Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-01989 by Keith Brown on 25 August 2011, which transport projects has it funded jointly with local authorities since 1999, and how much has each contributed to these.
Answer · Keith Brown: The transport projects that the Scottish Executive has funded jointly with local authorities since 1999, and how much each has contributed to these are shown in the following table: Project Local Authority Year Grant Awarded Scottish Government Funding £…
5 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment has had discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth regarding the next Budget (Scotland) Bill and, in particular, increased funding of walking and cycling measures in order to…
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is clear that action to meet statutory emissions reduction targets is a collective responsibility across all ministerial portfolios, and all Cabinet Secretaries are therefore in regular and ongoing discussion in preparation for the Spe…
5 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment has had with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth to ensure that the next Budget (Scotland) Bill fully funds the implementation of policies and proposals contained in the repor…
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government’s action to meet statutory emissions reduction targets is a collective responsibility across all ministerial portfolios, and all Cabinet Secretaries are currently engaged in discussions in preparation for the Spending Review.
5 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment has had discussions with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth about the next Budget (Scotland) Bill and, in particular, increased funding of energy efficiency measures in order to meet …
Answer · Alex Neil : The Scottish Government is clear that action to meet statutory emissions reduction targets is a collective responsibility across all ministerial portfolios, and all Cabinet Secretaries are therefore in regular and ongoing discussion in preparation for the Spe…
5 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment is taking to ensure his directorate’s compliance with Part 4 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01934 on 11 August 2011. 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/Apps2/MAQASearc…
1 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive at what stage following publication of the Route Utilisation Strategy by Network Rail it will publish its High Level Output Specifications report.
Answer · Keith Brown: Scottish Ministers anticipate publishing their High Level Output Specification and Statement of Funds Available in July 2012 in response to the timetable set out by the Office of Rail Regulation for the Periodic Review 2013.
1 Aug 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution local authorities made to the (a) M74 extension, (b) M8/M74 Network Improvements and (c) M80 completion.
Answer · Keith Brown: The local authorities contributed 11.57% of the total cost of the M74 Completion. There are no such contributions on either the M8/M74 Network Improvements or the M80 Stepps to Haggs schemes.
20 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority tenants who have breached their antisocial behaviour order have had court proceedings taken against them, this year and in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01804 on 11 August 2011. 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/Apps2/MAQASearc…
20 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-01180 by Keith Brown on 20 July 2011, whether it expects the procurement process for the Borders Railway project to conclude before 31 December 2011.
Answer · Keith Brown: We are currently considering the options to determine the most appropriate way to proceed with project delivery ensuring best value within the shortest possible time.
20 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders have been (a) given to and (b) breached by local authority tenants this year and in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This information is not held centrally.
20 Jul 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authority tenants who have breached their antisocial behaviour order have had their tenancy terminated, this year and in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01804 on 11 August 2011. 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/Apps2/MAQASearc…
22 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with Carillion or its consortium partners regarding governance of the Borders Railway project prior to Carillion withdrawing from the bidding process.
Answer · Keith Brown: Governance was not discussed at any time during Borders Railway procurement discussions with Carillion or its consortium partners.
22 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements it will impose on the use of the Borders railway line by train operating companies.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Borders Railway is a passenger only railway, requiring train operating companies to run two services per hour, 19 hours per day, seven days a week, with trains calling at all seven new stations (Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange, Gorebridge, Stow, Galashiel…
22 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with Carillion or its consortium partners regarding the non-profit distributing model for the Borders Railway project prior to Carillion withdrawing from the bidding process.
Answer · Keith Brown: The non-profit distributing model was discussed with Carillion and its consortium partners as part of the Borders Railway competitive dialogue procurement discussions.
22 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the possibility of securing value for money on the Borders Railway project following Carillion's withdrawal from the bidding process.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland has previous experience of successfully conducting major single tender competitions and will look at the options available to ensure value for money on the Borders Railway project.
22 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the outcome of the bidding process for the Borders Railway project.
Answer · Keith Brown: The outcome of the bidding process for the Borders Railway project will be announced at the conclusion of the procurement process.
