Parliamentary questions
Richard Baker
2,136 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of pupils has not reached the relevant 5 to 14 attainment levels in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in each year since 2003, broken down by (i) age and (ii) subject.
Answer · Michael Russell: The large amount of available data covering this question are published on the government website. The data cover 2003 to 2008, no data for later years are available. Data are not always available for both local authorities. A collation of the relevant tables…
23 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-00775 by Alex Neil on 30 June 2011, what the expenditure was on the schemes in 2011-12.
Answer · Alex Neil: For the financial year 2011-12, the forecast outturn for the Energy Assistance Package is £46.3 million, for the Universal Home Insulation Scheme is £14.3 million and for the Boiler Scrappage Scheme is £5.2 million, subject to verification in the annual accou…
23 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-02910 by Alex Neil on 4 October 2011, when it will make the announcement and how much it will spend on the schemes in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15.
Answer · Alex Neil: In my statement to the Scottish Parliament on fuel poverty on 5 October 2011, I announced that funding for Scottish Government fuel poverty and energy efficiency programmes would be £65 million in financial years 2012-13 and 2013-14, rising to £66.25 million …
23 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was given to health centres in Grampian in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10, (c) 2010-11 and (d) 2011-12.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No specific funding is made available for health centres in NHS Scotland. NHS boards receive an allocation to meet the healthcare needs of their resident population. It is for boards to decide how best to utilise this funding to meet national and local priori…
23 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) sight tests and (b) eye examinations were carried out in NHS (i) Tayside and (ii) Grampian in (A) 2010-11 and (B) 2011-12.
Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Sight Tests were replaced in 2006 by NHS eye examinations. Therefore no sight tests were carried out in 2010-11, or 2011-12. The information requested on NHS eye examinations carried out in 2010-11 is published on the Information Services Division (ISD) …
23 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many attendances there have been at each accident and emergency department in NHS Grampian in each year since 2007.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The number of attendances (new and unplanned returns) from July 2007 to December 2011 for each accident and emergency (A&E) department in NHS Grampian are provided in the following table. The number of monthly attendances at each accident and emergency depart…
18 Apr 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve transport infrastructure in Aberdeen.
2 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes it expects to be built as a result of the provisional allocation of Housing Association Grant in each local authority area in 2011-12.
Answer · Keith Brown: There was no provisional allocation of Housing Association Grant in each local authority area in 2011-12 due to the introduction of the Innovation and Investment Fund. A total of 4,740 homes are however expected to be delivered as a result of both the 2011-1…
2 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much Housing Association Grant was awarded to each registered social landlord in (a) Aberdeenshire and (b) Aberdeen City in each of the last three years.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Housing Association Grant awarded to registered housing associations in Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City in each of the last three years, for which information is currently available, is shown in the following tables:- Aberdeenshire Housing Association…
2 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated under the Housing Association Grant scheme and what the uptake of these have been in each of the last three years for which information is available, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Keith Brown: Housing Association Grant (HAG) made up the largest part of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) and was available to registered social landlords (RSLs) to acquire land or buildings and to build, convert or improve housing for rent or low-cost h…
23 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether the proposed changes to the basis of payment of Bus Service Operators Grant will not invalidate the rights under which payments are not subject to review or potential revocation under EU state aid rules.
Answer · Keith Brown: Having discussed with the Department for Transport but not the European Commission, our considered view is that the changes to the Bus Service Operators Grant do not alter the fundamental nature of the scheme and therefore do not affect its State Aid status.
23 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has asked the Department for Transport to consult the European Commission to ensure that the proposed changes to the basis of payment of Bus Service Operators Grant will not invalidate the rights under which payments are not subject to review or potential revocation under EU st…
Answer · Keith Brown: Having discussed with the Department for Transport but not the European Commission, our considered view is that the changes to the Bus Service Operators Grant do not alter the fundamental nature of the scheme and therefore do not affect its State Aid status.
23 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken legal advice to ensure that the proposed changes to the basis of payment of Bus Service Operators Grant will not invalidate the rights under which payments are not subject to review or potential revocation under EU state aid rules and, if so, what advice was given.
