John Finnie

20 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16991 by Kenny MacAskill on 19 September 2013, which communities it has engaged with; what the outcome was, and what plans it has for future engagement.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Scottish Government, alongside police officers and MSPs, attended a number of public meetings across Scotland with members of the Muslim community during 2011. These public meetings were organised by the local Muslim communities with the relevant local police…

19 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what sanctions can result from a failure to comply with a Notice Requiring the Proper Maintenance of Land.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Where a Notice Requiring the Proper Maintenance of Land is not complied with within the period allowed for such compliance, the planning authority which issued the Notice has the power to enter the land and carry out any works required by the Notice. It is an…

19 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether psychological and therapeutic services are available as a priority to children in kinship care subject to (a) a residence order under section 11 of the Children Scotland Act 1995 and (b) looked-after child status.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Access to specialist psychological and therapeutic services is based on need and is the same for all children whether they have looked after status or not. The Named Person proposal in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill will ensure a single point o…

19 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the finding in the report, Spotlight on Kinship Care, that (a) in 2001, one in every 71 children in Scotland was being brought up by grandparents or other relatives and (b) informal kinship carers save the taxpayer between £23,500 and £56,000 a year, despite many …

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is aware of the report and its findings. The figures given for savings reflect a view that these children would otherwise be looked after in foster care or residential care. This does not reflect the reality that in general, families r…

19 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether children in formal kinship care have comparable needs to those in informal kinship care.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: Children in formal kinship care arrangements are deemed by the Children’s Hearings System to have needs which require them to be placed under a compulsory supervision order. Children in informal kinship care arrangements are not deemed to require formal supe…

19 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) informal and (b) formal kinship care placements it estimates there will be in 2015.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government estimates the figure for informal kinship care is around 15,668. This is based on the most recent evidence collected and trend assumptions. The rationale behind this estimate can be found at page 69, paragraph 125 of the Children and Y…

19 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates that (a) it and (b) local authorities will spend annually for each (i) formal, and (ii) informal kinship care placement, following the introduction of the proposed kinship care order.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government does not pay for care placements directly but supports local authorities through block grant funding. Table 28 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill Financial Memorandum sets out what the Scottish Government estimates that …

19 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many children in kinship care are living in (a) formal arrangements, (b) under section 11 orders of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and (c) other informal arrangements, also expressed as a percentage of all children in the country.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: At 31 July 2013 there were 4,076 (0.39%) children living in formal kinship care arrangements. Information on the numbers of children living in kinship care arrangements under a section 11 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 order and other informal arrangemen…

4 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the use of the powers available under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and what information it has regarding how many people have been detained since 2010 at Scotland's airports under this legislation; how many were subsequen…

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: National Security, including the powers available under the Terrorism Act 2000, is a reserved matter and a matter for the Home Office. The Scottish Government has engaged with both the police and local communities regarding the use of the powers available und…

4 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the production or development of chemical incapacitants for policing purposes.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We have not held any discussions on this issue with the UK Government. Chemical incapacitants such as CS spray are classed as prohibited weapons by virtue of section 5(1)(b) of the Firearms Act 1968. The majority of firearms legislation remains reserved to We…

4 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will be a condition of the next rail franchise for the operator to improve rolling stock and, if so, what impact it expects this to have on journey times.

Answer · Keith Brown: The selection criteria for the next ScotRail franchisee, creates an incentive for journey time improvements across the Scottish Rail network. The selection criteria will also encourage improvements to rolling stock quality and journey time on the Scottish in…

4 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the comment made by the First Minister on 5 August 2008 that "railways must at least compete with the roads" reflects current government policy.

Answer · Keith Brown: An efficient and sustainable transport system is one of the key enablers for delivering the government’s purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth in a low carbon economy. Since 2007 this government has invested over £2.6 billion in the Trunk Road Net…

4 Sep 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether accelerating the upgrade of the A9 will lead to a shift from rail to road.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Strategic Transport projects Review formed a multi-modal appraisal of the Perth to Inverness corridor and concluded that both road and rail interventions should be taken forward. Our ambitious plans to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness and upgrade t…

26 Aug 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review its arrangements for dealing with civil emergencies.

22 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the timetables for rail services between the north of Perth and Edinburgh and Glasgow will be co-ordinated to optimise journey times.

