John Lamont

7 Dec 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on ending automatic early release of prisoners.

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to improve the A7 through (a) Selkirk and (b) Hawick.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-00015 on 25 May 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusine…

5 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards provide a dedicated physiotherapist for people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is for individual NHS boards to determine the number of dedicated physiotherapists they require to treat people with multiple sclerosis (MS) based on local priorities and clinical need and Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. Howev…

2 Nov 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of NFU Scotland.

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the enhanced support offered for tidal stream technologies by Renewable Obligation Certificates extends to tidal range technologies and, if so, how the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) scheme discourages potentially adverse environmental impacts from tidal range developments.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Renewables Obligation (Scotland) offers support to tidal range technologies (beneath 1 GigaWatt in size), but at a lower level than the enhanced support available for tidal stream technologies. The government considers environmental impacts of proposed o…

13 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-02931 by Aileen Campbell on 7 October 2011, what work it is doing to identify when the impact of wind turbines on the natural environment would become unacceptable.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government and its statutory advisors Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency carry out a range of work in relation to monitoring, planning and assessing the landscape, carbon, cumulative and other impacts of wind…

5 Oct 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the BBC Trust and what issues were discussed.

24 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on setting limits on the number of wind turbines that may be installed in local authority areas.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government sets no limits on the number of turbines that may be installed in local authority areas.

31 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is promoting the teaching of Latin in schools.

Answer · Michael Russell: Curriculum for Excellence offers practitioners the opportunity to introduce study of the classical world, including Latin, into the classroom. The Scottish Government and The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) are working with a range of experienced tea…

27 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish graduates from universities in Scotland were (a) working in Scotland, (b) working elsewhere in the United Kingdom and (c) unemployed in the year after they graduated in each of the last five years.

Answer · Michael Russell: Information on the destinations of recent qualifiers from Scottish higher education institutions (HEIs) comes from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey. This survey reports the destinations of qualifiers six months after concluding …

13 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a public consultation on a strategy for rare diseases and, if so, when it will be launched.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is anticipated that there will be a UK wide consultation later in the year.

20 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what the cost was of, (b) who were invited to and (c) who attended the event to launch the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The event held on 17 June 2011 was designed to engage with stakeholders and seek their views on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill. This was an open event and invitations were circulated widely to Scottish Gover…

20 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it chose to launch the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill at the George Hotel in Edinburgh on 17 June 2011.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The event held on 17 June 2011 was designed to engage with stakeholders and seek their views on the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Bill on the day it was published by the Scottish Parliament. The George Hotel, Edinbu…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to carry out a review of criminal injuries compensation.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Payments made to innocent victims of violent crime are made under provisions of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, which applies in Scotland, England and Wales and is founded on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1995, an act of the UK Parliament.…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the costs and funding of civil litigation.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Further to the answer to question S3W-40153 on 4 March 2011, the review of the expenses and funding of civil litigation in Scotland announced by the then Minister for Community Safety, Fergus Ewing MSP, has now begun work under the leadership of Sheriff Princ…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the administration of criminal cases and the impact that this has on the justice system.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A comprehensive programme of reform is in progress, with several substantial steps already completed and further reforms planned. The second session of the Scottish Parliament legislated to reform both the operation of the High Court of Justiciary (in the Cr…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to enforce the payment of compensation to victims of crime.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Substantial progress in improving the rights of victims within our justice system was made in the course of the previous Parliament, including improving the ability of courts to award compensation payable by an offender to a victim and allowing courts to revi…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the implementation of The Road to Recovery: A New Approach to Tackling Scotland's Drug Problem.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Road to Recovery is a long-term strategy and its impact and success requires review from both within and outwith government. In order to do this effectively and sustainably the Scottish Government established the Drugs Strategy Delivery Commission (DSDC)…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to evaluate the legislation passed by the Parliament since 1999.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The evaluation of the Scottish statute book is a function of the government and the Parliament. Legislation is reviewed on an ongoing basis, particular focus will often arise in an area of law covered by an act or a series of acts as a result of policy and le…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has completed site acquisition for HMP (a) Inverclyde and (b) Highland.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows: The SPS completed the site acquisition for HMP Inverclyde on 31 March 2011. The SPS remains committed to building HMP Highland, as a repla…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for investment in the prison estate.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Scottish Prison Service is taking forward investment in the prison estate in line with the spending plans set out by the Scottish Government …

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to carry out an audit of the compatibility of Scots criminal law with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A full European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) audit was carried out during the first session of the Parliament and compatibility with the Convention is considered when any legislation is introduced. Specific areas of law have been reviewed to assess compa…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36912 by Fergus Ewing on 28 October 2010, what progress it has made on the development of an international arbitration centre.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Arbitration Centre was launched in March 2011. Its purpose is to promote arbitration as a means of cost effective and efficient dispute resolution to Scottish business and to promote Scotland and Scottish arbitration to the world. The centre will…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to expand the witness service to all Justice of the Peace courts.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has no plans to extend the witness service to all Justice of the Peace Courts.

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to allow the views of victims to be taken into account when (a) community sentences and (b) parole board decisions are being considered.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There are already mechanisms in place to take account of victims’ concerns in both the area of community sentencing and when decisions to release offenders on licence are taken. In respect of community sentences, practice guidance for criminal justice social …

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce the reforms proposed in the Report of Scottish Civil Courts Review and what the timescale is.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is taking forward the recommendations of Lord Gill’s review as part of a planned and managed programme of reform, called “Making Justice Work”. Lord Gill’s recommendations will require a mix of primary and secondary legislation and a…

8 Jun 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Borders Council regarding promoting an integrated transport network in the area.

3 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports apprenticeships in (a) carpet fitting and (b) flooring.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Carpet fitting and flooring fall within the Floorcovering Occupations pathway in both the level 2 and level 3 Construction Modern Apprenticeship frameworks. In Scotland, all apprentices aged 16 to 19, and those aged 20 and above following an approved constru…

3 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports apprenticeships in the textile industry.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The textile industry may have benefited from the use of generic frameworks such as Management or Business Admin. There is currently no approved modern apprenticeship framework in place specifically for the textile industry. However, Skillset is the sector sk…

3 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many apprenticeships in the textile industry it has funded in the Scottish Borders in each of the last four years.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government does not hold apprentice information centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to the member with any information he can provide. However, please note that as in the answer to question S4W-502 on…