Parliamentary questions
Richard Baker
2,136 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many serving police officers there are, broken down by (a) division and (b) local authority area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. Police Scotland is currently completing work to standardise data and HR systems across the former eight forces. Although this means that a further geographical breakdown of police officers is n…
4 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) academic, (b) non-academic managerial and (c) other non-academic staff were employed in each (i) college and (ii) university in (A) Aberdeen and (B) Aberdeenshire in each of the last five years.
Answer · Michael Russell: Information on number of staff employed in colleges is held by the Scottish Funding Council. For colleges the latest information available is for 2010-11. It is not possible to provide the staff breakdown requested. Table 1 and 2 contains a headcount and full…
4 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) drink and (b) dangerous driving convictions there have been in the Grampian region in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Statistics relating to persons convicted for drink/drug driving and dangerous driving in the Grampian police force area, in each of the last five years, are available in table 4a of the additional data to the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland 2011-12 statistic…
4 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in addressing the availability of affordable housing in rural areas.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: We are investing over £970 million in affordable housing over the three year period to March 2015. The introduction last year of a three year resource planning approach to March 2015, will enable councils to exercise their strategic role more flexibly, which …
4 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people live in overcrowded dwellings in (a) Aberdeen and (b) Aberdeenshire.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish House Condition Survey (2009-2011 combined) estimates that; around 1% of dwellings (or 1,000 households) in Aberdeen City are overcrowded, compared to,around 3% of dwellings (or 3,000 households) in Aberdeenshire. The proportion of overcrowded dw…
4 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the cost of private rented accommodation in Aberdeen.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13021 on 5 March 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/parliamentarybu…
4 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase awareness of men's health issues, and what specific programmes there are in (a) Aberdeen and (b) NHS Grampian.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of raising awareness of health issues amongst men and is committed to providing the best possible advice and support through NHS Scotland. Through the Keep Well programme men and women aged 40-64 living in th…
2 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote food recycling.
9 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many accidents there have been on rural roads in each of the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: The following table shows the number of injury road traffic accidents that occurred on rural roads and were reported to the police since 2008. Accidents in rural areas, 2008-12 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Roads in rural areas with single carriageways an…
9 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent to promote tourism in the north east in each of the last five years.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The North East is marketed by VisitScotland using the fantastic assets which it can offer its visitors. These great assets are promoted across the UK and overseas by VisitScotland in a number of ways, such as websites, print, direct mail and PR activity. The …
9 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to promote tourism in the north east.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is determined to maximise tourism growth and draw more visitors to Scotland. The North East is marketed by VisitScotland using the fantastic assets which it can offer its visitors. These great assets are promoted across the UK and ove…
9 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many instances of (a) theft and (b) vandalism on railway lines have been recorded in each year since 2007.
Answer · Keith Brown: This is a matter for Network Rail. The information is not held centrally.
9 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect rail services from theft and vandalism and has taken since 2007.
Answer · Keith Brown: This information is not held centrally. Responsibility for the safety and security of the rail infrastructure and passenger services in Scotland lies with Network Rail and relevant train operating companies respectively, with appropriate input from the Britis…
9 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) ScotRail, (b) Network Rail, (c) Police Scotland and (d) British Transport Police regarding theft and vandalism on railway lines.
Answer · Keith Brown: Responsibility for the safety and security of the rail infrastructure and passenger services in Scotland lies with Network Rail and relevant train operating companies respectively, with appropriate input from the British Transport Police. As the primary funde…
8 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the First Minister's comment in his letter to the Chief Executive of Aberdeen City Council dated 6 August 2013 that his visit to Bramble Brae Primary School was "impromptu" is consistent with reports that the SNP press office issued a calling notice to the local…
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The description of the visit to Bramble Brae School as “impromptu” was first made by the Chief Executive of Aberdeen City Council in a letter to the First Minister of 20 June 2013. This followed an 18 June report by the Headmaster of the school to Aberdeen Ci…
8 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its publication, Scottish Parliament By-Election, Aberdeen Donside, 20 June 2013: Guidance on conduct for Scottish Government civil servants, which referred to “the period of sensitivity preceding Scottish Government by-elections", for what reason the First Minister's letter…
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: When the Scottish Parliament is dissolved in the lead-up to general elections there is a recognised pre-election period (commonly referred to as ‘purdah’) when restrictions on the conduct of government business apply. In by-elections, the Parliament is not di…
8 Aug 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the issues raised by the Chief Executive of Aberdeen City Council with the Permanent Secretary on 1 July 2013 were answered in a letter from the First Minister dated 6 August 2013.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Permanent Secretary responded to the Chief Executive of Aberdeen City Council on 6 August. The First Minister had also received letters from the Chief Executive on the issues raised by the Council and also responded on 6 August. The First Minister replied…
22 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of suppliers it paid within 10 days of receiving an invoice in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.
