Parliamentary questions
David Stewart
1,651 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which body is accountable for the assessment of school inspectors.
Answer · Michael Russell: Education Scotland is accountable for the assessment and performance of School Inspectors.
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures allow staff and pupils of primary and secondary schools to contribute a self-evaluation to a school inspection.
Answer · Michael Russell: Teaching staff, non-teaching staff and a sample of pupils and parents receive a questionnaire before an inspection and the analysis of their returns influences the activities carried out by the inspection team. The questions in these questionnaires allow staf…
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to whom Education Scotland's schools inspectorate is accountable.
Answer · Michael Russell: Education Scotland is accountable to Scottish ministers, the Director-General for Learning and Justice and to the Scottish Parliament and its committees.
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the complaints procedure in relation to school inspections following the creation of Education Scotland.
Answer · Michael Russell: Education Scotland is currently creating a new suite of Polices and Strategies, this include a complaints procedure.
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to sheriffs regarding the circumstances in which they can ban the press from reporting on court proceedings.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scotland is compliant with the 2004 EU directive on compensation to crime victims.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Payments made to innocent victims of violent crime are made under provisions of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. This scheme applies in Scotland, England and Wales and is founded on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1995. In his Explanatory Me…
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been (a) commissioned and (b) consulted in relation to the effectiveness of the Offshore Supplies Office in manufacturing a Scottish supply chain in oil and gas projects.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Official History of North Sea Oil and Gas by Professor Alex Kemp, published on 4 September 2011, provides an in-depth analysis of the development of UK policies towards North Sea oil and gas industry from the early 1960’s to 1993. Professor Kemp reports t…
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scotland is compliant with the 2001 EU framework decision on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Scotland was largely compliant with the European Framework Decision on the Standing of Victims in Criminal Proceedings when it was promulgated. A detailed response to the framework decision, Victims in the Scottish Criminal Justice System: The EU Framework De…
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) budget and (b) spend for the CashBack for Communities programme was or has been in (i) 2007-08, (ii) 2008-09, (iii) 2009-10, (iv) 2010-11 and (v) 2011-12 and what percentage of the spend in each year was on payments to victims or victim organisations.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Cashback for Communities reinvests the proceeds of crime in community activities for young people and works through a series of partnerships with Scottish sporting, arts, business and youth associations. Cashback for Communities is dependent on the availabil…
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to create minimum standards for services to victims.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill : The Scottish Government is planning a victims and witnesses bill to strengthen the position of victims and witnesses in the justice system. Decisions on the overall content of the bill will be informed by the final shape and scope of the draft directive of th…
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to extend the CashBack for Communities scheme to include more help for victims and victim organisations.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Cashback for Communities reinvests the proceeds of crime in community activities for young people and works through a series of partnerships with Scottish sporting, arts, business and youth associations. To date, over £43 million has been invested or committe…
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce new legislation to protect victims and witnesses.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government will introduce a victims and witnesses bill during this parliament.
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances courts can ban the press and media from covering proceedings in sheriff courts.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the Scottish manufacturing content of proposed (a) onshore and (b) offshore wind developments.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The National Renewables Infrastructure Plan and associated £70 million fund have a primary focus of increasing Scottish manufacturing content for offshore renewables. Both Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Scottish Enterprise (SE) are involved in neg…
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with European Commission officials on the Stockholm Programme, in light of the potential impact on Scots law and police services.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has had a number of discussions and communications with the European Commission on aspects of the wide ranging Stockholm Programme, which was agreed by heads of government at the European Council in December 2009. A written submission …
28 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet officials from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and whether the establishment of defibrillators in public and private sector ferry vessels will be on the agenda.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government regularly meets the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to discuss a range of issues. David MacBrayne Ltd officials were planning to discuss this issue with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in February this year but the meeting was deferr…
27 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered using B roads to provide a designated cycle path between Inverness and Nairn.
Answer · Keith Brown: Responsibility for the establishment of designated cycle routes on B class roads lie with the local authority and Sustrans. Sustrans and The Highland Council have already established National Cycle Route 1 on lightly trafficked roads between Nairn and Invern…
21 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make carrying a defibrillator a requirement on ferry services.
Answer · Keith Brown: The deployment or introduction of defibrillators on ferry services is not mandatory. Health and safety legislation requires organisations, including ferry operators, to undertake a risk assessment analysis that reflects the business arrangements for their pre…
21 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed ferry regulator will be accountable to the Scottish Government or the Parliament.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02878 on 3 October 2011. 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/parliamentarybu…
21 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will establish a ferry regulator.
Answer · Keith Brown: As indicated by the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment earlier this year, the possibility of establishing a Ferry Regulator to monitor the service of non-government and non-local authority ferry operators in Scotland is being consider…
21 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the (a) public and (b) private sector regarding establishing a ferry regulator.
Answer · Keith Brown: In February 2011 the then Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth indicated that the Government was now examining the scope for introducing a statutory ferry regulator which could have strong powers to ensure there is no predatory commercial acti…
21 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget of the proposed ferry regulator will be.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02878 on 3 October 2011. 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/Apps2/MAQASea…
21 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations the proposed ferry regulator will be responsible for.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02878 on 3 October 2011. 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/Apps2/MAQASea…
21 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the European Commission regarding the operations of a ferry regulator in Scotland.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02882 on 3 October 2011. 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/parliamentarybu…
21 Sep 2011 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to extend the provision of defibrillators.
19 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-02492 by Keith Brown on 12 September 2011, when the detailed design of the upgrading of the A96 is due to start.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland will be carrying out a joint consultation exercise on route options with the Highland Council towards the end of the year. The detailed design, assessment and statutory process cannot commence until a preferred route is identified. A prefer…
13 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff on (a) CalMac (b) NorthLink and (c) Argyll ferries are trained to operate a defibrillator.
Answer · Keith Brown: At present CalMac and Argyll Ferries Ltd have no staff trained to operate a defibrillator while NorthLink have 24 staff trained.
13 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police patrol vehicles are fitted with defibrillators, broken down by police force area.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I am informed by ACPOS (Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland) that the numbers of police vehicles fitted with defibrillators, broken down by police force area, are as follows: Force Police Vehicles Central 2 Dumfries and Galloway - Fife 1 …
13 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) CalMac, (b) NorthLink and (c) Argyll ferries have a defibrillator on board.
Answer · Keith Brown: Currently no vessels operated by CalMac or Argyll Ferries Ltd carry defibrillators on board while NorthLink Ferries Ltd have one on board each of their three passenger vessels.
13 Sep 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) operational and (b) civilian police staff are trained to operate defibrillators.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I am informed by ACPOS (Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland) that the numbers of operational and civilian police staff trained to operate defibrillators, broken down by police force area, are as follows: Force Trained Police Officers Trained P…