Parliamentary questions
Richard Baker
2,136 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
10 Dec 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support employment and the economy in the north east in response to Oil & Gas UK's report, Fuelling the next generation.
28 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an updated timescale for works on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Keith Brown: As I announced last week following the issue of the intention to award letter to Connect Roads, the project is now scheduled to be completed ahead of programme in winter 2017.
28 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the revised timetable for works on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will have on the completion date for work on the Haudagain roundabout.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government are committed to making improvements at the Haudagain roundabout once work on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route scheme is finished, and are reviewing the programme in light of the new completion date.
27 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many emergency ambulance incidents were responded to in NHS Grampian in 2013-14.
Answer · Shona Robison: 42,859 emergency incidents were attended by the Scottish Ambulance Service in the NHS Grampian area in 2013-14. This excludes urgent and routine incidents.
27 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average response time is for an ambulance in the NHS Grampian area.
Answer · Shona Robison: The average response time for an ambulance in the NHS Grampian area in 2013-14 is 7.2 minutes for Category A incidents and 8.9 minutes for all emergency incidents (including Category A and B incidents). This excludes incidents where an ambulance had been disp…
27 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the take-up rate of flu vaccine has been for (a) under fives, (b) five to 17-year-olds, (c) 18 to 24-year-olds, (d) 25 to 60-year-olds, (e) people over 60 and under 75 and (f) people aged 75 and over in each of the last five years.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Influenza vaccine uptake is monitored by Health Protection Scotland based on aggregate level data for all population groups eligible for free influenza vaccine in Scotland. These population groups (as defined by their age and/or by the presence of underlying …
27 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many GPs there have been in NHS Grampian in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Shona Robison: The number (headcount) of GPs in post in NHS Grampian by local authority area for 2009 to 2013 is included in Table 1. Table 1: Number (headcount) of GPs in post in NHS Grampian by local authority area for 2009 to 2013 Year Aberdeen City Council Aberdeens…
25 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Scottish Football Association to encourage young people to take up the sport.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government recognises the important role football plays in communities across Scotland and believes grass roots football is a key area in helping the Scottish Government achieve several sporting, health, community and educational ambitions. The…
17 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many offences of wasting police time were recorded in the former Grampian Police force area in 2013-14.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. This is a matter for Police Scotland.
17 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-17876 by Keith Brown on 6 November 2013, whether a further estimate of the cost of the Haudagain roundabout improvements has been carried out and, if so, (a) when and (b) how much was calculated.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The STAG Report prepared by Aberdeen City Council estimated that Option 5 would cost in the region of £14.5 million (May 2007 prices, and excluding VAT). The independent cost review undertaken by Transport Scotland as part of the Stage 2 Route option confirm…
17 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many deaths per 1,000 of population in the NHS Grampian area were attributable to (a) alcohol and (b) other substance misuse in the latest year for which information is available, and how this compares with the national average.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Data on deaths per 1,000 population which were attributable to (a) alcohol and (b) other substance misuse are provided in the following table. Deaths registered in 2013, per 1,000 population, by underlying cause NHS Grampian Scotland Alcohol-related …
14 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for how long the Lowit Unit at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital has been closed; for what reason NHS Grampian closed the unit; whether the closure will be permanent and, if so, (a) whether and (b) when a replacement will be introduced.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Grampian closed the Lowit Unit to inpatients on 12 September 2014. NHS Grampian is reviewing its Tier 4 services with a view to supporting the pathway and proposed transitions in care as part of the overall preparation for the new Regional Young Peoples U…
14 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it allocated to alcohol support services in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in 2013-14.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government allocates funding to Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADPs) via NHS boards. In those areas where there is more than one ADP, the NHS board should agree with ADPs how this funding should be distributed between them. Information on fundin…
14 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many public sector jobs were based in Aberdeen in 2013 and how this compares with other cities in Scotland.
