John Pentland

21 Mar 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on negotiations to save the steel plants at Dalzell and Clydebridge.

9 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been claimed against the Scottish Ministers with regard to damage to personal property or personal injury caused by defects on trunk roads in each year since 2010-11, also broken down by the amount it paid in (a) compensation and (b) legal costs.

Answer · Derek Mackay: This information is not held. Under Schedule 4 Part 4 of the contract between the Scottish Ministers and the trunk road operating companies, the operating companies indemnify Scottish Ministers against claims for damage to personal property and personal injur…

9 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much money each college has transferred to arms-length foundations in each year since 2011.

Answer · Angela Constance: As part of its regular financial monitoring across the college sector, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) monitors the flow of funds between colleges and Arm’s Length Foundations. I have therefore asked the chief executive of the SFC to respond to your questi…

9 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce its decision on planning application (a) PPA-320-2092 for residential development and associated uses in Wishaw and (b) PPA-320-2093 for residential development and associated works in North Lanarkshire.

Answer · Alex Neil: The appeals in respect of a residential development at Weymysshill Farm, Overtown, Wishaw, and at land west of Morningside, Newmains, North Lanarkshire are currently with reporters at the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) of the Scottish Gove…

9 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether revisions to the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project lighting plans have been considered and, if so, what impact proposed revisions will have on (a) cost and (b) public safety.

Answer · Keith Brown: The contract for the Design, Build, Finance and Operation of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project was awarded to Scottish Roads Partnership in February 2014. There have been no revisions to contractual requirements for lighting on the project.

9 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the anticipated costs of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project have risen and whether delayed completion will result in further increases in costs and penalties for the contractor.

Answer · Keith Brown: The anticipated cost of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project remains at the £500 million I announced in February 2014. Under the terms of the contract, no payments are made until the roads are open to the public.

9 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether construction of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project is still scheduled to be completed in March 2017 and, if not, how many months it is behind schedule.

Answer · Keith Brown: The M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project is on track to be completed in spring 2017. Significant progress has already been made on several key routes and structures on this complex project.

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the Accountant in Bankruptcy, in acting as commissioners to support trustees, carrying on the sequestration of an individual for 20 years at a cost to their estate in excess of £300,000, while providing no return for the creditors.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985, as amended, clearly sets out the position in relation to the audit and determination of trustees’ fees and outlays and the power that any interested party has to appeal the determination or challenge any act, omission or de…

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it would take action against trustees who have not submitted accounts for a period in excess of the six months stipulated by the Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Act 2014 and, if so, how long it would wait before doing so.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) is appointed by Scottish Ministers and authorised by law to supervise trustees of bankruptcies to ensure compliance with their statutory duties. The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985, as amended, makes provision for a trustee t…

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it would take if the Accountant in Bankruptcy was found to be pursuing cases in court based on affidavits that were known to be false.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is not aware of any instances where the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) has pursued a case in court based on affidavits that were known to be false. The AiB adopts a rigorous process in taking forward any court procedure. Such procedure…

2 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on legal expenditure of over £30,000 to defend Accountant in Bankruptcy-determined trustee fees against a challenge by creditors.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Clearly this would depend on the circumstances of the case, and nor would it be appropriate for ministers to comment on the merits of an individual case. The Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985, as amended, clearly sets out the position in relation to the legal ri…

27 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the recommendations in the Independent Advisor on Poverty and Inequality's report, Shifting the Curve.

Answer · Alex Neil: We welcome this report and the contribution it makes to the debate on tackling poverty in Scotland. We have already announced that we will carefully consider the recommendations within the report and will respond formally before the end of March 2016.

20 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many non-UK undergraduate EU students are studying in Scotland.

13 Jan 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and the Economy last met COSLA and what was discussed.

Answer · Alex Neil: My colleague, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and the Economy, and I met COSLA on 7 January 2016 as part of the series of meetings we have held to discuss the detail of the 2016-17 local government finance settlement.

30 Nov 2015 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government has requested an extension of the 45-day consultation period for the Tata Steel plants at Dalzell and Clydebridge.

26 Oct 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what contingencies are in place to address NHS staffing shortages during winter.

9 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Justice last met the Chief Constable and what they discussed.

8 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of the (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15 spend of its marketing unit, and what the reason is for the delay in posting this information to its website.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the Scottish Government website where marketing spend for 2013-14 was published on 9 September 2015. Please see the following link: http://www.gov.scot/About/People/Directorates/Communications/advertising-marketing We proactively publi…

8 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much is being spent on promoting the firstminister.gov.scot website.

Answer · John Swinney: £2,374.12 has been spent on the promotion of firstminister.gov.scot since 17 May 2015.

8 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) digital and (b) other media outlets it is using to promote the firstminister.gov.scot website.

Answer · John Swinney: (a) Promotion of Scottish Government websites is managed by iProspect. (b) No other media outlets are used to promote firstminister.gov.scot.

8 Sep 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) targeting criteria and (b) keywords it is using to promote the firstminister.gov.scot website.

Answer · John Swinney: (a) The keyword searches for firstminister.gov.scot are targeted to people in Scotland. (b) The keywords used to promote the website are: Ministers of Government Ministers of the Government Nicola Sturgeon Twitter What is the Scottish Government Nicola…

1 Sep 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport last met the board and chief executive of NHS Lanarkshire and what was discussed.

25 Aug 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to encourage developers to build housing on brownfield sites rather than bring forward plans for using agricultural and greenbelt land.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Scottish Planning Policy requires that development plans promote sustainable development and consider the re-use or re-development of brownfield land over greenfield sites.

3 Jun 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many GP out-of-hours services are co-located with or in close proximity to A&E departments.

Answer · Shona Robison: I announced a national review of primary care out-of-hours services on 30 January 2015. The report of the review, which is due in September 2015, will set out information relating to how health boards deliver primary care services when GP surgeries are clos…

27 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will review its commitment to maintaining a minimum of 17,234 police officers in Police Scotland.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We will continue to protect police numbers and ensure delivery of the benefits of reform. This has contributed to an almost 40 year low in recorded crime. There are now 1,000 more police officers in Scotland than there were in 2007 despite Westminster cuts. I…

29 Apr 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs will announce the location and timetable for the development of a permanent Scottish film studio.

22 Apr 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS chief executives were awarded performance-based pay progression of more than 1%, based on performance in the years 2014-15.

3 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to encourage public transport providers to pass on the reduced costs of fuel to consumers through cheaper fares.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging more people to use public transport and has taken action to make fares more affordable. For example from 1 April 2015 ScotRail’s regulated peak fares increases will be capped at the level of the Retail Price…

26 Jan 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the agency and contract staff it employs enjoy fair terms and conditions.

12 Jan 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities last met North Lanarkshire Council and what was discussed.