Liam McArthur

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities offer junior individual savings accounts to looked-after children, and what information it has on the take-up rate.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: 28 of the 32 local authorities in Scotland have signed up to the UK junior individual savings accounts scheme for looked-after children. The four who have not are East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire and Stirling. The Scottish Government unders…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times hyperbaric chambers have been used in emergencies in each year since 2009, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is provided in the following tables: 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2009-13 Total Total Total Total Total Total Total From outwith UK 5 11 3 4 3 0 26 From rest of UK 24 16 25 14 18 10 97 Ayrshire and…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of the renewable energy sources installed in the buildings in its estate and the dates of installation.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government currently has two sites with renewable energy sources: Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh (Solar Hot Water) installed 2011 and Tweedbank, Cotgreen Road, Galashiels (Solar Hot Water) installed 2012 There are three renewable pr…

21 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government  whether it will provide a breakdown of the buildings in its estate by energy performance certificate rating.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04170 on 7 December 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/parliamentar…

17 Nov 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to reach agreement with Orkney Islands Council on the replacement of the islands' internal ferry fleet.

12 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times since 1 January 2008 it has been advised by the Freedom of Information Commissioner that the Scottish Ministers failed to (a) provide a response to and (b) comply with a request for a review of a freedom of information request within the statutory period 20 day period.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as we do not have this data in the format requested. Information on the Scottish Government’s performance in responding on time to freedom of information (FOI) requests is available in …

7 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any students awarded support under its pilot scheme for study in Europe for 2014-15 have ceased their involvement with the scheme.

Answer · Michael Russell: None of the students who were awarded support under the pilot scheme in 2014-15 have ceased their involvement with the scheme.

7 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent on the pilot scheme for study in Europe for 2014-15 in (a) repayable and (b) non-repayable support to students and (c) other costs.

Answer · Michael Russell: The expected spend on (a) repayable support to students on the pilot scheme for study in Europe in 2014-15 is £31,500. The expected spend on (b) non-repayable support to students on the pilot scheme for study in Europe in 2014-15 is £2,900. The expected spe…

7 Nov 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many students applied to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for support under the pilot scheme for study in Europe for 2014-15 and how many are receiving support, broken down by institution.

Answer · Michael Russell: Currently, 10 students applied to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland under the pilot scheme to study in Europe in 2014-15. Seven students are receiving support. All of the students are studying in the Netherlands – six at Maastricht University and one at…

3 Nov 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the impact in rural and island areas of the proposed reduction in the drink driving limit.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The new limit and the benefits of improved road safety will apply across all parts of Scotland. The Scottish Government undertook a public consultation in late 2012 on the proposal to reduce the drink drive limit. 74% of respondents supported the proposal, i…

30 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the National Advisory Committee on Heart Disease has discussed the role of heart failure nurses in Orkney and what recommendations it has made regarding this.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The National Advisory Committee on Heart Disease (NACHD) was re-formed in September 2010. Since that date the role of heart failure nurses in Orkney has been mentioned on three occasions with no recommendation made by the NACHD.

30 Sep 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many times the National Advisory Committee on Heart Disease has met.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The National Advisory Committee on Heart Disease is scheduled to meet on 27 October 2014 which will be the thirteenth time the group has met since it was reconstituted in September 2010.

15 Sep 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next meet Orkney Islands Council.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Since the outcome of the referendum I have spoken to all three Island Councils, and just this morning my ministerial colleague, Fergus Ewing met with Councillor James Stockan from Orkney Islands Council at the Island Renewables Delivery Forum.

19 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many (a) urban and (b) rural (i) on-grid and (ii) off-grid homes could be required to meet any proposed minimum energy efficiency standards for private sector houses.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Proposals for minimum energy efficiency standards for private sector housing are still under development with stakeholders for proposed public consultation in spring 2015. The public consultation will include proposals on the level at which regulations may be…

19 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that rural homeowners who live off-grid will not be disadvantaged by any proposed minimum energy efficiency standards for private sector houses.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Scotland’s Sustainable Housing Strategy, published in June 2013, set out our commitment to consult on draft regulations on the energy efficiency of existing private sector homes. This work is being taken forward with input from a steering group including repr…

19 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will enforce any regulations to set minimum energy efficiency standards for private sector houses.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Proposals for draft regulations are planned to be published for public consultation in spring 2015. The consultation will set out proposals for the operation of the regulations. The final decision on the enforcement of regulations would take into account resp…

19 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will launch its consultation on regulations to set minimum energy efficiency standards for private sector houses.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: We plan to consult on proposals in spring 2015, subject to development of options through our work with external stakeholders. The consultation will include questions on the level of regulation and the sectors it will apply to.

