Parliamentary questions
Liz Smith
954 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions, other than the public consultation on draft statutory guidance for section 96 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) 2014, it has had with those who will act as named persons as under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
Answer · Fiona McLeod: Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) is already being implemented in many areas across Scotland, with many practitioners already fulfilling the role of the named person. The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (the Act) will help to ensure cons…
3 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions, other than the public consultation on draft statutory guidance for section 96 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) 2014, it has had with parents' groups about the implementation of the named persons policy.
Answer · Fiona McLeod: The Scottish Government engaged extensively with parents’ groups during the committee stages of the Children and Young People Bill and since its passage. When the Scottish Government consulted on the Bill, 72 per cent of the respondents agreed with the propos…
3 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the implementation of the named persons provisions of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 will not contravene the Data Protection Act 1998.
Answer · Fiona McLeod: The named person provisions in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 do not contravene the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA). The draft statutory guidance makes clear that information sharing via these provisions should always be appropriate and prop…
8 Jun 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government met its 2011 pledge that there would be no compulsory redundancies in colleges throughout the college merger process.
26 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with installing a pedestrian bridge over the A9 at Gleneagles.
Answer · Derek Mackay: An assessment of a range of options to improve access for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the A9 at Gleneagles Station has been undertaken by Transport Scotland. This included the option of the installation of a footbridge. The assessment has recommended a …
26 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average time has been to process summary criminal cases in each month since May 1999, broken down by court.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The average time to process summary criminal cases in each month since April 2006, broken down by court is given in table ‘average time to process summary criminal cases 2006-07 to 2014-15.xlsx’ and is taken from the Criminal Justice Board Management Informat…
26 May 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is regarding the concerns expressed by parents and pupils about the recent SQA Higher Mathematics paper.
21 May 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review business rates relief for local newspapers.
Answer · John Swinney: We keep all our business rate reliefs under regular and active review to ensure we maintain the most competitive business tax environment available anywhere in the UK. The package of rates relief available to businesses in Scotland, worth an estimated £618 m…
21 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the location of public sector bodies.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government will continue to consider opportunities to optimise the benefits of locating public bodies across Scotland, whilst at the same time ensuring best value for the public finances and optimum service delivery.
21 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many public sector (a) jobs and (b) bodies have been relocated to Perth in each year since 1999.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not hold, centrally, information on the relocation of public sector jobs or bodies. The following information on the number of public sector employees in the Perth and Kinross local authority area is, however, available: 2009 …
13 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to help town centre regeneration in (a) Perthshire and (b) Kinross-shire.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Town Centre Action Plan (TCAP) confirms a cross-government responsibility to put in place the conditions necessary to support action at local level, encouraging the wider public, private and community sectors to help address issues faced by our town centr…
13 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve road safety on the A92.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Over £24 million has been invested on the A92 since 2007 to ensure it is well maintained and operates safely. Our operating company BEAR Scotland has completed a Route Accident Reduction Plan report covering the A92 between Halbeath and the Tay Road Bridge. T…
13 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it is having with local authorities to take forward flood defence projects.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government has regular discussion with local authorities on all aspects of flood risk management. Local authorities are well represented on the Scottish Advisory and Implementation Forum for Flooding which provides the basis for co-ordinated, par…
13 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost of repairs arising from school vandalism has been in each year since 1999.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. Under the 1980 Education Act, responsibility for provision, management and maintenance of the school estate rests with education authorities.
13 May 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cases of school vandalism have been reported to the police in each year since 1999.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.
11 May 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the concerns raised by the charity, Clan Childlaw, regarding the data-sharing aspect of the named person legislation.
30 Apr 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the finding of the 2014 Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy suggesting that literacy standards among schoolchildren have fallen and, in light of this, for what reason its Standing Literacy Commission has previously claimed that such standards have improved.
Answer · Angela Constance: Tackling inequality is at the heart of this government's agenda so that every child can succeed in school and gain the skills they need for life. Literacy and numeracy are vital skills in this regard. The most recent findings from the Scottish Survey of Liter…
28 Apr 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to increase the number of disabled people enrolled in modern apprenticeships.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In December 2014 the Scottish Government published Developing the Young Workforce: Scotland's Youth Employment Strategy - Implementing the Recommendations of the Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce. You can view the document via the following…
13 Apr 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will seek an extension to the deadline for the registration of single application forms for rural payments and services.
16 Mar 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurance it can give to the officers currently employed in the British Transport Police in Scotland that their jobs will be retained under Police Scotland.
12 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the projected number is of (a) primary and (b) secondary headteachers who will hold the new professional masters qualification by (i) 2019-20, (ii) 2020-21 and (iii) 2021-22.
Answer · Angela Constance: These figures are not currently available. The Scottish Government is currently working with the Scottish College for Educational Leadership and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland to estimate the number of teachers that will need to be trai…
12 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether headteachers in post prior to the introduction of the professional masters qualification in 2018-19 will be required to undertake the new qualification if they wish to move to another headship.
Answer · Angela Constance: No, current headteachers have already demonstrated that they have met the Standard for Headship either as a result of having successfully completed the Scottish Qualification for Headship, the Flexible Route to Headship or that otherwise the local authority i…
12 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer question S4W-24689 by Fiona McLeod on 11 March 2015, whether it will provide details of the "publicly available information" and the funding model agreed with COSLA, and how it used this information to calculate the £880 million figure.
Answer · Fiona McLeod: The publicly available information relates to the Local Financial Return 2013-14 expenditure release of 24 February 2015 which sets out the baseline annual revenue spend by local government of £320 million on the 475 hours policy, i.e. prior to commencement o…
11 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities regarding the granting of indoor sports entertainment licences and the inspection of establishments that have these.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Local authorities operate with well-established licencing principles regarding the issuing or inspecting of indoor sports entertainment licences. The Health and Safety Executive offers guidance on the operation of leisure activities.
11 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on reports that there have been a high number of accidents at the Ryze trampoline park in Dalkeith; what discussions it had had with Midlothian Council about this issue, and what information it has about whether investigations are (a) taking place or (b) are planned.
Answer · Michael Matheson: It is the responsibility of Midlothian Council as the licensing authority to determine whether any licences are required by particular business and to deal with any infraction of licensing laws or conditions. We understand that the council have been working …
10 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many arrests have been made by the British Transport Police in Scotland (a) on trains and (b) at train stations, and how many incidents the force has responded to, in each year since 1999.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is a reserved matter. As you are aware, powers for the policing of the railway industry will transfer over to Scotland through recommendations put forward by the Smith Commission. The Scottish Government has set out its intent to integrate the British …
5 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many damp homes have been recorded by each local authority in each year since 1999.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish House Condition Survey collects statistical data on rising or penetrating damp in Scottish homes. This can cover anything from a small damp patch or area of condensation on a single wall in one room to prevalence throughout a dwelling, so does no…
3 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to bowling clubs to address the impact on them of the introduction of rates.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government funds a range of business rates relief, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme and relief for registered charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs, for which many bowling clubs will be eligible. Information for applicants is avai…
3 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to help grow the sport of lawn bowling at grass roots level.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government’s support for lawn bowling in Scotland is routed through sportscotland, the national agency for sport. They invest in Bowls Scotland, the Scottish Governing Body, focussing on governance, development and performance. See the following …
2 Mar 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on the National Trust for Scotland, the John Muir Trust and RSPB Scotland's view that the planning process should be wholly independent of government.