Answer · Keith Brown: Network Rail are currently working on timetable development for phase 2 of the Highland Main Line project which will help to determine where infrastructure interventions are necessary to support an hourly service and achieve the required average journey time …

22 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme timetable will ensure that fast paths are incorporated for services between Inverness and Edinburgh and Glasgow and that these will be compatible with the new timetable for services north of Perth.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Edinburgh. Glasgow, Inverness and Perth timetable is currently under development and will take account of Central Belt and Highland Main Line services including the Inverness to Edinburgh and Glasgow train paths. The timetable development currently underw…

22 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed improvements to the Highland Main Line will include restoration of the double-track section between Culloden Viaduct and Daviot. 

Answer · Keith Brown: Network Rail are currently carrying out timetable development work for phase two of the Highland Main Line Improvements project which will help to identify where infrastructure interventions are required. They are expected to deliver a report on the options f…

22 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-05856 by Michael Matheson on 1 March 2012, what programmes are (a) in place and (b) planned to ensure that children receive adequate levels of vitamin D.

Answer · Michael Matheson: As noted in response to S4W-05856, the Healthy Start scheme is in place to ensure free vitamins, including vitamin D, are available to families on some benefits. The Scottish Government is committed to increasing uptake of the Healthy Start scheme in Scotlan…

22 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent advice issued by the British Transport Police regarding luggage theft, what its position is on the adequacy of luggage space on trains in Scotland and whether it will make it a condition of the next franchise process that this should be increased.

Answer · Keith Brown: Within the next franchise, specification of the franchisee will be requested to improve upon the facilities for storing on-train, large items of luggage within sight/proximity of passengers when seated and overhead storage for smaller items of hand luggage.

19 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the provision of public sector contracts to faith organisations for which job applicants are required to hold specific beliefs that are determined as an occupational requirement under the Equality Act 2010. 

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has issued guidance on the implications for public bodies on their procurement activities under the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012. In addition, the Scottish Government is working with the Equality and …

17 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many diagnoses of multiple sclerosis there have been in each NHS board area in the Highlands and Islands in each of the last 15 years.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14161 on 2 May 2013. 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…

17 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people with multiple sclerosis there are in each NHS board area in the Highlands and Islands. 

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14160 on 2 May 2013. 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…

12 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it requires assurances regarding staffing levels from companies to which it provides funding.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does require assurances on staffing levels for some major grant schemes, for example Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) and research and development support for large grants (both granted by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islan…

12 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recent allegations regarding G4S's delivery of UK Government contracts, whether it considers that contracts awarded to this company by the Scottish Government (a) are being adequately monitored and (b) represent best value.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government contract with G4S to provide electronic monitoring services in Scotland is entirely separate from the Ministry of Justice contract with G4S. Regular audits by the Scottish Government against clear contractual delivery targets mean that…

9 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage the (a) retention and (b) expansion of harm reduction services across the country.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The following paragraphs cover harm reduction in: problem alcohol and drug use; needle exchange; mental health and domestic abuse. Problem Alcohol and Drug Use: The national drugs strategy, The Road to Recovery, and the alcohol framework Changing Scotland…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of arable land in the Highlands the land it proposes to dispose of at its farm at Knocknagael represents.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The amount of surplus land that we propose to dispose of equates to a loss of 8.2 hectares of land suitable for arable production, which has the capability to produce at most about 45 tonnes of barley per year. This is around one fifth of 1% of Highland barle…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the land use classification is of the land it proposes to dispose of at its farm at Knocknagael.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Field A - 8.20 hectares split between 4.00ha of classification 3.1 and 4.20ha of classification 3.2 Field B - 4.55 hectares split between 2.50ha of classification 3.1 and 2.05ha of classification 3.2 Field C - 7.44 hectares classification 3.2

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it withdrew its planning application for a housing development at its farm at Knocknagael.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The planning application submitted on behalf of the Scottish Government, was withdrawn while the Highland Council progress their proposed Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan. Once their local development plan is published, we intend to submit a revised p…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to consult with the local community regarding its future plans for Knocknagael and Balrobert farms.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: We are committed to undertaking meaningful community consultation with regards to the development proposals at Knocknagael Farm. As a “major” planning application, there is a statutory requirement to host at least one public event prior to submission of the p…

4 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the long-term consequences of the loss of land suitable for food production. 

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There are a number of different factors influencing the potential for food production in Scotland. This not only includes the area of agricultural land, but also innovation, changing technologies and the impact of climate change. However it relation to the ar…