Parliamentary questions
Derek Brownlee
680 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Nov 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its projected underspend is for 2010-11.
Answer · John Swinney: The expenditure is being closely monitored and managed so that there will be a very small underspend by the end of the financial year, in line with recent performance. HM Treasury has advised that it has abolished the existing end year flexibility arrangement…
11 Nov 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental criteria Scottish Natural Heritage assesses prior to the installation of onshore wind farms.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is a statutory consultee in relation to all developments which are subject to environmental impact assessment and in relation to all strategic environmental assessments. In addition, SNH may offer comments or advice to local pl…
23 Sep 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of absence due to sickness was in days lost per full-time equivalent employee in each NHS board in the last year.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHSScotland does not gather data on the numbers of days lost due to sickness absence, but does monitor the number of hours lost, as this is a more accurate measure of the impact of sickness absence on the service.</b></p> <p >For the period 1 April 2009 to 3…
21 Jul 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances being subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 would lead to an organisation being classified as public for national accounting purposes.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The classifications of organisations as public under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and for the UK National Accounts are determined separately.</p> <p >The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 provides a definition of a Scottish public …
24 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has provided in support for Scottish Water borrowing in each financial year since the formation of the organisation.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water''s level of borrowing is published in its annual report and accounts for each year. The Bib. numbers for each year are:</b></p> <p >2002-03: 28754</p> <p >2003-04: 33541</p> <p >2004-05: 36848</p> <p >2005-06: 39906</p> <p >2006-07: 4…
17 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question to S3W-34268 by John Swinney on 8 June 2010, whether any civil servants were eligible to receive a bonus for reducing the cost of public services without affecting service outcomes in the last financial year for which figures are available.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34268 on 16 June 2010. 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/Apps2/…
8 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants were eligible to receive a bonus for reducing the cost of public services without affecting service outcomes in the last financial year for which figures are available.
Answer · John Swinney: This information is not available. All staff in the Scottish Government have a range of objectives which are agreed on an individual basis and against which their performance is assessed. Any performance payment which may be due will depend on an individual''…
8 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants were eligible to receive a bonus in the last financial year for which figures are available.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-34266 on 21 June 2010. 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/Apps2/B…
8 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants received a bonus in the last financial year for which figures are available.
Answer · John Swinney: All staff in the directorates and agencies which comprise the Scottish Government main bargaining unit and all senior civil servants in the core Scottish Government whose performance is appraised for pay purposes, are potentially eligible to receive a non-con…
8 Jun 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent findings of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, how it will contribute to raising the rate of business creation.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has put in place a number of support measures to assist businesses and individuals under the Scottish Economic Recovery Plan. The Scottish Government has always been clear about the importance of creating a supportive business environm…
27 May 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is undertaking to reduce the rate of inflation in the NHS.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are several initiatives in place that aim to reduce the rate of inflation in the NHS. These primarily focus on the areas that consume a high percentage of the budget, i.e. pay, procurement and prescribing.</p> <p >NHS pay is determined at the UK level…
28 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what income has been generated and what expenditure undertaken by the Solway Shellfish Management Association in each year of its existence.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Solway Shellfish Management Association (SSMA) is a private company limited by guarantee (Reg No. SC211971). The company is exempt under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 from providing audited accounts. However, the SSMA have confirmed their income a…
30 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued for assessing planning applications for renewable energy schemes in peatlands.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: <i >Scottish Planning Policy</i> (SPP) which was published on 4 February 2010 sets out the Scottish Government''s planning policies on renewable energy. The SPP is a consideration which can be taken into account in decisions on planning matters. </p> <p >Par…
26 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32499 by John Swinney on 26 March 2010, what estimate it has made of the business rates revenue foregone in 2010-11 as a result of the new renewable energy relief scheme.
Answer · John Swinney: Each renewable energy producer will be able to benefit from a discount on their business rate bill of up to 200,000 Euros over a rolling three year period. This is the maximum that can be awarded under State aid de minimis.</p>
26 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32499 by John Swinney on 26 March 2010, what the total business rates income for onshore renewable developments was in the most recent year for which figures are available.
Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.</p>
24 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consequentials for Scotland arise as a result of the UK Budget, broken down by financial year.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government will receive the following Barnett DEL consequentials following the UK Budget announcement on 24 March 2010:-</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=197 nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=ce…
18 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the forecast business rates revenue foregone will be as a result of the renewable energy relief scheme for 2010-11 (a) in total and (b) for producers with a cumulative rateable value (i) below £145,000, (ii) from £145,000 to £430,000, (iii) from £430,001 to £860,000, (iv) from £860,0…
Answer · John Swinney: Micro-generation and offshore energy generation are already exempted from payment of business rates and the new renewable energy producers relief will, from 1 April 2010, remove or reduce the rates burden for onshore developments.</p> <p >Details of the numb…
4 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what future improvement schemes are planned for the (a) A702, (b) A701, (c) A7, (d) A68, (e) A75, (f) A76, (g) A77 and (h) A1.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the Motorway and Trunk Road programme document which can be found on the Transport Scotland Website at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road/motorway-and-trunk-road-programme">http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ro…
4 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what percentage of applicants for the Energy Assistance Package had (i) applied for and (ii) received assistance under the Central Heating Programme.
Answer · Alex Neil: EAP Stages One and Two</p> <p >The Energy Assistance Package (EAP) offers certain benefits that are available regardless of the energy performance of the dwelling and the absence / presence of a central heating system: </p> <p >energy saving advice (Stage …
4 Mar 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the longevity of work carried out under the Central Heating Programme.
Answer · Alex Neil: The managing agent contract sets performance requirements that influence the longevity of the system: replacement parts must be available for 10 years; each installation under the contract must offer a 12 month warranty, and the installation must be serviced …
4 Feb 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports a greater role for the voluntary sector in delivering public services.
Answer · John Swinney: We are committed to providing high-quality public services and recognise the important role of the third sector in their delivery. We are working with partners in the public sector and the third sector to ensure that the way in which services are commissioned…
8 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29873 by John Swinney on 8 January 2010, what reductions in the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) arise under the Barnett Formula as a result of the recent decision by the UK Government to reduce the Higher Education Funding Council for England Gr…
Answer · John Swinney: There are no further reductions expected to arise in the Departmental Expenditure Limit for Scotland from the decision to reduce the Higher Education Funding Council for England Grant Settlement for 2010-11. No changes have therefore been made to the Scottish…
14 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS consultants received an availability supplement for low frequency at (a) level one and (b) level two in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by seniority point.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Whilst the Scottish Government has access to workforce statistics published by ISD at <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5899.html">http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5899.html</a>, the information requested is not centrally held. However, it may be possible…
14 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS consultants received an availability supplement for medium frequency at (a) level one and (b) level two in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by seniority point.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Whilst the Scottish Government has access to workforce statistics published by ISD at <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5899.html">http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5899.html</a>, the information requested is not centrally held. However, it may be possible…
14 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS consultants received an availability supplement for high frequency at (a) level one and (b) level two in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by seniority point.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Whilst the Scottish Government has access to workforce statistics published by ISD at <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5899.html">http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5899.html</a>, the information requested is not centrally held. However, it may be possible…
14 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS consultants received a discretionary points award at each level from one to eight in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by seniority point.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The discretionary points scheme in Scotland is managed and run by NHS Scotland boards. The information requested is not held centrally. It may be possible to obtain information from payroll managers at individual health boards, if requested.</p>
14 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27844 by Nicola Sturgeon on 26 October 2009, whether it will provide a breakdown by seniority point of those consultants receiving a distinction award at level B in 2009.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30055, on 6 January 2010. 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/Apps…
14 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27844 by Nicola Sturgeon on 26 October 2009, whether it will provide a breakdown by seniority point of those consultants receiving a distinction award at level A in 2009.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30055, on 6 January 2010. 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/Apps…
14 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-27844 by Nicola Sturgeon on 26 October 2009, whether it will provide a breakdown by seniority point of those consultants receiving a distinction award at level A+ in 2009.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The answer to S3W-27844 gave a breakdown of the total number of distinction awards held by NHS consultants in Scotland in 2009. It is not possible to provide information in relation to the seniority points of the consultants holding these awards. However, to …
9 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) negative and (b) positive changes in the Departmental Expenditure Limit arise from consequential funding as a result of the pre-Budget report, broken down by financial year for 2009-10 and for each year for which calculations can be made.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government will receive an additional £23.1 million Departmental Expenditure Limit in 2010-11 as a result of the pre-Budget report.</p>