Parliamentary questions
Angus MacDonald
470 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Apr 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is providing to cattle and sheep farmers in light of reported difficulties in these sectors.
19 Mar 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards introducing Wi-Fi on all Caledonian MacBrayne ferries that serve the Inner and Outer Hebrides.
8 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will implement revisions to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Answer · John Swinney: The UK Public Service Pensions Bill, which is expected to receive Royal Assent in May 2013 will require the main public service pension schemes, including the Local Government Pension Scheme, to be reformed by 1 April 2015.
8 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on reform of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Answer · John Swinney: A Tri-partite group comprising of representatives from the Convention Of Scottish Local Authorities, the trades unions and the Scottish Government was convened in October 2012 and is supporting negotiations to reform the Local Government Pension Scheme. Nego…
18 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Falkirk Council regarding the closure of the Birkhill Fireclay Mine.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has not had discussions with Falkirk Council regarding their decision, as owners, to close the Birkhill Fireclay Mine. Historic Scotland had frequent contact with Falkirk Council regarding the designation of the site. Following Histor…
2 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide a Gaelic language version of the independence referendum ballot paper.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not plan to provide a Gaelic language version of the ballot paper for the independence referendum. As part of the question assessment process, the Electoral Commission tested the proposed question with voters who speak Gaelic as …
28 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how NHS boards ensure that GPs reduce the unnecessary waste of prescribed drugs.
21 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that combating wildlife crime is a priority for the Police Service of Scotland.
14 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what will qualify as emergency help under the proposed Scottish Welfare Fund.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: There are a range of payment methods that local authorities can use to provide emergency help under the Scottish Welfare Fund. As well as cash payments, local authorities may decide to use payments in-kind such as food vouchers, or loaded store cards, to best…
14 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made regarding the introduction of the Scottish Welfare Fund.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: We are working in partnership with colleagues in COSLA, and local authority representatives on the development of the Scottish Welfare Fund. We have set up a Design and Implementation Group (DIG), in partnership with COSLA, and involving local authority repre…
10 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09951 by Keith Brown on 24 October 2012, whether it has received a report and recommendation regarding the proposed Rosyth international container terminal from the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals and, if not, when it expects to.
Answer · Keith Brown: A report was received from the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals on 31 December 2012.
7 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent progress has been made in introducing the EU 1+2 model of language teaching.
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on ship-to-ship oil transfers.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: This is a matter of considerable public interest in Scotland. The Scottish Government recognises that ship-to-ship transfer of oil as cargo is an internationally recognised practice that is important to the shipping industry and has an excellent safety record…
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent progress has been made in encouraging local authority pension funds to invest in affordable and social housing.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-09429 on 20 September 2012, the Scottish Government has continued in discussion with a range of parties interested in providing pension fund and institutional investment for housing in Scotland. This includes …
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider giving supermarkets that contribute toward business improvement districts dispensation from the public health levy.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has no plans to exclude premises within business improvement districts from payment of the public health supplement.
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent progress has been made in developing a dryport in Central Scotland to allow sustainable urban distribution of goods and the shift of goods from road to rail and water.
Answer · Keith Brown: The South East of Scotland Transport Partnership and the Transport Research Institute were the Scottish partners in an EU funded initiative to study the role dryports can play in maximising the capacity and efficiency of sea ports, whilst also shifting traffi…
10 Dec 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in rolling out the Childsmile service to schools and nurseries in the NHS Forth Valley area.
26 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding border inspections in Scotland for products of animal origin from countries outwith the European Union.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is a signatory to a Service Level Agreement that sets out working arrangements across Great Britain for complying with European Union legislation governing the import of products of animal origin. The other signatories are the Departme…
26 Nov 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Falkirk Council and what matters were discussed.
20 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities will be asked to include a social enterprise adviser as part of the Business Gateway service.
Answer · John Swinney: Delivery of the business gateway service locally, is the legal responsibility of local authorities. New contractual arrangements for the delivery of that service came into effect on 1 October 2012 which will deliver a nationally consistent universal service s…
12 Nov 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it measures the impact of the Youth Music Initiative.
5 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what emphasis its revision of the Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP) will place on the recommendation by the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee in its report on the Scottish Government's Draft Budget 2012-13 and Spending Review 2011 that it "ensures that all prop…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The second Report on Proposals and Policies, for the period to 2027 and currently under development, will draw attention to the wide range of public and private funding and financing mechanisms available for climate change mitigation activities.
2 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many organisations that promote or support the Gaelic language have had funding reduced or withdrawn since the establishment of Creative Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I have asked Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive of Creative Scotland, The National Agency for the arts, screen and creative industries, to write to the member. Further information about Creative Scotland’s activities is available at: http://www.creativescotland.co…
29 Oct 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to minimise the impact on agriculture of the Schmallenberg virus.
11 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask The Scottish Government what criteria are used to determine the (a) schools and (b) nurseries in the NHS Forth Valley area that participate in the Childsmile (i) core, (ii) nursery and school and (iii) practice schemes.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Childsmile is aimed at children in the most deprived communities as measured by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SMID). Childsmile core is available to all three and four year olds attending nursery and to P1 and P2 children in the 20% of areas wh…
28 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will receive advice from Scottish Natural Heritage on the implications of the proposed Rosyth international container terminal for European wildlife sites and Scotland's natural heritage following the receipt of the report and recommendation from the Directorate for Planning a…
Answer · Keith Brown: If, following receipt of the report of the public inquiry, it is considered that the order should be made and that the proposal will be likely to have a significant effect on a European site, Scottish Natural Heritage will be consulted for the purposes of com…
28 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will receive a report and recommendation regarding the proposed Rosyth international container terminal from the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals.
Answer · Keith Brown: We currently expect to receive the report later in the autumn.
28 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what countries are visited on their annual migration by birds that might be affected by the proposed Rosyth international container terminal and what discussions the Scottish Government has had with such countries on the matter.
Answer · Keith Brown: Relevant details of species potentially affected by the proposal are contained in the Report to Inform an Appropriate Assessment prepared by the applicant and publicly available on the website of the Scottish Government Directorate for Planning and Environmen…
28 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what compensatory measures might be required if consent is granted for the proposed Rosyth international container terminal and an adverse impact on a European designated site cannot be ruled out.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-09947 on 24 October 2012. 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/parliamentaryb…
28 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if consent is granted for the proposed Rosyth international container terminal and an adverse impact on a European designated site cannot be ruled out, what action will be required.
Answer · Keith Brown: We still await the report of the public inquiry into this proposal and until that report is received and the application is determined it is not considered appropriate to speculate on possible outcomes.