Questions · Mike Rumbles

2 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider amending planning legislation to ensure that applicants have authorisation from the relevant landowners before lodging planning applications.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have no plans to amend planning legislation to require applicants to obtain the authorisation of owners of land before applying for planning permission for said land. The planning application process is concerned with whether a particular developm…

2 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains satisfied that maintenance loans available to full-time higher education students in Scotland under the non-means tested support system remain at the level of £890 per year while in England all students studying away from home can access more than £3,000 of non-means t…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000179 EndHTML:0000008847 StartFragment:0000003074 EndFragment:0000008807 SourceURL:file:///\\cc02fd\writtenanswers$\To_Be_Processed\S3O-07784.doc <html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsof…

31 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each of its directorates has spent on travel costs for Cabinet members and staff since May 2007, broken down by journey and mode of transport.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.

31 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its hospitality budget has been spent on food since May 2007, broken down by directorate.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally.

31 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its hospitality budget has been spent on alcoholic beverages since May 2007, broken down by directorate.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally.

31 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on hospitality since May 2007, broken down by directorate.

Answer · John Swinney: Total Scottish Government expenditure on hospitality for the financial year 2007-08 (April 2007 to March 2008) was £926,000. Due to changes in the internal structure of the Scottish Government during 2007, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of this amo…

31 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated value is of the alcoholic beverages that it currently stores and how many bottles of (a) wine, (b) beer, (c) spirits and (d) other alcoholic beverages.

Answer · John Swinney: Alcohol is served at official Scottish Government hospitality events. On such occasions the alcohol is routinely provided by contracted caterers on a sale or return basis.

17 Jun 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, given the approval of funding by the previous administration for Laurencekirk railway station and its subsequent recent reopening, whether it will commit to provide funding for the reopening of Kintore station.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson : 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/sor0625-01.htm">http://www.scot…

10 Jun 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will announce the findings of the public local inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route before the summer recess.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson : 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/sor0618-01.htm">http://www.scot…

17 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the option of an oil-fired central heating system, currently available under the central heating programme, will also be available under the Energy Assistance Package.

Answer · Alex Neil: The option of an oil-fired central heating system will be made available under the Energy Assistance Package, where the property is already fitted with that type of system or it is the only feasible option.

26 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it will not act on the findings of the review of the local authority funding distribution process, which are expected by the end of October 2009, until after the 2011 elections to the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · John Swinney : 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…

24 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider using satellite technology to monitor light pollution.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has no plans to monitor light pollution using satellite technology but recognises that poorly designed, excessive and badly aimed lighting can have an adverse environmental effect. That is why we have recently introduced new legislatio…

5 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it appropriate to appoint a serving politician as chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Mr Houston was appointed as Chair of the SQA on merit. This is for the wealth of experience he brings from a range of senior roles he has held, along with his strong and proven leadership abilities. The appointment process was carried out in accordance wi…

29 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its announcement on 24 August 2007 that it intends to replace the prison in Peterhead and close Craiginches prison in Aberdeen, what plans it has to establish new community prison facilities in Aberdeen.

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/sor0129-01.htm">http://…

19 Jan 2009 · Written Question

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally. The Scottish Government Criminal Proceedings database does not hold details of the locations of offences.

15 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase access to NHS dentistry in Grampian in light of an increase to 30,936 in the number of people in Grampian waiting to be registered with an NHS dentist.

Answer · Shona Robison : This PQ 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/sor0115-01.htm">http://www.scotti…

8 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement the legislative changes recommended at paragraph 2.3 of the Annual Report of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner to the Prime Minister and to Scottish Ministers for 2007-2008 and, if so, when.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is including provision within the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill to address the Chief Surveillance Officer''s recommendations.

8 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide Aberdeenshire Council with access to new funding arrangements in order for the council to construct new secondary schools at Laurencekirk and Kemnay.

Answer · Maureen Watt: This PQ 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/sor0108-01.htm">http://www.scottish.pa…

4 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to enter into negotiations with the British Dental Association with a view to bringing dentists back into the NHS.

Answer · Shona Robison: My officials meet regularly with the British Dental Association and I last met with them on 9 September. These discussions include NHS general dental service provision and financial support for dentists providing NHS general dental services.

24 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive a report of the findings of the public local inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The inquiry is scheduled to end on 11 December 2008 with closing submissions being heard in January 2009. The date of submission of the Inquiry Report to Ministers is not known.