Parliamentary questions

Tavish Scott

2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

7 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government where security staff for the 2014 Commonwealth Games will be housed during the games.

Answer · Shona Robison: Security and stewarding staff, who require accommodation, will be housed in various venues throughout west and central Scotland.

7 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which security contractors have been appointed to the 2014 Commonwealth Games contract and what aspect of security each contractor will undertake.

Answer · Shona Robison: The following companies have been appointed to a framework for the purpose of providing security services: Allander Group; Controlled Event Solutions; Corps of Commissionaires Management Limited; Kingdom Security Limited; Securigroup Services Limited; Servoca…

7 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of security staff needed for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Shona Robison: Police Scotland is the lead agency for the delivery of safety and security at the Games. It is Police Scotland policy, supported by the Scottish Government, not to divulge any information which may benefit those who wish harm to the Commonwealth Games. This i…

2 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the tweet by Humza Yousaf on 19 January 2014 that “we look towards the Swedish model of policy coherence, where civil society provides the barometer in conjunction with government”, whether an independent Scotland would permit military and security exports to the same list of…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Sweden is a leader in Policy Coherence for Development (PCD) and legislated in 2002 to give all government policy areas a remit to formulate and implement policy in a way that takes account of effects on developing countries and strengthens Sweden’s contribut…

2 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by Humza Yousaf on 1 April 2014 (Official Report, c. 29658) that “the UK Government that [Tavish Scott] supports … sold defence equipment to Saddam Hussein and then illegally invaded Iraq”, whether it is aware of any changes in the political administration of the …

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Whatever its political make-up, it remains the case that it is the UK Government, which makes decisions for Scotland on whether to trade arms with or go to war with another country. As we made clear in Scotland’s Future, with independence, the Scottish Govern…

2 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comment by Humza Yousaf on 1 April 2014 (Official Report, c. 29618) that “we would like Scotland to be known as a nation that promotes peace and leaves a positive influence on the global stage”, whether it will provide a list of the countries that it believes an independe…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ‘Scotland’s Future’ details that under the government’s plans, an independent Scotland’s foreign, security and defence policies would be grounded in a clear framework that includes a commitment to participate in rules-based international co-operation and that…

26 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any special adviser was given sight of the Public Audit Committee's draft private report on its scrutiny of the Audit Scotland report, Police reform: Progress update 2013 and, if so, by whom.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20338 on 28 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

25 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it and (b) Police Scotland was given sight of the Public Audit Committee's draft private report on its scrutiny of the Audit Scotland report, Police reform: Progress update 2013 and, if so, by whom.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There are well established procedures for official engagement with parliamentary committees which have been followed. The Scottish Government is aware of the ongoing consideration of the report as set out in minutes of the Public Audit Committee's meetings on…

20 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason agricultural producers have received a letter from the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate intimating a re-examination of every agricultural unit's land classified as rough grazing.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scotland will be implementing a new type of area-based payment known as the basic payment scheme (BPS) in 2015, which you will be aware I have been consulting with the industry on; and one aspect is whether this will be based on historical land types, so it c…

17 Mar 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the appointed chairs of the regional college boards and what matters were discussed.

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what use it has made of the research document that it commissioned, Mitigating Transport's Climate Change Impact in Scotland: Assessment of Policy Options, and whether it will commission updated research.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Mitigating Transport's Climate Change Impact in Scotland (MTCCI) Report was a cornerstone of the transport analysis contained in the Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets 2010-2022, the Second Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP2)…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on events relating to Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: We want to make sure that the public are as well informed as possible about the content of Scotland’s Future and the huge opportunities offered by independence. To facilitate this, the Scottish Government has organised a full programme of public engagement ev…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many events relating to Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland ministers have attended since January 2014.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is holding a programme of activity to inform the people of Scotland about Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland and to debate and discuss the issues in the referendum with the public. This programme includes meetings…

10 Mar 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether ministerial engagements regularly coincide with Yes campaign events.

5 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-19566 by Fiona Hyslop on 4 March 2014, on how many occasions ministers have been advised of officials’ contacts with stakeholders in preparing the policy on a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Ministers are apprised of officials’ contacts with stakeholders as appropriate.

5 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-19216 and S4W-19567 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it will provide the information that was requested and publish the names of the BBC representatives whom it consulted on broadcasting policy prior to the…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the BBC, including from time to time the director, BBC Scotland and the director general, on a range of matters.

5 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-19216 and S4W-19564 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether the meetings with stakeholders whom it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator were entered into the relevant ministerial diary on each o…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: All planned ministerial meetings are recorded in the relevant ministerial diary.

5 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-19216 and S4W-19564 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm which meetings with stakeholders with whom it consulted about establishing a separate medi…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20004 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

5 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-19216 and S4W-19564 by Fiona Hyslop on 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, on how many occasions in an answer to a parliamentary question it has chosen not to publish a requested list of the (a) people and (b) organisations that it has …

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This information is not held centrally.

5 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18971, S4W-19216 and S4W-19563 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it will publish the names of the representatives of Channel (a) 4 and (b) 5 whom it consulted regarding media policy in an in…

5 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18971, S4W-19216 and S4W-19563 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether ministers have asked officials to delete records of the meetings that it has had with representatives of Channel (a) 4 and (b…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: No.

5 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18971, S4W-19216 and S4W-19563 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it will provide the information that was requested and confirm what discussions it has had with Channel (a) 4 and (b) 5 regar…

5 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18970, S4W-19216 and S4W-19562 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether ministers have asked officials to delete records of the names of the stakeholders that it consulted regarding developing its …

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: No.

5 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18970, S4W-19216 and S4W-19562 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether the stakeholders that it consulted regarding developing its policy for a separate media regulator in an independent Scotland …

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland was informed by a range of external stakeholders and copies of that publication have been widely distributed, including to a range of stakeholders and the wider public.

5 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18970, S4W-19216 and S4W-19562 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it holds a list of the stakeholders that it consulted about establishing a separate media regulator in an independent Scotlan…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to S4W-20004 on 30 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/2…

5 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S4W-18970, S4W-19216 and S4W-19562 by Fiona Hyslop on 14 January 2014, 29 January 2014 and 4 March 2014 respectively, whether it will provide the information that was requested and publish a list of the stakeholders that it consulted about establishin…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland was informed by discussions and interactions with a range of stakeholders on a wide scope of policy, not all of which were directly related to the publication itself, or a specifically referenced policy…

28 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has issued to the regional college chairs on their participation in public political debate.

Answer · Michael Russell: It has been communicated to all regional college and board chairs that they, like all public appointments, must (i) operate in line with the nine principles set out by the Committee on Standards in Public Life; (ii) accept their appointment on the basis that …

28 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it took to ensure that it followed each of the seven principles set out by the Committee on Standards in Public Life when appointing the regional college chairs.

Answer · Michael Russell: The regional college and regional board chair appointments were regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland, and all aspects of this process were followed.

28 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much each regional college chair has been paid in (a) fees and (b) expenses.

Answer · Michael Russell: Regional college chairs were appointed on 4 March 2013. As chairs took up office on this day, no fees or expenses have as yet been paid to them in this capacity.

19 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the EU’s greenhouse gas and renewable energy targets for 2030 are strong enough to enable the necessary investment into Scotland to allow it to meet its own climate and energy targets.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has welcomed the European Commission’s package of proposals which include greenhouse gas and renewable energy targets for 2030. We believe a 40% greenhouse gas target should be the minimum adopted by the EU, with a commitment to a 50% …