John Wilson

26 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) timeline and (b) reporting mechanism is for the public consultation on unconventional oil and gas extraction, including fracking, which was announced by the Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism on 28 January 2015.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24476 on 8 October 2015. 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/parliamentaryb…

26 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what remuneration was paid to members of the Independent Expert Scientific Panel, which reported on unconventional oil and gas extraction, including fracking, in 2014.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The members of the Expert Scientific Panel on Unconventional Oil and Gas were not remunerated by the Scottish Government.

26 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Independent Expert Scientific Panel, which published a report in 2014 on unconventional oil and gas extraction, including fracking, continues to meet.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Independent Expert Scientific Panel on Unconventional Oil and Gas no longer meets, having completed its review of the scientific evidence, and will be publishing its final report on 28 July 2014.

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how NHS Lanarkshire has carried out poverty proofing with regard to its proposed changes to its primary care out of hours service.

Answer · Shona Robison: In line with Scottish Government guidance set out in CEL 4 (2010) Informing, Engaging and Consulting People in Developing Health and Community Care Services, NHS Lanarkshire carried out an Equality and Diversity Impact Assessment (EDIA) for their primary care…

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much NHS Lanarkshire's primary care out of hours service costs to run.

Answer · Shona Robison: Information Services Division – part of NHS National Services Scotland – provides health information, health intelligence, statistical services and advice that supports quality improvement in health and care and facilitates robust planning and decision making…

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have used NHS Lanarkshire’s primary out of hours service in each year since 2011, broken down by the out of hours service used.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Lanarkshire primary care out of hours service usage Case Type 2011 2012 2013 2014 District Nurse 2,810 2,673 2,206 2,174 Doctor Advice via telephone 9,344 9,208 9,225 10,398 Home Visit by a doctor 15,300 16,140 15,617 14,864 Informati…

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people have responded to the NHS Lanarkshire consultation on its proposed changes to its primary care out of hours service.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Lanarkshire commissioned a review of primary care out of hours services in September 2013. Phase 1 concluded in April 2014 and included extensive communication and engagement with staff, service users and the public in developing options. A public consul…

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the rate of return is for investors on lower grade debt instruments used by the Scottish Futures Trust.

Answer · Keith Brown: The rate of return on junior debt is bid in competition by private sector investors in infrastructure projects. The rate of return on junior debt in Non-Profit Distributing and hub projects is generally in the range of 9.5% to 12.5% per annum.

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many building infrastructure projects it has financed (a) throughout Scotland and (b) in Central Scotland region with revenue gained through the Scottish Futures Trust by the use of lower grade debt instruments since 2011.

Answer · Keith Brown: To date the Non-Profit Distributing (NPD) programme has signed a total of nine NPD projects and a further 10 privately financed hub projects since 2011. Each of these projects has included an element of junior debt (about 10% of the total financing). Of these…

25 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it uses revenue from the Scottish Futures Trust created through the use of lower grade debt instruments to finance building infrastructure projects.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not use revenue from the Scottish Futures Trust created through the use of lower grade debt instruments in order to finance building infrastructure projects. The Scottish Government pays for non-profit distributing financed infras…

19 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the finding that air pollution in central Scotland reached its highest levels in three years on 17 March 2015, how it plans to protect vulnerable people, particularly the elderly, young children and those with respiratory conditions, from air pollution.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government operates a pollution alert service called 'Know and Respond'. Members of the public can register to receive an SMS, voicemail or email message whenever air pollution is forecast to be moderate, high or very high as measured by the UK A…

19 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the finding that air pollution in central Scotland reached its worst level in three years on 17 March 2015 largely due to car emissions according to environmental groups, how it will encourage individuals to use public transport.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government’s commitment to bus services in Scotland is clearly demonstrated by the quarter of a billion pounds expended every year on the Bus Service Operators’ Grant and concessionary fares. The grant helps to keep fares at affordable levels and…

19 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the finding that on 17 March 2015 air pollution in central Scotland reached its worst levels in three years, how it plans to reduce air pollution.

Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government continues to work closely with local authorities, The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Transport Scotland and other partners to improve air quality in Scotland. We are currently consulting on a draft national low emission strate…

9 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) treatment is available and (b) support is provided to people diagnosed with chronic (i) Crohn’s disease and (ii) colitis.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Treatment of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can involve a range of medication, including powerful immunosuppressant drugs, steroids and biologic treatments. Some patients will also undergo surgery. The Scottish Government has provided funding to the …

5 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the average age is of ScotRail's rolling stock.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The average age of the current rolling stock fleet is just over 19 years old based on a per train figure.

