Parliamentary questions
James Kelly
833 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many retail stores in each local authority are liable to pay the Public Health Supplement.
Answer · Derek Mackay: It is for local authorities to interpret rating legislation, including determining which properties are liable for the public health supplement. However, the following table gives the number of properties in each Local Authority area estimated to be liable by…
15 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the value is of each contract that (a) the First Minister, (b) the Deputy First Minister, (c) each cabinet secretary, (d) each directorate and (e) each agency has with Atos; when each of the contracts that are still in force were agreed, and what the dates were of any (i) renewal or…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The First Minister, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretaries do not have contracts with Atos. The Scottish Procurement and Commercial Directorate within the Scottish Government currently have two national frameworks in place in which Atos is a supplier.…
15 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and (b) Minister for Youth Employment has made to the (i) Welfare Reform Committee, (ii) Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and (iii) Department for Work and Pensions regarding recent graduates' elig…
Answer · Michael Russell: There have been no representations made to the Welfare Reform Committee, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions or the Department for Work and Pensions on this matter. We hold regular discussions with the UK Government at ministerial and official level…
15 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) meetings and (b) correspondence there have been between (i) the First Minister, (ii) the Deputy First Minister, (iii) each cabinet secretary and (iv) the Minister for Youth Employment and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding welfare reform; on what dates and wh…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish ministers have had ongoing dialogue and correspondence with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on a wide range of issues relating to the UK Government’s welfare reforms and the impact of these reforms on people and services in Scotland. Th…
15 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many speech therapists have been employed by each NHS board in each year since 2005.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is published on ISD’s website: September 2007 to June 2012 data is available at: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/publications/2012-08-28/AHP_Staff_J2012.xls?67197162. Data for September 2005 and 2006 (Qualified …
13 Jun 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the provision of IVF treatment.
8 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations have been allocated contracts under the 2012-13 Universal Home Insulation Scheme and where they are located.
Answer · Alex Neil: Local authorities, rather than the Scottish Government, are responsible for issuing and managing contracts in connection with the Universal Home Insulation Scheme and therefore the Scottish Government does not hold this information. I refer the member to the …
8 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a geographical breakdown of the contracts that it has allocated under the 2012-13 Universal Home Insulation Scheme.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is not responsible for issuing and managing contracts in connection with the Universal Home Insulation Scheme: this is done by local authorities, who receive grant assistance from the Scottish Government. A list of the grant assistance…
8 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value is of the contracts that it has issued under the 2012-13 Universal Home Insulation Scheme.
Answer · Alex Neil: In 2012-13, the Scottish Government has made awards of grant totalling just over £16.5 million split between all 32 Scottish local authorities, all of which are participating in the Universal Home Insulation Scheme. In previous years, grant expenditure has le…
30 May 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to combat antisocial behaviour.
10 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will pay the First Minister's legal fees in connection with the Leveson Inquiry and, if not, how they will be paid.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The information requested is being collated. I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 53985).
2 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to deal with shoplifting gangs that target charity shops.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling crime in all its forms, including organised shoplifting gangs. In order to support business the Scottish Government provides an annual funding contribution to the Scottish Business Crime Centre (SBCC) - which …
28 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism's evidence to the House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee on 17 April 2012 where he stated that the "economic benefits [of North Sea oil and gas] total around £1.5 trillion, although all these figures are dependent u…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government estimates that remaining oil and gas reserves could have a wholesale value of up to £1.5 trillion in 2012 prices. The calculation is based on the following assumptions. (a) Up to 24 billion recoverable barrels of oil and gas equivalen…
18 Apr 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are in relation to the introduction of a local income tax.
11 Apr 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to maximise the use of the school estate for sporting activities.
30 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Cabinet Secretary for Justice is taking to implement the recommendations made by Lord Gill in the Scottish Civil Courts Review and when these will be put in place.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is committed to modernisation of Scotland’s civil justice system, based on the reforms recommended by the Scottish Civil Courts Review. Implementation will require a combination of primary legislation and procedural reforms by the cour…
7 Mar 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will officially launch its climate justice fund.
4 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding from the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme will be made available to Rutherglen and Cambuslang.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I announced a 5th round of Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) funding amounting to £10 million last month. Applications for CARS funding are welcomed from local authorities towards setting up such a scheme in any conservation area in Scotland. The …
29 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA on the local government settlement for 2012-13.
22 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding the implementation of the new exams linked to the Curriculum for Excellence.
8 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made for investment in NHS property in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde board area.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Capital and revenue allocations are made to NHS Board from which they are able to prioritise their investment in property. Capital Allocations over the period 2012-13 to 2014-15 total £795.6 million for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. In addition to legally c…
28 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when a report on the pilot project to tackle sectarianism involving the Scottish Community Development Centre and Voluntary Action Fund will be published.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Community Development Centre and Voluntary Action Fund are working collaboratively to deliver a series of pilot projects on tackling sectarianism. A report on progress will be provided to ministers in April 2012.
25 Jan 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to ensure the continued progress of the Zero Waste Plan following the Scottish budget.
11 Jan 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to find employment for probationary teachers.
16 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to reduce fire and rescue service response times.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has provided substantial funding for the provision of an enhanced digital communication system for the fire and rescue service. This enhancement has, in some locations, enabled an improvement in mobilisation times. However, the number …
16 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with the Fire Brigades Union regarding national standards for response times.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Ministers, the Head of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Advisory Unit and Scottish Government officials regularly engage with the Fire Brigades Union on the whole range of issues across the provision of fire and rescue services in Scotland.
16 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce proposals to implement national standards for response and operating procedures as part of the fire and rescue services restructuring plans.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The move to a single fire and rescue service will require convergence of operating procedures and performance measures and is part of the reform process. The relevant working groups established as part of the fire reform programme are currently taking this wo…
16 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors response times by the fire and rescue services.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Routine monitoring of attendance times is not carried out by the Scottish Government as it is primarily a matter for the fire and rescue services. With the passing by parliament of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the creation of a Fire and Rescue Framework f…
16 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs of the Football Co-ordination Unit for Scotland will be met from the fund to tackle sectarianism that it announced on 23 November 2011.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The costs of the Football Co-ordination Unit for Scotland for 2011-12 will be met from the Scottish Governments Community Safety Unit budget. No decisions regarding budgets and funding for 2012-13 have been made.
16 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to distribute the £9 million fund aimed at tackling sectarianism that it announced on 23 November 2011.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The £9 million of funding announced on the 23 November will be split over three financial years from 2012-13 to 2014-15, with £3 million invested each year. We are developing our community based approach and building a strong evidence base which will inform f…