May 2007 regarding the review of commutation tables in respect of Scottish police officers' pensions and on what dates.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government regrets that the information requested can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
28 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what communication it has received from the Government Actuary’s Department since May 2007 in relation to the review of commutation tables for Scottish police officers' pensions and on what dates.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government regrets that the information requested can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
28 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it routinely receives advice from the Government Actuary’s Department in respect of pensions for Scottish police officers.
Answer · John Swinney: GAD provides actuarial advice to the Scottish Government in respect of all public sector pension schemes, including the police schemes, as and when commissioned to do so.
28 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what responsibilities the Government Actuary’s Department has to the Scottish Government in respect of pensions for Scottish police officers.
Answer · John Swinney: GAD are commissioned by the Scottish Government to undertake full valuations of all public sector schemes, using appropriate financial and demographic assumptions; and to recommend the contribution rate to be paid by the employers who participate in the schem…