4 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings of the Fiscal Affairs Scotland report, Local government funding challenges, what action it will take to ensure that local authorities are able to meet demand for (a) school meals and (b) other non-statutory services.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has, despite the significant cuts to its budget imposed by the UK Government, treated local government fairly. The 2014-15 local government finance settlement has been increased to almost £10.8 billion and this will increase further to…

24 Feb 2015 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how it will engage on the proposal to establish a register of lobbying.

18 Feb 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Lord President of the Court of Session and what issues were discussed.

5 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many households have had their (a) gas and (b) electricity supply disconnected, or "capped", in each of the last five years, also broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. However, in December 2014, the Office of Gas and Electricity markets (Ofgem) published the Domestic Suppliers Social Obligations: 2013 annual report. Table 10 includes data at a Scottish level…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it sought assurances regarding the terms and conditions of employment of seafarers working on the Finlandia Seaways between Rosyth and Zeebrugge in its discussions with DFDS and Forth Ports on the future of maritime freight services on that route and whether it confirmed that the…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Scottish Ministers are not party to any of the details regarding the terms and conditions of seafarers on the Rosyth to Zeebrugge Route. These are a matter for DFDS as the commercial operator of the service.

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the cost of converting vessels on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route to comply with the sulphur dioxide emissions limits for commercial ships operating in the North Sea that come into force on 1 January 2015.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government wrote to the UK Government in September and October 2014 regarding the impact of the EU sulphur directive on ferry routes in Scotland, including asking the UK Government to explore with the EU Commission whether any EU funding was avai…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the impact on Scottish (a) seafarers, (b) dockers and (c) operators of the sulphur dioxide emissions limits for commercial ships operating in the North Sea that come into force on 1 January 2015.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government wrote to the UK Government in January, July, September and October 2014 regarding the impact of the EU sulphur directive on ferry routes in Scotland. Scottish Ministers noted concern about the potential impact of increased fuel costs …

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the public contribution has been to the contract managed by DFDS for maritime freight services on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route and what the contribution will be in 2015-16.

Answer · Derek Mackay: There is no contract to manage the service as this is a commercial route operated by DFDS, although the Scottish Government is fully committed to supporting the operation. The Scottish Government awarded a Waterborne Freight Grant of €2 million (payable over…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the annual value is of the contract managed by DFDS for maritime freight services between Rosyth and Zeebrugge and how many (a) sailings and (b) freight movements there have been on the route in each month since 2010-11.

Answer · Derek Mackay: As Rosyth to Zeebrugge is a commercial freight ferry route operated by DFDS, there is no contract for its operation. There are currently three timetabled sailings per week in each direction. Given the commercial nature of the operation we do not hold records…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it secured commitments for the (a) employment and (b) training of Scottish seafarers on freight vessels operated by DFDS on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge route in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that it has signed with the company and Forth Ports regarding the future of services on …

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government signed an memorandum of understanding (MOU) with DFDS and Forth Ports to continue to work together to secure the future of the service for both those employed on the route and its many customers. The MOU remains confidential to the thr…

13 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23043 by Keith Brown on 13 November 2014, what discussions it has had with First TransPennine Express regarding service delivery in Scotland. 

Answer · Keith Brown: We maintain a regular dialogue with First TransPennine Express (FTPE), most recently on enhanced service provision to support travel to the Commonwealth Games, and on the reliability of the class 350 trains introduced on Anglo-Scottish routes earlier in 2014.…

11 Nov 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the use of subordinated debt in procurement projects by the hubCos and the Scottish Futures Trust.

6 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Office of Rail Regulation regarding First TransPennine Express's proposed timetable changes to its services in Scotland.

Answer · Keith Brown: We have had no discussion with the Office of Rail Regulation regarding First TransPennine Express’s proposed changes to its services in Scotland in December 2014. The changes proposed do not constitute a track access conflict between First TransPennine Expre…

6 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with First TransPennine Express regarding how the proposed timetable changes to its services in Scotland might impact on Motherwell station.

Answer · Keith Brown: We have had no direct discussion with First TransPennine Express on this issue. However, we have raised the issue with First TransPennine Express. The company has explained that its proposed changes to the December 2014 timetable deliver enhanced journey tim…

5 Nov 2014 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it plans to review the number of passes issued to people who do not work in the parliamentary complex.