John Wilson

13 Mar 2014 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what measures it is taking to prevent illegal access to the Parliament's website and other data sources, such as members' email accounts.

4 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action the NHS takes to ensure that all patients have easy access to a GP surgery in their area.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-19994 on 13 March 2014. 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 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions are in place in local communities to provide support for vulnerable patients who find it difficult to access their GP surgery.

Answer · Alex Neil: Under the legal framework for service provision, NHS boards are responsible for ensuring the provision of primary medical services for their areas. In discharging these statutory obligations health boards are required to ensure that care provided to vulnerabl…

4 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the procedures are for informing patients about the closure of their GP surgery.

Answer · Alex Neil: Patient registration arrangements are local contractual matters between NHS boards and GP Practices. Where a GP Practice is closing, it is the statutory duty of NHS boards to communicate with patients about this. In practice, this role will usually be carrie…

4 Mar 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for informing patients about the closure of their local GP surgery.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Patient registration arrangements are local contractual matters between NHS boards and GP practices. Where a GP practice is closing, it is the statutory duty of NHS boards to communicate with patients about this. Normally, acting on the health boards’ behal…

27 Jan 2014 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Government last reviewed the powers of the office of the Judicial Complaints Reviewer.

7 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met the Chancellor of the Exchequer and what issues were discussed. 

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Ministers regularly meet with ministers from the UK Treasury to promote the steps we are taking with our limited powers to deliver a more prosperous and fairer Scotland. Most recently, in November 2013, I met the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in C…

17 Dec 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when its officials last met representatives of Central Scotland region education authorities.

Answer · Michael Russell: Scottish Government officials regularly meet representatives of local authorities including those from central Scotland education authorities to discuss a wide variety of education issues.

10 Dec 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is taking forward cultural initiatives relating to the Scottish diaspora.

26 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to stem the reported increasing availability of so-called legal highs.

20 Nov 2013 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much it has spent on cyclical and reactive building maintenance in each year since 2010.

12 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is planning a promotional campaign for credit unions and, if so, what the nature of the campaign will be; what budget has been allocated; what organisations (a) it will consult and (b) will benefit, and which media outlets it will use.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government launched its ’12 days of Debtmas’ campaign on 18 November 2013. The aim of the campaign is to help alleviate debt by raising awareness of credit unions as one alternative to pay day loans in the run up to the festive period. The campa…

6 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Creative Scotland.

28 Oct 2013 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government will take to protect people affected by fuel poverty, in light of recent price rises by energy providers.

21 Oct 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the cross-party approach to securing the full common agricultural policy convergence uplift for Scotland.

15 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to Entrepreneurial Spark in the last three years.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has not provided any funding to Entrepreneurial Spark in the past three years.

3 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on the 2013-14 winter flu vaccination programme campaign.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Although full costs will not be confirmed until the end of the flu season, the overall annual cost of the seasonal flu vaccination programme is estimated to be approximately £17 million. This figure includes costs in relation to the purchase of vaccines, pay…

3 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS boards regarding the 2013-14 winter flu vaccination programme.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has regular discussions with Scottish NHS boards in relation to the winter flu vaccination programme. These discussions began very early in the year to ensure that sufficient planning for the programme has been undertaken, and continue…

3 Oct 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last reviewed the (a) financial and (b) pricing plans for Business Stream.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Business Stream's delivery plan is agreed annually with ministers. The plan for 2013 was agreed on 16 April 2013. The wholesale charges payable by licensed providers and maximum default charges payable by customers for the period were set by the Water Indust…

1 Oct 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the Business Gateway contract in Lanarkshire.

4 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what issues were identified in the latest Inspection report on Lanarkshire Area of Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and what progress has been made on these.

28 Aug 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with COSLA regarding the settlement of single status and equal pay claims.

Answer · Derek Mackay: We are continuing to monitor the position on the settlement of single status and equal pay claims. This includes obtaining regular updates on the number of outstanding cases. While the settlement of single status and equal pay claims for local government are…

15 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government who attended the recent meeting between it and NATO regarding an independent Scotland; what input it had into what was discussed; whether it will publish a record of the meeting and who requested that the meeting be held.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This was an introductory visit to NATO’s HQ in Brussels by officials from the Scottish Government’s International Division, Resilience Division and EU Office. It was arranged by the UK Delegation to NATO at the Scottish Government’s request. We can confirm th…

27 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) remuneration and (b) expenses the chair of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland has received in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: JABS Chairing Member Remuneration and Expenses 2008-09 and 2012-13: Financial Year Chairing Member Remuneration Expenses 2008-09 Apr-Sept Oct-Mar Sir Neil McIntosh Sir Muir Russell £7,078.75 £8,750 (equivalent to £17,500 per year) £2,580.53 £16…

28 May 2013 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what action it is taking in light of the findings of Audit Scotland’s report, Managing early departures from the Scottish public sector.

22 May 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it and Scottish Development International give to the financial services sector in Central Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Development International provides a wide range of support services to financial services businesses. This can include advice, access to specialist expertise, business mentoring and development, market information, financial assistance, business loca…

13 May 2013 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with Vattenfall regarding its investment in offshore wind energy projects.

30 Apr 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of Healthcare Improvement Scotland and what issues were discussed.

25 Apr 2013 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its timescale is to provide a response to a written question and when it will provide a response to question S4W-13657, which was lodged on 13 March 2013.

Answer · David Stewart: I refer the Member to the answer to question S4W-13657, published on 8 May 2013.

22 Apr 2013 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the recent report by the Treasury regarding Scottish banknotes in an independent Scotland.