Parliamentary questions
John Lamont
759 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Nov 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting charities assisting homeless people from Scotland in London.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government has not routinely received requests from charities supporting homeless Scots in London so no support is currently being provided. However a charity called Borderline have applied for funding in 2017-18 through the Scottish Government's…
2 Nov 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when ministers last met representatives of NHS Borders and what issues were discussed.
17 Oct 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on plans to re-open rail stations at Reston and East Linton.
12 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been employed in the (a) fishing, (b) farming, (c) textiles, (d) manufacturing, (e) renewable energy and (f) tourism industries and (g) as teachers in each year since 2007, broken down by parliamentary constituency.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The information requested has been lodged with SPICe - Bib number 58299. Seven tables have been lodged with SPICe as follows: For a) fishing, table 1 shows the level of fishing and aquaculture jobs in each parliamentary constituency from 2009 to 2015. The d…
28 Sep 2016 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many new jobs it expects the recently announced funding for Hawick to generate and whether it supports the creation of an Enterprise Zone for the town.
Answer · Keith Brown: Rather than designating Hawick as an Enterprise Zone, we recently announced over £3.6 million to help regenerate and revitalise the town. Scottish Borders Council is leading the development of the detail of proposals for the funding which will support the ret…
12 Sep 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Visit Northumberland, Visit Cumbria and local authorities regarding promoting cross-border tourism.
25 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the preliminary findings of the Phase 2 Borders Railway Feasibility Study.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02154 on 15 September 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…
25 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it has had with (a) Scottish Borders Council and (b) Transport Scotland to discuss the Phase 2 Borders Railway Feasibility Study.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland, the national transport agency, meets regularly with both Scottish Borders Council and SEStran to discuss a range of railway issues including the pre-appraisal study on the proposed extension to the Borders Railway. I also recently met with…
25 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what work has been carried out by the Phase 2 Borders Railway Feasibility Study.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02154 on 15 September 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusin…
25 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the remit is of the Phase 2 Borders Railway Feasibility Study.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: Procurement of the study is underway and it is currently expected that the study will be complete by the end of 2017, after which reports will be made available on the Transport Scotland website.
9 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its response to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland's recommendations for the number of councillors and wards arising from the 5th Reviews of Local Government Electoral Arrangements, and whether it will implement the recommendations in full.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland published and submitted to Scottish Ministers on 26 May 2016 its final recommendations for the number of councillors and the electoral ward boundaries in each of Scotland's 32 local authorities, following …
5 Aug 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide substantive answers to questions S5W-00870, S5W-00863, S5W-00864, S5W-00865 and S5W-00866, which received holding answers on 1 July 2016.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answers to questions S5W-00863 and S5W-00865 on 11 August 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parlia…
28 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to its pledge in the 2016-17 Budget to “retain police officer numbers at 1,000 higher than in 2007”.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01717 on 25 August 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…
28 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to reduce the number of police officers.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01717 on 25 August 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…
28 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it remains committed to its pledge to maintain 1,000 extra police officers from the 16,234 police officers recorded in March 2007.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As at 30 June 2016, there were 17,242 full time equivalent police officers in Scotland – 1,008 more than on 31 March 2007. The Scottish Government budget for 2016-17 made a commitment to retain police officer numbers at 1,000 higher than in 2007 while at the …
28 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response would be to a sharp drop in the number of police officers.
Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01717 on 25 August 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness…
26 Jul 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what administrative and legal steps it (a) has taken, (b) is taking and (c) will take to prepare for a second referendum on Scottish independence.
Answer · Derek Mackay: On 24 June 2016 the First Minister announced that in order to keep open all options to protect Scotland’s place in Europe, officials would be instructed to prepare the legislation that would be required to enable a new independence referendum to take place. T…
21 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the ongoing external governance review of Citizens Advice Scotland.
Answer · Keith Brown: Citizens Advice Scotland is in receipt of the interim findings from the independent governance review. It is now working towards a robust delivery plan which will look to address the recommendations within that report. We are working with Citizens Advice Scot…
21 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to change the funding to Citizens Advice Scotland.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government plans to continue existing funding arrangements.
21 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will support the work of Citizens Advice Scotland over the next three years.
Answer · Keith Brown: Citizens Advice Scotland co-ordinates the delivery of funded projects and the consumer advice helpline on behalf of the Scottish Government. We are in regular contact with Citizens Advice Scotland in relation to these and will continue to do so in the future.…
17 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reject proposals from the Local Government Boundaries Commission for Scotland that do not have the support of local communities.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00871 on 21 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/2…
17 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to partially or wholly reject proposals from the Local Government Boundaries Commission for Scotland.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00871 on 21 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/2…
17 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will respond to the Local Government Boundaries Commission for Scotland’s Fifth Electoral Review and particularly in relation to the proposals regarding Hawick.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00871 on 21 June 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28…
17 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the Local Government Boundaries Commission for Scotland’s Fifth Electoral Review.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland published and submitted to Scottish ministers on 26 May 2016 its reports and final recommendations for the number of councillors and the electoral ward boundaries in each of Scotland's 32 local authorities…
17 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects an updated Hawick action plan to be published.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00863 on 11 August 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…
17 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to establishing an enterprise or regeneration zone for Hawick, as outlined in the Initial Hawick Action Plan.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00865 on 11 August 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…
17 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to establishing an enterprise or regeneration zone for Hawick, as outlined in the Initial Hawick Action Plan.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The proposal is being explored as part of the range of initiatives set out in the Initial Hawick Action Plan. However, the range of incentives attached to an Enterprise Area could be delivered without the need for formal designation. An evaluation of the Ente…
17 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place between Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Borders Council, local businesses and other stakeholders about the Initial Hawick Action Plan since its publication in March 2016.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-00863 on 11 August 2016. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/…
17 Jun 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the status is of the drafting of an update to the Initial Hawick Action Plan, which was published in March 2016.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Initial Hawick Action Plan was developed by the Scottish Government, Scottish Borders Council, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, local businesses and other local stakeholders to address the challenges and maximise the opportunities for the…
26 May 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that operations scheduled by NHS boards go ahead as planned.