Parliamentary questions
Murdo Fraser
2,062 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to invest in broadband improvements and connectivity in the (a) Amulree, (b) Loch Tay, (c) Strathardle and (d) Trochry areas.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scotland’s Digital Future: Infrastructure Action Plan, published on 31 January 2012, sets out the Scottish Government’s 2020 world-class digital connectivity targets, with a step-change by 2015. The 2015 target – availability of broadband at a speed of 40-80 …
18 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06447 by Alex Neil on 16 April 2012, whether it has had discussions with BT regarding upgrading the exchanges and the funding required to convert them to full platform ADSL.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government held detailed discussions with BT in respect of the Exchange Activate Upgrade Programme, announced on 9 December 2009, in which 81 Exchange Activate exchanges, including Trochry and Amulree, received upgrades. The objective of this pr…
28 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to promote Perth across the world now that it has city status.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Perth is currently widely promoted across Scotland's key markets under the Perthshire brand. Now it has regained city status, VisitScotland’s promotional material will highlight Perth as a city. Perth will also take its place in the cities section of VisitSco…
28 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it considers that Perth will have in Scotland’s development now that it has city status.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Cities and their regions are key drivers of the economy. As part of the Scottish Cities Alliance, Perth will play a full part in seeking increased investment, jobs and businesses in cities and their regions, delivering a benefit for Scotland as a whole. The r…
28 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what new funding streams are available to Perth now that it has city status.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I am delighted that Perth has been awarded city status as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. It has been welcomed into the Scottish Cities Alliance and, along with Scotland’s other cities, Perth will be able to access the £7 million Cities Inve…
23 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers a broadband speed of 512 Kbps adequate for (a) business and (b) household purposes.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government recognises that world-class digital infrastructure is essential for Scotland’s future economic growth. That is why the Scottish Government, in Scotland’s Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan, has clearly set out its commitment t…
23 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make Highland Perthshire a priority for broadband investment.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scotland’s Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan makes clear the Scottish Government’s 2015 connectivity targets – broadband at a speed of 40-80 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 85-90% of premises. We will also put in place measures to ensure an uplift in …
23 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will upgrade the (a) Trochry and (b) Amulree exchange to full platform ADSL in 2012.
Answer · Alex Neil: Upgrading of BT exchanges such as those at Trochry and Amulree is a matter for BT.
13 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the licence renewal process under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Premises licences issued under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 do not require renewal. Personal licences run for 10 years before requiring renewal. There are no specific plans to look at these arrangements.
13 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce bureaucracy for businesses seeking to obtain a licence under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: NHSHealthScotland is conducting on behalf of the Scottish Government a wide ranging evaluation of the implementation and compliance with, Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. In addition, the Scottish Government has started work to review the guidance issued to li…
8 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with ScotRail about improving rail services in Fife, including providing (a) additional carriages on morning services and (b) a higher frequency of services.
Answer · Keith Brown: (a) The current service frequency in Fife is specified in the Franchise Service Level Commitment and was significantly enhanced in December 2008. (b) ScotRail is also obliged to allocate its available train fleet to provide passengers with a reasonable expec…
8 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make Fife rail services a priority for investment.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is striving to provide a high quality passenger experience for travellers using the Fife rail services through the following investments: Class 170 diesel trains used on Edinburgh via Fife to Dundee/Perth/Aberdeen routes are currently…
5 Mar 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action is being taken to prevent those not actively farming from being able to claim agricultural subsidies.
29 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits of Perth having city status would be for the local and national economy.
22 Feb 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the interim operating base at Perth Community Fire Station as the permanent base for the proposed single fire and rescue service.
20 Feb 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what impact Rangers FC going into administration will have on the economy.
17 Feb 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it will make to improve broadband in Highland Perthshire and the (a) Glenshee and (b) Killin areas.
Answer · Alex Neil: On 31 January, the Scottish Government published Scotland's Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan. The action plan sets out our ambition and commitment, and the clear steps we will take to deliver world-class, future proofed digital infrastructure acro…
30 Jan 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what support the Scottish Government has given to Edinburgh's bid to host the Green Investment Bank.
30 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work the Care Inspectorate is doing to improve care homes and personal care and support services.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: All services regulated by the Care Inspectorate are assessed against a standard rating scale which enables an assessment of how services are performing in relation to the National Care Standards. If services fall below an adequate standard of care the Care In…
30 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is doing with the Care Inspectorate to promote and raise the profile of the inspectorate's complaints' process.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We have agreed with the Chair of the Care Inspectorate that we will support the Inspectorate in the work they are doing to promote their complaints processes with the objective of encouraging more people to come forward if they have concerns about the treatme…
16 Jan 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what impact the sale of Robert Wiseman Dairies to Müller Dairy will have on the Scottish economy.
11 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the provision of free transport for pupils to access Gaelic medium education.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04932 on 18 January 2012. 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…
11 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools offer Gaelic medium education, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04932 on 18 January 2012. 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…
11 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding is allocated to each local authority for Gaelic medium education per annum.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The following table shows how much additional funding is allocated to each local authority in 2011-12 for Gaelic medium education. Local Authority 2011-12 Aberdeen City Council £138,000 Aberdeenshire Council £ 37,000 Angus Council £ 45,000 Argyll a…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake a national review of flood prevention measures and identify priority areas for improvements.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In 2007, all the existing flood defences in Scotland were assessed as part of the establishment of the Scottish Government’s Flood Defence Asset Database. There were only a few flood defences where minor problems were identified, one of which was Bridge of Ea…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it is providing Perth and Kinross Council to improve flood prevention measures.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has agreed with COSLA that for the three years of the 2011 spending review period the flooding component of the General Capital Grant should be targeted towards major new flood protection projects. Local authorities have been asked to …
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers flooding one of the most prominent risks to communities and households in Perthshire.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Perthshire has experienced its share of flooding events in recent years with communities and businesses suffering the misery, chaos and disruption such events bring. The Scottish Government recognises that the impacts of flooding can be devastating and long l…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to conservation agencies to protect the Scottish wildcat.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Natural Heritage is the main funder of the Cairngorm Wildcat Project through the Species Action Framework (2007-12). Project management is delivered via the Cairngorms National Park Authority and, over the lifetime of the project, Scottish Government…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect the Scottish wildcat from extinction.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government agencies Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) and Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) are all partners in the Cairngorms Wildcat Project, along with the Royal Zoological Society for Scotland and the…
22 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work it has done with train operating companies to roll out wi-fi services on train services in 2012.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is working with industry partners to set up a trial to test the latest onboard train signal receiving booster and transmission equipment on rolling stock running primarily on the Edinburgh to Glasgow route.