Parliamentary questions
John Finnie
1,255 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its announcement on 10 October 2016 of its support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, whether it plans to publish comprehensive details of how it will offset additional CO2 emissions resulting from the “£10m route development fund to help support new domestic routes”, an…
Answer · Keith Brown: Heathrow Airport's £10m route development fund for new domestic routes will be subject to a competitive process and open to bids from all parts of the UK. Whilst we fully expect that Scotland will benefit from new services, it is for airlines and airports to …
27 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its announcement on 10 October 2016 of its support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, and the announcement of a “£10m route development fund to help support new domestic routes”, whether it will define the term “domestic routes”; who will be consulted on any new domestic…
Answer · Keith Brown: Domestic routes refers to routes between Heathrow Airport and other UK airports. Applications for funding under Heathrow's £10 million fund will be for airlines and airports to progress and consult on. Heathrow has confirmed that the £10 million fund will com…
27 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its announcement on 10 October 2016 of its support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, whether, given a prior commitment to "£200 million of construction-related spend in Scotland during planning and construction”, it has confidence in the integrity of the procurement pro…
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government will be represented on Heathrow's Procurement Strategy Forum to ensure that the construction supply chain is accessible to Scottish businesses. The Scottish Government and Heathrow will work together to ensure that the wider terms of t…
27 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its announcement on 10 October 2016 of its support for a third runway at Heathrow Airport, how its commitments to “The creation of up to 16,000 new jobs across Scotland from the new capacity,” will be met; where, and within what sectors those new jobs will be created, and whe…
Answer · Keith Brown: Heathrow Airport has estimated that up to 16,000 new jobs will be created across Scotland reflecting the conclusions of the Airports Commission. These jobs are anticipated to come from a number of sectors relating to the introduction of new routes including t…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been received by each NHS board as a result of NHS facilities being used privately in each of the last five years.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information on how much income NHS Boards receive in relation to private patients being treated in NHS facilities is not available centrally.
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the wider implications of delays associated with hip replacement operations.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Boards are responsible for planning and delivering services to meet the needs of their local population now and in future. The Scottish Government Health Directorate continue to actively support Boards to better project demand for NHS services and to plan…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last assessed charging costs for NHS facilities being used privately.
Answer · Shona Robison: The charging cost of private patients being treated is a matter for local NHS Boards who are best placed to determine the cost of specific procedures being undertaken in their local hospitals.
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last assessed the operational implications of NHS facilities being used privately.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03990 on 4 November 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…
24 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made between delays associated with procedures carried out on the NHS and the number of similar private procedures undertaken in NHS facilities.
Answer · Shona Robison: Scottish Government guidance makes clear that any private work undertaken in NHS facilities must not be to the detriment of NHS patients waiting for treatment.
18 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will carry out an assessment of the environmental impact on the west coast of the recent NATO exercise, Unmanned Warrior.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: All matters relating to the defence of the United Kingdom remain the direct responsibility of the UK Government. This includes naval exercises which fall within the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). As the competent authority MoD have responsi…
17 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many firearms certificates have been revoked on the grounds of the holder’s health in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held centrally.
17 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many firearms certificate holders are prescribed anti-depressants.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held centrally.
17 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what legal protection is given to the victims of sexual crime to ensure that they are not further victimised by public exposure of their sexual history.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Sections 274 to 275C of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 were introduced to strengthen the existing provisions restricting the extent to which evidence can be led regarding the character and sexual history of the complainer. Under these provisions, …
17 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review safety advice given to firearms certificate holders.
