Parliamentary questions
Tavish Scott
2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £7.5 million returned from Northlink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd as part of the North Isles ferry contract's clawback mechanism has been allocated to the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service.
Answer · Keith Brown: None. In the last five full financial years, £168.5 million of grant, net of clawback, has been paid for the delivery of ferry services to the Northern Isles, against a budget of £160.6 million.
5 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been made to the Scottish Awards Agency for Scotland for 2011–12.
Answer · Michael Russell: As of the 12 December 2011, 150,633 applications for student support have been submitted to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. This total includes student nurses and postgraduate students as well as the main student support programme.
5 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to ensure that calls to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland are answered more frequently and returned as undertaken and that the agency provides more information about the status of pending applications.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) handles around 3,500 calls per day during the peak processing session. Action is in hand to improve call queuing. SAAS will also increase outgoing information on the status of individual applications and on the p…
5 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for resolution of overdue payments from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland where an MSP is not involved.
Answer · Michael Russell: Formal Complaints and Appeals to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland receive a response within 14 days.
5 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications received by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland in June and July 2011 are still awaiting action.
Answer · Michael Russell: All applications received in June and July 2011 have been processed as submitted by the student. Reprocessing of applications can occur if the student later submits an application for additional forms of support or provides household income evidence to suppo…
5 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Student Awards Agency for Scotland loans initiated for payment in September 2011 are still to be completed.
Answer · Michael Russell: All applications received by the guarantee date were processed as submitted in advance of course start dates in September 2011. SAAS is up to date with the processing of applications. Student loans may be restricted to the non-income assessed award if a stud…
5 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation is underway in Orkney and Shetland on potential changes to ticketing arrangements for North Isles ferry services prior to the new contract coming into force in June 2012.
Answer · Keith Brown: NorthLink Ferries Ltd have recently undertaken a passenger survey to improve their understanding of their customer base, including questions about customers’ opinions of the company’s ticket pricing regime. Transport Scotland is currently undertaking a tende…
22 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) European Commission regarding the common agricultural policy proposal on the definition of permanent grassland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The definition of permanent grassland has been discussed with UK and other Devolved Administrations on a number of occasions. The issue has also been raised with European Commission officials and our views have been fed in to the Commission’s Working Groups t…
22 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the actual outturn percentage change was in Less Favoured Area Support scheme payments for 2011-12 compared with the projected 38% rise previously announced by the Scottish Government.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We have delivered our commitment to increase LFASS payment rates for the Fragile and Very Fragile areas by 38%, between the 2008 and 2010 scheme years. Actual payments to producers under the scheme can vary so there is not a direct read-across to individual p…
22 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding its proposal that heather should be subject to a particular height measurement in terms of its eligibility for inclusion in permanent grassland under the common agricultural policy reform proposals.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: We have discussed the eligibility of heather with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland (DARDNI) on several occasions as part of wider UK/Devolved Administration discussions. We are aware that in the guidance they provide to …
22 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the proposed definition of permanent grassland is under the common agricultural policy reform proposals and whether it includes heather.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The draft regulation currently gives the following definition; “permanent grassland means land used to grow grasses or other herbaceous forage naturally (self-seeded) or through cultivation (sown) and that has not been included in the crop rotation of the hol…
22 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-03565 by Richard Lochhead on 21 November 2011, whether it will clarify precisely what is meant by sheep keepers being given some additional flexibility.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Farmers moving full double EID tagged or single “Slaughter” tagged sheep off their holding to a Critical Control Point can rely on the CCP to read and upload to the ScotEID database all individual IDs of the animals moved without fear of penalties in the even…
18 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on paragraph 101 of the Audit Scotland report, The role of community planning partnerships in economic development, which states “we found little evidence of action taken by the Scottish Government as a result of either any SOA [single outcome agreement] annual report…
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Scottish Government receive annual reports on Community Planning Partnerships’ (CPPs’) progress under their Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs). Last year we published Local Matters which set out progress on the outcomes approach as evidenced by the SOA reports.…
9 Nov 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy last met NHS Shetland and what matters were discussed.
8 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S4W-03542 and S4W-03550 by John Swinney on 4 November 2011, for what reason information on the number of properties liable for the proposed public health supplement at a threshold rateable value of £300,000 is held centrally, but information for differ…
Answer · John Swinney: The threshold of £300,000 was used to capture the largest retail premises. Of those retail premises with a rateable value over £300,000 analysis shows some 240 sell both alcohol and tobacco and will be liable for the supplement. Modelling was not carried out…
8 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what official is designated as the senior responsible officer under the project and programme management approach for each of the Scottish Government's major capital projects.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Senior Responsible Owners with specific responsibility for delivery of the projects included within the last “Major Capital Projects” progress report sent to the Public Audit Committee on 30 June 2011, are detailed in the following table. Project Title …
8 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the difference is between the accountable officer and the senior responsible officer for its major capital projects.
