Parliamentary questions
Kezia Dugdale
1,684 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19495 by Kate Forbes on 7 November 2018, what the ratio is of the number of lease review returns due to the number of lease review penalties issued, and what proportion of taxpayers who must meet this requirement, but are not, are being penalised.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Collecting statistical data on lease review returns and penalties is a matter for Revenue Scotland and I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to respond directly to the member.
18 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-19495 by Kate Forbes on 7 November 2018, whether there has been a net gain to public finances from the three-year lease review programme on Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) penalties administered by Revenues Scotland.
Answer · Kate Forbes: Revenue Scotland publish provisional data each month regarding notifiable lease transactions and three-year leases reviews on a ‘date of review return’ basis in Table 5 of the LBTT statistics, available on Revenue Scotland’s website. The final revenue outturn…
13 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) retailers or their representatives and (b) autism or hearing impairment charities regarding the introduction of quiet hours in shops.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the lives of autistic people through the implementation of the Scottish Strategy for Autism. Autistic people should be able to enjoy public places just like anyone else. Whilst the Scottish Government have no…
13 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to encourage more retailers to introduce "quiet hour" shopping facilities in order to support customers who find music and other shopping noise challenging.
Answer · Clare Haughey: The Scottish Government is committed to improving the lives of autistic people through the implementation of the Scottish Strategy for Autism. The Scottish Strategy for Autism: outcomes and priorities 2018-2021 was published in March 2018 and is available at…
6 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many trading standards officers have been employed at each local authority in each year since 2014.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Local Authorities as independent bodies are responsible for their own employment records, and will have details of the number of Trading Standards Officers employed in their own area.
4 Dec 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the impact will be on the families of people from Scotland who are murdered abroad of its plan to change the forensic pathologist consultation protocol relating to post-mortems, in light of concerns that second forensic examinations, including those requested by defence solicitors, …
Answer · James Wolffe QC: In consultation with the Law Society of Scotland, the Faculty of Advocates and Forensic Pathologists, COPFS reviewed post mortem examination protocols. The review recognised the right of accused persons to examine and test the evidence against them, includin…
27 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make money available for a new Castlebrae High School before the 2021 new school building cycle.
15 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it would support the testing of illegal drugs in order to support harm reduction.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government supports measures which protect the health of the public. Any testing would have to be in accordance with the law under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 which would be a matter for the agency involved and Police Scotland.
15 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to support illegal drugs harm reduction projects.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to S5W-19972 on 29 November 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.…
15 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it would support an illegal drugs harm reduction pilot scheme being trialled.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is prepared to take forward innovative, evidence-based approaches, even if at first they may be unpopular or controversial. This is highlighted by our support for the principles behind Glasgow’s proposals for ‘safer drug consumption fa…
15 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with its counterparts in Wales regarding the work of WEDINOS, the Welsh Emerging Drugs and Indemnification of Novel Substances Projects, and whether it has any plans to support a similar system in Scotland.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the Welsh Government on a range of matters, which has in the past included discussions regarding WEDINOS. There are no current plans to introduce a system similar to WEDINOS. Scotland already has excellent i…
15 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its funding for violence against women specifically requires organisations and projects to be trans inclusive and, if so, where this requirement is stated.
Answer · Christina McKelvie: Applicants to the Equally Safe Violence Against Women and Girls fund are required to provide their LBTI Inclusion plan (or an GBTI plan for organisations providing direct support to men) as part of their application. Applicants without these plans in place ar…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that parole board reports should be made available to victims and witnesses on request.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: As we committed to in this year’s Programme for Government, we will consult on specific measures to make parole processes more open and transparent. This will include consulting on measures to provide victims and their families with information on Parole Boar…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that victims of crime are informed of the perpetrator's (a) application for parole and (b) application for home visits.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: In all criminal cases where an offender is sentenced to a period of imprisonment, victims have a right to be told about the release of the relevant prisoner. In cases where the offender has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment or more, victims and their …
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on Edinburgh's Hogmanay volunteer strategy, in light of concerns in relation to unpaid work.
