Parliamentary questions
Derek Brownlee
680 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-1869 by Shona Robison on 17 January 2008, what the projected cost to it will be of the reduction in the costs of prepayment prescription certificates and individual prescription charges in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11.
Answer · Shona Robison: We estimate the projectedcosts, taking into account lost income from charges and the potential increaseddemand on drug costs, of phasing out prescription charges in each year from 2008-09to 2010-11 to be as set out in the table below. The projected costs will…
17 Jan 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the relevant figures under section 2(2)(b)(i) and section 2(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 would be for each month in 2008-09 in the event of section 2 being relevant.
Answer · John Swinney: The relevant figures, based onlatest approved budgets for 2007-08, for each calendar month are show in the followingtable:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=252 valign=top> <p align=center>Portfolio</p> <p> </p> …
9 Jan 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to it will be of the reduction in the costs of pre-payment prescription certificates and individual prescription charges in each year from 2008-09 to 2010-11.
Answer · Shona Robison: We have made provision in theSpending Review for costs of up to £20 million, £32 million and £45 million forthe three financial years from 2008-09.</p>
19 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the reforms for payment for social care of older people, announced by the UK Secretary of State for Health in Putting People First, and whether such reforms are under consideration in Scotland.
Answer · Shona Robison: PuttingPeople First is a concordat between theUK Government and other stakeholders in England for the delivery of social care services for adults,including increased personalisation.</p><p>Our Better Health, Better Care ActionPlan, published on 14 December 20…
6 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Secretary of State for Justice’s announcement of additional funding of £1.2 billion for the prison estate following the Carter Review, whether additional consequential funding will be provided to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula and, if so, what amounts a…
Answer · John Swinney: Additional fundingwas provided only for England and Wales. I have written to HM Treasury in order to pursue the government’s viewthat we have entitlement to consequential funding under the Barnett Formula.</p>
5 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses have properties in Scotland with a combined rateable value of (a) up to £8,000, (b) from £8,001 to £10,000 and (c) from £10,001 to £15,000, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · John Swinney: Information on businessesin the form requested is not held centrally. However, information on the numberand rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief underthe Small Business Bonus scheme is available for each local authority a…
5 Dec 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost per prisoner place is for existing (a) public and (b) private prisons and what cost differential between public and private prison places is assumed by its Justice department when assessing how to procure new additional prison capacity.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I wrote to the JusticeCommittee on 7 December 2007, providing detailed information on the costper prisoner and levels of service based on the Draft Budget for 2008-09. I wouldbe pleased to send a copy to the member.</p>
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total revenue from business rates will be in each year from 2007-08 to 2010-11 if the plans outlined on page 12 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 are implemented.
Answer · John Swinney: The total revenuefrom business rates in each year from 2007-08 to 2010-11 is projected to be as follows,assuming implementation of the plans for the Small Business Bonus Scheme at thepercentage levels set out in the table included on page 12 of the ScottishBu…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what spending will be included in Strategic Research and Analysis as shown on page 81 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: This budget providesa central fund to support strategic long-term investment in the evidence base incross-cutting policy areas across all the portfolios. Work for the Strategic SpendingReview and, more recently, development of high-level outcomes for the Purp…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what spending will be included in Other Miscellaneous as shown on page 127 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, broken down by year and with indicative spending allocations where available.
Answer · John Swinney: The following tableshows the breakdown of the Other Miscellaneous Level 3 within the JusticeBudget.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=367 valign=top> <p>Other Miscellaneous</p> </td> <td width=66 valign=top> <p …
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what prison capacity will be in each year from 2007-08 to 2010-11 based on the spending plans in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>Following the openingof replacement accommodation at HM Prison Perth in October 2007, the design capacity of the estate is approximately…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £12.8 million, £21 million and £29.2 million shown on page 61 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 for capital investment in the prison estate relates to each prison on which expenditure will be incurred, broken down by year.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>These figures referto the overall increase in the SPS Draft Budget for capital expenditure in comparisonwith the Budget for 2007-08. Ove…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what screening programmes are covered by the expenditure shown on page 56 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 and why spending declines over the period of the spending review.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the memberto the question S3W-6417 answered on 26 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether provision has been made in the spending review for construction of a replacement Forth crossing, beyond the sums shown on page 52 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This settlementprovides the additional resources required to take forward the design andpreparation (e.g. environmental impact assessment, ground investigation,environmental, topographical and traffic surveys) for the replacement ForthCrossing.</p>
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what roads will be allocated funding from the spending on roads shown on page 52 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 and what the total allocation is for each road where an allocation decision has been taken.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Section 2 of the Scottish Budget commits to delivering a motorway and trunk road network that supportsthe economy and the people of Scotland by enabling safe and reliable journeys (£932.6million/£1,063.7 million/£1,181.4 million). Further elaboration is provi…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the spending on roads shown on page 52 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 will be on (a) construction of new roads, (b) improvements to existing roads and (c) maintenance of existing roads, broken down by year.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Section 2 of the ScottishBudget commits to delivering a motorway and trunk road network that supports theeconomy and the people of Scotland by enabling safe and reliable journeys (£932.6million/£1,063.7 million/£1,181.4 million). Section 3, page 90 provides a…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the eligibility criteria will be for applications for the (a) Saltire and (b) Horizon prizes outlined on page 53 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.
