Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,646 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) consideration it has given to and (b) representations it has received regarding locating Wave Energy Scotland in Orkney.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have received representations from Mr McArthur and one of his constituents. A final decision on the location of Wave Energy Scotland is one for Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
23 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24406 by Angela Constance on 23 February 2015, on what dates in the last four years it has had meetings with the European Commission at which the establishment of a management fee has been discussed and who attended these meetings.
Answer · Angela Constance: As indicated in the previous answer, there have been a number of discussions with European colleagues on this matter. The most recent meeting in the last four years was between former Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell MSP,…
9 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of schools has provided free fruit for P1 and P2 pupils in each of the last eight years.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
9 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been allocated to fund college bursaries in each of the last eight years.
Answer · Angela Constance: The following table shows that funding for college bursaries has increased by £26.2 million or nearly 47% since 2007-08. Bursary funding is only one element of the wider further education student support budget, which is at a record level of £104 million in 2…
9 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many college bursaries have been provided in each of the last eight years.
Answer · Angela Constance: The following table shows a 10% increase in the number of students receiving college bursaries between 2006-07 and 2013-14. Record further education student support funding of £104 million in 2014-15 means that students can now receive bursaries of up to £93…
9 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether college student numbers have been maintained in each of the last eight years.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Funding Council’s Baseline Report for Academic Year 2013-14 explains that while there are different ways of measuring student numbers, full-time equivalent student numbers (FTEs) are the most accurate way of comparing the volume of college activi…
9 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made with the establishing a management fee to be paid by non-UK EU students in Scotland.
Answer · Angela Constance: Considerable discussion has taken place with EU representatives about the concept and application of management fees. As my predecessor, Michael Russell, made clear to the Scottish Parliament on 5 December 2013, introduction of such a policy would need to mee…
5 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to (a) advertise for and (b) appoint a Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government intends to advertise for a new Chief Scientific Adviser Scotland shortly and we hope to appoint later in 2015.
3 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many claims for discounted flights under the Air Discount Scheme have been (a) made and (b) approved in each of the last three years.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The figures are as follows: Year Claims made Claims approved 2012 136,607 136,339 2013 148,1431 147,910 2014 162,498 162,2942 1 This figure differs from the figure given in answer of S4W-18687 on 17 December 2013, as the figure given then only re…
23 Jan 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations in Jackie Brock’s report on closing the gaps in the child protection process.
19 Jan 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in setting the objectives and budget for Wave Energy Scotland.
5 Jan 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how often the short-life working group on heart failure has met and what conclusions it has reached regarding strengthening the role of heart failure nurses.
5 Jan 2015 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what involvement it will have in the investigation into the sinking of the cargo vessel, Cemfjord, in the Pentland Firth.
22 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23553 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer which (a) people and (b) organisations assisted in deciding the key themes of the first meeting of …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I understand that Scottish Rural Action, which was responsible for the process that determined the key themes of the inaugural Scottish Rural Parliament, has responded to the member’s request for information.
22 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23552 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer how many organisations it has approached for assistance in funding the annual running costs of the …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Rural Action, the organisers of the Scottish Rural Parliament, are responsible for sourcing support for the Scottish Rural Parliament. I understand it has responded to the member’s request for information.
22 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23551 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer how many organisations it approached for assistance in funding the running costs of the first meeti…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Rural Action, the organiser of the Scottish Rural Parliament, was responsible for sourcing support for the inaugural Scottish Rural Parliament. I understand it has responded to the member’s request for information.
22 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23550 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer how much it cost to (a) set up and (b) run the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament, and …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I understand that Scottish Rural Action, the organiser of the Scottish Rural Parliament, has responded to the member’s request for information.
22 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23549 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer what criteria were used to select the people who were invited to attend the first meeting of the Sc…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government was not responsible for inviting people to attend the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament. I understand that Scottish Rural Action, the organiser of the Scottish Rural Parliament, has provided the member with the information…
22 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23548 by Richard Lochhead on 19 December 2014 and in light of the information not being provided on the suggested website, whether it will now answer what process it used to choose the directors of Scottish Rural Action and which (a) people and (b) …
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government was not responsible for choosing the directors of Scottish Rural Action. Information on this process can be obtained by contacting Scottish Rural Action.
22 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides the majority of the funding for (a) Scottish Rural Action and the (b) Scottish Rural Parliament.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government awarded funding of £250,000 to Scottish Rural Action to facilitate the establishment of the first Scottish Rural Parliament. The funding was used to: Establish effective governance and administration for the Scottish Rural Parliament;…
18 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to extending free school meals to those two-year-olds who are eligible for free early learning and childcare and attend school-based nurseries.
Answer · Fiona McLeod: Under section 53(3) and (3AA) of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980, all young children who are eligible for statutory early learning and childcare are entitled to a free school lunch where they meet the same eligibility criteria as for all pupils, and where t…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will take a decision on the future funding of hyperbaric services in time for any changes to take effect in 2015-16.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23654 on 19 December 2014. 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/parliamenta…
11 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will receive recommendations from NHS chief executives regarding the future funding of hyperbaric services.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government received recommendations on hyperbaric medicine services in Scotland in October 2014. Scottish Ministers have agreed the recommendations, which will see the nationally designated service extended to include independent hyperbaric cham…
5 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which (a) people and (b) organisations assisted in deciding the key themes of the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. 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/parliamenta…
5 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many organisations it has approached for assistance in funding the annual running costs of the Scottish Rural Parliament, and which have (a) made and (b) indicated that they will make a contribution.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. 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/parliamenta…
5 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many organisations it approached for assistance in funding the running costs of the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament, and which contributed.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. 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/parliamenta…
5 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it cost to (a) set up and (b) run the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament, and what its annual operating costs will be.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. 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/parliamenta…
5 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it used to select the people whom it invited to attend the first meeting of the Scottish Rural Parliament.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23548 on 19 December 2014. 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/parliamenta…
5 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what process it used to choose the directors of Scottish Rural Action and which (a) people and (b) groups it consulted as part of this.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The inaugural Scottish Rural Parliament took place in Oban on 6-8 November 2014 and was attended by over 400 delegates from across rural Scotland. The event was organised by Scottish Rural Action, an independent, not-for-profit organisation. Further informat…
21 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what percentage of (a) further and (b) higher education students has (i) autistic spectrum disorder, (ii) Asperger syndrome, (iii) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, (iv) social or emotional behavioural difficulties and (v) learning difficulties.
Answer · Angela Constance: (a) The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) produces statistics for further education students in colleges. The latest detailed data on students in further education is for the academic year 2012-13. Table 1 shows the number and percentage of further education en…