Parliamentary questions

Jamie McGrigor

1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

18 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an assessment of whether the local economy of the Orkney Islands, and of other islands in the Highlands and Islands that are currently not participating in the Scottish Government’s Road Equivalent Tariff ferry pilot, has been adversely affected by their exclusio…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The consultants undertaking the study are closely monitoring the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot to capture all the information we need to take decisions on future fares levels across the entire Scottish ferries network. That assessment is comprehensive and cons…

18 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns expressed by residents and businesses in the Orkney Islands and other islands in the Highlands and Islands that are currently not participating in the Scottish Government’s Road Equivalent Tariff ferry pilot, that their exclusion from the pilot is unfair a…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government understands the concerns about high ferry fares in Scotland. That is why we are undertaking a study and a pilot exercise into Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) as the basis for future ferry fares in Scotland. The Scottish Government are foc…

28 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts that more support for registered social landlords (RSLs) might be available under the model whereby local authorities lend money to RSLs if those local authorities that have not pursued housing stock transfer did so.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We are aware that a number of local authorities are considering lending to Housing Associations. The Scottish Government sees no distinction between stock transfer authorities and non-stock transfer authorities in this matter.

28 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to any concerns that collaboration with private developers in the social housing sector is not a high priority for the Scottish Government.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Any such concerns would be unfounded. The Scottish Government is working with Homes for Scotland, within the Housing Supply Task Force. Homes for Scotland will also be a member of the collaboration, consortia and procurement working group which is being esta…

28 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether developing housing associations will be able to form alliances with private developers that could attract Housing Association Grant, as was envisaged in Firm Foundations, The Future Housing of Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We would welcome Housing Associations forming partnerships with private developers if the resulting alliance can demonstrate it will support tenants and provide value for public money by reducing the amounts of subsidy required.

28 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts that efficiencies in the housing association sector might be achieved from the joint procurement of cyclical maintenance activities as well as the joint procurement of new build and how it will encourage such joint procurement.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Yes. The Scottish Government is working with the social housing sector to better share best practice in order to support the development of more efficient and sustainable procurement of both new build and services.

28 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the continuing concerns of west coast nephrops fishermen about the impact of effort restrictions on their business and the possibility that they face larger cuts via effort restrictions than vessels that target cod as their main catch, whether it plans to seek a renegotiation…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government acknowledges the challenges involved in implementing successfully the new EU cod recovery plan (CRP). The CRP does, however, include “ as a result of proposals made last year by the Scottish Government “ important flexibilitie…

28 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the concerns of west coast nephrops fishermen that it is relying on selective fishing gear, which does not guarantee exemption, rather than deploying adequate observers on their vessels that might allow them to gain exemption from effort restrictions.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The European Commission has been willing to exempt from the effort management regime under the cod recovery plan (CRP), vessels that only use specific fishing gears that allow cod which is present to avoid being caught. Deploying observers to verify low cod a…

20 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether research has been conducted into why there are fewer male, compared with female, primary school teachers in Scotland and what the conclusions of any such research have been.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government commissioned research (Riddell et al, 2005) which explored the underlying reasons for the gender imbalance for teaching in Scotland. This can be accessed from the following links: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publicatio…

20 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the existing evidence that suggests that the absence of male teachers and role models in schools can have a detrimental effect on the education of a child.

Answer · Keith Brown: There is a range of research on this issue of which Scottish ministers are aware. Some highlights the importance of male role models in schools whereas other research suggests that the focus should be on attracting high quality and motivated people into teach…

20 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it would consider to attract more men into primary and secondary school teaching.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We have considered whether to launch an advertising campaign with the objective of attracting more males into primary teaching but have no immediate plans to do so.

20 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the new drive by the Training and Development Agency for Schools to increase the number of male teachers in schools in England.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: It is our understanding that the Training Development Agency has not launched a new drive to increase the number of male teachers in schools in England, but that it has an ongoing commitment to encourage under-represented groups, including males, into teachin…

20 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of public (a) primary and (b) secondary schools has no men on the teaching staff.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In the September 2008 teacher census 40 per cent of publicly-funded primary schools, accounting for 29 per cent of pupils, have no men on the teaching staff. There are no publicly-funded secondary schools without men on the teaching staff.

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what post event monitoring exists for stakeholders, including itself, as to the effectiveness of minority ethnic award ceremonies, facilitated through private consultants, in overcoming barriers for diverse communities and in ensuring financial prudence over public money.

Answer · Alex Neil: Award ceremonies acknowledge and highlight the contribution made by ethnic minority communities and individuals whose efforts may otherwise go unrecognised. By acknowledging these contributions we are promoting race equality for all and promoting good relatio…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns raised by Black and Ethnic Minorities Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS) on the commercialisation of the race equality agenda through award schemes driven by private business ventures.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is committed to achieving race equality and works closely with partners such as BEMIS towards this goal. The Scottish Government''s focus in achieving race equality has always been, and will continue to be, on supporting the c…

8 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to measure the equality impact of public funding sponsorship for minority ethnic award ceremonies facilitated through private consultants.

Answer · Alex Neil: Such award ceremonies acknowledge and highlight the valuable contribution made in Scotland by ethnic minority communities and individuals whose efforts may otherwise go unrecognised. By acknowledging these contributions we are promoting race equality for all …

2 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will urge the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to extend the deadline for the period when householders can register private septic tanks without incurring a fee.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24497 on 10 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament…

2 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) did not advertise adequately the need for householders to register private septic tanks before the deadline of the end of May 2009 and, in particular, that it did not use local newspapers to advertise …

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, and I have asked the Chief Executive, Dr Campbell Gemmell, to write to you.

26 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to the provision of very sheltered housing.

Answer · Alex Neil: As part of the Scottish Government''s Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) we fund a range of provision for clients with particular housing needs. These include the provision of sheltered and very sheltered housing, the provision of supported accomm…

26 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which recommendations of the Review of Sheltered Housing in Scotland, published in 2008, it has implemented.

Answer · Alex Neil: We have taken forward a number of follow-up actions to the Review of Older People''s Housing (ROOPH), although not all were direct recommendations of the Review of Sheltered Housing. Follow-up actions have included: Establishment of three housing dem…

26 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the recommendation in the Review of Sheltered Housing in Scotland, published in 2008, that “very sheltered housing would benefit from a wider national evaluation in the Scottish context” and, whether it will undertake an evaluation.

Answer · Alex Neil: Work on older people''s housing is now being taken forward through the Wider Planning for an Ageing Population workstream of the Reshaping Older People''s Care programme. This workstream seeks to strengthen the role of housing in enabling older people to live…

17 Jun 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the A83.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0625-01.htm">http://www.scot…