Parliamentary questions
Michael McMahon
323 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many disabled staff identified themselves in last year’s NHS staff survey as having experienced bullying or harassment
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS Scotland 2008 staff survey took place between 20 October 2008 and 21 November 2008. A total of 58,381 staff completed the staff survey.</p> <p >From the 2008 staff survey results, 695 disabled staff identified themselves as having experienced bullyin…
14 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender staff identified themselves in last year’s NHS staff survey as having experienced bullying or harassment.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS Scotland 2008 staff survey took place between 20 October 2008 and 21 November 2008. A total of 58,381 staff completed the staff survey.</p> <p >Specific questions relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender staff were not asked in the 2008 sta…
13 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £5.6 million allocated in relation to its Race Equality Scheme 2008-2011 has been allocated to projects representing the Irish community in Scotland.
Answer · Alex Neil: The 33 projects allocated funding under the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream are benefiting a wide range of diverse minority ethnic communities. Many of these projects are open to members of all minority ethnic communities, including the …
13 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Irish organisations in Scotland it has contacted in order to promote dialogue about identity and the meaning of multiculturalism or pluralism in modern-day Scotland in accordance with the Scottish Government Race Equality Statement of 8 December 2008.
Answer · Alex Neil: The dialogue around identity and the meaning of multiculturalism or pluralism in modern day Scotland is being taken forward in partnership with a range of stakeholders including Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure Scotland (BEMIS) and Council for Ethnic …
18 Jun 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the capital projects planned in NHS Lanarkshire’s A Picture of Health modernisation programme will be completed in the timescale agreed when the proposals were first approved.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Sixteen priority capital projects (excluding the acute hospital redevelopments) had been planned by the board under A Picture of Health and in the original plan it was envisaged that these would be completed within a five-year period. It was always intended h…
28 May 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all NHS boards have submitted equality impact assessments.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is no specific requirement for NHS boards to submit their Equality Impact Assessments. Boards are required under the three equality duties for races, gender and disability to undertake equality impact assessments of all new and revised policies, strateg…
28 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that a decision will be made on the proposed A8 Mossend rail freight terminal development.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has considered the development appraisal relating to a proposed new junction on the A8 at Mossend rail freight terminal. A response was submitted to Dougall Baillie Associates (Transport Consultant to Peter D Stirling) on 26 March 2009…
23 Apr 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the economic implications for Glasgow and Scotland of any Scottish football clubs playing in the English Premier League.
Answer · John Swinney : <i> This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0430-01.htm">http://www.scott…
15 Apr 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to meet its pledge of a maximum class size of 18 for primaries one to three.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop : <i> This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0423-01.htm">http://www.scott…
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Registration Office in Bellshill to have its family history section able to go on-line.
Answer · John Swinney: The Registrar General has since end-2004 provided registration offices with access to birth, death and marriage records for the whole of Scotland, for the purpose of family history research as well as registration. He has discussed with North Lanarkshire Coun…
16 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises that the eligibility criteria for the national concessionary travel scheme exclude people on the lower rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance and whether it will consider the reach of the scheme in its current review.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are aware that the eligibility criteria do not include people in receipt of the lower rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance. This is one of a number of issues being considered as part of the review of the scheme. The review is n…
16 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will deliver the policy intentions of the national concessionary travel scheme to people who are unable to use conventional buses.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Although the scheme already includes demand responsive/community transport services which are locally registered services, this is one of a number of issues being considered as part of the review of the scheme. The review is nearing completion.</p>
16 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how its work on the Getting Fit for the Future programme took account of the current and projected need for accessible housing and what is being done to meet this need.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Getting Fit for the Future programme centred on the modernisation and sustainability of health care service delivery in the Borders. The need for community care housing and the best way of meeting this can only properly be addressed at local level. I have…
16 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that disabled people are consulted when the services that they use are being put out to tender.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18864 on 8 January 2009. 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/Apps2…
16 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure that information on charges and financial assessments for people who use community care services is clear and accessible.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has a range of measures in place to ensure that information on charges and financial assessments is clear and accessible, including:</p> <p >Publishing annually the <i >Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance</i>. As well as …
16 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure fair, consistent and transparent charging policies for community care.