Answer · Ben Macpherson: Volunteering at festivals and major events offers opportunities to gain new skills and experience, and to be part of something special. It is essential, however, that volunteers are treated fairly. Volunteers should complement paid professionals in the delive…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how criminal sentences can be appealed when they are given “in cumulo” (taken together).
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The mechanism for appealing in cumulo sentences is the same as for other appeals that may be made against sentence. The legal framework providing for appeals against sentence is contained in the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 as well as any associated…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been subject to more than two post-mortems in each of the last five years.
Answer · James Wolffe QC: COPFS has not historically collected data regarding whether a second or subsequent defence post mortem has taken place. The information requested is accordingly not available. On 1 November 2018, COPFS published the “Forensic Pathologist Consultation Protocol…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government to what degree it has the power to guide the work of the Scottish Sentencing Council.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Sentencing Council is an independent body under the terms of the statute agreed by the Scottish Parliament. Section 7 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 ("the 2010 Act") provides that the Scottish Ministers may request tha…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to the Scottish Sentencing Council in each year since its inception.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Under the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 and the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (Administrative Support) (Specified Persons) Order 2015, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) has the statutory function of providing, or ensuring the…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what penalties there are for people who dispose of human waste in public drains; who such incidents should be reported to, and how many people have been fined for this offence in each of the last three years.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: While such cases should be reported to Scottish Water in the first instance, several different statutes cover possible actions and may apply. Scottish Water, SEPA and Roads Authorities therefore may work together to investigate alleged incidents of unauthoris…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what legislation there is to prevent caravans parking on public roads.
Answer · Michael Matheson: There is no specific legislation to prevent a motorist parking a caravan on a public road. However, if the caravan is causing an obstruction or is dangerously parked then the motorist would be in breach of Regulation 103 of the Road Vehicles (Construction & U…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what accessibility standards a transport company must meet to receive a Bus Service Operators Grant.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Bus Service Operators Grant is payable only on a local bus service as defined in section 2 of the Transport Act 1985 or a community transport service possessing section 19 or 22 permits. The services must also meet the further requirements detailed in the…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that bus services that are supported by public funding meet the requirements of (a) wheelchair users and (b) people using prams or buggies.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The legislation relating to the accessibility of public transport is reserved to the UK Parliament and is set out in the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) 2000. Since 1 January 2017 all buses (single and double deck) are required to be …
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many dog wardens each local authority has.
Answer · Ash Denham: Dog wardens are a matter for individual local authorities and the Scottish Government would not routinely collect this information. However, the Scottish Government obtained the following information from individual local authorities on the number of dog ward…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether businesses that are not connected to the water network are routinely exempt from water and sewage charges, and for what reason charges can be imposed.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Businesses are liable for water, sewerage and drainage charges when the property benefits from these services. A business will not be liable for charges only if the property has no connection to any services.
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people in each local authority area are in receipt of the single-person discount for (a) water charges and (b) council tax.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The number of dwellings in receipt of the single occupant discount is presented in the following table. Local Authority Single Occupant Discountfor Council Tax Single Occupant Discount for Water Charges Water andwastewater Water Only Wastewater Only Ab…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that demand for legal aid in civil cases is met.
Answer · Ash Denham: Legal aid budget in Scotland is demand led. Those who meet the eligibility criteria for both civil and criminal legal aid will have access to it. If it is a matter of Scots Law (including UK law that applies in Scotland) and could be heard in a Scottish Court…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recourse is available to people who cannot access legal aid to which they are entitled.
Answer · Ash Denham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-19930 on 28 November 2018 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…
14 Nov 2018 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that legal firms undertake appropriate levels of Legal Aid work, and what assessment it has made of the changes to the legal aid system with regard to supply meeting demand.
Answer · Ash Denham: Under the current system the Scottish Government cannot directly regulate the amount of legal aid work solicitors firms undertake. Any changes made to the legal aid system via primary or secondary legislation are subject to a Business Regulatory Impact Assess…
7 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out of the impact of fireworks on animal welfare, and whether it plans to amend the fireworks regulations to take account of this.
Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is aware of the information from animal welfare stakeholders on the effects that fireworks may have on animals. We have not carried out any specific impact assessment of this issue. The Scottish Government has put in place restriction…