Parliamentary questions
Lewis Macdonald
2,224 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10509 by Kenny MacAskill on 6 March 2008, whether ministers will consult regional procurators fiscal when considering the business case submitted by the Scottish Police Services Authority.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11133 on 14 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…
19 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10509 by Kenny MacAskill on 6 March 2008, whether ministers will consult chief constables of the relevant police areas when considering the business case submitted by the Scottish Police Services Authority.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11133 on 14 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…
19 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10509 by Kenny MacAskill on 6 March 2008, whether the Scottish Police Services Authority consulted all relevant forensic service staff when preparing its business case for the merger of the forensic laboratories in Aberdeen and Dundee.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11133 on 14 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…
19 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10509 by Kenny MacAskill on 6 March 2008, whether the Scottish Police Services Authority consulted regional procurators fiscal in the relevant areas when preparing its business case for the merger of the forensic laboratories in Aberdeen and Dundee.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11133 on 14 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…
19 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10509 by Kenny MacAskill on 6 March 2008, whether the Scottish Police Services Authority consulted the chief constables of the relevant police areas when preparing its business case for the merger of the forensic laboratories in Aberdeen and Dundee.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) has consulted interested parties including staff, unions, police authorities, Chief Constables and regional procurators fiscal about its proposal to build a new forensic laboratory in Dundee replacing existing fac…
27 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether work on the further development of the Aberdeen forensic laboratory of the Scottish Police Services Authority Forensic Services has been suspended and, if so, for what reason.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10509 on 6 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
27 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for future development of the Aberdeen forensic laboratory of the Scottish Police Services Authority Forensic Services.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Police forensic services and development of forensic science laboratories are operational matters for the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA). Following a facilities review of police forensic science, SPSA has recently submitted a business case, for app…
27 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to strengthen partnership working between Scottish Police Services Authority Forensic Services and front-line officers in Grampian Police and Northern Constabulary.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There is a strong working relationship between the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) Forensic Services and police forces. There are Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in place governing both the relationship and workloads and the SLAs are regularly revie…
18 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the meeting of Grampian Joint Police Board on 11 January 2008 and the report in the Press and Journal on 12 January 2008 that the Chief Constable of Grampian Police stated that, as a consequence of police pensions underfunding, “the worst case scenario could be a reduction in …
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The recruitment and deploymentof police officers in Grampian is a matter for the Chief Constable of Grampian Policeand it is for him to consider the projections of police numbers in Grampian withthe Grampian Joint Police Board whose convener has announced tha…
18 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S3F-427 by Alex Salmond on 17 January 2008 in which he cited a report in the Press and Journal of 9 January 2008 that an additional 60 officers will join Grampian Police during the next financial year (Official Report c.5190), …
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8462 on 24 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
18 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S3O-1864 by Kenny MacAskill on 10 January 2008 in which he stated that “The projected figures are for the recruitment in Grampian of an additional 150 officers in 2008 and an additional 52 in 2009. There will be a further 28 of…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8462 on 24 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
14 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-7656, S3W-7657, S3W-7658, S3W-7659, S3W-7660 and S3W-7661 by Shona Robison on 14 January 2008, what the timetable is for the proposed incremental introduction of the comprehensive programme which will ultimately serve very young, nursery and school…
Answer · Shona Robison: Scotland will be divided into three areas, north, east andwest for the purpose of Childsmile with Childsmile Nursery/School and Practice plannedto roll out in the north in 2008-09. Childsmile Practice to rollout in 2009-10 inthe east and Childsmile Nursery/Sc…
21 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any guidance to local authorities on the development of community energy plans.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has notissued any guidance to local authorities on the development of community energyplans.</p><p>However, we are committed totripling the funding for community renewables and microgeneration, and are currentlyreviewing what form that…
21 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding might be available to increase the capacity of a new or existing football stadium in the event of Scotland being successful in a bid to host the 2016 European Football Championships.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Until a feasibility study hasbeen completed it is not possible to advise on additional funding to increase thecapacity of a new or existing football stadium in the event of Scotland beingsuccessful in a bid to host the 2016 European Football Championship Fina…
21 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding might be available to support the development of a youth academy as part of a football stadium redevelopment or new build.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government, in partnershipwith the Scottish Football Association, local authorities and support from thelottery have committed to the Action Plan for Youth Football with a total fundingpackage of £31 million over 10 years.</p><p>The Scottish Foot…
21 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding from sportscotland’s Building for Sport programme would be available for the (a) redevelopment of an existing football stadium to include community facilities and (b) development of a new football stadium to accommodate a professional football club as well as community fac…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Any eligible project can applyto sportscotland’s Building for Sport programme for funding under their currentfunding guidelines to improve community sports facilities.</p><p>The redevelopment of an existingfootball stadium to include community facilities and …
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to extend the Childsmile School initiative to the NHS Grampian area.