Answer · Shona Robison: Charging policies for residential care are provided for in legislation. The Scottish Government publishes annual guidance for local authorities, the <i >Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance</i>, which clearly sets out how local authorities should t…
16 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the Early Years Framework will support parents and enable families to maximise disabled children’s abilities in every local authority area.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Early Years Framework has been developed jointly by the Scottish Government and COSLA and sets out the joint commitment of national and local government to improving outcomes for children and families.</p> <p >The framework is based on the principles of …
16 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is ensuring that the additional costs faced by families living with disability are addressed in its work to tackle child poverty.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is taking a wide range of measures to support families living with disability. For example, we provide substantial funding (around £3.3 million in 2008-09) for a range of organisations directly supporting families with disabled childre…
16 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to legally require producers of compost to publish warnings of the risk of Legionella longbeachae on their packaging.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There are no plans to require compost producers to publish warnings of Legionella longbeachae on their packaging.</p> <p >The British Standards Institution''s Publicly Available Specification for Composted Materials (PAS 100) aims to improve confidence in co…
16 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what sources were identified in any recorded cases of Legionella longbeachae.
Answer · Shona Robison: Altogether, three cases of Legionella longbeachae have been recorded in Scotland.</p> <p >In two cases, no source was identified.</p> <p >The other case was a foreign resident who visited Scotland and Ireland. The source identified was potting soil which th…
16 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of Legionella longbeachae were recorded in (a) 2008 and (b) 2003 to 2007 inclusive.
Answer · Shona Robison: (a) There was one case of Legionella longbeachae recorded in Scotland in 2008.</p> <p >(b) There was one case of Legionella longbeachae recorded in Scotland between 2003 and 2007 (inclusive).</p> <p >Source: Health Protection Scotland.</p>
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the football authorities and individual clubs about the way in which Remembrance Day is marked, in the light of any implications for public order.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: There have been no discussions between the Scottish Government and either the Scottish football authorities or individual clubs over the way in which Remembrance Day is marked. The Scottish Government has no powers to impose arrangements in respect of Remembr…
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it considers that the Scotland football team plays in promoting sports participation rates and whether it has had discussions with the Scottish Football Association about the rules determining entitlement to play for the team and their application.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The success of the national team often energises the public and could potentially act as a catalyst for individuals to be involved with the game or renew a participatory interest.</p> <p >The Scottish Government has not held any discussions with the Scottish…
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the value of Scotland’s economic, sporting and other cultural links with Argentina and how this compares with the value of such links with England.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested by the member, aspects of which are not measurable.</p>
9 Oct 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in respect of allocation to directorates of additional resources arising from Barnett consequentials.
Answer · John Swinney: Any additional resources arising in this way accrue to the Scottish Block as a whole and do not fall to the Scottish portfolio equivalent of wherever the money is going in England. These additional resources become part of the total funding available to us to…
18 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-13167 and S3W-11423 by Stewart Maxwell and S3W-14431 by Bruce Crawford on 30 May, 24 April and 14 July 2008 respectively, using the commonly understood definition of “total” as outlined in S3W-14431, whether it is satisfied that the 14,377 central …
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Yes, I am satisfied that the 14,377 central heating systems installed through the Central Heating Programme in the private sector during 2007-08 is a record total.</p>
7 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to issue its determination on the current Uddingston Grammar School planning application.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers will make every effort to reach a decision by 26 August 2008 on whether to call-in the application or clear it back to the council to decide.</p>
20 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what dictionary definition of “total” it uses when responding to parliamentary questions.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The meaning of the word “total” is commonly understood.</p>
6 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all official visits made by ministers, including the First Minister, from 17 May 2007 to 31 May 2008, broken down by (a) date of visit, (b) constituency visited, (c) purpose of visit and (d) other organisations involved and showing the date on which the (i) constituen…
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p>
3 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many installations under the central heating programme were completed in the public sector in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2006-07, broken down by postal code area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13167 on 30 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/wa…