Parliamentary questions

Bob Doris

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

19 Oct 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for community colleges under its skills and employability strategies.

5 Oct 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available to support the repair, retention and community use of architecturally and historically significant buildings in Glasgow.

21 Sep 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding adequate provision of insulin pumps.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Our Diabetes Action Plan, published last year, makes it clear that we expect all NHS boards to make sustained improvements in increasing access to insulin pump therapy in line with the latest clinical guidance. We expect each NHS board, including NHS Greater…

7 Sep 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how its refreshed economic strategy will assist in boosting job creation in Glasgow.

31 Aug 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the selection criteria for enterprise zones will favour areas with long-standing high unemployment and deprivation.

15 Jun 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow offers an opportunity to promote multiculturalism in Scotland.

8 Jun 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available for the victims of a miscarriage of justice.

2 Jun 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers the recently announced increases in domestic energy prices will have on its efforts to eradicate fuel poverty.

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to recent questions on the subject, whether it is now in a position to make an announcement on Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s funding proposals for the modernisation of the Glasgow subway.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government reaffirms its long-term commitment to helping make the subway modernisation happen, through a substantial overall capital contribution, helping SPT to raise funds from other sources. We are assured that SPT''s enhanced modernisation ca…

18 Nov 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing a scheme to incentivise local authorities to improve the collection of non-domestic rates.

Answer · John Swinney: Discussions are ongoing with COSLA to finalise the details of how the planned Business Rates Incentivisation Scheme will operate. I can confirm that the intention is still to introduce the new arrangements from 1 April 2011.

30 Sep 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by the UK Government concerning the date for the next UK general election.

Answer · Jim Mather: The UK Government has not consulted the Scottish Government about the date of the next general election. The Scottish Government has made its views clear on the clash of dates with elections to the Scottish Parliament and would welcome discussion on how to av…

21 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of affordable homes for rent completed by local authorities was in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02, (d) 2002-03, (e) 2003-04, (f) 2004-05, (g) 2005-06, (h) 2006-07, (i) 2007-08, (j) 2008-09 and (k) 2009-10.

Answer · Alex Neil: The number of new homes completed by local authorities is published quarterly by the Scottish Government. A time series back to 1996-97 is accessible through the following page of the Scottish Government''s website: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.u…

21 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes for rent were completed in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2009-10 in each local authority area.

Answer · Alex Neil: The numbers of housing association homes for social rent completed through the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) are shown in Table 1 by local authority area. In 2006-07 the figure for Scotland was 3,318 and by 2009-10 this had increased to 5,121…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the £1.25 billion school building programme.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) have today completed the process of informing all local authorities of when they can expect to receive funding for the 35 school building projects which have been announced so far in the first tranche of Scotland''s Schools fo…

11 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it proposes to respond to the 2009 report by the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee.

Answer · John Swinney: I wrote to the Chairman of SLARC on 10 February 2010 giving my response to the recommendations contained within the report. Regulations have been laid in the Scottish Parliament. The report and my response are available on the Scottish Government website.…

19 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the Framework for Assessment for Curriculum for Excellence.

Answer · Michael Russell: I am pleased to announce today, the publication of Building the Curriculum 5 A Framework for Assessment together with an associated paper on quality assurance and moderation. The framework provides guidance to teaching staff on how the new assessmen…

25 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which primary schools will benefit from the next set of support to be announced under the new £1.25 billion school building programme

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am pleased to announce the following 21 primary and special school projects that will benefit from the new £1.25 billion school building programme that augments the current £2 billion of school investment that is being supported by the government. They are:…

13 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the planning for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Shona Robison: The organising committee for the 2014 Commonwealth Games will announce on 16 November that a funding boost has been agreed to strengthen our ability to deliver an outstanding games for Glasgow and Scotland. The increase follows a thorough review of the origin…

6 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the next steps are in its plans to implement the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG Scheme) is a new membership scheme that will replace and improve upon current disclosure arrangements for people who work with children and protected adults. It is expected to go live towards the end of 2010 and wi…

8 Oct 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution the collection of non-domestic rates makes to raising funds for the Scottish Government.

Answer · John Swinney: 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/sor1008-01.htm">http://www.scott…

7 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations have been agreed following the review of Learning and Teaching Scotland.

Answer · Keith Brown: I am pleased to be able to announce to Parliament the outcome of the review of Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS). The review has taken place as part of the simplification of the public sector landscape. A fundamental review of LTS was undertaken a…

22 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will legislate to support class sizes reduction.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Yes. This government is committed to reduce primary one to primary 3 class sizes to a maximum of 18. That commitment is set out in the concordat with local government. It has become evident that progress in meeting this commitment is being impeded because the…

22 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was made available on a per capita basis to each local authority in 2009-10, broken down by amount.

Answer · John Swinney: The 2009-10 funding per capita information requested is provided in the following table: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td > Local Authority </td> <td > Funding Per Capita (£)</…

3 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers are on the streets of Scotland compared to May 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill : 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/sor0903-01.htm">http://www.scot…

2 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent it considers the Tennent’s brewery at Wellpark in Dennistoun contributes to the drinks industry.

Answer · John Swinney : 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/sor0910-01.htm">http://www.scot…

19 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for improving tenancy deposit practice.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government is aware of, and shares, the concerns about unfairly withheld tenancy deposits. As part of the recently published Review of the Private Rented Sector, the Scottish Government collected evidence on the scale and nature of unfa…

14 May 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Ofgem in relation to Scotland’s Energy Assistance Package.

Answer · Alex Neil: Ofgem officials are observers on the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum, and attended the meetings at which the Forum developed its recommendations for the Energy Assistance Package. Ofgem also participates in the Scottish CERT Strategy Steering Group and officials …

12 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the conclusions from its consultation, 16+ Learning Choices: First Step Activity and Financial Support.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: As a result of the 16+ Learning Choices: First Step Activity and Financial Support consultation, I am announcing several changes today which will target our support systems more effectively at those young people who are most in need. The details of th…

20 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has completed its review of Scottish Government grants to Glasgow Housing Association and, if so, what the review has achieved.

Answer · Alex Neil: Yes. The review of grants concluded at the end of March, and the new legal grant agreements have been entered into. These have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47927). The review did not seek to reduce the overa…

27 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase the cost of applications for criminal record checks carried out by Disclosure Scotland under Part V of the Police Act 1997.

Answer · Adam Ingram: We intend to lay a Scottish Statutory Instrument in May to increase the cost of all types of Disclosure Scotland applications to £23 with effect from 1 August 2009. The increase in the fee, which is the first since 1 April 2006, is needed to meet the rise in…