Parliamentary questions
Claire Baker
1,724 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will promote the DVLA's voluntary registration scheme for (a) quad bikes and (b) other similar single-person operated vehicles and, if so, how.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Most quad bikes cannot be used on the road because they don’t meet road safety standards. If using a quad bike off road you do not need to register the quad bike, pay tax or hold a driving licence. This lack of registration and other requirements means that q…
3 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) quad bikes and (b) other similar single-person operated vehicles have been seized by the police in Fife in each of the last five years.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Information on the number of vehicle seizures, broken down by vehicle type, is not currently collated or held centrally by Police Scotland. A manual exercise would be required for each of the five years to generate the information requested by the member. Thi…
3 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) quad bikes and (b) other similar single-person operated vehicles have been reported stolen in Fife in each of the last five years.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Police Scotland report that a total of 151 quad bikes have been stolen in Fife over the past five years with the figure of 43 for 2014 representing an increased incidence of this kind of crime and a figure in excess of the average (30.2) over the period 2010-…
3 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) antisocial behaviour orders and (b) spot fines have been issued in Fife due to the inappropriate use of (i) quad bikes and (ii) other similar single-person operated vehicles in each of the last five years.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Police Scotland inform us there have been no antisocial behaviour orders issued in Fife in relation to the use of quad bikes over the past five years and that information on the number of fixed penalty notices issued for inappropriate use of quad bikes is not…
20 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) Dundee City Council and (b) other partners regarding the (i) construction, (ii) timetable and (iii) cost of the Dundee V&A project.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has had regular discussions with the V&A Dundee partners since the ambitions for the project were first set out by the partners in June 2008. Ministers most recently met the council on 18 December 2014.
20 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it was made aware of the (a) delay and (b) rise in cost for the Dundee V&A project.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Dundee City Council kept the Scottish Government informed, within the bounds of commercial confidentiality, of the contract negotiations. As part of this, in April 2014, the council informed the Scottish Government that the initial estimate of the price would…
13 Jan 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Fife and what issues were discussed.
5 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many jury trials have taken place at (a) Kirkcaldy, (b) Dunfermline and (c) Dundee Sheriff Court in each of the last five years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. This question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
5 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many indictments have been registered at (a) Kirkcaldy, (b) Dunfermline and (c) Dundee Sheriff Court in each of the last five years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. This question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
5 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on how many days (a) Kirkcaldy, (b) Dunfermline and (c) Dundee Sheriff Court has sat in each of the last five years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. This question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
5 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many jury trials at (a) Kirkcaldy, (b) Dunfermline and (c) Dundee Sheriff Court were called but adjourned for lack of court time in each of the last five years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. This question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
5 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many summary procedures without a jury at (a) Kirkcaldy, (b) Dunfermline and (c) Dundee Sheriff Court were called but adjourned for lack of court time in each of the last five years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. This question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
5 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many criminal trials have been adjourned at (a) Kirkcaldy, (b) Dunfermline and (c) Dundee Sheriff Court because of (i) a crown motion, (ii) a defence motion, (iii) failure to appear by an accused, (iv) failure to appear by a witness, (v) lack of court time and (vi) any other reason i…
Answer · Michael Matheson: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. This question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
5 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has conducted on the impact of sheriff court closures on those that remain open.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. This question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing within 20 days.
5 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people who are unable to meet the costs of funerals.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23705 on 13 January 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/parliamenta…
17 Dec 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of Scottish quota species are being targeted in line with maximum sustainable yield limits.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: Based on the latest scientific advice, 78% of our key Scottish stocks that are subject to quota management are being fished sustainably at levels at or below the targets consistent with the principles of maximum sustainable yield. This figure, based on 18 ke…
8 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding its Low Emissions Strategy.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23574 on 5 January 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/parliamentar…
8 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support local authorities in introducing key measures to improve air quality, including low emission zones, and what funding will be involved.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23574 on 5 January 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/parliamentar…
8 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will allocate funding in the 2015-16 budget to its Low Emissions Strategy.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government is in regular dialogue with all UK administrations on air quality matters of mutual interest. The focus of work to develop the forthcoming Low Emissions Strategy, which will be the first Scottish air quality strategy, has been working …
3 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to make changes to the tied pub model.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government have no current plans to make changes to the tied pub model. Scottish Ministers met last year with representatives, who expressed an interest in making changes to the current tied pub arrangements. At that meeting Scottish Ministers en…
3 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the UK Government's Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill on UK businesses that use the tied pub model in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Since the measures of this Bill do not apply to Scotland, no assessment has been made on the potential impact of the UK Government’s Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill on the seven Pub Co. Companies that the legislation will apply to. Only four of…
3 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met the Scottish Beer and Pub Association and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government officials last met with the Scottish Beer and Pub Association on 8 December 2014 as part of the Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership meeting. Various issues around tackling alcohol misuse in Scotland were discussed at that meet…
27 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22920 by Richard Lochhead on 13 November 2014, whether its response will consider introducing legislation for the compulsory microchipping of dogs.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is carefully considering all of the views expressed through the consultation and will seek to announce our proposed next steps early in 2015.
26 Nov 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Fife and what issues were discussed.
17 Nov 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to deal with antisocial behaviour on quad bikes.
29 Oct 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many hospital appointments have been missed as a result of the Patient Transport Service cancelling journeys in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is not held centrally.
29 Oct 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions the Patient Transport Service has (a) cancelled a patient's journey on the day of their medical appointment and (b) failed to notify patients that their journey has been cancelled in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.
Answer · Alex Neil: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service; the information requested in not held centrally.
22 Oct 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures the fair treatment of disabled people.
29 Sep 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the headcount, enrolment and full-time equivalent figures are for female students at colleges in 2014 compared with 2011.
25 Jun 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the planning process is used to ensure a balance between interests in hill track construction in national scenic areas and some designated sites, but not in others.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The planning system allows for certain development to be considered as permitted development where it is considered that permission would generally be granted if sought. While the majority of permitted development rights apply across the whole of Scotland, th…