Questions · Lewis Macdonald

16 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many ministerial engagements the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities has carried out in Aberdeen since 5 September 2012.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I carried out two ministerial engagements within the local authority area of Aberdeen City during the period specified. Details of all ministerial engagements are proactively published on the Scottish Government website at the following link: http://www.sco…

15 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions laid out in Public Sector Pay Policy for Staff Pay Remits 2014-15 regarding pay progression have been met by all relevant public bodies and whether it will list any public bodies that have not delivered these provisions in full.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22853 on 28 October 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…

15 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the provisions laid out in Public Sector Pay Policy for Staff Pay Remits 2014-15 regarding lower paid staff have been met by all relevant public bodies and whether it will list any public bodies that have not delivered these provisions in full.

Answer · John Swinney: The Public Sector Pay Policy for Staff Pay Remits provides for a Scottish Living Wage and a minimum pay uplift of £300 for those earning under £21,000. All public bodies subject to the pay policy in 2014-15, who have settled their pay, have met the low pay re…

15 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing and (b) First Minister first became aware of the possible resignation of Bill Howatson as chairman of the board of NHS Grampian.

Answer · Alex Neil: I was notified of the resignation of Bill Howatson as chairman of the board of NHS Grampian when I received his resignation letter by email on 14 October 2014. The First Minister was made aware shortly after.

15 Oct 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when representatives of the Scottish Government first discussed the possible resignation of Bill Howatson as chairman of the board of NHS Grampian and who was involved in those discussions.

Answer · Alex Neil: I informed Paul Gray, Director-General of Health and Social Care Directorates and Chief Executive of NHS Scotland, shortly after he received Bill Howatson’s letter of resignation on 14 October 2014.

27 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether vehicle owners in Scotland will keep their current vehicle registration numbers in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.

Answer · Keith Brown: Yes. Page 417 of Scotland’s Future addresses several key questions around the current Scottish Government's priorities for motoring services in an independent Scotland.

27 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has in relation to (a) road tax and (b) vehicle registration in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.

Answer · Keith Brown: Decisions on vehicle excise duty will be made by the Parliament and Government of an independent Scotland. Page 417 of Scotland’s Future addresses several key questions around the current Scottish Government's priorities for motoring services in an independen…

27 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many policy officers with responsibility for constitutional reform are employed in (a) its directorates, (b) its agencies, (c) NDPBs and (d) public corporations.

Answer · John Swinney: (a) directorates: As part of their normal duties, civil servants provide support on relevant aspects of the Scottish Government’s work. Staff contribute to constitutional policy development from within their own subject areas as and when required. For detai…

27 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Police Scotland and (b) the Scottish Police Authority in relation to proposed changes to Police Scotland annual leave entitlements and shift patterns.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: All police staff are employed by the Scottish Police Authority whether under the direction and control of the Chief Executive or the Chief Constable. As such, terms and conditions, including annual leave entitlements and shift patterns, are a matter for the S…

27 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what changes are planned for Police Scotland (a) annual leave entitlements and (b) shift patterns.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: All police staff are employed by the Scottish Police Authority whether under the direction and control of the Chief Executive or the Chief Constable. As such, terms and conditions, including annual leave entitlements and shift patterns, are a matter for the S…

11 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Qualifications Authority has succeeded in providing results from all examinations sat in the 2013-14 school year.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has successfully provided results for all qualifications completed in the 2013-14 school year. The Chief Executive of the SQA will be happy to discuss with you any specific queries you may have.

6 Aug 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth has allocated sufficient budget to meet in full the costs of revenue funding arising from capital investment in the proposed new cancer centre and women's hospital in Aberdeen.

18 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21612 by Kenny MacAskill on 18 June 2014, as the figures have not been published on the Police Scotland website, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm how many full-time equivalent officers were designated as local r…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As stated in the answer to question S4W-21612 on 18 June 2014, publication of sub-national police officer numbers is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. The Scottish Government does not hold the information that you request. Post-…

16 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance was in place in Grampian prior to April 2013 for police officers dealing with trained emergency response drivers involved in collisions.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. However, I understand that Police Scotland’s current guidance for police officers dealing with trained emergency response drivers who are involved in collisions, is largely consistent with the guidance for le…

16 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons and by whom the guidance was changed for police officers in the Grampian region dealing with trained emergency response drivers involved in collisions.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. However, I understand that Police Scotland’s current guidance for police officers dealing with trained emergency response drivers who are involved in collisions, is largely consistent with the guidance for le…

16 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how guidance has changed since April 2013 for Police Scotland officers in the Grampian region dealing with trained emergency response drivers involved in collisions.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for Police Scotland. However, I understand that Police Scotland’s current guidance for police officers dealing with trained emergency response drivers who are involved in collisions, is largely consistent with the guidance for le…

4 Jun 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Scottish farm produce is sold elsewhere in the UK.

4 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent officers were designated as local resources for (a) Aberdeen City and (b) Aberdeenshire and Moray Divisions as of (i) 30 June and (ii) 30 September 2013.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is a matter for Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. Police Scotland publishes sub-national police officer numbers, which can be found at: http://www.scotland.police.uk/about-us/police-scotland/212598/. The first published sub-national …

30 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it expects police officers to take in the event that a theft of footway drainage channel covers from a public adopted footway is reported to them.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21555 on 12 June 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…

30 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who owns footway drainage channel covers on public adopted footways adjacent to dwellings and who is responsible for (a) their maintenance and (b) replacing them in the event of their theft.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Local authorities own and are responsible for maintaining gullies and drainage channels on public roads, footpaths and car parks. Missing or broken covers should in the first instance be reported to the local authority who will investigate and take appropriat…

30 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) Scottish Court Service and (b) Police Service of Scotland regarding the future of the Stonehaven Sheriff Court building.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Court Service considered the future of Stonehaven Sheriff and Justice of the Peace Court as part of their public consultation on the future structure of Scotland’s courts. In developing their proposals, the Scottish Court Service discussed the e…

28 May 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers in Grampian have resigned since the creation of Police Scotland.

22 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions (a) it or (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise has had with local authorities regarding their plans for the All-Energy Exhibition and Conference in future years.