Parliamentary questions
David Stewart
1,651 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees earn less than £7 per hour in each non-departmental public body within the Highlands and Islands parliamentary region and, in particular, (a) UHI, (b) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, (c) Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, (d) Highlands and Islands Enterpris…
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally.</p> <p >Contact details for Scottish non-departmental public body can be found on the government''s public bodies website: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies">http://…
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees earn less than £7 per hour in each NHS board area within the Highlands and Islands parliamentary region.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: From 1 April 2009, only pay points 1 and 2 under the terms of the UK wide Agenda for Change agreement fall bellow the rate of £7 per hour. Pay point 1 is £6.76 per hour and pay point 2 is £6.94 per hour. Both are significantly above the national minimum wage.…
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees earn less than £7 per hour in (a) Highland, (b) Moray, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland, (e) Argyll and Bute and (f) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar local authority areas.
Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally. Local government pay and conditions are a matter for local authorities as independent corporate bodies.</p>
16 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many assets it disposed of in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008 and has disposed of in 2009, broken down by local authority area, and what the value is of these disposals.
Answer · John Swinney: Information covering asset disposals is published in the Scottish Government''s Consolidated Accounts and is available on the Scottish Government''s website; <a href="www.scotland.gov.uk">www.scotland.gov.uk</a> These accounts covering 2006-07 are published …
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients with insulin dependent diabetes receive insulin pump therapy, broken down by NHS board and what percentage change this represents in comparison with (a) 2007 and (b) 2008.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information available, which allows for comparison between September 2007 and February 2009, is given in the following table:</p> <p >Comparison of Insulin Pump Allocation September 2007 to February 2009</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0…
27 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the significance of regional air services between London Heathrow and Scotland for (a) economic development and (b) tourism.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: From our on-going engagement with the Scottish business and tourism sectors, it is clear that no other UK or continental airport is as important in connectivity terms as London Heathrow, or an adequate substitute to it.</p>
26 Feb 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive To ask the ScottishExecutive what progress has been made in increasing access to insulin pumps for people with type 1 diabetes.
Answer · Shona Robison : <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/sor0226-01.htm">http://www.scot…
12 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the best interests of the people in the Western Isles would be served by allowing Sunday sailings between Stornoway and the mainland and access to local facilities such as sports facilities.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are clearly very different and irreconcilable views about the potential introduction of Sunday sailings on the Ullapool to Stornoway ferry service. CalMac Ferries Ltd is best placed to consider that issue in the first instance. CalMac is keeping this is…
12 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's decision not to open sports facilities in Lewis and Harris on Sundays has adequate public support.
Answer · Shona Robison: It is for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to determine policy on opening its own sports facilities in Lewis and Harris on Sundays.</p>
12 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20108 by Michael Russell on 9 February 2009, which ministers and officials attended the six meetings with representatives of Rothschild.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Cabinet Secretaries for Rural Affairs and the Environment, and Finance and Sustainable Growth each attended one meeting, the then Minister for the Environment attended two, the Scottish Government Director General Environment attended five, the Director F…
12 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what budget provision has been made for fees and charges by Rothschild in relation to proposals for leasing the national forest estate.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No budget provision has been made because no such fees or charges are expected.</b></p>
12 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what acreage of forestry is controlled by Forestry Commission Scotland.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The national forest estate, managed by Forestry Commission Scotland, covers some 665,000 hectares.</b></p>
12 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what travel and accommodation costs have been incurred by (a) Scottish ministers and (b) officials in connection with meetings with representatives of Rothschild regarding the national forest estate.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The meetings attended by ministers were held in Edinburgh. Officials attended meetings in Edinburgh and London. The visits to London also included other business. Therefore, there was no additional travel and accommodation costs for ministers and officials me…
12 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what national forest estate sites have been identified for leasing.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No decisions have been taken about whether or not to lease significant parts of the national forest estate. This decision, and any decisions relating to the location of such leases, will be taken following our consideration of responses to the recent consulta…
12 Feb 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria have been identified for the awarding of leases to the national forest estate.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No decisions have been taken about whether or not to lease significant parts of the national forest estate. This decision, and any decisions relating to criteria for such leases, will be taken following our consideration of responses to the recent consultatio…
29 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current strategy is of the Victim Steering Group.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Victim Steering Group was instrumental in producing the <i >Scottish Strategy for Victims</i>.<i > </i>The main elements of the strategy have been implemented, including the extension of the Victim Notification Scheme and the introduction of the Victim St…
29 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership is of the Victim Steering Group.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The organisations invited to the last meeting of the Victim Steering Group, which was held in January 2007, were: the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland, the Association of Directors of Social Work, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, …
29 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings of the Victim Steering Group have taken place since May 2007.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The principal role of the Victim Steering Group was to oversee the implementation of <i >Scottish Strategy for Victims</i> and the related action plan. Since the key elements of the action plan have been implemented the function of the group has been fulfille…
29 Jan 2009 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will appoint a victims’ champion.
Answer · Alex Salmond: <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://w…
27 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-19151 and S3W-19152 by Michael Russell on 15 January 2009, what the terms of reference are for the legislation, regulation and guidance sub-group of the Partnership Against Wildlife Crime Scotland and when it is expected to produce recommendations …
Answer · Michael Russell: The Legislation, Regulation and Guidance Sub-group of PAW Scotland has as its remit to review the operation in practice of wildlife legislation and regulations; identify areas for improvement and make recommendations. To produce guidance for wildlife crime la…
27 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring it has carried out to ensure a consistent approach to the gritting of trunk and non-trunk roads.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20210 on 9 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
27 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether consistent standards are applied in specifying criteria under which gritting and procedures for gritting should take place across the range of organisations carrying out winter maintenance work on trunk and non-trunk roads.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 states that a roads authority shall take such steps as it considers reasonable to prevent snow and ice endangering the safe passage of pedestrians and vehicles over public roads.</p> <p >Each roads authority is responsible for …
26 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether borrowing under section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998 has been considered for the purpose of funding part of the Forth Replacement Crossing or improvements in the trunk road network.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20185 on 5 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
26 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to borrowing under section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998 to fund capital or revenue items under current budget proposals.
Answer · John Swinney: The power for the Scottish Government to borrow set out in section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998 makes clear such borrowing is for use on a temporary basis to cover the Scottish Government''s cash requirements if that becomes necessary for any reason.</p> <p …
26 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been initiated or consulted on regarding the use of section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the question S3W-20185 on 5 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business…
26 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the possible use of the £500 million loan provision available to it via the National Loans Fund under section 67 of the Scotland Act 1998.
Answer · John Swinney: The power for the Scottish Government to borrow is set out in section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998 which makes clear such borrowing is for use on a temporary basis to cover the Scottish Government''s cash requirements if that becomes necessary for any reason. …
26 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings or discussions Scottish ministers or officials have had with UK ministers or officials to discuss borrowing applications under section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20185 on 5 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
26 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many borrowing applications it has made to the Secretary of State for Scotland or the Chancellor of the Exchequer under section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20185 on 5 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
22 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of its meetings with representatives of Rothschild and of the reports and advice received regarding the national forest estate.
Answer · Michael Russell: No payment was made to Rothschild for providing advice about the national forest estate.</p>
22 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the documentation that it holds regarding the possibility of leasing the national forest estate in relation to the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill and discussions it has had with representatives of Rothschild.
Answer · Michael Russell: We will, of course, make information available that is releasable under the freedom of information legislation.</p>