Parliamentary questions
Liz Smith
954 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Jun 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement by the Minister for Learning, Sciences and Scotland's Languages on 18 June 2013, which schools have received musical instruments following the £1 million investment programme, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The information requested is not available at a school level. The £1 million musical instrument fund is being distributed in two phases. 50% (£500,000) has already been distributed to local authorities on the basis of the formula used for the Government’s Yo…
10 Jun 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what rail infrastructure investments it plans for the Perth to Edinburgh route.
23 May 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the opinions expressed in the briefing paper, The Funding of Higher Education in Scotland, the UK and Internationally.
16 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation it has carried out with the college sector and other stakeholders since October 2010 regarding the decision of the Office for National Statistics to reclassify colleges as part of central government in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Russell: Colleges were notified of the change in 2010. Since then Scottish Ministers have been negotiating with HM Treasury on the basis for the decision, the timing of implementation and the scope for mitigating the implications. Full engagement with the sector could…
16 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government, (b) Welsh Assembly Government and (c) Northern Ireland Executive since October 2010 regarding the decision of the Office for National Statistics to reclassify colleges as part of central government in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Russell: There has been a series of written communications, discussions and meetings with HM Treasury, both formal and informal, to discuss the basis of the decision, the implications of implementing this change in Scotland and the timing of that implementation. There…
16 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with (a) HM Treasury and (b) the Office for National Statistics since October 2010 regarding the decision to reclassify colleges as part of central government in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Russell: There has been a series of written communications, discussions and meetings with HM Treasury, both formal and informal, to discuss the basis of the decision, the implications of implementing this change in Scotland and the timing of that implementation. In ac…
13 May 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government is having with local authorities regarding access to Gaelic medium schools.
10 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) college and (b) university students it has paid the tuition fees for in each year since 2005-06.
Answer · Michael Russell: The following table shows the number of students whose tuition fees were paid in full by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. Students who received part payment of fees (such as the fee differential for students with previous study prior to the fees increa…
10 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the level three funding streams for each Scottish Funding Council (a) further and (b) higher education programme (i) have been in each year since 2006, and (ii) will be in each of the next two years.
Answer · Michael Russell: The level three funding streams for the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) further and higher education programmes are publicly available through the Scottish Budget documents from 2006 onwards: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/18127/Docume…
23 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many public toilets have been closed in each local authority area in each year since 1999.
Answer · Derek Mackay: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The provision of public toilets is a matter for local authorities as independent corporate bodies.
18 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4F-01301 by Alex Salmond on 18 April 2013 (Official Report, c.18734), how much it has paid the Big Lottery Fund to administer the Third Sector Early Intervention Fund.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government will pay BIG in Scotland £789,212 to manage the Third Sector Early Intervention Fund over the three year life of the contract.
15 Apr 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government will take to address the delay in implementing the Third Sector Early Intervention Fund.
20 Mar 2013 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assessment it has made of the (a) impact on the work of and (b) possible additional costs to the Scottish Information Commissioner resulting from changes to EU data protection laws.
Answer · Liam McArthur : EU data protection laws will impact on all Scottish organisations and guidance on this will issue from the UK Information Commissioner’s Office which has responsibility for data protection. The changes will only impact on the Scottish Information Commissioner…
18 Mar 2013 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on whether whistleblowing arrangements for NHS staff are adequate.
12 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many children have been provided with frequency-modulated (FM) amplification technology in (a) primary and (b) secondary school in each year since 1999, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) NHS board.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: This information is not held centrally.
12 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice it has given to education authorities on the use of frequency-modulated (FM) amplification technology.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government has not provided any advice to education authorities on the use of frequency-modulated (FM) amplification technology. Responsibility for the design, construction and maintenance of schools rest with local authorities. However, followi…
12 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) NHS boards and (b) local authorities regarding the provision of frequency-modulated (FM) amplification technology for children in mainstream education.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government has had no direct discussions with NHS boards or local authorities regarding the provision of frequency-modulated (FM) amplification technology for children in mainstream education. However, the Scottish Sensory Centre, who are funded…
12 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the provision of frequency-modulated (FM) amplification technology to children in mainstream education.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Sensory Centre, who are funded by the Scottish Government, published a Review of assistive technology and environmental aids to pupils with a sensory impairment in Scotland in November 2012. This Review includes information on the provision of fr…
11 Mar 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend the high speed rail link from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Perth.
Answer · Keith Brown: We have no plans to extend high speed rail lines to Perth.
4 Mar 2013 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Scottish Qualifications Authority regarding contracts that the body has signed with foreign governments.
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on developing a super-fast rail link between Perth and the central belt.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has no plans to develop a new rail link between Perth and the central belt. Transport Scotland is working closely with Network Rail to develop phase two of the Highland Main Line Improvements Project and phase one of the Aberdeen to C…
28 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average cost per kilometre has been for the construction of new roads in each year since 1999.
Answer · Keith Brown: Schemes vary considerably in terms of their nature, location, complexity of design and the environmental constraints that governs that design. The average cost per kilometre for the construction of new roads in each year since 1999 is contained in the followi…
28 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) West Lothian and (b) Fife Council will pay toward the cost of the Forth Replacement Crossing.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Forth Replacement Crossing will be fully funded through Scottish Government capital budgets.
21 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many buildings are at risk, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The table breaks down buildings on the register of Buildings at Risk by Category of Listing and Local Authority Area as at December 2012. Local Authority A-Listed B-Listed C-Listed Unlisted in CA Unlisted Total Aberdeen City 20 4 0 0 1 25 Aberd…
21 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many compulsory purchase orders have been issued for buildings in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government holds information on those compulsory purchase orders submitted to Scottish Ministers as the confirming authority. We do not hold information on those orders instigated by a local authority but not submitted for confirmation or on the …
21 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many serious disrepair notices have been placed on buildings in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Derek Mackay: This is a matter for local authorities. Buildings in a state of disrepair could have defective or dangerous building notices issued by individual local authorities, and limited information should be available on each authority’s online Building Standards Regi…
20 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many reports of antisocial behaviour there have been in each year since 1999, broken down by constituency.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The number of reports of antisocial behaviour each year since 1999, broken down by constituency, is not held centrally. Statistics on Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and other related information, by local authority area, can be found on the Scottish Government…
13 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when ministers will make a statement on the future provision of retained fire stations.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Decisions on operational matters such as the location and provision of fire stations, including retained ones, are currently the responsibility of the fire and rescue services and post on 1 April 2013 will be a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.…
13 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussion ministers have had regarding the closure of retained fire stations.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Decisions on operational matters such as the location, provision and closure of fire stations, including retained ones, are currently the responsibility of the fire and rescue services and post 1st April 2013 will be a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue …
11 Feb 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will implement its Working with China strategy.