Parliamentary questions

Lewis Macdonald

2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

21 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will provide sustainable funding in the future for the Scottish Sports Association.

21 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many landlords have (a) had action taken against them and (b) been (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted each year under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 for failing to carry out regular electrical safety inspections, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The latest available information in our Criminal Proceedings database is for 2015-16 and this shows there have been no prosecutions under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 since it was introduced. Information for 2016-17 will not be available until publication…

21 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many landlords have (a) had action taken against them and (b) been (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted each year under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 for failing to register as landlords, broken down by local authority area.

21 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many landlords have (a) had action taken against them and (b) been (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted each year under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 for failing to maintain the repairing standard, broken down by local authority area.

1 Nov 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the 12-week guaranteed treatment time has been breached by each NHS board in each of the last three years, broken down by what percentage of procedures this represented (a) in the NHS board area and (b) nationally.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on waiting times performance can be found on the ISD website http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Waiting-Times/Publications/2017-08-29/IPDC_Aug17.xlsx

3 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress toward the achievement of major trauma centre status at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, as part of the Scottish Trauma Network.

Answer · Shona Robison: The development of the Aberdeen MTC and the north region’s trauma network must be seen within the context of the development of the Scottish Trauma Network. The trauma network will include 4 four MTCs in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow operating as hu…

2 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that (a) forestry and (b) other development proposals are screened to ensure that curlew nesting habitats are not lost.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: (a) Forestry Commission Scotland has a statutory duty under the Forestry (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 to screen forestry proposals with the potential to have a significant environmental impact; this could include planting sche…

2 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the reported decline in the breeding curlew population, including what factors it considers are contributing to this; what action (a) it and (b) its agencies are taking to address the decline and, in light of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee’s recomm…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: A recent study “Environmental correlates of breeding abundance and population change of Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata in Britain”, published by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) in 2017, looked in detail at the factors affecting the decline in curlew…

2 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its latest estimate is of the country's breeding curlew population; what proportion of the (a) UK, (b) European and (c) global population this represents, and how this compares with previous years.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The most recent population estimate for breeding curlews in Scotland is approximately 58,800 pairs, with 66,000 pairs estimated in the UK in total. Scotland has approximately 89% of the UK population. The most recent European estimate was published by Birdli…

2 Oct 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) advice and (b) guidance regarding protecting the nesting habitat of curlews (i) it and (ii) Forestry Commission Scotland provides to land managers seeking to establish new forestry, and how it ensures that this is adhered to.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) is the Scottish Government’s forestry advisor and regulator and as such provides advice and guidance to land managers seeking to establish new forestry. FCS recognises the importance of protecting the nesting habitat of cur…

28 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-11280 by Derek Mackay on 26 September 2017, whether it is considering publishing a response to the UK Government and EU position papers on the financial settlement in the context of withdrawal from the EU, and when it expects to have reached a decis…

Answer · Derek Mackay: As noted in the answer to question S5W-11280, the Scottish Government will consider whether to respond to UK Government and EU position papers on an individual basis following consideration of their content. The UK Government has yet to publish a position pa…

21 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the comment by the Minister for International Development and Europe on Good Morning Scotland on 21 September 2017 that (a) extra capacity is required on ferries to and from the Western Isles and (b) there should be a levy on drivers of campervans visiting the Western Isles repre…

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Dr Allan’s comments were made in his capacity as constituency MSP. Dr Allan has written to me asking what consideration the Scottish Government might give to a scheme for an additional levy on ferry fares to enable a fund that would allow communities to dire…

21 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to allow local authorities to set a tourism levy (a) on accommodation, (b) on vehicles and (c) by other means.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government have been clear in their support of the tourism sector throughout Scotland, and recognise that the tourism and hospitality sectors are key to the Scottish economy. We have been consistent in our stance that given the potential impact …

21 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on introducing a campervan levy.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is mindful of the increased demands on ferry services given the affordability of travel following the full roll out of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) in the Western Isles. The reduction of fares to RET levels has had a positive impact o…

20 Sep 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the number of teacher training places at the University of Aberdeen in the current academic year compares with last year.

