Parliamentary questions
Stuart McMillan
787 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people registered as homeless in (a) Inverclyde and (b) East Dunbartonshire in the last quarter for which information is available.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is available from table 11 of the quarterly time series reference tables published on the Scottish Government website on 17 March 2009. The tables can be accessed at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housin…
18 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it is providing to people looking for employment in Scotland, in light of recent figures showing that an average of 10 people apply for each job centre vacancy.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0326-01.htm">http://www.sco…
25 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide the Parliament with a more detailed analysis of the likely cost implications of the Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Bill, in accordance with the motion passed at the conclusion of Stage 1.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I wrote on 25 February 2009 to the Convener of the Justice Committee to provide a reassessment of the Bill''s financial implications. Arrangements are being made to place copies of the correspondence with Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47…
24 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make public the discussions of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill local authority workshop on 8 December 2008.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The workshop consisted of a presentation giving an update by Scottish Government officials on the progress of the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill, and an in-depth section by section briefing of the Bill. As such, no formal minutes were taken.</p> <p >…
24 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities attended the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill local authority workshop on 8 December 2008.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No formal record of attendance was made, however a total of 26 local authorities replied indicating that they would attend the local authority workshop on 8 December 2008.</p> <p >Those indicating that they would attend were as follows:</p> <p >Aberdeen Cit…
29 Jan 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits have been of its six-point economic recovery programme.
Answer · John Swinney: <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i><i ></i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0129-01.htm">http://…
28 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16179 by Stewart Stevenson on 24 September 2008, what the outcome was of the assessment into the effectiveness of the speed camera system on the A77.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The accident data for the three year period before and the following three years after the installation of the A77 average speed camera system was published on the A77 safety group website on 30 October 2008. These figures are being assessed and a report is …
13 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any meetings are scheduled with local authorities to discuss the issue of flooding.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government held a seminar in Stirling in December to update local authorities on the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Bill and, together with local authorities and others, are supporting a flood risk management conference in Glasgow in February. …
13 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has offered to local authorities regarding the issue of localised flooding.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has published two chapters of Guidance for Local Authorities Taking Forward Flood Prevention Schemes Under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 and provides advice on other flooding issues to local authorities on request.</p>
13 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided to local authorities to help tackle flooding problems in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Michael Russell: The amount of flood prevention grant paid to each local authority in the last five years is shown on the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=left >Year</p> </td> <td now…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for the families of prisoners.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The Scottish Prison Service provides support for the families of prisoners in a number of ways. The majority of prisons in Scotland have F…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been made available to support networks that offer specialist advice provision for disabled people.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government takes the provision of advice to disabled people very seriously, across all its areas of responsibility. Funding is provided to a wide range of organisations that provide such advice. We would highlight the following:</p> <p >Health:…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether action is being taken to ensure that people receiving disability-related benefits are able to access the central heating programme.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Eligibility for the central heating programme inherited from the previous administration is laid down in the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Regulations (HEES). The HEES regulations specify that it is pensioners who are eligible for the programme rather than pe…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to ensure that Careers Scotland and Scottish Enterprise are setting targets for supporting disabled people, particularly young disabled people, into work and training.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Helping all young people into education, employment and training is a top priority for the government and we have a specific indicator to that effect in the national performance framework. To support delivery of this, on 28 November 2008 we launched 16+ Learn…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to develop a national enterprise strategy that recognises, coordinates and communicates support available for disabled people.
Answer · Jim Mather: <i >The Government Economic Strategy</i> (GES) sets out how we will focus on creating a more successful country through increasing sustainable economic growth. It is a wide-ranging strategy that recognises that all the arms of government need to play a role i…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been undertaken to (a) improve Scotland and (b) market its potential as an accessible tourist destination both at home and abroad.
Answer · Jim Mather: VisitScotland is committed to the marketing of Scotland, at home and abroad, as a quality, value for money destination for all. Their marketing strategy is based on sophisticated research, through which they segment their marketing activity and target consume…
17 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to develop a set of minimum accessibility standards for all buildings.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Accessibility of new buildings and new building work to existing buildings are addressed through Scottish building regulations. These make provision for a range of physical access issues, to ensure that a building can be used and enjoyed by as wide a range of…
12 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are proposals to change the liquor licence application process.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have no plans to change the application processes at this stage, other than those proposals set out in <i >Revitalising Justice “ Proposals to Modernise and Improve the Criminal Justice System</i> which to be contained in the Criminal Justice and Licensing …
12 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what input and dialogue it has with local authorities in connection with the issuing of liquor licences.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We are in regular touch with licensing boards as they work through the transition period to the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 coming fully into force on 1 September 2009. As set out in the act, consideration of applications and the issuing of licences is a ma…
12 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to prevent alcohol-related hospital admissions.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has committed over £120 million from 2008-09 to 2010-11 to tackle alcohol misuse, the majority of which has been provided to NHS boards for the provision of alcohol brief interventions and treatment and support services.</p> <p >We ha…
12 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many alcohol-related hospital admissions have been recorded in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on alcohol related hospital discharges is available from the Information Systems Division (ISD) alcohol website at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.alcoholinformation.isdscotland.org/alcohol_misuse/files/Alcohol_hospital_statistics_2007.pdf">http://…
19 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many GPs are practising in the East Dunbartonshire local authority area, broken down by ward.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Details are as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=218 valign=top > <p align=center >Ward</p> </td> <td width=180 valign=top > <p align=center >Number of Contracted GPs</p> </td> </tr>…
22 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many air weapon offences have been recorded in each local authority area in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information is given in the following table.</p> <p >Recorded Crimes and Offences involving air weapons, Scotland, 2003-04 to 2007-08</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > <p align=center …
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what has been done to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009 in Asia.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government, VisitScotland and EventScotland are working in close collaboration to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009. VisitScotland is committed to the effective marketing of Homecoming and the Homecoming theme now runs through VisitScotland''s ent…
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what has been done to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009 in Europe.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government, VisitScotland and EventScotland are working in close collaboration to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009. VisitScotland is committed to the effective marketing of Homecoming and the Homecoming theme now runs through VisitScotland''s ent…
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what has been done to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009 in Australia.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government, VisitScotland and EventScotland are working in close collaboration to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009. VisitScotland is committed to the effective marketing of Homecoming and the Homecoming theme now runs through VisitScotland''s ent…
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what has been done to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009 in the United States of America.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government, VisitScotland and EventScotland are working in close collaboration to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009 (HS09). VisitScotland is committed to the effective marketing of Homecoming and the Homecoming theme now runs through VisitScotland…
1 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what has been done to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009 in Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government, VisitScotland and EventScotland are working in close collaboration to promote Homecoming Scotland 2009. VisitScotland is committed to the effective marketing of Homecoming and the Homecoming theme now runs through VisitScotland''s ent…
24 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government about limiting interest rates charged by credit and store cards with a view to tackling consumer debt in the context of the Scottish Government’s policies on improving financial inclusion.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We are in regular contact with the UK Government. The UK Government has stated that it believes that increased regulation is not necessarily the best way to achieve a balance between the financial services industry and its customers, on a range of financial i…
22 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are estimated to have subprime mortgages, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Financial Services Authority (FSA) defines sub-prime mortgages as those targeted at consumers with impaired or low credit ratings who may find it difficult to obtain finance from traditional sources.</p> <p >Data are available for those with impaired cre…