Michael McMahon

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many companies working on the M8/M74/Raith Interchange improvements employ people on zero-hours contracts and how many people and what percentage of the workforce are employed on such contracts.

Answer · Keith Brown: The contract for the Design, Build, Finance and Operation of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project was awarded to Scottish Roads Partnership (SRP) in February 2014. No staff employed by Transport Scotland or SRP are employed on zero-hour contracts. Sub…

29 Feb 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the RMT union-commissioned report, The Economic Benefits of Public Sector Ferry Provision, on lifeline ferry services in the Clyde and Hebrides.

28 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the decision by the reporter to uphold the appeal by Clean Powers Properties in relation to a planning application for an incinerator at Whistleberry Road, Hamilton.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: This appeal was decided by a reporter from the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division of the Scottish Government, acting under delegated powers. The reporter's decision on this appeal was issued on 14 August 2015 and was final, subject to the right of an…

22 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how much was raised in Scotch whisky export duty in 2014-15.

Answer · John Swinney: Information is available on the Scottish Government website at the following link: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/GERS/queries/008.

19 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it began discussions with Fusion Assets regarding financial support for its project at Strathclyde Business Park in Bellshill and when the decision was taken to provide financial assistance.

Answer · Alex Neil: The funding for the project at Strathclyde Business Park was provided by SPRUCE (Scottish Partnership for Regeneration in Urban Centres). The SPRUCE fund was developed by the Scottish Government (SG) utilising the Joint European Support for Sustainable Invest…

28 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Scottish Funding Council and what issues were discussed.

22 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had discussions in the last year regarding the competence of fire risk assessors and, if so, (a) with whom, (b) when and (c) what the outcome was.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: On 29 October 2014, during a parliamentary debate, Roseanna Cunningham, then Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, advised that she would write to the Regulatory Review Group (RRG) who were undertaking a review of Part III of the Fire Safety (Scotl…

22 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made by the Regulatory Review Group in reviewing Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Regulatory Review Group has completed the evidence gathering stage of the review and is now progressing the report. The report and findings of the review will be published once finalised which is anticipated before the end of 2015.

17 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many appeals on planning applications of (a) national and (b) local importance reporters have determined since 2011.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 introduced a hierarchy for planning developments into primary legislation. The hierarchy was designed to help deliver Scottish ministers’ aim that the planning system should respond in a more proportionate way to proposed…

17 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many appeals on planning applications of (a) national and (b) local importance Scottish ministers have determined since 2011.

Answer · Alex Neil: Appeals can be ‘recalled’ where issues raise matters of genuine national importance or where there is a connection with another ministerial case, for example a Section 36 energy consent application. I attach a list of appeals on planning applications, which…

7 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the chief executive of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and what was discussed.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government meets the chief executive of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) regularly. The last formal meeting was on 21 May 2015 when an update was given on SCTS plans.

26 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government (a) how many and (b) which of its directorates require external callers to use premium rate telephone numbers.

Answer · John Swinney: There is one directorate; Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Communities, which currently utilises three non-revenue sharing 0845 numbers.

4 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that changes in health and care services for people with neurological conditions are developed in cooperation with people living with neurological conditions.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government remains fully committed to working with all stakeholders to improve outcomes for people with neurological conditions. We will continue to work with third sector colleagues and indeed, we will be refocusing effort in this area. To that …

4 Jun 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which neurological charities it has had formal meetings with in the last year other than the Neurological Alliance of Scotland and the National Neurological Advisory Group.

Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Scottish Government ministers and officials regularly meet with third sector stakeholders who support people living with a neurological condition. Since 1 June 2014, formal meetings have been held with the neurological charities listed below, and in some case…

11 May 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government considers that there is a need to protect private tenants from unfair rent rises.

1 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent improvements it has made to student support.

16 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a programme similar to that in England to ensure that all nursery staff are trained to at least level two first aid.

Answer · Fiona McLeod: This issue is currently under consideration. The Care Inspectorate is the body responsible for inspecting standards of care in Scotland, including day care of children services, and they have indicated that they will discuss with the Scottish Social Services …

9 Mar 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will increase the number of students from Lanarkshire attending university.

16 Feb 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is conducting in association with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to ensure high regulatory standards in waste management.

26 Jan 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for pupil assessment in schools.

19 Jan 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce legislation on developing a new type of tenancy for the private rented sector.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: We intend to introduce a Bill to Parliament in autumn 2015.

12 Jan 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the most recent homelessness statistics.

11 Dec 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what evidence it has as to the number and adequacy of fire risk assessments in NHS premises in Lanarkshire.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Lanarkshire uses the NHS Scotland Estates Asset Management System (EAMS) for recording all fire risk assessments, as mandated by the Scottish Government and in accordance with NHS Scotland Fire Safety Policy CEL 11 (2011). The current total number of fir…

24 Nov 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will tackle the link between child poverty and educational attainment.

17 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to mark the surrender of Scottish regiments in 1940 following the battle for St Valéry-en-Caux.

Answer · Keith Brown: Commemorative events marking the defensive battles leading to the ultimate evacuation of UK Expeditionary Forces from the Pas-de-Calais area in France in 1940 are arranged and managed by individual regimental associations and veterans’ groups, working closely…

10 Nov 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to replace the council tax with a local income tax.

3 Nov 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The scientific evidence could not be clearer. Climate change is happening now and greenhouse gas emissions from mankind are extremely likely to be the dominant cause. It is essential that a new global climate treaty is agreed in Paris in 2015, given this is …

20 Oct 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met COSLA to discuss care charges.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Government officials participate in COSLA’s non-residential charging working group, which last met in September 2014. We have worked with COSLA to produce new guidance to local authorities, which was agreed in September 2014, so that people in the l…

29 Sep 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that grades awarded in the new national qualifications are considered to be equal across all subjects.

22 Sep 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to analyse the impact of its 2014 major events strategy.