Colin Beattie

14 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect people from street violence.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling violence in Scotland, wherever it occurs. Recorded crime in Scotland is at a 37 year low, violent crime has reduced by 17 percent in the last year and crimes of handling an offensive weapon are their lowest in …

14 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to ask (a) district and (b) sheriff courts to produce a summary of court decisions for the media.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We have no plans to ask the Scottish Court Service to produce a summary of justice of the peace and sheriff court decisions for the media. The Scottish Court Service does already publish the decisions of the Court of Session, High Court of Justiciary and sher…

6 Jun 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding the development of the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

30 May 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to redevelop the Sherrifhall roundabout and achieve grade separation.

25 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last discussed shovel-ready projects with the UK Government.

Answer · Alex Neil: The First Minister last wrote to the Prime Minister of the UK Government regarding this matter on 6 May 2012. The Prime Minister subsequently responded in a letter dated 30 May and this correspondence is currently being considered.

25 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the financial impact on the average drinker will be of a 50p per unit minimum price for alcohol.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The modelling carried out by the University of Sheffield shows that a minimum price of 50p per unit of alcohol is estimated to increase spend per drinker by around £24 a year. The modelling breaks this down into £8 a year for a moderate drinker, £54 a year fo…

25 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to protect the Lothian Homeopathy Clinic, based in Dalkeith Health Centre.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government recognises that complementary or alternative therapies, including homeopathy, may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions. It is, however, a matter for NHS boards in Scotland to make such services availa…

23 May 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to reassess the effectiveness of acceptable behaviour contracts.

21 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Green Investment Bank will be (a) in place and (b) fully operational.

Answer · John Swinney: The public company, UK Green Investment Bank PLC, was registered in Scotland on 15 May 2012. On 25 May, Lord Smith of Kelvin was announced as the new chair of the Green Investment Bank and Sir Adrian Montague as the bank’s senior independent director. The pro…

21 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much will be paid by supermarkets as a result of the proposed public health levy.

Answer · John Swinney: The public health supplement will increase the business rates paid by large retailers who sell both alcohol and tobacco by an estimated £95 million over the period 2012-15.

21 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any indication of companies (a) leaving or (b) choosing not to invest in Scotland due to the independence referendum.

Answer · John Swinney: Companies are attracted to Scotland for a range of reasons such as skills availability, a supportive government and pro-business environment, a clear economic strategy and a strong track record in attracting investment. The success of Scottish Development Int…

18 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of the Forth Replacement Crossing and whether it will remain within budget based on current costs.

Answer · Keith Brown: The cost of the Forth Replacement Crossing project to March 2012 is £235 million. The project remains on track for a total outturn cost of £1.45 to £1.6 billion.

18 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in evaluating the transformation of flooded coal mines for geothermal power.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has commissioned research to examine Scotland’s geothermal potential, including an assessment of abandoned mine workings, and to identify policy options for increasing commercial confidence in taking forward the exploitation of deep ge…

17 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it (a) promotes and (b) supports nature reserves.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government promotes nature reserves principally through the provision of grant-in-aid to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). In turn, SNH promotes Scotland's 47 National Nature Reserves (NNRs) and 61 Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) through the 'Scotlan…

17 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidance on the safe disposal of energy-efficient light bulbs.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: It is a requirement of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 that the producers of energy-efficient light bulbs have to fund their end-of-life collection and treatment. Collection is normally done through local authority civic amenity…

17 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered carrying out a comparison study of offshore wind, onshore wind and tidal power.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scotland possesses a very large potential resource across all of these areas. Onshore wind, offshore wind and tidal power will all make an important contribution towards meeting our renewables targets. While onshore wind is already well established and reduci…

16 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to expand and encourage the teaching of foreign languages in schools.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government welcomes the Languages Working Group Report and Recommendations published on 17 May, Language Learning in Scotland : A 1+2 Approach. The recommendation on a much earlier start to language learning for children and young people is parti…

9 May 2012 · General Question

To ask Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce legislation regulating the use of air rifles.

25 Apr 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to encourage the establishment of farmers' cooperatives to promote local produce.

11 Apr 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government on welfare reform and what impact this will have on people in Scotland.

28 Mar 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to promote culture and creativity abroad in the Year of Creative Scotland.

14 Mar 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to change the law to ensure that new businesses, particularly those in recycling and renewables, maintain environmentally sound practices from start-up.

22 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Curriculum for Excellence places sufficient emphasis on preparing young people for a career in business.

22 Feb 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to combat the dumping of vehicle tyres in rural areas.

8 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the NHS is increasing access to the Scottish Care Information Gateway referral pathway for local specialised practices.

27 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive at what stage the plans are for redeveloping the Sherrifhall roundabout in Midlothian and how grade separation will be achieved.

Answer · Keith Brown: Intervention 22 of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) recommends targeted road congestion/environmental relief schemes, including junction improvements at the Sheriffhall roundabout on the A720 City Bypass. Further detailed design and development…

16 Jan 2012 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what progress is being made in building international business connections.

5 Oct 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that small to medium sized-businesses have fair access to the procurement portal and what share of the available business allocated do they obtain.

31 Aug 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any indications that UK Government policies are resulting in stagflation in the Scottish economy.

15 Jun 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote the development of geothermal energy.