Parliamentary questions

Keith Brown

188 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

5 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many young people are undertaking community service sentences, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The numbers of young people undertaking community service sentences at any one time is not held centrally. The following table details the number of young people who were sentenced to community service orders in 2006-07, the latest year for which data is avai…

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the British-Irish Council summit held in Edinburgh on 26 September 2008.

Answer · John Swinney: On 26 September 2008, Scotland hosted the 11th British Irish Council Summit. We had a very successful meeting attended by ministers from all the member administrations. The focus of the summit included useful discussions on energy, demography and the global e…

1 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many items of correspondence, meeting requests or other recorded contacts have been received from members of the UK Parliament by Transport Scotland concerning the M9 Chartershall bridge near Stirling, broken down by MP.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Since May 2007, one MP, Anne McGuire, has written once to Transport Scotland about this matter.

30 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid to students in higher education by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland through all means including loans, bursaries, grants and hardship/access funds and how many students received support in these ways in each year since 2002-03

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The number of students supported by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) and the amount of support they received in the form of tuition fees, tuition fee loans, awards and entitlement to maintenance loans in academic years 2002-03 to 2006-07 is give…

24 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the First Minister’s commitment to the Parliament on 21 February 2008 (Official Report c. 6246), it will publish the First Minister’s proposal paper to the British Irish Council in which he suggests that the council agree to take forward a new work sector on energy led …

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The energy proposal paper has today been lodged with the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46568).

9 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the conclusions and recommendations of Waterwatch Scotland’s report, Affordability of Scottish Household Water and Sewerage Charges: Historic Trends and Current Position, and whether it will make representations to the UK Government about social security benefit ar…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The government are grateful to Waterwatch for this report which addresses a number of important issues. As is reflected in our draft statement of the Principles of Charging which was issued in May this year to inform the review of charges for 2010-14, we cont…

4 Sep 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on allowing fatal accident inquiries to be held in Scotland for Scottish armed services personnel who are killed in accidents abroad.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I am meeting the Lord Advocate to discuss this issue on 4 September 2008. Our aim is to find a solution which allows inquiries into the deaths of Scottish-based service personnel who are killed abroad to be held in Scotland. At present, for…

29 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures and practices are in place to ensure that police forces meet their obligations under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 when using their powers to remove a person to a place of safety.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Police forces have their own operating procedures in respect of policing issues when dealing with mental health issues, which give guidance to all officers. These cover all relevant legislation. In addition, training on mental health issues is currently provi…

20 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Ministers have the powers to provide for defences against prosecution on religious, cultural, sporting or other grounds for possession, sale or other conduct in relation to weapons which are not swords but are nonetheless covered by the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (as amend…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 deals with the manufacture, sale, hire, lending and giving of specified offensive weapons. It covers possession only where possession is for the purposes of sale or hire. Section 141 already provides limited defenc…

20 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what orders are in force under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, inserted by section 46 of the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007, in particular section 141ZA(3)(a) which allows Scottish Ministers to provide for defences against prosecution on religious, cu…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Section 61 of the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007 inserts new section 141ZA into the Criminal Justice Act 1988. It is not yet in force and no orders have been made.

20 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers historical re-enactment to constitute a form of theatre in terms of the 2007 Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Section 61 of the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007 enables the Scottish ministers to prohibit the manufacture, sale, hire, etc. of swords, and to provide defences for religious, cultural and sporting purposes. No such prohibitions or defenc…

10 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to designate the remainder of the A977 as a trunk road.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have no current plans to designate the A977 as a trunk road.

10 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether private homes providing bed and breakfast accommodation to the public qualify as domestic premises under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and not relevant premises under the provisions of the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 which include houses of multiple occupancy and care h…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The answer requires interpretation of legislation which ultimately is a matter for the courts. However, the drafting intention was for the commercial or public areas of premises which are used for both domestic and non-domestic purposes to fall within the sco…

6 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether giving the residents of western Fife direct access by rail to Stirling and its university could increase educational opportunities and contribute to the objective of making Scotland smarter.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is not possible to determine what impact a direct rail link between western Fife and Stirling would have on educational opportunities. Our rail policy document, Scotland’s Railways, sets out Scottish ministers aspirations for the rail network in S…

6 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the findings of its examination of replacement Forth crossing options have provided any useful data about the potential effects on traffic across the Forth of new direct rail services to Edinburgh from west Fife and Clackmannanshire.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No relevant data was gathered during the examination of replacement crossing options. However, the Forth Replacement Crossing Study recognised that investments in the rail network can contribute to reducing road congestion and harmful emissions.

