Parliamentary questions
Tavish Scott
2,683 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Jan 2009 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.
Answer · Alex Salmond: <i> This PQ 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/sor0122-01.htm">http://www.scottish.pa…
21 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19510 by John Swinney on 19 January 2009, what criteria are considered when deciding whether to admit to the civil service pension arrangements the chair of a non-departmental public body (NDPB) or government agency who performs an executive function…
Answer · John Swinney: Matters relating to the Civil Service pension arrangements are reserved and responsibility for decisions on admission to the scheme lies with Cabinet Office.</p> <p >In reaching a view on whether to support the admission of a chair of a non-departmental pub…
15 Jan 2009 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.
Answer · Alex Salmond: <i > This PQ 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/sor0115-01.htm">http://www.scottish.p…
8 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the chair of any non-departmental public body (NDPB) or government agency is eligible for inclusion in the civil service pension scheme and whether any such person has been admitted to the scheme in the last two financial years.
Answer · John Swinney: In circumstances where the chair of an NDPB or a government agency also performs an executive function they may be admitted to the Civil Service pension arrangements.</p> <p >For NDPBs where the Scottish Government has a direct interest, no chairperson in t…
8 Jan 2009 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet.
Answer · Alex Salmond: <i >This PQ 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/sor0108-01.htm">http://www.scottish.p…
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision NHS Scotland makes for the treatment of ex-service personnel who receive a War Disablement Pension, for (a) general medical treatment and (b) specialist treatment related to the injuries they received in the armed services.
Answer · Shona Robison: The NHS in Scotland has provided priority treatment for War Pensioners since 1953 and, in February 2008, this was extended to all veterans in Scotland, for health conditions related to their service. General practitioners and NHS hospital clinicians should gi…
18 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14465 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 July 2008, whether this answer indicates that it is its practice when answering parliamentary questions to leave the task of defining the words used by ministers to other organisations.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson : I refer the member to the answer to question S3W 14046 on 19 June 2008, that clarified with the recent opening of the retail market, issues associated with the billing of non-household customers are now entirely matters for retail service providers, in this c…
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when it notified Scottish Water and Business Stream of its intention to extend the Water Charges Exemption Scheme until 2014, it provided any guidance to them on the issuing of invoices for nil amount water and wastewater charges to charitable and voluntary organisations which qu…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: With the recent opening of the retail market to competition, the billing of non-household customers is entirely an operational matter for retail services providers – in this case Scottish Water’s retail subsidiary, Business Stream.</p>
24 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it notified Scottish Water and Business Stream of its intention to extend the Water Charges Exemption Scheme until 2014.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Ministers published their draft 2010-14 Principles of Charging Statement (covering all aspects of future water charging policy including the continuation of the water services charges exemption scheme in its present form until 2014) on 30 May 2008.</p>
20 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the question S3W-14046 by Stewart Stevenson on 19 June 2008, in terms of financial magnitude what is meant by “minimal” in the reference to minimal costs.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: With the opening of the non-household retail market to competition, questions about Business Stream’s detailed retail costs are a matter for it.</p>
17 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many petrol retailers in Scotland (a) are currently in operation and (b) have been closed and sealed since 1990, broken down by (i) oil company sites, (ii) main retailer sites, (iii) supermarket sites, (iv) smaller retailer sites and (v) other unbranded sites.
Answer · Jim Mather: There are 956 filling stations in operation in Scotland.</p> <p >Information on other matters is available in the Petroleum Review’s Retail Marketing Survey 2008.</p>
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken any independent advice on the (a) time period of reporting, (b) data used, (c) setting of thresholds and (d) methodological approach taken for the evaluation arrows shown on the Scotland Performs website for the assessment of Scotland’s performance against the Scottis…
Answer · John Swinney: All such analytical issues have been determined by professional analysts within government, and agreed by the group Chaired by the Director of Corporate Analytical Services. The current methodology is transparent and therefore open to independent scrutiny by …
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the time period for reporting on data changes in respect of Scotland Performs is the same for all national indicators.
Answer · John Swinney: The majority of indicators and targets are updated on an annual basis, although some can be updated quarterly. The exact timing for each up-date depends on when data is available. As the majority of indicators are drawn from existing published sources, the pu…
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the baseline against which data will be measured for Scotland Performs is set at May 2007 and, if not, at what date the baseline is.