Answer · Keith Brown: Having discussed with the Department for Transport but not the European Commission, our considered view is that the changes to the Bus Service Operators Grant do not alter the fundamental nature of the scheme and therefore do not affect its State Aid status.
23 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has consulted the Department for Transport to ensure that the proposed changes to the basis of payment of Bus Service Operators Grant will not invalidate the rights under which payments are not subject to review or potential revocation under EU state aid rules and, if so, what …
Answer · Keith Brown: Having discussed with the Department for Transport but not the European Commission, our considered view is that the changes to the Bus Service Operators Grant do not alter the fundamental nature of the scheme and therefore do not affect its State Aid status.
23 Mar 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has consulted the European Commission to ensure that the proposed changes to the basis of payment of Bus Service Operators Grant will not invalidate the rights under which payments are not subject to review or potential revocation under EU state aid rules and, if so, what advic…
Answer · Keith Brown: Having discussed with the Department for Transport but not the European Commission, our considered view is that the changes to the Bus Service Operators Grant do not alter the fundamental nature of the scheme and therefore do not affect its State Aid status.
29 Feb 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it received the business case for the Union Terrace Gardens project in Aberdeen and when it will decide whether to approve it.
22 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what dialogue it has had with Aberdeen City Council on the potential for funding new contemporary arts initiatives in the city.
25 Jan 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve transport infrastructure in North East Scotland.
23 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the contracts awarded by the Scottish Futures Trust has gone to Scottish firms, broken down by year.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government does not hold this information, and Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) does not directly award contracts other than in relation to its administrative expenditure (e.g. advisory and legal services). The Scottish Government recognises the imp…
30 Nov 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reassess its growth forecasts in light of the revised forecasts for UK growth by the Office for Budget Responsibility.
15 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of reports in October 2011 that the annual average profit of the so-called big six energy companies had risen to £125 per customer, whether it has had (a) meetings or (b) discussions with any of these companies to encourage them to reduce consumer bills.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03932 on 22 November 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/parliamenta…
14 Nov 2011 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what measures the Scottish Government is taking to tackle female unemployment in light of concerns that women are being disproportionately affected by job losses.
4 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Health Scotland regarding the proposed public health levy.
Answer · John Swinney: While there have been no specific discussions with NHS Health Scotland, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and the Cities Strategy has been fully included in all discussions about the proposed public health levy.
4 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the revenue from the proposed public health levy will be by 2014-15 as a proportion of (a) total retail profits, (b) retail profits by companies liable for it and (c) retail profits in the premises liable for it.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-03891 on 15 November 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/parliamenta…
4 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the proposed public health levy.
Answer · John Swinney: COSLA supports the focus within the Scottish Government's Draft Budget on preventative spend, including measures undertaken by local authorities which may be supported through the public health supplement.
4 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the funds raised by the proposed public health levy will be spent on projects directly related to reducing harm caused by alcohol and tobacco use.
Answer · John Swinney: The money raised by the supplement will help fund the decisive shift to preventative spending proposed in the Draft Budget. The various delivery partners, including local authorities, NHS and the Scottish Government will develop the detail of what this will e…
4 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that an independent Scotland could retain membership of the EU without having to adopt the euro and, if so, on what evidence.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: An independent Scotland would not be forced into adopting the Euro as a condition for joining the EU. Scotland is currently in the EU and an independent Scotland would continue to be a member of the EU, on exactly the same basis as the rest of the UK. It is …
4 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed public health levy will be (a) in addition to or (b) a replacement for the large business supplement.
Answer · John Swinney: The Public Health Supplement, which will apply only to around 240 large retail properties in Scotland that sell both alcohol and tobacco, will be paid in addition to the large business supplement.
4 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason large retailers selling alcohol and tobacco will be subject to the proposed public health levy but not those selling only alcohol.
Answer · John Swinney: The total combined economic cost to Scotland of alcohol and tobacco misuse is estimated to be £4.66 billion a year. For the companies estimated to be liable for the public health supplement business rates typically account for around 2% of turnover.
4 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether choosing to stop selling tobacco would make a retailer exempt from the proposed public health levy.
Answer · John Swinney: The Draft Budget is a consultation and there will be continual engagement with retailers and business organisations throughout that process. As such, it is appropriate to await consultation responses before finalising the detailed operation of the supplement.…