Parliamentary questions
Jeremy Purvis
909 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
20 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to inform people of the risks of excessive borrowing.
Answer · Alex Neil: Financial education and learning helps people to understand their finances and develop budgeting and other skills. A wide range of activity is delivered throughout Scotland, both by schools and a variety of agencies across communities for those beyond school …
20 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether every public sector body has provided an action plan of measures to increase the use of home and flexi-working.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21185 on 3 April 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/B…
20 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging the increased use of home and flexi-working in the public sector.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Policies on flexible and home working are an operational matter for individual organisations. They need to consider a number of issues such as business need as well as HR policy.</p> <p >We have taken the approach of promoting flexi and home-working as part …
20 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of invoices for public sector contracts is paid within 10 days.
Answer · John Swinney: For the month of February 2009, the Scottish Government paid 84.3% of transactions for which there were Scottish Government contracts within the payment target of 10 working days. Emerging results for March indicate that this performance is increasing towards…
20 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made towards achieving its 10-day prompt payment target.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting businesses by paying bills more quickly and is making good progress towards the target of paying transactions within 10 working days.</p> <p >For the month of February 2009, 86.5% of transactions were paid b…
18 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11399 by Fergus Ewing on 8 April 2008, what legislative options have been explored as a means of resolving disputes about high hedges and whether it plans to pursue any of these options.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has been considering a range of legislative options and will outline its intentions shortly, when the review of national antisocial behaviour policy reports.</p>
18 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11399 by Fergus Ewing on 8 April 2008, what the status is of the review of its antisocial behaviour strategy and when it will be published.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The review of national antisocial behaviour policy will be published shortly.</p>
18 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards provide free intra-articular hyaluronan injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is not possible to identify from prescribing data collected centrally which NHS boards provide free intra-articular hyaluronan injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Prescribing data available centrally relate to items dispensed by community pharm…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with relevant partners concerning the roll-out of the town centre regeneration fund; which partners were involved, and when these discussions took place.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to consider the key challenges facing our town centres and the action that might be taken to promote their regeneration and growth. Discussions have taken place with local government, priva…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the commitment by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth to “work with relevant partners to arrange the roll-out” of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund (Official Report c. 14406), which partners will be involved.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has engaged widely to clarify the key opportunities for regeneration and growth of our town centres. We will continue to engage as we finalise the detail of the Fund and move towards roll out. For example, my officials have invited the…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether future budgets will have to be changed to pay for 7,800 extra modern apprenticeships and, if so, which budget lines will be changed and in which years.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Any new funding required to support additional modern apprenticeships after next financial year will be considered as part of the standard Scottish Budget process.</p>
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether 7,800 extra modern apprenticeships will be paid for through the accelerated capital expenditure programme.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: No, capital budgets cannot be used to fund current expenditure. The additional £16 million will be provided to Skills Development Scotland who will offer the modern apprenticeship places.</p>
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be required for 7,800 extra modern apprenticeships and from where this funding will be found.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has identified the sum of £16 million to fund the additional modern apprenticeships next year. This initiative will be funded by increases in non-domestic rate income as identified by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable G…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how towns and local authorities across Scotland will receive funding under the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20618 on 26 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Town Centre Regeneration Fund will be available to all towns and local authorities.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20618 on 26 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it will give, and to whom, on the utilisation of resources under the Town Centre Regeneration Fund.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20618 on 26 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail how the Town Centre Regeneration Fund will be rolled out across Scotland, including (a) funding stream, (b) method of allocation and (c) prioritisation.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20618 on 26 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the roll-out across Scotland of the £60 million Town Centre Regeneration Fund will (a) begin and (b) be completed.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20618 on 26 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when details of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, including its method of implementation, will be available.
Answer · Alex Neil: Full details of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund will be announced by the end of March 2009.</p>
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when details of its planned 2010-11 budget changes to pay for the £60 million Town Centre Regeneration Fund will be available.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Draft Budget for 2010-11 will be published in September 2009.</p>
6 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which budget line will be changed in 2010-11 to pay for the £60 million Town Centre Regeneration Fund.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Draft Budget for 2010-11 will be published in September 2009.</p>
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding was made available for a feasibility study of a Selkirk bypass between 1999 and 2008 and, if so, when this was authorised and by which minister.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Funding was made available for the A7 Selkirk Bypass Feasibility Study in May 2006 by the then Minister for Transport.</p>
2 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed changing the funding mechanism for flood management and alternative flood schemes with COSLA.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: As announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth a review of the local government finance distribution methodology is being taken forward jointly with COSLA to ensure resources are distributed as fairly and equitably as possible. This …
30 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to ensure in legislation that, in relation to eligibility for social housing, someone serving in the armed forces will be able to establish a local connection through residence of choice or employment in the same way as a civilian.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Armed forces personnel and veterans already have the same rights as civilians in relation to the eligibility to social housing in Scotland. Social landlords are required by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 to admit anyone aged 16 or over to their housing list …
30 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to their eligibility for social housing, what action it takes to ensure that veterans have a local connection in a location other than the district where they have most recently been living or working.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20378 on 9 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
23 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18821 by Stewart Stevenson on 14 January 2009 and in light of the comments by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the Parliament on 15 January 2009 (Official Report c. 14088), for what reasons no reference was made in the answ…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Cabinet Secretary referred to the reduction of exposure to risk. A different form of procurement option would increase this exposure but given our clear commitment to the use of a design and build contract, it was not necessary to mention this in the answ…
23 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18821 by Stewart Stevenson on 14 January 2009, why no reference was made to cost savings claimed as a result of the funding mechanism.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In response to question S3W-18821, I explained that the reduction in the cost estimates could be attributed to the reduced width of the bridge, made possible by utilising the existing Forth Road Bridge for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists. I explain…
23 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many opinion polls on issues other than voting intentions it has commissioned since May 2007 and at what cost.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not commission opinion polls. We follow the standard definition of opinion polls as being a snapshot of public opinion around voting intention. Information listing social research projects commissioned by the Scottish Government s…
23 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the comments regarding the reassessed cost of the Forth Replacement Crossing by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the Parliament on 15 January 2009 (Official Report c. 14088), on what basis the cost of the crossing was previously estimated to be £4 b…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth stated on 15 January, the reduction in costs can be attributed to the reduced width of the bridge, made possible by utilising the existing Forth Road Bridge for public transport, pedestrians and cycl…
22 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how tax cuts can be made within its fixed budget.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has powers under the Scotland Act to vary the rate of income tax in Scotland by up to 3p in the pound. Our clear policy is not to exercise these powers at this time.</p> <p >We have supported local authorities to freeze council tax in…