Parliamentary questions
John Finnie
1,255 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 13 June 2017, Next steps on tackling hate crime, what work it has carried out since 2007 to tackle antisemitism, including how it works with other countries.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is committed to doing all that we can to prevent and eradicate hate crime and prejudice, including anti-semitism. In our response to the Report of the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion we set ou…
14 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 13 June 2017, Next steps on tackling hate crime, what the practical implications of adopting the International Holocaust Memorial Trust's working definition of antisemitism will be.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government is determined that there should be no place in Scotland for any form of antisemitism or religious hatred that makes our communities feel insecure or threatened in their daily lives. We are committed to tackling all forms of discriminat…
14 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its news release of 13 June 2017, Next steps on tackling hate crime, which organisations asked it to adopt the International Holocaust Memorial Trust's working definition of antisemitism, and what issues it identified with the previous definition.
Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government engages frequently with the Scottish Council for Jewish Communities and others on a range of issues, and one of these has been the International Holocaust Memorial Trust’s working definition of anti-Semitism. The Scottish Government co…
13 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09495 by Keith Brown on 13 June 2017, whether it will provide the information that was requested regarding what its position is on introducing an ethical investment policy to advise its enterprise agencies when using public money.
Answer · Keith Brown: A range of policies and processes on issues such as effective use of public funds and procurement are already in place to guide the use of public money by our enterprise agencies. The Scottish Government is also working with partners, including the Scottish H…
2 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09273 by Derek Mackay on 30 May 2017, how it ensures that (a) it and (b) its agencies fulfil their statutory obligations to comply with data protection legislation when (i) handling personal data and (ii) developing policies and practices.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government has a comprehensive set of policies and procedures to ensure we and our Executive Agencies comply with the Data Protection Act. Our staff undertake annual data protection training and a specialist data protection team are available to …
1 Jun 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will provide a substantive response to the concerns raised in the letter by John Finnie MSP on 22 November 2016 regarding possible deficiencies with the carbon calculator for wind farms on peat, which received a holding reply from the Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy …
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: In my response, on the 23 December, I stated the following:- 'As you know the Scottish Government worked with SEPA in order to update the carbon calculator into a web based version, which would be more user friendly and I launched this in June at the Scottis…
30 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings of the 2017 Global Drug Survey, which suggeststhat people addicted to cocaine, ecstasy and alcohol are having to attend A&E departments as most drugs services are focused on heroin.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government's drug strategy 'The Road to Recovery' is focused on addressing problem drug use in society, whether this relates to heroin, cocaine or any other substance. Since the publication of that strategy in 2008, the Scottish Government has in…
26 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what is position is on introducing an ethical investment policy to advise its enterprise agencies when using public money.
Answer · Keith Brown: Our Enterprise Agencies play a key role in building a more prosperous and fairer future for Scotland and already support a range of possible business benefits of good ethical investment including encouraging businesses to become accredited Living Wage employe…
19 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) annual and (b) total value is of Network Rail’s contract with MITIE for the cleaning and facility management of (i) Glasgow Central and (ii) Edinburgh Waverley railway station.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09364 on 27 June 2017. 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…
19 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role it plays in setting the terms and conditions of Network Rail’s contract with MITIE for the cleaning and facility management of (a) Glasgow Central and (b) Edinburgh Waverley railway station.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09364 on 27 June 2017. 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…
19 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment it has made of the terms and conditions of employment set out in Network Rail’s contract with MITIE for the cleaning and facility management of (a) Glasgow Central and (b) Edinburgh Waverley railway station, and what its position is on whether it complies with its …
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09364 on 27 June 2017. 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…
19 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it contributes each year towards the cost of Network Rail’s contract with MITIE for the cleaning and facility management of (a) Glasgow Central and (b) Edinburgh Waverley railway station.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09364 on 27 June 2017. 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…
19 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many staff employed by MITIE on the contract with Network Rail for the cleaning and facility management of (a) Glasgow Central and (b) Edinburgh Waverley railway station are on (i) fixed-term contracts, (ii) zero-hours contracts, (iii) permanent cont…
Answer · Humza Yousaf: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-09364 on 27 June 2017. 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…
19 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the (a) ScotRail Alliance and (b) operators of cross-border rail services regarding Network Rail’s contract with MITIE for the cleaning and facility management of (i) Glasgow Central and (ii) Edinburgh Waverley railway station.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government has had no such discussions with the ScotRail Alliance or operators of cross-border rail services. I am meeting the RMT to discuss this issue. Network Rail is responsible for managing the delivery of its business, including the deplo…
16 May 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that personal data held by public authorities is not used to advertise products of private companies, in light of reports that this happened to holders of firearms certificates issued by the Metropolitan Police.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Data protection is a reserved matter which is regulated by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) across the UK. Public authorities do not fall under The Scottish Ministers ICO registration therefore it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Governmen…