Answer · John Swinney: The core Scottish Government paid 98.1% of invoices in 2010-11 and 98.5% in 2011-12.
22 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in what average number of days after receipt of an invoice it paid suppliers in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.
Answer · John Swinney: The average number of days taken from receipt of an invoice to payment to the supplier was: 2010-11, six days and 2011-12, six days.
22 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of (a) NHS boards and (b) quangos met the target of 10 working days for the payment of invoices in 2011-12.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In 2011-12, the percentage of invoices paid by NHS boards within 10 working days was: Number of invoices Number paid within 10 days % paid within 10 days NHS Boards 1,991,440 1,487,298 74.7% In 2011-12, the percentage of invoices paid by Scottish …
22 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people died from heart disease in hospitals in the NHS Grampian area in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012.
Answer · Michael Matheson: National Records of Scotland reports that 568 deaths from heart disease in NHS hospitals in the NHS Grampian area were registered in 2011 and, provisionally,520 in 2012. For the corresponding figures for 2008 to 2010, I refer the member to the answer to ques…
15 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-02220 by Michael Matheson on 7 September 2011, how many people in the NHS Grampian area were screened for bowel cancer in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14340 on 25 April 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/Apps2/Business…
15 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-02218 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 September 2011, what further funding it provided to NHS Grampian to purchase new ambulances and the up-to-date mobile equipment that these require, in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) provides services on a national basis to territorial boards for NHSScotland. Capital funding is therefore given by the Scottish Government to SAS to fund the provision of ambulances as part of a replacement programme and t…
15 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-02217 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 August 2011, how many emergency ambulance incidents were responded to in NHS Grampian in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The following table sets out the number of emergency ambulance incidents in the NHS Grampian area in the financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13. 2011-12 57,272 2012-13 59,272
15 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-02221 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 September 2011, how many doctors and nurses were employed by NHS Grampian in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Published information on headcount and whole time equivalent of medical staff and nursing and midwifery staff, broken down by NHS board at 30 September 2011 and 2012 can be found on the workforce statistics web site at: https://isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health…
15 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-02219 by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 August 2011, how many cases of MRSA were recorded in NHS Grampian hospitals in (a) 2011 and (b) 2012.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The publication of the number of MRSA cases by hospital is the responsibility of the board. These data can be found at: http://www.nhsgrampian.co.uk/nhsgrampian/gra_display_simple_index.jsp?pContentID=7455&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&.
9 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many patients were discharged from hospitals in the NHS Grampian area following a diagnosis of malnutrition in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012.
Answer · Alex Neil: The provisional number of patients that were discharged from hospitals in the NHS Grampian area following a diagnosis of malnutrition in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 are shown in the following table. Number of patients discharged following a diagnosis of …
9 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has mechanisms in place to ensure that its suppliers pay their subcontractors within 30 days of receipt of invoice and, if so, what mechanisms; if not, whether it will introduce such mechanisms and, if so, what mechanisms.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01485 on 20 July 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/parliamentarybu…
9 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allocate new funding to social banking initiatives.
Answer · John Swinney: Sustainable, responsible banking: A strategy for Scotland, published in May 2013, recognises the social importance of sustainable banking and the benefits of promoting different banking models as part of a more diverse sector in Scotland. The strategy also co…
9 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the expenditure has been for the (a) Energy Assistance Package, (b) Home Insulation Scheme and (c) Universal Home Insulation Scheme in each of the last four years.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following table show Scottish Government expenditure on the (a) Energy Assistance Package (EAP), (b) Home Insulation Scheme (HIS) and (c) Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) for each of the last four years (figures in £ million). The expenditure figur…