Answer · Alex Neil: An Accountable Officer is an individual designated to be personally responsible for propriety, regularity and value for money issues in relation to the public finances of parts of the Scottish Administration or other relevant devolved public bodies. A Senior…
27 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £110 million allocated to housing in the draft budget will be spent in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14.
Answer · Keith Brown: In September, the Scottish Government announced a total of £111 million of investment in affordable housing supply through the Innovation and Investment Fund. This funding is due to be paid on completion of the homes. The government has not determined in whic…
27 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce shared equity assistance under its housing policy to assist local authorities and housing associations in providing a range of financial mechanisms to meet social housing need.
Answer · Keith Brown: Homes Fit for the 21st Century: The Scottish Government's Strategy and Action Plan for Housing in the next decade was published in February 2011. This document sets out the Scottish Government's vision for housing to 2020, and a range of actions and proposals…
24 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations regarding late payment or non-payment of bills from, or on behalf of, businesses providing insulation and heating contracts to Scottish Gas operators of the Home Insulation Scheme.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Gas did not manage the Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) during its operation in 2009-10 and 2010-11. Scottish Gas was appointed by the scheme managing agent, the Energy Saving Trust, as the nominated insulation installer in the areas of East Dunbartonshi…
24 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is legal under EU regulations on the electronic identification of sheep to penalise farmers for failing to achieve a 100% identification if the tag readers cannot be guaranteed to achieve that level of accuracy.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The creation of a centralised database (ScotEID) and the facility via Critical Control Points (CCPs) to record information directly on to ScotEID allows Scotland to rely on the derogation in Article 5(4) of Regulation 21/2004 which states “by way of derogatio…
24 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what scientific assessment was made of coastal waters in determining the potential for a closed-area policy in relation to salmon farming businesses.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03561 on 3 November 2011. 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/parliamentar…
24 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it decided to initiate a consultation on closing areas of sea to salmon farming businesses, as stated by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on BBC Scotland on 17 October 2011.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In his statement on the Scottish Government’s legislative programme on 7 September, the First Minister noted that we are developing consultation proposals with a view to legislation to support the development and necessary expansion of farmed fish and wild sa…
24 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which areas of coastal waters are unavailable to salmon farming businesses.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is a presumption, introduced by Scottish Ministers in 1999 and re-emphasised in Scottish Planning Policy 22, against the development of marine finfish farms on the north and east coasts of Scotland. Planning authorities are responsible for consenting a…
24 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any energy supply or insulation businesses that have gone into liquidation as a result of non-payment or late payment of bills by Scottish Gas under the Home Insulation Scheme.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Gas did not manage the Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) during its operation in 2009-10 and 2010-11. Scottish Gas was appointed by the scheme managing agent, the Energy Saving Trust, as the nominated insulation installer in the areas of East Dunbartonshi…
21 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of retail premises that are both registered to sell tobacco and hold a licence to sell alcohol will be liable to pay its proposed public health levy.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03542 on 4 November 2011. 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/parliamentar…
21 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many premises it expects to be subject to its proposed public health levy.
Answer · John Swinney: It is estimated that around 240 retail premises in Scotland will be liable for the public health supplement. This represents 0.1% of non-domestic premises in Scotland. More detail will be available when legislation on the public health supplement is laid bef…
21 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a list of companies, and the number of premises that each has, that it expects will be liable to pay its proposed public health levy.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03541 on 4 November 2011. 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/parliamentar…
21 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many retail premises would be liable to pay its proposed public health levy if it was levied only on alcohol retailers.
Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.
21 Oct 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects there to be a reduction in the sales of alcohol and tobacco as a result of its proposed public health levy.
Answer · John Swinney: The public health supplement is not aimed at reducing the sale of alcohol or tobacco, but is an income raising measure to support the greater alignment of budgets on a preventative spend basis as outlined in the Draft Budget.