6 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the concerns about potential traffic through the west Fife villages, as outlined in the members’ business debate on 15 May 2008 on the Upper Forth Crossing (Official Report c. 8750), could be reduced by the alternative of a passenger rail service running through …

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Rail services in this area will be examined as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which is expected to report to ministers in the summer.

6 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Strategic Transport Projects Review being conducted by Transport Scotland is considering the utility of additional stations on existing railway lines in addition to railway extensions.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland’s Strategic Transport Projects Review is considering a range of land-based transport interventions for the period 2012 to 2022, primarily road and rail based. This includes looking at the scope for further enhancements to the rail network t…

6 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how safety and other specifications for railways vary between passenger and freight use.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Railway safety is a matter which is reserved to the UK Government. There is no significant difference in the safety of either a passenger or freight railway as both come under the same safety approvals process and both modes run on a shared infrastru…

6 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the rail line between Kincardine and Dunfermline that has been used for freight to Longannet Power Station currently meets safety and other specifications for passenger travel.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The existing route between Kincardine and Dunfermline via Charleston Junction does not meet current standards to operate a regular passenger rail service.

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that a direct rail link to Rosyth from Clackmannanshire and Stirling could increase the commercial viability of any sea route from Rosyth to continental Europe.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Rail services in this area will be examined as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which is expected to report to ministers in the summer.

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland’s Strategic Transport Projects Review will specifically consider the potential benefits of extending passenger rail links from Kinross-shire southwards.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland’s Strategic Transport Projects Review is examining the longer term needs of Scotland’s national strategic transport network. This includes consideration of the rail network on the strategic transport corridor between Edinburgh and Perth.</p…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13079 by Stewart Stevenson on 27 May 2008, whether Transport Scotland’s Strategic Transport Projects Review will specifically consider the potential benefits of extending passenger rail links from Alloa to Dunfermline as part of the examination of tr…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In examining the longer term needs of Scotland’s national strategic transport network, Transport Scotland’s Strategic Transport Projects Review is considering extending passenger access to Rosyth and possible links to Dunfermline. Transport Scotland …

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what scope there is and will be for the Parliament and local authorities to make direct contributions to Transport Scotland’s Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review, Transport Scotland has been engaging with a range of key stakeholders through focused Reference Groups with senior representatives of organisations with considerable knowledge, experience and understanding o…

22 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the provision in the English legal system for the state to repay costs to defendants who had privately funded their defence because they did not qualify for legal aid and were subsequently found not guilty would have any merit if introduced in Scotland and whethe…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Strategic Review of the Delivery of Legal Aid, Advice and Information (published by Scottish ministers in 2004) considered the question of financial eligibility for criminal legal assistance. The review was not persuaded that there should be universal eli…

15 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the successful formal opening of the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line on 15 May 2008, whether it and Transport Scotland will consider extending both freight and passenger services on this line to Rosyth and Dunfermline.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is currently undertaking the multi-modal Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which will provide an indicative program of transport investments between 2012 and 2022 to deliver against the government''s central purpose of increasing s…

1 May 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice was offered by officials on the Clackmannanshire schools’ PPP project, in light of recent freedom of information disclosures on the equivalent Stirling project.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The recent freedom of information disclosures on the Stirling project related to ministerial consideration of notified planning applications. I understand that ministers were not personally involved in the planning applications for the Clackmannanshire School…

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total annual value is of any commercial business it currently has with Post Office Ltd and whether it will provide a breakdown of such business.

Answer · John Swinney: The commercial business that we have with the Post Office Ltd, as distinct from the Royal Mail, is minimal.

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, given the restrictions placed on it by Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998, it can provide funding to the post office network in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Mather: Post offices are reserved under Schedule 5 (Section C11) of the Scotland Act 1998<a name=n2></a>. The Scottish Government''s position on this issue was set out in my letter dated 29 January 2008 to the Public Petitions Committee of the Parliament: <…

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has in respect of the post office network in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12084 on 1 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…

14 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6444 by John Swinney on 22 November 2007, when it will publish the delivery plans for the new Efficient Government Programme for 2008 to 2011.

Answer · John Swinney: We have today published the first iteration of the Efficiency Delivery Plans. The Delivery Plans provide more information on the projects and how the efficiencies will be measured, monitored and delivered. Copies of the notes have been placed in the Scottish …