Answer · Shona Robison: A Childsmile programme developedparticularly for the needs of the population in NHS Grampian will be introducedin 2008, starting with a training programme for staff in the first half of 2008and an incremental introduction of the comprehensive programme which …
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to extend the Childsmile Nursery initiative to the NHS Grampian area.
Answer · Shona Robison: A Childsmile programme developedparticularly for the needs of the population in NHS Grampian will be introducedin 2008, starting with a training programme for staff in the first half of 2008and an incremental introduction of the comprehensive programme which …
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to extend the Childsmile Practice initiative to the NHS Grampian area.
Answer · Shona Robison: A Childsmile programmedeveloped particularly for the needs of the population in NHS Grampian will beintroduced in 2008 starting with a training programme for staff in the firsthalf of 2008 and an incremental introduction of the comprehensive programmewhich wi…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS board areas are currently involved in the Childsmile School initiative.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Childsmile School initiativeis currently operational in NHS Fife.</p><p>A Childsmile programme developedparticularly for the needs of the population in NHS Grampian will be introducedin 2008 starting with a training programme for staff in the first half o…
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS board areas are currently involved in the Childsmile Nursery initiative.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Fife, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Tayside,NHS Lothian, NHS Borders and NHS Ayrshire and Arran are currently involved in theChildsmile Nursery initiative.</p><p>A Childsmile programme developedparticularly for the needs of the population in NHS Grampian will be …
10 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS board areas are currently involved in the Childsmile Practice initiative.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Childsmile Practice initiativeis currently operational in areas covered by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lanarkshireand NHS Ayrshire and Arran.</p><p>Representatives from NHS Highlandmet with the Childsmile Practice Programme Manager on 6 December 20…
5 Dec 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions ministers have had with the Aberdeen Prison Visiting Committee since the Cabinet Secretary for Justice announced his decision on 24 August 2007 to close Aberdeen prison.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No formal discussionshave taken place between ministers and the Aberdeen Visiting Committee. However,there has been correspondence from the Visiting Committee addressed to both myselfand to the First Minister. This has now been dealt with by officials and a l…
22 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the establishment of a purpose-built remand unit for local prisoners awaiting trial in Aberdeen.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:</p><p>The new prison inthe Peterhead area (HM Prison Grampian), which will replace HM Prison Aberdeen andHM Prison Peterhead, will provide accommodat…
22 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the recent publication of figures showing that there are currently 295 registered sex offenders resident in the Grampian Police force area, whether it will now publish comparable figures for other police force areas.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The informationrequested is shown in the following table, which is available and updatedmonthly on the Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) website found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.spsa.police.uk/foi/classes_information/public_interest">http://www.spsa…
13 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the construction of a new road to connect Aberdeen airport to the A96 at its intended junction with the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The design of theproposed junction of the A96 and the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route makes provision for a new road connecting with theDyce industrial area and Aberdeen Airport. The funding and construction of this road will be for others.</p>
13 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned any individuals or organisations to work on proposals for the connection of Scotland’s offshore renewable generation capacity to electricity markets elsewhere in Europe and, if so, at what cost.
Answer · Jim Mather: In June, we commissioneda consortium led by WSP Environmental to undertake a pre-scoping study of the requirementsfor offshore electricity grid connection between Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire.</p><p>The study cost around£21,810 which was fully covered …
13 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet representatives from OFGEM to discuss proposals for the connection of Scotland’s offshore renewable generation capacity to electricity markets elsewhere in Europe.
Answer · Jim Mather: Officials will meet with OFGEM in the near future to discuss these proposals.</p>
13 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with OFGEM, since May 2007, about proposals for the connection of Scotland’s offshore renewable generation capacity to electricity markets elsewhere in Europe.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with OFGEM and expects to discuss shortly its proposals and feasibility studies which would help take them forward.</p>
13 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Norwegian Government on proposals for the connection of Scotland’s offshore renewable generation capacity to electricity markets in Norway or elsewhere in Europe.
Answer · Jim Mather: We are keen to asses the potential for sub-sea grid links between Scotland and Norway and will shortly commission a pre-scoping study exploring these as well as other possible offshore grid links between Scotland and northern Europe.</p> <p >The First Minis…