Answer · Michael Matheson: It is the legislative responsibility of individuals to ensure that they are storing and using their firearms safely and in accordance with their firearms certificate. Advice is provided by the police at the time of grant or renewal of certificates. Safety adv…
17 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that health authorities have adequate input to the suitability of individuals to be firearms certificate holders.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Decisions about the suitability of an individual to hold a firearm certificate rest with the Chief Constable. The police will enquire of as many people or organisations as necessary to ensure the safety of the public prior to issuing a certificate. New arra…
17 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the health of firearms certificate holders is monitored to ensure their ongoing suitability to possess these.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Decisions about the suitability of an individual to hold a firearms certificate rest with the Chief Constable. In determining the suitability of an individual to hold a certificate, the police take into account all information available to them both at the …
12 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what public funds that it has responsibility for have supported development, manufacture or marketing in the arms trade in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Keith Brown: Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has supported a range of activities in businesses that may be targeting defence contracts as part of their operating strategy. As well as direct financial support, various graduate placements, summer placements and spe…
12 Oct 2016 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much is invested in the manufacture, development or marketing of arms by the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme.
Answer · David Stewart: I refer the Member to the answer to his previous Questions, S4W-25996 on 17 June 2015, S4W-27614 on 30 September 2015 and S4W-28556 on 1 December 2015. The Scottish Parliamentary Pensions Act 2009 (the Act) introduced new rules for the governance of the Scot…
10 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used in determining suitability for national nature reserve designation.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In summary, to be considered for the National Nature Reserve accolade a site will: 1. Be nationally important for one or preferably a range of natural features. 2. Be very well managed to ensure the continuity and, where necessary, the enhancement of these…
10 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to help establish national nature reserves.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The establishment of National Nature Reserves (NNRs) is a matter for Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Proposals for the establishment of NNRs should be made by the owners and/or managers of the land in question to the National Nature Reserve Partnership (admi…
10 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to establish further national parks.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5O-00114 on 8 September 2016 which is available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=10502
10 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role Scottish Natural Heritage plays in the identification of areas suitable for designation as national nature reserves.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-03634 on 1 November 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…
10 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the implications of Brexit on (a) local and (b) national nature reserves.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: At present there are no apparent implications of Brexit on (a) local and (b) national nature reserves.
10 Oct 2016 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assessment it makes of IT features lost and not replicated during IT upgrades.
Answer · David Stewart: Before an IT upgrade is undertaken, an initial assessment is made of the impact of the proposed changes. Upgrades are then typically tested with a small number of users to help identify, and rectify, any issues prior to a wider deployment. If any important …
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible environmental and safety risks, what assessment it has made of the implications of the transport of enriched uranium from Dounreay to the USA and the upgrade of Wick John O’Groats Airport to handle this, and what discussions it had had with (a) the Nuclear Decom…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Nuclear materials stored at Dounreay are owned by the UK Government. The transportation of nuclear materials is a reserved matter. Before any move, there is robust consideration of safety and security, involving as appropriate Scottish agencies including Poli…
6 Oct 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how often it meets the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and what the date was of the most recent meeting.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform last had a meeting with the Chair of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on 25 October 2016. We aim for these meetings to occur annually. Scottish Government officials meet frequently wit…
29 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-02387 by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 September 2016, whether it will answer the question that was asked regarding whether it was consulted on the reported plan by the Oil and Gas Authority to use £2.5 million of money received from the Treasury to fund ne…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government has not been directly or formally consulted by the OGA on the recent new analysis of seismic data, but officials have engaged with the OGA to discuss the Authority’s support for seismic surveying and analysis, including discussing the …
28 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes in response to (a) negative publicity and (b) the potential impact on exports that arises from the shooting of seals.
22 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on cetacean populations in Scottish waters of the slaughter of whales in the Faroe Islands.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has not undertaken any assessment of the potential impact of Faroese whaling on cetacean populations in Scottish waters. The cetacean species targeted by Faroese whaling are part of wider North Atlantic populations. It is therefore no…
22 Sep 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the the Faroe Islands Government regarding the impact of whaling on cetacean populations in Scottish waters.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has had no discussions with the Faroese Government on the issue of whaling. International relations are a reserved matter for the UK Government. Scottish Government policy on whaling is to fully support the UK Government in seeking a…