Parliamentary questions
Richard Baker
2,136 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which projects in the non-profit distributing programme will be delayed as a result of the reduction in forecast spend from £353 million to £20 million in 2012-13.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to my answer to question S4W-12698 on 25 February 2013. 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/parliamenta…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the forecast spend of £353 million in the non-profit distributing programme for 2012-13 has been reduced to £20 million.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12698 on 25 February 2013. 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/parliament…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which colleges projects in the non-profit distributing programme for 2012-13 have been (a) delayed or (b) subject to slippage.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to my answer to question S4W-12698 on 25 February 2013. 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/parliamenta…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the £115 million forecast for college projects in the non-profit distributing programme for 2013-14 has been reduced to £78 million.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to my answer to question S4W-12698 on 25 February 2013. 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/parliamentary…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the £150 million forecast for schools projects in the non-profit distributing programme for 2013-14 has been reduced to £62 million.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to my answer to question S4W-12698 on 25 February 2013. 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/parliamentary…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which schools projects in the non-profit distributing programme have been (a) delayed or (b) subject to slippage.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to my answer to question S4W-12698 on 25 February 2013. 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/parliamenta…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the £65 million forecast for colleges projects in the non-profit distibuting programme for 2012-13 has not been spent or allocated by the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to my answer to question S4W-12698 on 25 February 2013. 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/parliamenta…
5 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the £119 million forecast for schools projects in the non-profit distributing programme for 2012-13 has not been spent or allocated by the Scottish Futures Trust.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to my answer to question S4W-12698 on 25 February 2013. 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…
4 Feb 2013 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in delivering infrastructure projects.
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that community benefit clauses are used in contracts for the work on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government wants to ensure that investment in large infrastructure projects results in on the job training for apprentices and local employment opportunities, particularly on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/ Balmedie to Tipperty scheme. Th…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the outline business case for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Keith Brown: The outline business case for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/ Balmedie to Tipperty has been agreed between the project partners. The full business case will be agreed prior to contract award which is expected in autumn 2014. As the formal procurement …
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that people carrying out work in relation to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route are paid the living wage.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/ Balmedie to Tipperty contract will include requirements to comply with the latest employment legislation and will be administered to ensure full compliance.
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many ancillary staff employed by NHS Grampian in each of the last five years were paid the living wage, broken down by (a) role and (b) grade.
Answer · Alex Neil: The NHS pay cycle runs from 1 April each year and no member of staff employed in NHSScotland, whatever their role or grade, has been paid less than the Scottish living wage level since 1 April 2011. The Scottish living wage campaign started in Scotland in May…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many ancillary staff were employed by NHS Grampian in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) role and (b) grade.
Answer · Alex Neil: “Ancillary” is not a term used to define a staff group in the NHS for statistical purposes. Employees working within portering or hotel services, who would normally be referred to as “ancillary” fall within the Support Services staff group. Information relat…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many community benefit clauses were in place in public sector contracts in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not hold information on community benefit clauses used in individual contracts. We are aware that Aberdeenshire council is currently using the clauses in capital projects and are assisting Scottish Prison Service to monitor the c…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the Grampian region has not been included in the roll-out of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's enhanced Floodline message alert system.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Much of the Grampian region has already been included in the roll out of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's (SEPA) Floodline direct warning service. Indeed, the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment launched the North East Flood Wa…
1 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve flood defence systems in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Flood protection schemes are primarily a matter for local authorities, however the Scottish Government is committed to supporting work that helps protect the people of Scotland from the effects of flooding. That is why we are working with our partners to impl…
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the cost of using unused operating theatre capacity in NHS Grampian to meet waiting times targets.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-12756 on 28 February 2013. 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/parliamenta…
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of unused operating theatre capacity in NHS Grampian that could be used to meet waiting times targets.
Answer · Alex Neil: The utilisation of theatre capacity is a management issue for the board. We expect NHS boards, including Grampian, to ensure that theatres are used efficiently and effectively to deliver patient care including waiting time standards.
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the costs have been to (a) NHS Grampian and (b) the Scottish Government of treating patients from the NHS Grampian area in private hospitals to meet waiting times targets in each of the last three years.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government receive management information from NHS boards on the cost of their use of the independent healthcare sector. The information from Grampian shows that the cost of treating patients from within the NHS Grampian area in the independent h…
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients in the NHS Grampian area have been operated on in (a) private hospitals and (b) the Golden Jubilee National Hospital to meet waiting times targets in each of the last three years, broken down by hospital.
Answer · Alex Neil: The number of NHS Grampian patients operated in a private hospitals was 124 in 2009-10, 2 in 2010-11 and 9 in 2011-12. In relation to the Golden Jubilee National Hospital the number of Grampian patient treated at the hospital was 10 in 2009-10, 20 in 2010-11 …
30 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons are for reported delays in projects due to proceed in 2012-13 through the non-profit distribution programme, broken down by project.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Non-Profit Distributing (NPD) programme was announced in November 2010, as part of the Spending Review 2010. It was a response to the reduction in traditional capital Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) originally set at 36% in real terms over the four …
28 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to the North East of Scotland Transport Partnership in commissioning a study of the cost and feasibility of reopening the Formartine and Buchan railway line.
Answer · Keith Brown: While we have received no formal proposal for the reopening of the Formartine and Buchan railway line, the Scottish Government is keen to improve access to the rail network across Scotland. In considering proposals to reopen former railway lines and stations…
25 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce whether it has secured the funding for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route under the non-profit distributing funding mechanism.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) is jointly funded by the Scottish Government, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Council. The Scottish Government is fully committed to delivering the AWPR and has committed that funding will be provided through the N…
25 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there have been changes to the original timescale for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Keith Brown: The protracted legal challenges have resulted in delays to the original timescale and the completion date is now spring 2018. We ensured as much preparatory work as possible was progressed during the legal challenges to ensure that the delay was kept to a min…
25 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated to mental health services in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government sets national direction of policy on mental health and provides funding to agencies - including NHS Boards and Local Authorities - to support implementation of policy. The management of local actions in implementing national policy, a…
25 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it has allocated to alcohol support services in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Responsibility is devolved to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships to commission (informed by robust needs assessment) evidence based, person centred and recovery-focused treatment services to meet the needs of their resident populations. Decisions on spend for alco…
25 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many construction companies were registered in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Table 1 below shows the number of construction enterprises registered in the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire local authority areas from 2008 until 2012. The data is taken from the Inter-Departmental Business Register and is rounded to the nearest 5. Table 1:…
25 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many construction workers were employed in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Table 1 shows the number of employment jobs in the construction sector for the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire local authority areas from 2008 until 2011. The data is taken from the Office for National Statistics Business Register and Employment Survey, resul…
25 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many new business start-ups there were in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: New business start-ups are measured using new business VAT/PAYE registration figures. Table 1 shows the number of new business VAT/PAYE registrations in the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire local authority areas from 2007 until 2011. The data is taken from th…