Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-02136 by Annabelle Ewing on 12 September 2016, on what date it was informed about the estimated costs of the refurbishment of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Control Room in Dundee, and what the estimated cost was at the time of the (a) …
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The most recent update on the estimated final cost of the refurbishment of the SFRS control room in Dundee was received in March 2016. (a) – The estimated capital cost for the Dundee control room option, as outlined in the SFRS Board paper, Fire Control - O…
12 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03009 by Annabelle Ewing on 29 September 2016, whether it will provide a breakdown of how many (a) full-time and (b) retained firefighters there have been in each local authority area in each year since 2013-14.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The information requested is contained in the tables specified within the following statistical publications: Fire and Rescue Service Fire Safety and Organisational Statistics, Scotland, (table 7) for 2013-14 which is available on the Scottish Government web…
12 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-02137 by Annabelle Ewing on 12 September 2016, when it received its most recent update on the estimated final cost of the refurbishment of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Control Room in Dundee, and what the estimated cost was.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The most recent update on the estimated final cost of the refurbishment of the SFRS control room in Dundee was received in March 2016. This information is contained in Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board papers which can be found on the SFRS website at www…
5 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, when it will provide substantive answers to questions S5W-02189 and S5W-02190, which received holding responses on 26 September 2016, and what the reason is for the delay in providing the answers.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The questions were answered on 21 November 2016.
5 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-03019 by Fergus Ewing on 3 October 2016, what information it has on (a) how many and (b) what percentage of premises in each Scottish Parliamentary constituency has access to broadband speeds of no more than (i) 5, (ii) 10 and (iii) 24Mbps.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The following table lists the numbers and percentages of superfast (24Mbps+) coverage per constituency in relation to the Digital Scotland Superfast Broadband roll-out, as of the end of Q1 2016-17. Information regarding the number and percentage of premises r…
20 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) what percentage of premises in each Scottish Parliamentary constituency do not have access to broadband.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: It is not possible to state definitely which premises do not have access to broadband. The answer is dependent upon the commercial deployment of broadband, which the Scottish Government does not hold information on. The 2016 Ofcom Communications Market Repor…
20 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) full-time and (b) retained firefighters there have been in each of the last five years, also broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: This information is contained within the following statistical publications: Fire and Rescue Service Fire Safety and Organisational Statistics, Scotland, which is available on the Scottish Government website at: www.gov.scot; and, Fire Safety and Organisati…
19 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide an update on the progress of its education governance review.
16 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects any delays to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project and, if so, what the reasons are.
Answer · Keith Brown: Construction work is continuing across the site of the longest road construction project currently underway in the UK which, over the next 30 years, is expected to generate an additional £6 billion to the north-east economy and create around 14,000 new jobs. …
16 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last received an update on the progress of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project from Transport Scotland and whether it will publish this.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland is part of the Scottish Government and meetings with Ministers occur regularly in the course of normal business. Progress on major infrastructure projects, including the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, are discussed as a matter of course…
16 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it expects an increase in the cost of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project and, if so, (a) how much will this be and (b) what the reasons are.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not expect an increase in the cost of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty Project. The contract value, which is around £530 million in net present value terms, was confirmed following contract award in Decem…
31 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Transition Training Fund, which was announced in February 2016, (a) was spent in 2015-16 and (b) has been spent in 2016-17.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Skills Development Scotland (SDS) have advised that in 2015-16, which covered the first two months of the TTF there has been a committed spend of £6,133 for individual applications to the fund in early stages following its establishment. In 2016-17, following…
31 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to the Transition Training Fund have been (a) received, (b) approved and (c) rejected in each month since February 2016, also broken down by the grounds for rejection.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The latest figures from the Transition Training Fund show that more than 500 people have had applications approved from the fund, with more than 650 applications currently being processed. This number I expected to increase substantially. The numbers of appl…
31 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what changes have been made to the application criteria for the Transition Training Fund since February 2016.
