Parliamentary questions
Johann Lamont
1,407 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 May 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers last met equality organisations and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Since May 2007 I have met with a number of equality organisations and discussed a wide range of issues. Time does not allow me to provide a comprehensive account of those organisations here and now but include:</p> <p >Inclusion Scotland, Capability Scotlan…
20 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out the evaluation of the Small Business Bonus Scheme and, if so, whether the evaluation will be independent in character.
Answer · John Swinney: We plan to evaluate the Small Business Bonus Scheme after it has been fully implemented in 2009-10. All of our evaluations, whether commissioned externally or performed in-house, are independent in character.</p>
20 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with incomes below £16,000 per annum will benefit from the abolition of prescription charges.
Answer · Shona Robison: We estimate that around 600,000 adults living in families with annual income below £16,000 will benefit from the abolition of prescription charges.</p>
20 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students from families with incomes below £16,000 per annum will benefit from the abolition of the graduate endowment scheme.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The exact figure is not held centrally, because liability to pay the graduate endowment was dependent not only on current circumstances but on future events, such as academic success or becoming eligible for loan parents’ grant in the future. If the student c…
15 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is intended to introduce free legal representation for householders facing repossession of their homes, as has been introduced in England.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13070 on 27 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/w…
15 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to ensure that householders facing repossession of their homes receive free legal advice.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13070 on 27 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/w…
15 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is intended to introduce free legal advice for householders facing repossession of their homes, as has been introduced in England.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government takes the issue of home repossessions very seriously and already funds a range of measures to assist individuals and families who are in danger of losing their homes. Free or subsidised legal advice and representation is available thro…
14 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in each parliamentary constituency were entitled to free prescriptions in (a) February 2007 and (b) February 2008.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is not available. It is estimated that approximately 50% of the population are entitled to free NHS prescriptions.</p>
14 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in each parliamentary constituency paid the graduate endowment fee in (a) February 2007 and (b) February 2008.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In February 2007, 38 graduates paid the graduate endowment in full by cash. In February 2008, 34 graduates paid the graduate endowment in full by cash.</p> <p >These numbers are too small to provide a breakdown by parliamentary constituency without risking i…
14 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many P1 to P3 pupils in each parliamentary constituency were entitled to free school meals in (a) February 2007 and (b) February 2008.
Answer · Adam Ingram: We do not hold this information centrally. The most recent school meals data is available on the Scottish Executive website at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/SchMeals2007">www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Sta…
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many home repossessions there were in 2007-08.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The information requested is not available.</p>
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many householders received help from the Mortgage to Rent scheme in 2007-08.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12362 on 8 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/wa…
6 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the £25 million incentive schemes for building council houses will go to local authorities where tenants voted against stock transfer.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the question S3W-12723 on 13 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/wa.search">…
6 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many council houses will be built each year with the £25 million incentive scheme for building council houses.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12723 on 13 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/w…
6 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria will be for deciding which councils receive a share of the £25 million scheme for building council houses.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the question S3W-12723 on 13 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/wa.search">…
6 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local councils will be asked to bid for a share of the £25 million incentive scheme for building council houses.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12723 on 13 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/w…
6 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £25 million incentive scheme for building council houses will be evenly spread over three years.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Our aim in making the £25 million available to incentivise new council house building is to ensure that our investment contributes to the delivery of as many new homes as possible. Decisions on how the money will be allocated will be reached following discuss…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of private sector housing developments of 50 units and above with planning consents in the period from 2005 to 2007 included affordable housing agreements in some form and how many new affordable housing units these identified for each local authority.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12611 on 13 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/w…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of private sector housing developments of 20 to 49 units with planning consents in the period from 2005 to 2007 included affordable housing agreements in some form and how many new affordable housing units these identified for each local authority.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12611 on 13 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/w…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of private sector housing developments of 10 to 19 units with planning consents in the period from 2005 to 2007 included affordable housing agreements in some form and how many new affordable housing units these identified for each local authority.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12611 on 13 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/w…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of private sector housing developments of below 10 units with planning consents in the period from 2005 to 2007 included affordable housing agreements in some form and how many new affordable housing units these identified for each local authority.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12611 on 13 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/w…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of private sector housing developments with planning consents in the period from 2005 to 2007 included affordable housing agreements in some form, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12611 on 13 May 2008. 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.uk/webapp/w…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of all private sector housing developments with planning consents in the period from 2005 to 2007 included affordable housing agreements in some form.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government recently published information on the number of housing developments granted planning consent, where a private developer has agreed to make a contribution towards affordable housing. This official statistics publication (covering the 2…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11208 by Stewart Stevenson on 17 April 2008, when the body undertaking the equality impact assessment will report.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The equality impact assessment will be published on the Scottish Government website as soon as it has been completed.</p>
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11208 by Stewart Stevenson on 17 April 2008, who is involved in the equality impact assessment.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The equality impact assessment is being undertaken by Scottish Government officials, taking on board evidence from stakeholders as gathered in the recent consultation.</p>
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11208 by Stewart Stevenson on 17 April 2008, whether the establishment of the equality impact assessment took place after the decision to dissolve the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland and, if so, why this was the case.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Further to my answer of 17 April 2008, the equality impact assessment currently being undertaken, has been established to examine the effect of the amalgamation of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) with the Public Transport Users'' Committ…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide guidance to local authorities and community planning partnerships on the use of community regeneration funding to support registered social landlords in social enterprise activities.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Strategic guidance on the new Fairer Scotland Fund, which has replaced a number of previous community regeneration programmes and their individual monitoring regimes, was provided to Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) in February. Local funding decisions …
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide guidance on the “power of well-being” and how it can be used to assist community-based social enterprises.
Answer · John Swinney: <i >The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 - Guidance on the Power to Advance Well-Being</i> was published in April 2004. The guidance is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 32429) or can be accessed at: </p> <p ><a href="…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to ensure that the delivery of the Social Enterprise Strategy for Scotland will fully encompass the role of registered social landlords.
Answer · Jim Mather: <i >Better Business: A strategy and action plan for social enterprise in </i><i >Scotland</i> was a one year action plan (April 2007 to March 2008) and included actions on the role of registered social landlords.</p> <p >The forthcoming Enterprising Third …
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to update the national performance standards for housing to include a standard on the participation of local authorities and registered social landlords in Wider Role and social enterprise activities.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: National Performance Standards for social landlords, jointly agreed by the regulator, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations currently contain a guiding standard on sustainability for all social landlo…