27 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide funding to enable the North West Highland Geopark to retain its UNESCO Geopark status.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Since 2013, the Scottish Government has awarded £248,000 to the North West Highlands Geopark and practical advice on business planning has been provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. This support was provided to assist the Geopark to develop a busines…
19 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its consultation on changes to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), what assessment it has made of Scotland's ability to meet the Aichi targets if the proposal to introduce an increased threshold for EIAs for forestry is introduced.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government requires that all new woodland creation projects, funded under the Forestry Grant Scheme, comply with the UK Forestry Standard and its biodiversity guidelines. These guidelines ensure the appropriate protection and conservation of desi…
19 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the cumulative impact on wildlife habitats of woodland that has been planted without an environmental impact assessment.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: An assessment has not been made of the cumulative impact on wildlife habitats of woodland that has been planted without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). However, any individual application for EIA consent or grant funding for woodland creation submit…
19 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the biodiversity benefits of reducing the threshold for which an environmental impact assessment for new woodland is required.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has only increased the threshold for forestry projects outside sensitive areas. There remains no threshold for forestry projects in sensitive areas and all woodland creation projects in those areas must undergo an Environmental Impact …
19 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place with stakeholders regarding the impact on biodiversity of raising environmental impact assessment thresholds, and how concerns regarding biodiversity will be addressed.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Forestry Commission Scotland officials met with statutory stakeholders and separately with environmental Non-Governmental Organisations to discuss the proposed changes to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) threshold for woodland creation projects outsi…
18 Apr 2017 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what value it places on locations in Scotland holding UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
18 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many people in Scotland are exempt from tax, also broken down by type of tax, and how many are ordinarily resident in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of UK.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Revenue Scotland is responsible for the collection and management of the fully devolved taxes and is bound by taxpayer confidentiality, but reports monthly statistics for Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and quarterly statistics for Scottish Landfill Tax. T…
18 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding which organisations that operate in Scotland have employees who are exempt from taxation.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scotland Act 2016 extends income tax powers provided for in the Scotland Act 2012. The Scottish Parliament has the power to set the Scottish income tax rates and bands, and HMRC will continue to be responsible for its collection and management. HMRC cont…
18 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which organisations that operate in Scotland have employees who receive immunity from (a) criminal and (b) civil law.
Answer · Annabelle Ewing: A number of international organisations whose officers enjoy immunities and privileges under Scots law are listed in the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Scotland) Order 2009, as amended and as to be further amended by the draft Intern…
11 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Minister for Transport and the Islands will reply to the letter dated 8 February 2017 from John Finnie MSP regarding the ferry services for Orkney and Shetland.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: A reply to John Finnie MSP was issued on 20 April 2017.
10 Apr 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) assessment it has made of and (b) its position is on proposals for Police Scotland to deploy officers who are not firearms officers with Tasers.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable to consider taking account of a range of factors including intelligence reports and threat and risk assessments. The standing authority to carry firearms is reviewed quarterly by Police Scotland's Armed Po…
29 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the benefit-cost ratios for the A9 dualling project were (a) prior to the introduction and (b) after one year’s operation of average speed cameras.
Answer · Keith Brown: The benefit-cost ratios for the A9 Dualling Programme are forecast to be (a) 1.04 prior to the introduction of average speed cameras and (b) 1.12 following the introduction of average speed cameras. Full details are contained within Table 6.16 and Table 6.1…
16 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-07487 by Jamie Hepburn on 16 March 2017, whether it will ask Skills Development Scotland to insist that the modern apprenticeship vacancies advertised on the website must be at least Two Tick or Disability Confident.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: Skills Development Scotland is currently working with MA training providers and employers in a range of ways to raise awareness of Disability Confident processes and encouraging them to meet the criteria. An example of this was the 'Get Connected: progressing…
16 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what sanctions exist for conduct by appointed religious representatives on local authority education committees, which, if conducted by an elected member, would be reportable to the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.
Answer · Kevin Stewart: The convenor of individual council committees, and ultimately the local authority, are responsible for managing the behaviour of non elected members of council committees. It is up to each individual local authority to determine the appropriate sanctions for …
9 Mar 2017 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when work will start on the new passenger access system at Brodick Harbour.
Answer · Humza Yousaf: The new passenger access system at Brodick is being installed in two phases. The first phase has already begun and is due to be completed by the end of March 2017. Work on the second phase is due to start on site in June and is anticipated to be completed in …