Answer · John Swinney: As stated on the website the evaluation of the latest change is based on the latest two relevant data points for a given indicator or target, and these are shown clearly against each one. Baselines for target evaluation are all published in the Technical Note…
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its developed proposals on methodology for the national indicators on Scotland Performs, as referred to on the Scotland Performs website.
Answer · John Swinney: The methodology for evaluating the latest change is published on the website and comments on this have been invited. Any improvements to the methodology will be published in due course.</p>
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change the GDP methodology used to assess economic performance for Scotland Performs and the Scottish Government’s economic strategy.
Answer · John Swinney: The methodology presented in the section on the economic growth targets in Scotland Performs outlines how Scotland’s recent performance against this measure is assessed. In addition to showing the latest direction of travel Scotland Performs will also present…
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that annual GDP growth rates calculated on a rolling four quarters on four quarters basis is a reliable method of assessing Scotland’s economic performance.
Answer · John Swinney: Annual GDP growth rates are calculated on a rolling four quarters on four quarters basis which provides a reliable method of assessing Scotland’s recent GDP growth performance.</p>
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the need for external involvement in the group chaired by the Director of Corporate Analytical Services which makes the final decisions on the direction of the arrows in Scotland Performs.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14250 on 16 July 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/w…
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with Audit Scotland the possibility of the Auditor General for Scotland conducting independent monitoring of Scotland Performs.
Answer · John Swinney: This has not been discussed with Audit Scotland</p>
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scotland Performs will be independently monitored and, if so, by whom.
Answer · John Swinney: The current methodology is transparent and therefore open to independent scrutiny by anyone.</p>
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any external involvement in the analysis of Scotland’s performance against the Scottish Government’s Purpose Targets, for use on the Scotland Performs website.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14250 on 16 July 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/w…
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who will conduct the analysis of Scotland’s performance against the Scottish Government’s Purpose Targets, for use on the Scotland Performs website.
Answer · John Swinney: Professional analysts within the Scottish Government will evaluate the latest performance on all targets and indicators against the published criteria.</p>
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it had with Audit Scotland prior to the establishment of Scotland Performs.
Answer · John Swinney: Plans for the creation and development of Scotland Performs were discussed with Audit Scotland.</p>
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual running costs will be for Scotland Performs.
Answer · John Swinney: Scotland Performs is up-dated from data already collected by the Scottish Government. It is a key element of the performance management regime for the Scottish Government and, in time, public services in Scotland. Its costs are contained within that existing …
16 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the start-up costs were of Scotland Performs.
Answer · John Swinney: The start-up costs were £8,948 plus VAT.</p>
13 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the recommendations in the Crerar Review, The Report of the Independent Review of Regulation, Audit, Inspection and Complaints Handling of Public Services in Scotland, are being accepted; will be implemented, and on what dates.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s response to the Crerar Review was published in January 2008. The response deals with each of the 42 review recommendations and makes clear that 30 have been accepted in full for implementation. The response identifies a further five …
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the First Minister has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the preparation of legislative proposals for a referendum on independence for Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: None. The government’s proposals and a draft Referendum Bill are set out in <i >Choosing Scotland’s Future – a National Conversation, </i>published on 14 August 2007. The Scottish Parliament will be invited to consider the draft bill in time for a referendum …
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of its departments use premium rate telephone numbers and for what purpose.
Answer · John Swinney: Information Services and Information Systems Division (ISIS) manages telephony services used within the Scottish Government. The division does not use any 09 or other premium rate numbers in the provision of telephony services.</p>
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many premium rate numbers are used by (a) it, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies and what revenue it has derived from each such number in 2007-08.
Answer · John Swinney: Information Services and Information Systems (ISIS) Division manages telephony services used within the Scottish Government. ISIS does not use any 09 or other premium rate numbers in the provision of telephony services.</p> <p >Information on the use of 09 o…
12 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to each local authority for (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is set out in the Scottish Government’s <i >Finance Circular 1-2008</i>, which details the local government finance settlements covering the period 2008-11. A copy of this circular is available in the Scottish Parliament Information …