Parliamentary questions
Murdo Fraser
2,062 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government by what mechanism it will renationalise the Royal Mail in Scotland in the event of a Yes vote in the independence referendum.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20319 on 1 April 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…
24 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what timescale it has set for the renationalisation of the Royal Mail in the event of a Yes vote in the independence referendum.
Answer · John Swinney: Our approach to bringing the Royal Mail in Scotland back into public ownership will be considered in the light of circumstances at the point of independence, including the prevailing structure of the Royal Mail. It will require negotiation with the UK on Scot…
24 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the cost of renationalising the Royal Mail in the event of a Yes vote in the independence referendum.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17347 on 10 October 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s web site, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamenta…
5 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much woodland is being planted by the private sector supported by Scottish Government grants in order to meet its target of 10,000 hectares of new woodland per year.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government is committed to planting a further 100,000 hectares of new woodland over the period from 2012-22. From the period 2011-12 to 2012-13, 18,200 hectares of new private sector woodland were planted using forestry grants under the Scotland…
5 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Forestry Commission compensatory planting is done on a like-for-like basis, replanting the same species that was felled.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government’s Control of Woodland Removal policy guides compensatory planting proposals. Compensatory planting can be undertaken on appropriate sites anywhere in Scotland. Local forestry and woodland strategies will provide guidance on the type an…
5 Mar 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make compensatory planting compulsory for landowners who remove woodland to make room for wind turbines.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government already requires compensatory planting as set out in the Control of Woodland Removal policy which was published in February 2009. The policy makes clear the circumstances under which compensatory planting will be required if woodland i…
28 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following the passage of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill, whether it considers that no teacher has a duty to promote or endorse a particular view of marriage nor will have under any revised guidance in the future.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19983 on 13 March 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/parliamentarybus…
28 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following the passing of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill, what its position is on whether teachers who disagree with same-sex marriage should be pressurised to promote same-sex marriage in the classroom.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19983 on 13 March 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/parliamentarybu…
28 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following the passing of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill, whether teachers and pupils are free to openly and clearly express any disagreement with same-sex marriage in schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19983 on 13 March 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/parliamentarybu…
28 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, following the passing of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill, whether it considers that no teacher should be required to use materials that actively promote a particular view of marriage.
Answer · Michael Russell: All teachers in Scotland are expected to adhere to the General Teaching Council of Scotland’s Code of Professionalism and Conduct, which sets out the key principles and values for registered teachers in Scotland. In particular, Part 5 on equality and diversit…
27 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many vaccines in the current childhood vaccination schedule are manufactured using cell culture technology.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The vaccines in the current childhood vaccination schedule which are manufactured using cell culture technology are limited to those which are live vaccines, or derived from live viral vaccine sources. These are listed below, organised by the age at which chi…
20 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of current waiting times for tertiary infertility treatment in each NHS board.
Answer · Michael Matheson: A full assessment of waiting times by NHS board for tertiary infertility treatment is contained within the National Infertility Group’s report which can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2013/05/1501. As set out in the National Infertil…
20 Feb 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which datasets it would consult in the case of an early review of IVF access criteria.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As indicated in the Scottish Parliament on 29 January 2014 during Portfolio Question Time, if sufficient robust data is available, the Scottish Government is content for an earlier IVF review to take place and for views to be submitted to the Scottish Governm…
10 Feb 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to increase the availability of supply teachers.
13 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to encourage young golfers to attend the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup.
Answer · Shona Robison: The 2014 Junior Ryder Cup, which will be held at Blairgowrie Golf Club, Perthshire, is a hugely important event for Scotland and will play a key part in inspiring our young golfers of the future. The Scottish Government is working closely with Ryder Cup Euro…
13 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many tickets have been sold to (a) domestic and (b) overseas visitors for the event, Bannockburn Live.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: This is a matter for VisitScotland, who are responsible for management of the Bannockburn Live event. The information requested is not held centrally.
13 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) water and (b) wastewater treatment works have been upgraded in each year since 2010.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In this regulatory period 2010-15, Scottish Water is tasked with upgrading 97 water treatment works and 185 wastewater treatment works to deliver improvements to drinking water quality and wastewater discharges. This is in addition to the maintenance that wil…
13 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many community sports hubs there are, broken down by location.
Answer · Shona Robison: As of 30 September 2013, there are 117 Community Sport Hubs in operation. I have asked the chief executive of sportscotland to provide you with information on their locations.
13 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money will be set aside after 2014 for the elite athlete funding programme.
Answer · Shona Robison: sportscotland will be undertaking its corporate plan review during 2014 which will inform the 2015-19 investment priorities. A full investment review of Commonwealth Games sports and interim investment review of Olympic sports will be undertaken in the autumn…
13 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making on reducing the cost of the senior civil service by 25% by 2014-15.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to efficiency and effectiveness across the civil service. As part of this commitment the baseline staffing cost of the senior civil service in the Scottish Government and associated agencies at 31 March 2013 has reduced by…
13 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that (a) primary school pupils receive at least two hours and (b) pupils in years S1 to S4 receive at least two periods of PE each week.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: We have provided £5.8 million through Education Scotland and Sportscotland over the last two years to support schools and local authorities to ensure that children in primary schools receive two hours or two periods of PE and those in secondary schools receiv…
13 Jan 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action local authorities are taking in light of Police Scotland's decision to withdraw traffic wardens.
8 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what areas of coniferous woodland have been planted on areas of deep peat and whether such areas will be restocked or whether compensation planting will be sought elsewhere.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government does not have reliable figures for the overall area of coniferous woodland that has been planted on deep peat. Forestry Commission Scotland will shortly issue guidance on the future management of forestry on peatland habitats. The gui…
8 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much new woodland has been established in each year since 2007.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The amount of new woodland established in each year since 2007 is shown in the following table: Year Conifer (ha) Broadleaved (ha) Total (ha) 2007-08 700 3,400 4,100 2008-09 1,200 2,300 3,500 2009-10 500 2,200 2,700 2010-11 1,500 3,600 5,1…
7 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will commence Part 3, Chapter 1 of the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is implementing the Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2010 in a phased manner and commencement of Part 3 will be considered following the approval of a regulator of new licensed legal services providers as set out in Part 2.
6 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of CBI Scotland and what issues were discussed.
17 Dec 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many large energy generation and transmission applications Scottish and Southern Energy or its subsidiaries have submitted under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 since 2007 and how many have been (a) approved and (b) rejected.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since 2007 Scottish and Southern Energy or its subsidiaries have submitted a total of 41 applications for large energy generation and transmission applications under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act (Scotland) 1989. 22 of these applications were fo…
2 Dec 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister how the Scottish economy would benefit from businesses and consumers having lower energy bills.
25 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has conducted on red squirrel resistance to the pox virus.
20 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what factors are taken into account by the police when considering whether to reopen roads that have been closed because the sites of accidents have been designated as crime scenes.
Answer · Keith Brown: The decision by Police Scotland to close a road is never taken lightly and only occurs when the collision itself has blocked the road, or where there is a need to protect those who might already have been injured and the emergency service staff who are dealin…