Parliamentary questions

Nigel Don

144 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

24 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish Professor Alec Spencer’s report on his review of the decision to transfer Brian Martin to open conditions.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Prof. Spencer''s report will be published today. A copy of the report, Balancing Risk and Need will be placed in the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 48456).

24 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the report of the ICL Public Inquiry.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I expect to receive the final report from Lord Gill shortly and along with ministers in the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) we will be arranging for it to be published as soon as possible afterwards. At that time the report will be accessible from the …

23 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the Independent Review of Policing in Scotland, published in January 2009.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Independent Review raised some challenging issues for policing in Scotland which we are committed to addressing in partnership with the police and local government. I can today announce that the Scottish Government will convene a new Scottish Po…

17 Jun 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being introduced to encourage engagement between the public and NHS Grampian.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0625-01.htm">http://www.scot…

12 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent, expressed in today’s prices, on major trunk road projects in the Aberdeenshire local authority area from (a) 1999-00 to 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04 to 2006-07; how much has been spent and is planned to be spent between 2007-08 and 2010-11, and how much is planned to be spe…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Total expenditure on major trunk road projects in the Aberdeenshire local authority area is as follows: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > 1999-2000 to 2002-03 (£ mill…

8 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-23693 by Kenny MacAskill on 19 May 2009, what consideration it will give to the views of the people affected by the Lockerbie air disaster in considering the application for the repatriation of Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has received a number of representations relating to the application submitted by the Libyan Government for transfer of Mr Megrahi. As I stated previously, I am considering the application thoroughly and will ensure I have al…

1 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce the Serious Organised Crime Strategy.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Serious Organised Crime Taskforce which we established to provide a strategic focus for tackling serious organised crime and to ensure co-ordinated and targeted action is publishing its Serious Organised Crime Strategy on 2 June 2009 at a seminar for key …

11 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to continue the mandatory drug testing of arrestees pilots beyond the expiry date of 12 June 2009.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: An evaluation of the mandatory drug testing of arrestees pilots by independent researchers suggests that the numbers of people tested across the three sites as a result of this initiative has been just 3,308 during the evaluation period compared with the 15,0…

30 Apr 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many sign language interpreters there are in Scotland; whether any disparities in the numbers between local authorities have been addressed, and what steps it is taking to increase numbers to provide the most efficient coverage to serve the deaf community.

Answer · Alex Neil: There are a total of 60 interpreters and 10 apprentices currently registered in Scotland. There is an uneven spread of interpreters with some rural areas and the Scottish Islands having very limited provision. With the support of our BSL and Linguistic Access…

15 Apr 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that adequate business support and advice is available to companies in the north east.

Answer · Jim Mather : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0423-01.htm">http://www.scott…

31 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when legislation will be introduced to address the consequences of the Somerville judgement by establishing a one-year time bar for bringing human rights claims against the Scottish Ministers under the Scotland Act 1998.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The First Minister told the Parliament on 19 March 2009 that the UK Government and the Scottish Government had reached agreement in principle on a solution to the anomaly exposed by the House of Lords judgment on Somerville, in terms of which the two governme…

5 Mar 2009 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what progress the Scottish Government is making in reducing the impact of over-consumption of alcohol.

Answer · Alex Salmond: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0305-01.htm">http://www.scot…

4 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the main outcomes of the First Minister’s recent visit to the United States of America.

Answer · Michael Russell: The First Minister made a two day visit to Washington DC last week to raise Scotland''s profile in the US; to strengthen relationships with key policymakers, particularly in the new administration, and to promote the Year of Homecoming in one of Scotland''s b…

17 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many void properties there have been in each local authority area in each year since 1999, also expressed as a percentage of the total housing stock.

Answer · Alex Neil: Vacant stock figures are collected annually by the Scottish Government (for local authorities), and by the Scottish Housing Regulator (for housing associations). The figures are a snapshot of vacancies as at 31 March each year, regardless of the length of tim…

2 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals have been (a) charged with and (b) convicted of animal cruelty offences in each year since 1999, broken down by police force area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table. Persons Proceeded Against, where the Offence Category Specifically Relates to Offences Involving Cruelty to Animals, 1999-2000 to 2006-07 <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > …

22 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it believes a statement of prosecution policy would clarify the law on assisted dying.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: Whether there is to be a change in the law is a matter for the Scottish Parliament and not for the prosecution service. Cases of assisted death raise significant and competing public interest considerations which must be assessed on the basis of the …

17 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the UK Government has agreed to take action to address the consequences of the Somerville judgement for human rights claims against the Scottish Ministers.

11 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effects the establishment of a UK Supreme Court will have on the final appellate and devolution jurisdiction under the Scottish legal system.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Section 40 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 provides that an appeal from any order or judgment of a court in Scotland will lie to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom if it currently lies from a court in Scotland to the House of Lords. This provision …

11 Dec 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support community media projects.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government recognises the valuable contribution that community media can make to fostering a sense of community identity and cohesion, and bringing people together. We are currently taking forward the Scottish Broadcasting Commission report, whic…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the consultation on a national trusted trader framework.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Analysis of the responses to our consultation on implementing the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 is now complete. Officials are currently in discussions on options for developing a trusted trader framework with a range of stakeholders including the Construction …

6 Nov 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the Scottish Ambulance Service to enhance the service in the Braemar area following transfer of the ambulance station to Ballater.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Ambulance Service continues to work with the people of Braemar to deliver a service model that best meets the needs of that community. Most recently, options for service development were discussed with Braemar Community Council and local MSPs at …

30 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report from the Business Experts and Law Forum will be published.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I am delighted to announce that the report from the Business Experts and Law Forum will be published on Monday 3 November 2008. Effective and modern legal and criminal justice systems, underpinning a safer and stronger Scotland, provide an essential s…

18 Sep 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place for schools to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.

Answer · Adam Ingram: As part of Homecoming Scotland 2009, local authorities and other bodies will provide schools with many opportunities such as Burns suppers, musical and literary events to both celebrate the birth of Robert Burns and learn about his and Scotland''s contributio…

17 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will be consulting on the jury system.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government will today publish a consultation paper on the Modern Scottish Jury in Criminal Trials. Copies have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46486).

24 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in its discussions with the UK Government on addressing the consequences of the Somerville judgment for human rights claims against the Scottish Ministers.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The answer to question S3W-6286 on 14 November 2007 described the legal impact of the Somerville judgement both in relation to slopping out in prisons and more generally, as well as the action that the Scottish Government was taking to remedy the prison condi…

20 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made since September 2007 on extending the benefits of the Glasgow pilot domestic abuse court.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This government’s goal is to enable all cases of domestic abuse which come before a court in Glasgow to benefit from specialist arrangements to support victims, bring offenders quickly to justice, and reduce repeat offending. We also aim to support initiative…

27 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officer hours were used transporting crime scene samples to forensic labs in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for Chief Constables. Detailed information on police office deployment is not held centrally.

21 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the fuel costs have been for the (a) police, (b) ambulance and (c) fire service in each year since 1999.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally for the police or fire service. Fuel costs for the Scottish Ambulance Service in each year since 1999 are shown in the following table. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=…

21 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated fuel costs are for the (a) police, (b) ambulance and (c) fire service for (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally for the police or fire service. The following estimated fuel costs for the Scottish Ambulance Service are based on forecasts. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > 2008-09</…

21 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was written off by each local authority in rent arrears in each year since 1999.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The information requested is shown in the following table. Rents Arrears Written Off in the Financial Year Ending 31 March (£ Million) <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=182 nowrap valign=bottom > <p…