Parliamentary questions
Liz Smith
954 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when differential speed limits on the A85 will be brought into place.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Speed Limit Review recommended five separate reductions to speed limits on the A85. An update on each of these proposals is provided below: Crieff to Comrie – Draft road orders were published in November 2014 and a number of objections to this proposal h…
17 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of unadopted roads.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has made no assessment of the number of private or unadopted roads in Scotland. Under Part 2 of the Road (Scotland) Act 1984, a local road authority has powers, in certain circumstances, over private or unadopted roads in its area. It …
17 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the A92 action plan submitted by Fife Council.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is committed to working with Fife Council to ensure that the most comprehensive approach possible is taken to the safety of roads in the area, including the A92. Transport Scotland received the A92 action plan in mid-August 2015 and i…
7 Sep 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister, in light of the proposed national system of standardised assessment in primary schools, whether the Scottish Government will reinstate the Progress in International Reading and Literacy and Trends in International Mathematics and Science studies for Scotland.
3 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which railway stations are not accessible to disabled people.
Answer · Derek Mackay: When referring to access to railway stations for disabled people, it normally relates to those with reduced mobility. When considering if a station is accessible it is usually put in the context of a wheelchair user and therefore stations are categorized acco…
2 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will change pension rules in Scotland to provide pension parity for serving police officers who joined the force after 2006.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is considering this issue.
2 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the names of companies to which it has awarded development contracts being displayed on site.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 require all major and national developments and those developments specified in Schedule 3 to the regulations (developments likely to have wider impacts on amenity), …
2 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to schools seeking funds to visit the UK Parliament.
Answer · Angela Constance: Responsibility for delivery of education rests with local authorities. The Scottish Government does not provide any additional funding for Scottish schools to support them to visit the UK Parliament. We understand that the UK Parliament does provide travel su…
2 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the establishment of a small business conciliation service.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: It is the UK Government’s intention to establish a small business commissioner (which delivers its manifesto commitment to establish a small business conciliation service) as part of the provisions in the Enterprise Bill. The Scottish Government is in regular…
2 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many sheriff court actions to settle disputes between small and large businesses there have been in each year since 1999.
Answer · Michael Matheson: 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 within 20 days.
9 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether families concerned that planning applications might impact on graves or gardens of remembrance can raise objections with the Inspector of Crematoria for Scotland and, if so, what action the inspector can take.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Inspector for Crematoria has no powers in relation to planning decisions.
9 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many objections from families have been received by the Inspector of Crematoria for Scotland.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Inspector for Crematoria has received no objections to planning decisions from families since taking up his post on 9 March 2015.
9 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many local planning committee decisions it has overturned in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is given in the table entitled "Planning application decisions by local planning authorities overturned by the Scottish Government since 1999 broken down by local authority", a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament…
9 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities have taken out lender option borrower loans; how much they have borrowed, and what information it has on the interest charges.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is held by individual local authorities.
5 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many primary school teachers have a science (a) degree and (b) Higher, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Angela Constance: The information requested is not held centrally.
29 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of all meetings and documentation regarding state aid support for the relocation of T in the Park and, if so, when.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This information is now the subject of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request and will be dealt with in line with the FOI (Scotland) Act. Information released by the Scottish Government in response to FOI requests is published at: http://www.gov.scot/About/In…
29 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what occasions ministers met DF Concerts in relation to the relocation of T in the Park.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26910 on 14 August 2015. 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…
29 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what purposes state aid funding for the relocation of T in the Park was used.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26910 on 14 August 2015. 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…
29 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what criteria state aid funding was granted for the relocation of T in the Park.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26910 on 14 August 2015. 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…
29 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it was first approached by DF Concerts regarding its request for state aid support for the relocation of T in the Park.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26910 on 14 August 2015. 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…
29 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money it provided for the relocation of T in the Park by way of state aid grants and on what dates these were paid.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: T in the Park is one of the most popular and successful cultural events in Scotland’s annual events programme. It has a significant economic impact, driving additional tourism and supporting jobs. In 2014 the event generated £15.4 million for the Scottish eco…
15 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many additional calls it expects the Police Scotland call centre will receive following the proposed merger of the British Transport Police with Police Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: About five per cent of the 37,000 emergency calls received by British Transport Police each year involved the Scottish Division of the British Transport Police. The Scottish Government will engage with key stakeholders and partners to ensure railway policing …
15 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the British Transport Police to merge with Police Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The timing for the integration of the Scottish Division of the British Transport Police within Police Scotland is subject to the progress of legislation through the UK Parliament. Following the devolution of railway policing in Scotland to the Scottish Parlia…
15 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to re-open (a) Newburgh and (b) Bridge of Earn railway station.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to open a railway station at Newburgh or Bridge of Earn however we understand that South East of Scotland Transport Partnership, in conjunction with Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership, Fife Counci…
15 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what average distance patients have to travel to access out-of-hours GP services.
Answer · Shona Robison: The provision of out-of-hours primary care services is a matter for NHS health boards to design, plan and manage in accordance with the needs of their populations. The Scottish Government would expect NHS boards to consider public transport accessibility, jou…
15 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many out-of-hours GP services have been removed from practices and hospitals in each year since 1999.
Answer · Shona Robison: All territorial NHS boards are responsible for the design, delivery and management of NHS services to their population. Therefore, the Scottish Government does not hold the information requested as this is an operational matter for NHS boards. However, Infor…
3 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish Qualifications Agency examination presentations from secondary schools there were in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15.
Answer · Angela Constance: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). I have asked the Chief Executive of SQA to write to you.
3 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much schools paid in fees to the Scottish Qualifications Agency in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15.
Answer · Angela Constance: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). I have asked the Chief Executive of SQA to write to you.
3 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provided to the Scottish Qualifications Authority in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15.
Answer · Angela Constance: The following table shows the funding provided by the Scottish Government to the Scottish Qualifications Authority for the years requested. Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand pounds: £000 2010-11 17,378 2011-12 20,084 2012-13 17,408 2…
3 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had, other than the public consultation on draft statutory guidance for section 96 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, with Police Scotland about the implementation of the named persons policy.
Answer · Fiona McLeod: The Scottish Government continues to engage with Police Scotland, particularly through the senior police officer who has been seconded to the Scottish Government. Police Scotland are also represented on the Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) National I…