Parliamentary questions

Stuart McMillan

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

24 Apr 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase cultural links with Asturias.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: We have no such plans at present. However, we would be glad to consider opportunities to engage with Asturias where these are in line with the objectives set out in the Scottish Government''s International Framework, which I published on 22 April 2008.

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) funding and (b) assistance has been given to the College of Piping in each of the last nine years to promote Scottish traditional music.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The College of Piping does not receive funding or assistance from the Scottish Government. In 1999, the Scottish Arts Council provided the College of Piping with £18,819 towards the cost of a study and options appraisal for new college premises.

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with Caledonian MacBrayne regarding the introduction of new vessels for the ferry route between Gourock and Dunoon.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers are currently examining the options available for taking this route forward. Until such time as a decision has been reached, it would be premature for any discussion to take place about vessel solutions.

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde since January 2008 regarding its consultation on reviewing maternity services affecting Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Officials have regular discussions with boards on the arrangements for and timing of consultation exercises. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and officials have had regular discussions leading up to the launch on 27 March of the board''s consultation on proposed…

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde since January 2008 regarding the introduction of parking charges at hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Revised guidance on car park and arrangements for car park charging was issued on 18 January under the Scottish Government CEL 1 (2008). This revised guidance requires boards which have car parking schemes in place to review these schemes against the principl…

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many sites proposed for new schools have been (a) investigated and (b) rejected due to environmental concerns about the land in each of the last nine years.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The information requested is not collected centrally.

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has spent on the provision of CCTV facilities in each of the last five years.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The information requested is not held centrally.

16 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether car parking charges will not be introduced at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Vale of Leven Hospital or Royal Alexandra Hospital if all measures to manage car parking at these hospitals are undertaken by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and it is proved that charges are not justified at t…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is a matter for NHS GreaterGlasgow and Clyde to determine in light of the revised guidance whethercharging is necessary and justified to manage the car parking space available atInverclyde Royal, Vale of Leven and Royal Alexandra hospitals.In accord…

16 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the new guidance regarding car parking charges at hospitals in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area will be published.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Revised guidance on hospitalcar park charging was published by the Scottish Government on 18 January 2008. A copyof the guidance is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

9 Jan 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will meet NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss the NHS board¿s decision to press ahead with plans to abolish the community maternity units in Inverclyde Royal Hospital and the Vale of Leven Hospital despite one of the recommendati…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No decisions have been made.Any proposals the board makes to discontinue deliveries at the community maternityunits at the IRH and the Vale must still be subject to comprehensive public consultationand, ultimately, my decision.I have been clear that I …

12 Dec 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many small businesses in Inverclyde will benefit from the proposed cut in business rates.

Answer · John Swinney: Based on the latest informationwe hold, 1,672 business properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or less in Inverclydemay be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus Scheme. The number ofeligible businesses will depend on a number of factors, incl…

6 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many witnesses have reported physical harassment to the police in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court in the (a) West of Scotland and (b) Central Scotland parliamentary region, and what actions have been taken as a result.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requestedis not held centrally.

6 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Crown cases have fallen due to the failure of witnesses to appear in court in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court in the (a) West of Scotland and (b) Central Scotland parliamentary region.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The information requestedis not available as it is not held on the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service(COPFS) database.A number of measureshave already been or are being introduced in 2008 as part of the Summary JusticeReform programme to ensure…

6 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many witnesses, claiming intimidation, have refused to give evidence on behalf of the Crown in each of the last five years, broken down by sheriff court in the (a) West of Scotland and (b) Central Scotland parliamentary region.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The information requestedis not held by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government is committed tomodernising the justice system to fully support victims and witnesses, to increasesupport and improve standards of treatment for vulnerable witnesses to he…

28 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to legislate to reverse the House of Lords judgment of 17 October 2007 on pleural plaques.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Yes. Following carefulconsideration of the 17 October 2007 House of Lords Judgment on pleural plaquesand having listened to the views of representatives of asbestos campaign groupsand of the insurance industry, the Scottish Government has decided to introduce…

28 Nov 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Justice has had with the Home Secretary regarding the provision of more powers to the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Governmentis in regular contact with the Home Office at ministerial and official levels ona wide range of issues. Those where the specific possibility of widening the Scottish Parliament’s powers has been raised are firearms control and drink dri…

7 Nov 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will introduce to improve recycling in the west of Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is for local authoritiesto decide how best to improve recycling services in their area. We will help localauthorities by supporting work in a variety of areas including developing marketsfor recycled materials; public awareness of recycling facilities; com…

5 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated (a) set-up and (b) annual running costs are of a young offenders institution at HM Prison Gateside in Greenock.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:(a) There are no setup costs involved, and (b) the annual running costs of operating one accommodationhall for young adults in HM Prison Greeno…

5 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has taken place on the introduction of a young offenders institution at HM Prison Gateside in Greenock and with whom and when such consultation took place.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:Designation of DarrochHall at HM Prison Greenock to accommodate young offenders is an operationaldecision for the Scottish Prison Service. As C…

2 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been (a) charged with and (b) convicted of a drink driving-related offence in (i) November and (ii) December in each year since 2003, broken down by (A) local authority area and (B) police division.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Statistics on personscharged by the police are not available centrally. The available information on persons proceeded againstin court and persons with a charge proved is given in the following tables. Theinformation provided is based on the month of sentence…

5 Sep 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to intervene in the dispute relating to hospital car parking charges in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Theintroduction of car park charging is a local matter for NHS boards in accordance with the current Scottish Government guidance.However, I amcurrently deciding whether that guidance should be reviewed and will make anannouncement shortly.