Angus MacDonald

22 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken in co-operation with public bodies, including local authorities, to help them comply with their climate change duties.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I work closely with senior public sector figures in my role as chair of the Public Sector Climate Leaders Forum (PSCLF). The remit of the PSCLF is to provide strategic leadership on public sector climate action, including measures undertaken by individual bod…

22 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been provided by the VisitScotland Growth Fund, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: VisitScotland have run two growth fund programmes during this administration. The current VisitScotland Growth Fund programme, which runs from 2014-15, has to date approved £288,486 of funding to 12 tourism industry partnerships. During the previous growth …

20 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent publication of research into tail injuries in working dogs by the University of Glasgow, what progress it is making in considering whether to introduce exemptions to legislation on tail docking.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Following the publication of the Glasgow University research on tail injuries in working dogs in Scotland, the Scottish Government undertook a series of discussions with key stakeholders on the findings. I have now subsequently asked the Chief Veterinary Offi…

11 Aug 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether an independent Scotland would see an increase in funding from the EU European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and, if so, by how much.

5 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding the introduction of a ferry service between Scotland and Norway and whether it would consider providing financial support for such a service.

Answer · Keith Brown: We have been approached on a number of occasions by parties and individuals about the provision of a direct ferry service to Norway from Scotland. We want to see the expansion of direct ferry connections from Scotland and are happy to engage with potential op…

5 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has been approached regarding the introduction of a direct ferry service between Scotland and Norway and what assessment it has made of the potential for such a service.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22248 on 12 August 2014. 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/parliamentary…

4 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many female sex offenders have been incarcerated in each year since 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table: Female sex offenders1 receiving a custodial sentence, 2006-07 to 2012-13. Crime 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Lewd and libidinous practices 1 - - 1 1 1 - Pu…

4 Aug 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what programmes are in place for the rehabilitation of female sex offenders.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: As at August 2014 there were only 24 females recorded on the Sex Offenders Register in Scotland. The small numbers of female sex offenders presents substantial problems in devising and delivering standardised programmes. As the number of imprisoned female se…

31 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the practice of sewage sludge spreading and the effectiveness of controls and enforcement powers.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Earlier this year I asked my officials to consider with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) the current legal regime and practices around the spreading of sewage sludge. Following these discussions I intend to commission a review on the use of s…

28 Jul 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the newly appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

4 Jul 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09238 by Fergus Ewing on 12 September 2012, what progress has been made by Business Club Scotland (BCS) in assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), and what the outcome was of the BCS/Scottish Enterprise research to identify the barriers …

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Business Club Scotland (BCS) finalised their research to identify the barriers to small and medium-sized enterprises supplying goods and services to major events in 2012. In September 2013, following preparatory discussions with Scottish Enterprise, BCS infor…

30 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is increasing awareness of the maedi-visna virus in sheep among sheep farmers and veterinarians, and what advice it is giving farmers to help maintain disease-free status on their farms.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government, through the Veterinary and Advisory Services programme, funds the Scottish Rural College (SRuC) to deliver veterinary surveillance in Scotland, to communicate animal health risks to farmers and veterinarians and to produce advice on d…

18 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the independent expert scientific panel on unconventional oil and gas to report back.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The independent expert scientific panel was convened to assess the scientific evidence on unconventional oil and gas and produce a robust, well-informed report. The panel will report in due course.

10 Jun 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Scottish Diabetes Group expects to agree an approach to identifying people with undiagnosed diabetes.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Diabetes Group continues to work with stakeholders and is exploring how best it can help to ensure that people who develop diabetes are identified as soon as possible.

3 Jun 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote healthy eating choices for children.

29 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities in Forth Valley have signed up to the No Knives, Better Lives campaign.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Clackmannanshire Council have been signed up to the No Knives Better Lives programme since 2010. Latest crime figures recorded by the police show that the number of crimes of handling an offensive weapon, which includes knives, in the Forth Valley area (Clac…

20 May 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the National Planning Framework 3 and the revised Scottish planning policy.

12 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding the re-instatement of a passenger rail service between Grangemouth and Falkirk.

Answer · Keith Brown: A passenger rail station at Grangemouth was not raised during the consultation process for the 2008 Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which sets out the Scottish Government’s 29 transport investment priorities over the period to 2032. As the STPR for…

12 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made regarding the introduction of wifi on all CalMac vessels.

Answer · Keith Brown: CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) has made good progress in completing the procurement of a new wide area network which will include the connection of all CalMac vessels. A contract has been prepared and an award letter is expected to be issued very shortly. The pref…

11 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what mitigating measures the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is using to remove nonylphenols from rivers and the natural environment.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is currently consulting on possible measures for reducing the impacts of toxic substances such as nonylphenol on the water environment. The consultation suggests possible measures such as end-of-pipe treatment by sus…

2 May 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it can take to stop online auction sites allowing the sale of illegal, toxic pesticides and what representations it has made to the UK Government on this matter.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is an offence under UK pesticide legislation to sell online pesticides that do not have a valid UK authorisation or permit. Scottish Ministers, the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities enforce this requirement in Scotland. Inspectors have a r…

2 May 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made toward ensuring that speech and language therapy are available in Gaelic medium schools.

2 May 2014 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to help develop a vaccine for squirrel pox virus.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Further to a ministerial meeting in May 2013 with MSPs from the South of Scotland and relevant stakeholders, it was agreed that it was vital to ensure that the work of the Moredun Research Institute to develop a vaccine to protect red squirrels from squirrel …

30 Apr 2014 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will approve the Falkirk Council Development Plan Scheme 2014.

17 Apr 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase the number of automated external defibrillators in public places.

7 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent action it has taken to encourage NHS boards to ensure that GPs reduce unnecessary waste of prescribed drugs.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of reducing medicines wastage and all NHS boards have strategies in place to help improve the quality, clinical and cost effectiveness of prescribing. These include GP and pharmacist medicines reviews and revi…

7 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) housing association and (b) local authority new build homes were completed in the Falkirk Council area in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012 and (iii) 2013, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The following table shows the number of housing association and local authority new build homes completed in Falkirk Council area in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Information on the parliamentary constituency in which these homes are located is not held centrally. …

7 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people in the Falkirk Council area have received support from the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme since 2011, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Between January 2011 and December 2013 a total of 34 homes were purchased in the Falkirk Council area under the Open Market Shared Equity scheme. Information on the parliamentary constituency of these homes is not held centrally.

5 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how long it has taken on average for each local authority in the Forth Valley region to process a building warrant application in each of the last five years; how many applications each has processed during that period; how many have taken (a) up to and (b) more than two months to proces…

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20664 on 6 May 2014. 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/parliamentarybusi…

5 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how long it has taken each local authority in the Forth Valley region to process a building warrant completion certificate application in each of the last five years; how many applications each has processed during that period; how many have taken (a) up to and (b) more than two months t…

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. From 2005, local authorities’ verification performance has been measured under a balanced scorecard framework. This required them to have in place a customer charter that included measurable performance …