Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it had with the administration of Aberdeen City Council prior to May 2012 regarding the council's tax incremental financing application.
Answer · John Swinney : I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10304 on 14 November 2012. All the 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/parliamen…
16 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers considered Aberdeen City Council's proposal for a tax incremental financing pilot project ahead of higher ranked proposals and, if so, on what grounds.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10304 on 14 November 2012. 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/parliamentary…
16 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) chairman and (b) chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust regarding Aberdeen City Council's tax incremental financing application and when.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10304 on 14 November 2012. 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/parliamentary…
16 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which tax incremental financing applications the Scottish Futures Trust recommended to ministers for selection as pilot projects following the scoring exercise.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10304 on 14 November 2012. 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/parliamentary…
16 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what score the Scottish Futures Trust gave each tax incremental financing pilot project application.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10304 on 14 November 2012. 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…
16 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Futures Trust used geographic location as part of the assessment criteria for tax incremental financing pilot projects.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10304 on 14 November 2012. 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/parliamentary…
16 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers set a requirement for the Scottish Futures Trust to have a geographical spread of tax incremental financing pilot projects and, if so, what that spread was.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10304 on 14 November 2012. 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/parliamentary…
16 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria the Scottish Futures Trust used to assess the applications for tax incremental financing pilot projects.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The details of the assessment criteria for Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) applications are contained within the TIF Chief Executive Process letter that was sent to Local Authorities in June 2011. This is available on the Scottish Futures Trust’s website at: …
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to include provisions in its proposed Victims and Witnesses Bill for witnesses to access information about the result of pleading diets in their cases before receiving a citation to appear in court.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government recognises that more needs to be done to ensure that victims and witnesses get better information and support. The recent consultation paper Making Justice Work for Victims and Witnesses contained proposals on a comprehensive package o…
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a legal reason for witnesses not being informed of the result of a pleading diet until they receive a citation to appear in court.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There is no legal reason to prevent witnesses being informed of the result of a pleading diet prior to the receipt of their citation to appear in court and the information can be provided to victims and witnesses from the Scottish Court Service or Crown Offic…
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) plans to recommence publishing monthly performance indicators on the Disclosure Scotland website and (b) has discussed publishing police response times on a monthly basis.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: On a weekly basis, Disclosure Scotland publishes information on its website about its performance against its service level target. In the near future, Disclosure Scotland will begin publishing monthly performance indicators about the PVG Scheme. Police resp…
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has prioritised retrospective checks on enhanced disclosure certificates of staff from certain organisations and, if so, what organisations.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Disclosure Scotland has not prioritised retrospective checking for any organisation. It has worked with major users to put in place monthly maximum allocations of retrospective applications they may submit. The allocations are not inflexible and will be revie…
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) police forces, (b) Disclosure Scotland and (c) representatives of the Scottish police service regarding whether additional resources will be needed once retrospective checks on enhanced disclosure certificates start on 29 October 2012.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Discussions have taken place between Disclosure Scotland officials representing Scottish Ministers, the Scottish police forces and the ACPOS strategic lead for this area of work. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10280 on 7 November 2012. All …
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) Disclosure Scotland or (b) police forces has/have requested additional resources for Force Disclosure Units ahead of the introduction of retrospective checks on enhanced disclosure certificates on 29 October 2012.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Six of the nine relevant police forces have requested and been granted additional funding by Disclosure Scotland ahead of the introduction of retrospective checking. The following table shows the amount of additional funding provided. The figures show annual…
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Disclosure Scotland has set a target date for the completion of all retrospective checks on enhanced disclosure certificates and, if so, what date.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Retrospective checking started on 29 October 2012. Following consultation, Ministers indicated that their intention was that retrospective checking should end three years after its start date. The intended completion date is 28 October 2015.
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many enhanced disclosure certificates are expected to require retrospective checks after 29 October 2012.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Eligibility criteria for the PVG Scheme differ from those for enhanced disclosures, so it is not possible to give a precise figure about the number of people with enhanced disclosure certificates who will apply to join the PVG Scheme during the retrospective …
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether all Disclosure Scotland applications requiring police checks will be handled by one centralised office under the single Scottish police service and, if so, where this office will be based.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer given for S4W-10276 on 2 November 2012. 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/parliamentarybus…
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Force Disclosure Units will be centralised into a country-wide department in the single Scottish police service.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The organisation of departments within the Police Service of Scotland is an operational matter for the chief constable. Disclosure Scotland will liaise with the existing Force Disclosure Units until such time as the chief constable has made a decision about t…
11 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) re-employed retired and (b) part-time sheriffs have been employed in each month since April 2007, broken down by sheriffdom.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
11 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Court Service has ceased to work to targets for the time between commencement and conclusion of (a) summary and (b) solemn trials and, if so, (i) when these were discontinued and (ii) for what reason.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
9 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance has been issued to independent custody visiting schemes ahead of the change to the statutory system under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Officials are currently working with custody visiting scheme administrators to consider options and recommendations for a new statutory scheme under the reform agenda. No new guidance has been issued to administrators or visitors to date.
9 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the statutory independent custody visiting scheme under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 will be a Scotland-wide organisation or whether the administration will be split into geographical areas and, if so, what geographical areas.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Officials are currently working with custody visiting scheme administrators to consider options and recommendations for a new statutory scheme under the reform agenda. The scheme will be Scotland-wide. Decisions on the administration and operation of the sch…
9 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had meetings with (a) administrators or (b) representatives of independent custody visiting schemes and, if so, how often these meetings have taken place since May 2007.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Yes, officials have regular meetings with the administrators of the present custody visiting schemes, and work closely with them on a number of issues. No central count of such meetings since 2007 is held.
9 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the handover will take place between the current independent custody visiting schemes and the statutory scheme under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Officials are currently working with custody visiting scheme administrators to consider options and recommendations for a new statutory scheme under the reform agenda. Decisions on the detailed operation of the new scheme have not yet been taken.
9 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the National Police Reform Team is assessing the administration of the statutory independent custody visiting scheme under the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is not part of the National Police Reform Team’s remit. Justice officials are, however, working with administrators of the current custody visiting schemes to consider options for a new statutory scheme, and to make recommendations to the Scottish Police…
8 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the First Minister asked Donald Trump to put his name to a statement supporting the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10134 on 10 December 2012. 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…
8 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it sent emails to individuals or organisations to ask for support regarding the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi before 20 August 2009 and, if so, who or what organisations; on what dates, and what replies it received.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10134 on 10 December 2012. 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…
8 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it sent emails to individuals or organisations other than Donald Trump asking for support following the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi and, if so, who or what organisations; on what dates, and what replies it received.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: On 20 August 2009 I announced my decision to release Mr Al-Megrahi on license from prison on compassionate grounds. In my statement to Parliament on 24 August 2009, I set out the process that I followed in reaching that decision. This included meetings either…
8 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what emails and other correspondence it has sent to the office of Donald Trump concerning the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi; on what dates, and what responses it received.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10134 on 10 December 2012. 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…
8 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the First Minister’s office asked Donald Trump to put his name to a statement supporting the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi and what response it received.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-10134 on 10 December 2012. 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…