Answer · John Swinney: The Business Register and Employment Survey provide estimates of employee jobs in the public and private sector at local authority level. The following table provides the number of people employed in the public sector in Scottish cities for 2013. Public sec…
14 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the costs have been to (a) NHS Grampian and (b) it of treating patients from the NHS Grampian area in private hospitals in order to meet waiting times targets in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information obtained from NHS Grampian indicates that they spent £5.2 million in 2012-13 and £4.1 million in 2013-14. That equates to 0.73% of the NHS Grampian’s resource budget in 2012-13, falling to 0.55% in 2013-14. This is in the independent sector to hel…
14 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients in the NHS Grampian area have had operations in (a) private hospitals and (b) the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in order to meet waiting times targets in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14, broken down by hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: The number of NHS Grampian patients who had an operation in a private hospital and at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital is provided in the following table. This information relates to acute surgical specialties and is derived from the Information Services …
7 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce an interim chair for NHS Grampian and when the post will be filled on a permanent basis.
Answer · Alex Neil: The recruitment process to appoint a new permanent chair for NHS Grampian is currently underway. It is expected that the successful candidate will take up post on 1 January 2015.
7 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress has been made in taking forward the business rates incentivisation scheme and how much it expects Aberdeen City Council will receive from it.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government and COSLA leaders have agreed the basis of a revised business rates incentivisation scheme (BRIS). Officials are now agreeing the final details and we expect to announce the revised scheme for 2014-15, including confirmation of the ind…
5 Nov 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support the construction industry in North East Scotland.
28 Oct 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which NHS boards will be brought to parity with the sums identified by the NHS Scotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) formula by 2016-17.
Answer · Alex Neil: The NRAC formula is a funding approach agreed by all boards and the Technical Advisory Group on Resource Allocation that oversees the formula is a group made up of representatives from across the NHS. It is accepted that the NRAC formula will always be subjec…
13 Oct 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent and how provision has been met in providing locum perfusion cover across all NHS boards with cardiac surgical units from the date of the removal of the retention and recruitment premia.
Answer · Alex Neil: Whilst the Scottish Government sets policy for NHSScotland, it is for NHS boards to plan and manage services for the populations they serve. The information requested is therefore not collected centrally.
7 Oct 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many new business start-ups there have been 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 2008 until 2012. These figures, which are …
7 Oct 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many construction workers there have been in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The following table shows the number of employment jobs in the construction sector for the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire local authority areas from 2009 until 2013. These data are taken from the Business Register and Employment Survey, published annually by…
7 Oct 2014 · 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: The following table shows the number of construction enterprises registered in the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire local authority areas from 2009 until 2013. Not all construction businesses operate as limited companies - many are sole traders or partnerships…
1 Oct 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many drug finds there have been in prisons in Grampian in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: ‘‘The following table provides a breakdown of drug finds within prisons in the Grampian area over the last five years.’’ 2014 2013 2012…
1 Oct 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many banned items have been seized from prisoners in the Grampian area in each of the last five years, broken down by item.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: ‘‘The SPS does not have a list of banned items. Instead, section 2 of the Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011 def…
1 Oct 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for support under the Help to Buy (Scotland) Scheme have been (a) made and (b) granted in (i) Aberdeen and (ii) Aberdeenshire.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The number of applications under the Help to Buy (Scotland) Scheme for Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire as at 30 September 2014 are set out in the following table: Aberdeen City Aberdeenshire Applications 156 392 Approved applications 130 354
1 Oct 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) nurses and (b) consultants have been employed by NHS Grampian in each of the last five years.
Answer · Alex Neil: Information regarding how many (a) nurses and (b) consultants have been employed by NHS Grampian in each of the last five years can be found in the following tables. Table 1: Whole time equivalent nursing staff in post employed in NHS Grampian from 30 Septem…
1 Oct 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people live in overcrowded dwellings in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: Over the 2010 to 2012 period, it is estimated there were on average: (a) 2,000 overcrowded households in Aberdeen City (b) 3,000 overcrowded households in Aberdeenshire These estimates are from the Scottish House Conditions Survey, based on the bedroom sta…
30 Sep 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to allow water and sewerage charges to be levied on empty retail premises from spring 2015 and, if so, what the charge will be and how much will be generated.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As indicated in the government’s General Statement of Policy - Principles of Charging for Water Services 2015-21, published on 1 October 2014, we intend to bring vacant non-domestic properties into charge during the period 2015-21. The principles may be viewe…