Parliamentary questions

Murdo Fraser

2,062 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

9 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the summary and analysis of its consultation on same-sex marriage will incorporate responses from outwith Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The summary and analysis will record the number of responses received and will outline how many of these came from outwith Scotland.

9 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what weight it will give to responses from outwith Scotland to its consultation on same-sex marriage.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We will consider and count all of the responses made. However, the consultation was aimed at Scottish society and our decisions in this area will be based on what is best for Scotland.

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to ensure that consumers living in remote rural areas will have access to smart utility meters.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Policy on smart electricity and gas meters is a matter reserved to the UK Government under powers conferred under the Energy Act 2008 and extended by the Energy Act 2011. The UK Government will place regulatory obligations on energy suppliers that will requir…

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government to protect the interests of consumers in rural areas regarding the procurement of smart utility meters.

Answer · Fergus Ewing : The Scottish Executive has engaged fully in the extensive consultation which the UK Government has undertaken with stakeholders, both formally and informally, in developing policy on this matter.

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of public funds directed at increasing access to broadband has been spent in (a) rural and (b) urban areas.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is making available up to £144.3 million for the delivery of next generation broadband in areas of market failure throughout Scotland. This comprises the Next Generation Digital Fund of £50 million, announced in the Scottish Spending R…

8 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that homes and businesses in rural areas receive access to broadband at the same time as those in urban areas.

Answer · Alex Neil: As set out in our Digital Strategy, the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring the availability of next generation broadband for all by 2020, with significant progress by 2015 – with particular focus on ensuring that rural households and businesses are …

6 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the possibility of including the recording of animal casualties in vehicle crime and accident reports.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Some information on the recording of animal casualties in vehicle accidents is collected via a national (British) system for collecting and processing statistics on road accidents involving personal injury. Data is collected for ridden horses involved in acci…

30 Nov 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a detailed timetable for the A9 upgrading works between Perth and Inverness.

17 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-03198 by Nicola Sturgeon on 31 October 2011, when it plans to release section 16b funding to small third-sector organisations in 2012-13.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The application process has been agreed for 2012-13. The deadline for applications is 14 December 2011. Successful applicants will be informed in due course, and the funding made available in April 2012.

24 Oct 2011 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government will set a date for the referendum on independence.

5 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to release section 16b funding to small third-sector organisations.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Successful applicants for section 16b grants for the financial year 2011-12 have been notified, and either have, or will shortly, receive their grant.

12 Sep 2011 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government is helping the expansion of the whisky industry.

8 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive where the agenda and minutes of the Scottish Health Technologies Group are published.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Details of the agenda and minutes of the Scottish Health Technologies Group can be found on the Healthcare Improvement Scotland website: http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/programmes/clinical__cost_effectiveness/shtg/about_the_group/membership_and_m…

8 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHSScotland National Planning Forum will receive input from practising interventional cardiologists during its assessment of transcatheter aortic valve implantation and, if so, by what means.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Yes. The advice of practicing interventional cardiologists will be sought. The established Scottish Health Technologies Group processes for gaining clinical advisers and external clinical reviewers for this work will be followed.

8 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-00443 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 June 2011, what the earliest possible date is when patients will be able to undergo transcatheter aortic valve implantation at a centre in Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Consideration of any new clinical service in Scotland will depend upon the outcome of the current review of transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

8 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHSScotland National Planning Forum received input from practising interventional cardiologists during its discussion of transcatheter aortic valve implantation at its meeting on 1 July 2011 and, if so, by what means.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Practicing interventional cardiologists were not directly involved in NHSScotland National Planning Forum’s discussion at their meeting on 1 July 2011. As indicated in the answer to parliamentary question S4W-443 on 14 June 2011, advice will be sought from pr…

8 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive where the agenda and minutes of the NHSScotland National Planning Forum are published.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The agendas and minutes of the National Planning Forum meetings held in 2011 have been published on the National Planning Forum website: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/NationalPlanningForum/NPFMeetings.

8 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-00443 by Nicola Sturgeon on 14 June 2011, what the outcome was of the NHSScotland National Planning Forum meeting on 1 July 2011 and what timescale was agreed for its review of transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The process for the review of the latest evidence on TAVI was considered by the NHSScotland National Planning Forum (NPF) on 1 July 2011. The NPF agreed that the Scottish Health Technologies Group will conduct a full analysis to assess whether the latest evid…

27 Jun 2011 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to reduce the number of attacks on ambulance and fire service crews.

15 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it gives to NHS boards regarding the provision of mental health services for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-174 on 2 June 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/D…

15 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the mental health concerns of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities are addressed in the training of medical professionals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities share mental health problems which are also present in the wider community, and which are well covered in the curriculum for both undergraduate medical students and the postgraduate medical trainee…

15 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it gives to NHS boards regarding their obligations to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities under the Equality Act 2010.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: To prepare NHS boards for the implications for the Equality Act 2010, including their obligations to LGBT people, a series of 13 one day sessions were held between January and March 2011 which were supported by NHS Health Scotland. The sessions were aimed at …

15 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds regarding the incidence of mental illness among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities compared to the general population.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Information on the incidence of mental illness among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities in the Scottish population is not collected. However, research shows that LGBT people experience higher levels of mental illness, including hig…

15 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the BBC Trust concerning BBC ALBA and all BBC digital radio channels being available simultaneously on Freeview.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government welcomes BBC ALBA’s availability on Freeview since 8 June 2011, and has frequently made clear to the BBC Trust its view that BBC ALBA should be available on Freeview. It has also stated that, if at all possible, this should not be at t…