Parliamentary questions
Christina McKelvie
318 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Sep 2015 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in delivering Our Place in Time: The Historic Environment Strategy for Scotland and in establishing Historic Environment Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am pleased to report that today (1 October 2015) I can announce the launch of the first strategy annual report which sets out the remarkable progress there has been in delivering Our Place in Time to date. The report is available here: http://www.gov.scot/T…
28 Sep 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what progress the Scottish Government is making in implementing the so-called Clare’s Law.
14 Sep 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s position is on the UK Government’s trade union Bill and its potential impact on employment in Scotland.
3 Sep 2015 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the First Minister’s recent visit to mainland China and Hong Kong.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The First Minister visited mainland China and Hong Kong from 26 to 31 July 2015 to promote Scottish innovation and deliver a programme covering education, culture, trade and investment, including oil and gas. During her time in the country, the First Minister…
31 Aug 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the Scottish economy is performing when measured against those of EU member states.
26 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much financial support it has provided to South Lanarkshire Council in addition to the annual local government settlement in each of the last five years, and what information it has on how much the council then allocated to (a) employability schemes (b) welfare reform measures, (c) r…
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is set out in the following table. The figures provided represent the complete range of funding which the Scottish Government has provided to South Lanarkshire Council in addition to the funding provided through the Local Government …
26 Jun 2015 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the First Minister’s recent visit to the United States.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The First Minister visited the USA between 8 and 11 June 2015 to undertake a series of engagements to promote Scotland as a place to do business, to study and to visit. She also met with key stakeholders across a range of sectors. New figures show that Scot…
26 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the First Minister’s recent visit to the United States.
23 Jun 2015 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will report on the outcome of the recent summit meeting of the British-Irish Council.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: On 19 June 2015, the twenty fourth meeting of the British-Irish Council was held in Dublin, Ireland. The Summit was attended by Ministers from all eight Member Administrations. The Scottish Government was represented by the First Minister and the Minister for…
19 Jun 2015 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what decisions it has taken following the announcement that it would not proceed with the planned prison for women at HMP Inverclyde.
Answer · Michael Matheson: When I announced in January 2015 my decision not to proceed with HMP Inverclyde as a large national prison for women, I said that it did not fit with my vision of how a modern and progressive country should be addressing female offending and that we needed a …
18 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues about the benefits of holding a European Health Insurance Card when travelling within the European Economic Area.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The benefits of holding the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are set out on the website of NHS inform, the national information arm of NHS 24, at: http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/health-library/articles/t/travel-health/facts/ The EHIC, which is free, can b…
18 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues about the benefits of taking out travel insurance when travelling abroad.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The need for independent travel insurance is set out on the website of NHS inform, the national information arm of NHS 24, at: http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/health-library/articles/t/travel-health/facts/
5 Jun 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many carers in Scotland will lose their entitlement to carers allowance because of the change from disability living allowance to personal independence payments.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government published Financial Impacts of Welfare Reform on Disabled People in Scotland on 8 August 2014. In this we estimated that by 2015 there would be a net reduction in caseload of carers allowance claimants of around 450, each of whom would…
11 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve (a) health and care services and (b) other areas of support for people with neurological conditions.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Public Bodies (Joint Working)(Scotland) Act 2014 will put in place arrangements for integrating health and social care in order to improve outcomes for people with a neurological condition, carers, their families and service users. The Act requires health…
5 May 2015 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it can provide regarding the most recent visits to the United States and Canada by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs and the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland Week 2015 ran from 4 to 11 April, during which time the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities and I undertook extensive ministerial engagements in Toronto, Los Angeles and New York City. The overall purpose of this year’s Sco…
22 Apr 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to protect public services from the impact of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
20 Apr 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to investigate current and historic child sexual exploitation.
15 Mar 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to tackle racial discrimination.
9 Mar 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met South Lanarkshire Council's education department and what issues where discussed.
16 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered the impact of a tax designed to encourage banks to finance small and medium-sized enterprises.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Parliament has limited powers over taxation and the majority of taxes paid by banks, including corporation tax, remain reserved to the Westminster Parliament. However, the Scottish Government, through its enterprise agencies Scottish Enterprise …
16 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to encourage banks to finance small and medium-sized enterprises.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: In regular meetings with banks, ministers, Scottish Government officials and our enterprise agencies will discuss access to finance for small and medium sized businesses. For example at the last local economic partnership forum on 4 November 2014, I invited t…
16 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that banks invest in that part of the economy related to producing goods and services.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers hold regular meetings with the banks to discuss the Scottish Government’s economic priorities, and use every opportunity to reaffirm the importance of investment to continued economic growth. The Scottish Government is working with the ban…
16 Feb 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with farmers or their representatives on the impact of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership on animal welfare and food standards.
16 Feb 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what impact ongoing austerity will have on the finance available for public services in Scotland.
26 Jan 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people facing poverty.
23 Jan 2015 · Inspired Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the construction of a women’s prison at Greenock will take place as proposed.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I have decided that the current plans for a prison for women in Inverclyde should not go ahead. The proposals do not fit with my vision of how to address female offending, and I have taken the view that a more ambitious approach is required. I have instructe…
6 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is implementing the recommendation by the Commission on Women Offenders that most prisoners held on remand or serving short-term sentences should be held in their local prisons.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24161 on 26 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…
6 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the number of women prisoners.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is working in partnership with justice bodies and other agencies to deliver the recommendations of the Commission on Women Offenders (CWO), to improve outcomes for women across the criminal justice system, reduce reoffending and reduce…
6 Jan 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether HMP Inverclyde will follow all of the recommendations set out in the report by the Commission on Women Offenders.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-24161 on 26 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…
17 Dec 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address human trafficking.