Answer · Jim Mather: Full details willbe announced to Parliament in due course.</p>
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what savings will be released as a result of the restructuring of the enterprise network for each year covered in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, broken down into those savings arising to (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer · Jim Mather: There will be savingsachieved through more coherent and focused activity but it is not yet possible toquantify these.</p>
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what amount of the proposed (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise budget shown on page 52 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 will be spent on the restructuring of the enterprise network broken down by year.
Answer · Jim Mather: There will be somecosts associated with the implementation of the reforms. The amount of those costshas not yet been determined but every effort will be made to minimise them.</p>
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of cash releasing savings will be retained in each directorate, also broken down by directorate.
Answer · John Swinney: The efficiencysavings made will allow £1.6 billion to be redirected over the next threeyears. Decisions on the allocation of the cash released will be made withinportfolios on the basis of how best to deliver the Scottish Government’spriorities. Under the Con…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much in cash releasing savings will be required in each directorate to achieve the efficiency target stated in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: Efficiency is coreto the delivery of our ambitious programme for the public service in Scotland and the Scottish Government expects all of the publicsector to play its part. Targets are being set at portfolio level, and each portfoliowill produce Efficiency D…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the incremental additional cost would be for each additional police officer recruited in 2008-09 beyond the plans set out in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, broken down into (a) recruitment costs, (b) training costs, (c) annual salary costs, (d) annual employers’ national insu…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The informationrequested is not available centrally, but currently a constable’s basic salaryranges from £21,009 to £32,985 and the cost of probationer training is £7,427.These current salary costs do not take into account any increase for 2007-08,which has s…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what element of the additional £13.5 million, £18 million and £22 million shown on page 31 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 for the recruitment, retention and redeployment of police officers relates to recruitment.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: These resourceswill be invested to build capacity and to support, as a first step, therecruitment of 500 new officers. We are working with key partners to ensurethat this substantial investment is used in the most efficient way possible todeliver the governme…
15 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the costs of £29 million, £30 million and £60 million for 2008-09 to 2010-11 outlined on page 19 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 relate to the abolition of the graduate endowment fee.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: An amount of £17 millionin each year of the spending review has been included to replace lost income fromthe graduate endowment fee.</p><p>Therefore the proportioneach year is 59%, 57%, 28%.</p>
14 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the target to increase the proportion of income earned by the three lowest income deciles as a group, as set out in The Government Economic Strategy, defines “income earned” and, in particular, whether this definition excludes income from social security benefits and tax credits.
Answer · John Swinney: Technical notes, outlininghow the targets set out in <i>The Government Economic Strategy</i> will be measuredand monitored, will be published on the Scottish Government website on 30 November 2007.</p>
14 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how an increase in overall income and proportion of income earned by the three lowest income deciles as a group by 2017, as set out in The Government Economic Strategy, will be measured and reported and how frequently.
Answer · John Swinney: Technical notes, outlininghow the targets set out in <i>The Government Economic Strategy</i> will be measuredand monitored, will be published on the Scottish Government website on 30 November 2007.</p>
14 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how an increase in healthy life expectancy in Scotland between 2007 and 2017, as set out in The Government Economic Strategy, will be measured and reported and how frequently.
Answer · John Swinney: Technical notes, outlininghow the targets set out in <i>The Government Economic Strategy</i> will be measuredand monitored, will be published on the Scottish Government website on 30 November 2007.</p>
14 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what range of population growth in each year to 2011 would be consistent with achieving the target of matching the average (EU-15) population growth over the period from 2007 to 2017, as set out in The Government Economic Strategy.
Answer · John Swinney: Technical notes, outlininghow the targets set out in <i>The Government Economic Strategy</i> will be measuredand monitored, will be published on the Scottish Government website on 30 November 2007.</p>
14 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what position in labour market participation in each year to 2011 would be consistent with achieving the target of closing the gap with the top five OECD economies by 2017, as set out in The Government Economic Strategy.
Answer · John Swinney: Technical notes, outlininghow the targets set out in <i>The Government Economic Strategy</i> will be measuredand monitored, will be published on the Scottish Government website on 30 November 2007.</p>
14 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what quartile ranking in productivity in each year to 2011 would be consistent with achieving the target of ranking in the top quartile for productivity among our key trading partners in the OECD by 2017, as set out in The Government Economic Strategy.
Answer · John Swinney: Technical notes, outlininghow the targets set out in <i>The Government Economic Strategy</i> will be measuredand monitored, will be published on the Scottish Government website on 30 November 2007.</p>