2 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the role is of (a) the Scottish Ministers, (b) Scottish Natural Heritage and (c) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in the consenting process for oil transfer licences made under the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010 as amended.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The consenting process for oil transfer licences made under the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010 as amended is currently the responsibility of the UK Secretary of State for Transport. Scottish Ministers have repeatedly called for th…

2 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has received from (a) Scottish Natural Heritage and (b) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding Orkney Islands Council's proposals for ballast water management in Scapa Flow.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-21881 on 16 July 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/parliamentaryb…

2 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which harbour authorities have (a) adopted or (b) been consulted on ballast water management plans.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold information on which harbour authorities have adopted ballast water management plans as this is a matter for individual authorities to consider and implement if appropriate. It is unlikely that a harbour authority would …

2 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure compliance in Scotland with the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water.

Answer · Keith Brown: The International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water is not currently in force, although the Scottish Government would advise all harbour authorities to take it into account in developing or revising their ballast water manageme…

1 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it has carried out on ticket prices on inter-island ferries in Orkney and Shetland should the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) be applied.

Answer · Keith Brown: During the ferries review, Transport Scotland carried out some basic modelling of RET fares for Orkney Islands Council’s, and Shetland Islands Council’s, inter-island ferry services.

1 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional financial mechanisms it considers should be deployed to enable the delivery of island grid upgrades, and what steps it has taken to explore them.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The key financial mechanism that will unlock island grid upgrades is the extension of the Scottish island strike price beyond the first Electricity Market Reform Delivery Plan period, which ends in 2018-19. The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change have …

1 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement in the Empowering Scotland's Island Communities report that “the Scottish Parliament already has the power to vary the application of legislation by geographical area. The process of island-proofing would provide an opportunity to consider, on a case-by-case bas…

Answer · Derek Mackay: The benefit of island-proofing, and of making it a binding duty in an Islands Act in the event of independence, is that the needs and circumstances of island communities will be considered throughout the legislative process, including before a proposed Bill r…

1 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement in the Empowering Scotland's Island Communities report that “Instead of trying to influence Westminster, island communities and authorities will have direct access to the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament to scrutinise the impact of government policies…

Answer · Derek Mackay: Independence will create a more democratic Scotland that will always get the government it votes for and have a strong voice for Scotland’s islands at the heart of government. Island communities already benefit from direct engagement from Scottish Ministers o…

1 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement in the Empowering Scotland's Island Communities report that “the Scottish Government has committed to building a simpler system of taxation after independence”, whether the fuel duty derogation of 5p, implemented by the UK Treasury, would automatically be retain…

Answer · John Swinney: As set out in Scotland’s Future, Scotland will inherit the prevailing UK tax code at the point of independence, including tax rates, reliefs and allowances. These will remain in place until changes are made by future Scottish Governments.

1 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement in the Empowering Scotland's Island Communities report that “ensuring island communities, like all communities, can fulfil their potential requires a fair allocation of resources”, what funding allocation model would be used to determine central government fundi…

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government’s preference will always be to have a fair and equitable settlement for all councils that is based on local needs and gives the maximum opportunity to deliver strong local services for local people and we will continue to work closely …

26 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it has carried out on the affordability to an independent Scotland of introducing tax relief for film productions at the levels available in countries such as Ireland, Canada and New Zealand.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scotland's Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland indicates that “We plan to continue the existing fiscal incentives for such production and, within the first term of an independent Scottish parliament, we propose to look at ways to encourage further d…

26 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what modelling it has carried out on the affordability to an independent Scotland of continuing the tax incentives currently offered by the UK Government in relation to the creative industries.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Fiscal incentives are currently given, subject to meeting set criteria, to production of films, high end television drama, animation and video games. Such incentives will continue at the point of independence on the principle of continuity of law. Scotland's …

23 Jun 2014 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that people with serious criminal convictions are teaching in schools.