Parliamentary questions

Michael Matheson

1,154 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

15 Apr 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Football Association about the proposal for a GB football team at the 2012 London Olympics.

Answer · Shona Robison : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0423-01.htm">http://www.scott…

16 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change the council tax regulations to assist people with a mental health condition.

Answer · Shona Robison: There are no plans to change current council tax regulations which already allow entitlement to discounts for people with a severe mental health problem in receipt of qualifying benefits.

27 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to take forward its community council scheme and a code of conduct for community councillors.

Answer · John Swinney: These documents are currently being finalised and should be available shortly. Responses to a consultation undertaken by the Scottish Government on behalf of the Community Council Work Group (CCWG) showed that there is substantial support from both l…

27 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for the publication of its response to the Changing Scotland’s relationship with alcohol consultation.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I can confirm that we have today published our response to the consultation on alcohol misuse: Changing Scotland''s Relationship with Alcohol: A Framework for Action, on the Scottish Government website. Copies have also been placed in the Scottish Par…

26 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to assist companies in exporting to potential new markets.

Answer · Jim Mather : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0226-01.htm">http://www.scot…

23 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received an application from Falkirk Council in relation to the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

Answer · Alex Neil: No application has been received from Falkirk Council. We are currently working on the details of the Fund, and will shortly be entering into discussions with stakeholders. We anticipate full details of the scheme will be announced by the end of March 2009.</…

20 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements will be made to assist vulnerable British people who choose to leave Zimbabwe and resettle in Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The UK Government has today made a statement regarding a scheme to support the resettlement of vulnerable British people from Zimbabwe. The Scottish Government will be playing a full part in that scheme and will work with local government and other agencies t…

11 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the findings of its review of the National Physical Activity Strategy.

Answer · Shona Robison: The review was launched and published on the NHS Health Scotland website on 24 February 2009.

5 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider extending the range of football clubs that can benefit from the Cashback for Communities programme.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0205-01.htm">http://www.scot…

17 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in developing a legacy plan setting out what Scotland and the people of Scotland should expect as a legacy from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am pleased to say that we have today published our interim Games Legacy Plan. This is the forerunner to what will be the more detailed full Games Legacy Plan to be launched in summer 2009. It is a national plan and is focussed with realistic ambiti…

5 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9313 by Fergus Ewing on 19 February 2008, when it expects UK ministers to lay the s104 Order in relation to the Title Conditions (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government will ask UK ministers to lay the Order in spring 2009.

3 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the 2008-09 budget would be for each NHS board if the baseline budget had been uplifted by inflation only and how this compares to the uplift actually received by each board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Details are as follows: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=221 valign=top > NHS Board </td> <td width=155 valign=top > Actual Initial Allocation <p ali…

2 Oct 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce flooding in Scotland.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has introduced the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill, which will introduce a modernised and sustainable approach to flood risk management in Scotland and address all types of flooding. It will give authorities the powers they need …

25 Sep 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the chair of NHS Forth Valley.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish Government Officials meet regularly with NHS Forth Valley to discuss a wide range of issues. I last met the chair of NHS Forth Valley at a regular monthly meeting of NHS chairs on 22 September 2008. The Minister for Public Health, Shona Ro…

9 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring it has carried out or commissioned since the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force to establish the impact of its implementation on the bed and breakfast sector.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force in April 2005. Part three of the act; Fire Safety and The Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 only came into force in October 2006 and guidance for this sector was issued in October 2007. Fire and rescue author…

9 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Scottish ministers have sought advice from VisitScotland and bed and breakfast providers on the impact of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and what the advice was on each occasion.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46544).

9 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a review of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and, if not, whether it plans to undertake one.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force in April 2005. Supporting regulations for part 3 of the act, The Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006, came into force in October 2006 and guidance has been developed and issued progressively culminating with th…

9 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fire (a) incidents, (b) injuries and (c) deaths there were in bed and breakfast establishments in each of the 10 years prior to the coming into force of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-3984 on 4 September 2008, which is available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsPa…

9 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment was made of fire risks in bed and breakfast establishments when formulating the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 enabled a new safety regime to be introduced for all premises in Scotland, with the exception of private dwellings, based upon risk assessment and fire prevention and mitigation measures. The regime was also designed to be better …

2 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to include sheltered housing complexes with the regulatory responsibilities of the Care Commission.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Care Commission does not regulate sheltered housing as such. It has however regulated services provided to people living in sheltered housing complexes since 1 April 2003. The National Care Standards for Housing Support Services set out what service users…

2 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the announcement on grants to aid sustainable development by the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism on 30 April 2008, whether it will list the 24 companies that received Regional Selective Assistance in the last quarter, also showing how much each company received.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Executive has, since April 2002, routinely published information on Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) recoveries, payments and accepted offers. Details of the 24 accepted offers published in the latest RSA quarterly report can be found in the r…

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any review of the funding of mountain rescue teams.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12300 on 6 May 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…

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the present funding arrangements for mountain rescue teams.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution made by Scotland''s mountain rescue teams to the safety and wellbeing of the public. The voluntary service provided by team members ensures that many thousands of people can participate in outdoor a…

22 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Minister for Communities and Sport on 21 April 2008, how many installations under the central heating programme were completed in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2006-07 in each postcode area.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The number of installations undertaken by main postcode area in the private sector, as notified by the managing agents, Scottish Gas and Eaga Partnership, is shown in the following table: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > …

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to restrict the availability of free personal care for older people.

Answer · Shona Robison: We have no plans to restrict current access to free personal care for older people. We asked Lord Sutherland to review the funding and sustainability of the free personal and nursing care policy. He published his report on 28 April. We will make a st…