22 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions Transport Scotland had with Carillion or its consortium partners regarding the non-profit distributing model for the Borders Railway project prior to Carillion withdrawing from the bidding process.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01176 on 20 July 2011. 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/Apps2/MAQASearch/…
22 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions Transport Scotland had with Carillion or its consortium partners regarding governance of the Borders Railway project prior to Carillion withdrawing from the bidding process.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01175 on 21 July 2011. 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/Apps2/MAQASearch/…
20 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-00368 by Keith Brown on 9 June 2011, how many of the homes will be (a) general, (b) amenity and (c) sheltered housing.
Answer · Keith Brown: Information split by amenity and sheltered housing is not held centrally. The following table however shows the estimated completions for 2011-12 in each local authority area for both general needs (GN) and particular needs (PN) by (a) housing association, (b…
17 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients with type 1 diabetes in each NHS board area received replacement pumps for insulin pump therapy in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and have received them in 2011.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not centrally held. We expect that people who require a replacement pump to receive it in good time to ensure that their optimal clinical care is maintained.
17 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on NHS boards following Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 116, Management of Diabetes, in relation to the use of insulin pump therapy to achieve a glycaemic control target of between 6.5% and 7.5%.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Diabetes Action Plan, published in August 2010, makes it clear that we expect NHS Boards to adhere to the guidance on insulin pump therapy set out in NICE Technology Appraisal TA15, and SIGN Guideline 116 on the management of diabetes. This guidance indi…
17 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of type 1 diabetes patients would be eligible for insulin pump therapy if a glycaemic control target of between 6.5% and 7.5% was set.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not centrally held. Guidance on insulin pump therapy is set out within: NICE Technology Appraisal TA151 which was endorsed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (now Healthcare Improvement Scotland) in July 2008; and, SIGN Guideline 11…
17 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients in each NHS board area with type 1 diabetes began insulin pump therapy in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and have begun in 2011.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Information on the percentage of people with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy, in each NHS board, between 2007 and 2009 was provided in the answer to question S3W-21510 on 10 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on …
17 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria NHS boards apply for patients with type 1 diabetes seeking insulin pump therapy.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Diabetes Action Plan, published in August 2010, makes it clear that we expect NHS boards to ensure that provision of insulin pump therapy reflects guidance as set out within NICE Technology Appraisal 151 and SIGN Guideline 116 on the management of diabete…
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it classifies housing delivered through the National Housing Trust as housing for social rent.
Answer · Keith Brown: No. All homes provided under the National Housing Trust initiative will be classed as private sector lets and will be available for rent below the levels of housing benefit limits. This makes them accessible to households on lower incomes, and therefore avail…
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include homes built through the National Housing Trust in its Affordable Housing Investment Programme.
Answer · Keith Brown: Homes built through the National Housing Trust initiative (NHT) will be available for rent below the levels of housing benefit limits which makes them accessible to households on lower incomes. The homes will form part of the overall programme of affordable h…
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes for social rent it will build in each of the next five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: We have indicated that we plan to build 5,000 new council houses during this Parliament, but have not set an overall target for council/housing association homes for social rent.
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes for social rent are expected to be built through the Transfer of Management of Development Funding for (a) Glasgow and (b) Edinburgh in each of the next five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: In 2011-12, Glasgow City and City of Edinburgh councils will offer the same opportunities for registered social landlords to bid for grant funding from within their transfer of management of development funding budgets, as other registered social landlords ha…
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) Dumfries and Galloway, (b) East Lothian, (c) East Renfrewshire, (d) Glasgow City and (e) Midlothian council regarding their decision to no longer proceed in the current round of the National Housing Trust initiative.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has met with all of these local authorities to discuss their experiences with the current round of the National Housing Trust initiative (NHT). Although these particular local authorities were unable to secure suitable projects from bi…
15 Jun 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes it will build through the New Supply Shared Equity with Developers scheme in each of the next five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: We aim to enable around 320 households to access home ownership in 2011-12 under the New Supply Shared Equity with Developers Scheme. We have not set a target for beyond 2011-12.