14 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the impact of the Apprenticeship Levy on business, and whether this involved (a) interviews with businesses directly affected by the levy and (b) the collection of data on the number and projected number of apprenticeships in Scotland.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government carried out a range of analysis and engagement ahead of the introduction of the UK Government's Apprenticeship Levy. A consultation on the response to that introduction took place in the summer of 2016. In addition Ministers and Scotti…

13 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the publication of its response to the UK Government’s position paper on citizens’ rights, whether it will publish a response to the EU’s position paper on essential principles of the financial settlement in the context of withdrawal from the EU.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government will consider whether to respond to UK Government and EU position papers on an individual basis following consideration of their content.

12 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the salaries of university principals and vice-chancellors, in light of the recent announcement by the UK Government in relation to universities in England.

Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: As autonomous institutions, the salary levels of Principals and Vice-Chancellors are a matter for each university's governing body and remuneration committee. However, the Scottish Government is clear that we expect universities to exercise restraint in setti…

12 Sep 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) warning letters, (b) court citations and (c) warrants to apprehend have been issued by courts in each sheriffdom in each year since 2007-08 to offenders who have defaulted on their fines, broken down by fine type.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court and Tribunals Service (SCTS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCTS who reply in writing within 20 days.

10 Aug 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many fines enforcement officers there are, broken down by sheriffdom.

7 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the debate in the Parliament on 18 May 2017 regarding PACE, whether it will confirm how frequently the Energy Jobs Taskforce met in each year since its inception, and how often it intends to meet in future.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Since the Energy Jobs Taskforce’s inception in January 2015, the group met on a monthly basis for the first six months; thereafter members agreed that it was appropriate to move to a quarterly meeting cycle. The Taskforce has met 14 times, with the next meeti…

7 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the decision of the chief executive of Scottish Enterprise to stand down, what its future plans are for leadership of the Energy Jobs Taskforce.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The announcement advising that Dr Lena Wilson will stand down as Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise is still relatively new, with Dr Wilson continuing to remain in her role as Chair of the Energy Jobs Taskforce. Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government…

7 Jul 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, following the decision of the chief executive of Scottish Enterprise to stand down, what its plans are for the future leadership of the organisation.

Answer · Keith Brown: We are currently developing arrangements for appointing a successor and managing the transitional period to ensure Scottish Enterprise continues to provide responsive and focused Enterprise support to businesses.

26 Jun 2017 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Treasury regarding any additional funding for Scotland arising from the agreement between the Conservative and Democratic Unionist parties.

23 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09188 by Humza Yousaf on 24 May 2017, whether it will place a copy of the letter of 5 May 2017, and any reply to it, in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

Answer · Humza Yousaf: A copy of correspondence mentioned in S5W-09188 is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 58907).

21 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who has responsiblity for updating the Police Scotland gazetteer system that is used in virtual service centres and control rooms, and what systems are in place to ensure that updates are accurate.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Management of the Gazetteer is the responsibility of Police Scotland. Advising on the processes for updating the Gazetteer is therefore a matter for the Chief Constable.

21 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role (a) it and (b) local authorities have had in the (i) development and (ii) management of the Police Scotland gazetteer system that is used in virtual service centres and control rooms.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Ministers have no direct involvement in the development or management of the Police Scotland gazetteer. This is the responsibility of the Chief Constable and it is he who is best placed to advise on the role of wider partners in its development and m…

21 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how often (a) it and (b) local authorities add updated information to the Police Scotland gazetteer system that is used in virtual service centres and control rooms.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Ministers have no role in updating the Police Scotland gazetteer. Advising on the processes for updating the Gazetteer is a matter for the Chief Constable.

21 Jun 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that new housing developments do not have a negative impact on existing live music venues.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: It is for local authorities, through their development plans, to direct the right development to the right place and support existing business sectors. Scottish Planning Policy provides a framework of guidance to support authorities, in terms of promoting a s…

19 Jun 2017 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport on 30 May 2017 of an additional £50 million to improve waiting times performance, how much of this additional funding will be allocated to each NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information on the allocations of the £50 million to individual Boards is provided in the following table. NHS Boards are currently agreeing plans on how they intend to improve waiting time performance between now and March 2018 from this additional funding. …