Murdo Fraser

20 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times there have been closures on the A9 because accident sites have been designated as crime scenes in each of the last three years, and what was the average closure time.

Answer · Keith Brown: Details of road closures on the A9 in the last 3 full calendar years are contained in the following table. Our records for 2013 are not yet complete. 2010 2011 2012 Road Number of Closures Average time (hrs) Number of Closures Average time (hrs) Nu…

18 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies on fiscal sustainability in an independent Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) analysis confirms that Scotland is currently in a stronger fiscal position than the UK. In the longer-term the IFS modelling shows what Scotland could look like should it remain part of the UK. As with any country we fa…

18 Nov 2013 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to ensure that statistics presented by Police Scotland are accurate. 

14 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to help Scotland's shipbuilders diversify.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We must explore an alternative and better future for our shipyards. Naval procurement will continue to be a key part of that, but even within that we must look at what we can do to boost exports, and to use the capabilities of the Clyde workforce to seek out …

14 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has produced a maritime strategy similar to that of the Norwegian Government.

Answer · Keith Brown: No. Planning for Maritime activities is currently covered in the National Marine Plan and National Planning Framework, both consulted upon earlier this year. Planning for our lifeline ferry services is covered in the Ferries Plan published in 2012.

13 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards are in place to ensure that the so-called independence packs compiled by Education Scotland will not lead to the politicisation of the classroom.

Answer · Michael Russell: Education Scotland is not producing packs on the referendum to be sent to schools. Education Scotland is producing resources to assist practitioners in the teaching of political literacy. Learning about political literacy is an entitlement for children and yo…

11 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the rights of academics at universities to express their views on the constitutional debate.

4 Nov 2013 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on the Student Awards Agency for Scotland's finding that the level of grants paid to university students from the poorest backgrounds has fallen by 3%.

31 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will issue guidance to local authorities regarding the implementation of the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is currently working closely with local authorities to prepare guidance on the operation of the Act that meets the needs of those that will deal with high hedges once the legislation comes into effect. The guidance will be finalised an…

30 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, if same-sex marriage was introduced, what its position is on whether it would be appropriate for (a) prospective and (b) current foster carers who oppose it to have their suitability to provide such care questioned; whether it considers that it would be appropriate to ask them their vie…

Answer · Alex Neil: The key issue in relation to fostering is the welfare of the child. It would not be appropriate for prospective and current foster carers who oppose same sex marriage to have their suitability to foster children questioned just because of opposition to same s…

30 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, if same-sex marriage was introduced, what its position is on whether (a) people, (b) churches and (c) other organisations that oppose it should be entitled to (i) hire publicly-owned facilities and (ii) provide services in partnership with public bodies. 

Answer · Alex Neil: The Government discussed the point about religious bodies against same sex marriage being denied the use of public premises in the second consultation on same sex marriage, at paragraphs 62 to 65 of Annex A: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/12/94…

30 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, if same-sex marriage was introduced, what its position is on whether it would be appropriate for public sector employees who oppose it to have their employer question them on their commitment to equality and diversity.

Answer · Alex Neil: Public sector employees are entitled to have their own personal beliefs on same sex marriage and the Government would consider it inappropriate for public sector employers to question employees on their commitment to equality and diversity based solely on the…

30 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to install next-generation superfast broadband in Highland and eastern Perthshire.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government and its partners are investing over £280 million in our Step Change programme which, alongside commercial deployment, will deliver next generation broadband access to 95% of premises in Scotland by 2017-18. The programme, which includ…

10 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will amend the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 to specify that organisations opposed to same-sex marriage will not fail to meet the charity test because of this view.

Answer · Alex Neil: No. We do not consider such an amendment is necessary. Section 7 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 provides that a body meets the charity test if its purposes consist only of one or more of the charitable purposes and it provides pu…

10 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, if same-sex marriage was introduced, what its position is on whether it would be appropriate for public sector employers to take into account the views on this of (a) applicants for posts and (b) staff when considering their suitability for employment.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Government considers that public sector appointments should be based on merit and not on any views which applicants and staff may have on same sex marriage. Local authorities and public bodies are subject to the Equality Act 2010 and, as such, are direct…

10 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will seek to amend the Equality Act 2010 to (a) include in the protected characteristic of religion or belief, support for the current definition of marriage and (b) ensure that people opposed to same-sex marriage should not experience any detriment because of their views.

Answer · Alex Neil: No. The Scottish Government fully respects the belief held by many people and organisations that marriage can only ever be between a man and a woman. However, we would not support an amendment to the protected characteristic of religion or belief in the Equa…

10 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will amend the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill to state that the current definition of marriage is a belief worthy of respect in a democratic society.

Answer · Alex Neil: No. We do not consider such an amendment is necessary. There is nothing in the Bill which would stop persons from holding that belief. In addition, section 14 of the Bill provides that the introduction of same sex marriage will have no impact on existing rig…

3 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to receive notification from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills of its response to the Pub Companies and Tenants consultation.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers have received no notification from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) on the outcome of their Pub Companies and Tenants consultation. Should BIS Ministers decide they wish to proceed to legislation following that consu…

3 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether and, if so, how it will ensure that wind turbine applications currently in the planning process are refused planning permission if they are without an OFGEM licence or exemption from the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Matters concerning OFGEM licences or exemptions relate to the interpretation of electricity legislation in the Court of Session’s decision in the Viking wind farm judicial review. The decision does not concern applications for planning permission made under p…

3 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it will issue to local authority planning departments dealing with wind turbine applications from developers without an OFGEM electricity generation licence or an exemption from the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has issued an on-line statement setting out its position concerning wind turbine planning applications without or exempt from a licence to generate electricity. The statement dated 24 October 2013 is available at: http://www.scotland…

24 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on clarifying the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 in relation to charges made while granting a tenancy.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 states that it is an offence to require payment of any premium (in addition to rent and a refundable deposit of no more than two months’ rent), as a condition of the grant, renewal or continuance of a tenancy. As many tenants wer…

16 Sep 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what help it provides for people who have had a stroke.

Answer · Michael Matheson: NHSScotland has made great progress in improving outcomes for people with stroke: Over the last ten years mortality rates for stroke have reduced by over 41%. Between 2010 and 2011 mortality rates dropped by 5.7% Our Better Heart Disease and Stroke Action …

9 Sep 2013 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government is doing to ensure that terminally ill patients with conditions other than cancer are given access to palliative care.

4 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many modern apprenticeships it is supporting in the renewable energy and low-carbon sector.

Answer · Angela Constance: There are a number of Modern Apprenticeship Frameworks relevant to the renewable energy and low carbon sector in Scotland. As at the 28 June 2013 there were 8,299 Modern Apprentices being supported in engineering and related frameworks. Included in this is th…

2 Sep 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to vary the speed limit for heavy goods vehicles on the A9 trunk road.

2 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) whole-time equivalent and (b) headcount places were available in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at each college in (i) 2011-12 and (ii) 2012-13.

Answer · Michael Russell: The latest data on students in colleges in Scotland are Scottish Funding Council data for 2011-12. Data for 2012-13 will be published in January 2014. Table 1 contains student numbers expressed as headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE). Table 1 – Number …

26 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Lawn Tennis Association regarding funding for Tennis Scotland in an independent Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: With Scottish Government policy and priorities, sportscotland enter into investment agreements with Scottish sport governing bodies in taking forward the development plan for their respective sports. There are regular meetings and dialogue which take place b…

24 Jun 2013 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action is being taken to address the number of cases of type 2 diabetes.

17 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will promote a more diverse school education system.

3 Jun 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to exploit the potential of Scotland's shale gas reserves.