Answer · Keith Brown: The downturn in the oil and gas sector presents a unique set of challenges given the diverse skills and company base that have been affected. The Transition Training Fund has been designed to be a flexible and dynamic response to these challenges as they emer…
31 Aug 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish guidance on the implementation of the apprenticeship levy.
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the sport and legacy budget line is for (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17, also broken down by spend area.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the Member to the answer for question S5W-02189 on 21 November 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the budget line for sport was in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15, also broken down by spend area.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The following table provides a consolidated response to S5W-02189, S5W-02190 and S5W-02191 answered on 21 November 2016. The increased capital budget in 2015-16 reflects the budget profile for the now completed National Sports Performance Centre, Oriam, at He…
29 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) revenue and (b) capital grants sportscotland has received in each year since 2013.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: I refer the Member to the answer for question S5W-02189 on 21 November 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…
23 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is financing the cost of the refurbishment of the Dundee control room.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is financing the refurbishment of the Dundee control room using the grant in aid funding it received from the Scottish Government.
23 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the newly refurbished Scottish Fire and Rescue Service control room in Dundee to be fully operational.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service expect the refurbished control room in Dundee to be fully operational by March 2017.
23 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated cost of the refurbishment of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) control room in Dundee was (a) at the time the decision was made to move to three control rooms in January 2014 and (b) at the time the refurbishment of the Dundee control room was approved by the…
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: This information is contained in Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board papers which can be found on the SFRS website at: www.firescotland.gov.uk
23 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current estimated final cost is of the refurbishment of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service control room in Dundee.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: This information is contained in Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board papers which can be found on the SFRS website at:www.firescotland.gov.uk
29 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions ministers have had with (a) Keep Scotland Beautiful, (b) other environmental organisations and (c) tourism organisations regarding applications for Blue Flag beaches from 2016.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01744 on 11 August 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…
29 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers have issued any guidance to Keep Scotland Beautiful regarding applications for Blue Flag beaches from 2016.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has not issued any guidance nor been involved in any discussions regarding Keep Scotland Beautiful's (KSB) decision not to offer the Blue Flag in 2016. KSB has now focused on a new scheme to encourage visitors to Scotland's beaches - …
27 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that changes to the Scottish Welfare Funding mechanism that are informed by the Income Domain of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation will adequately respond to any acute downturns in the economy of North East Scotland.
Answer · Jeane Freeman: Whilst the distribution model for the Scottish Welfare Fund changed 2016-17, it was agreed through the (Convention of Scottish local authorities) COSLA and local authorities, to phase this new method in over a three year period to assist local authorities in …
4 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00421 by Shona Robison on 15 June 2016, which (a) organisations and (b) individuals will be involved in the discussions to identify key areas of research needed in relation to the promised PhDs in multiple sclerosis (MS) and motor neurone disease.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office is currently initiating discussions with individuals representing organisations which include research charities, the Scottish Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease Network and the National Advisory Committee on…
4 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether a new tender will be published for the IT systems covered by the i6 contract with Accenture that was cancelled by Police Scotland on 1 July 2016 and, if so, when that tender will be open to bids.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01217 on 27 July 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28…
4 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the i6 contract between Police Scotland and Accenture, whether Police Scotland or the Scottish Police Authority are liable for financial penalties for cancelling the contract.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01217 on 27 July 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28…
4 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been identified as being at risk of redundancy in the oil and gas industry in Scotland and its supply chain.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government continues to monitor the impact that low oil prices is having on the oil and gas industry and its wider supply chain. This includes an update on labour market information. This was discussed at the Energy Jobs Taskforce meeting on the …
4 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-00421 by Shona Robison on 15 June 2016, when it plans to start discussions to identify key areas of research need in relation to the promised PhDs in multiple sclerosis (MS) and motor neurone disease and when it expects to be able to make an announc…
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office is currently initiating discussions to identify key areas of research to ensure these studentships have the maximum impact. It is expected that an announcement will be made within the next few months.