Parliamentary questions
John Finnie
1,255 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible environmental impact, what its position is on the transportation of exotic nuclear fuels by rail.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15191 on 6 June 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/parliamentarybus…
28 May 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work of the Land Reform Review Group.
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11963 by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 January 2013, whether it has had discussions with HM Revenue and Customs in relation to corporate tax avoidance or evasion and, if so, what the outcomes were.
Answer · John Swinney: Combating corporate tax avoidance and evasion is under present constitutional arrangements a reserved matter. However my colleagues and I have made clear that we take tackling tax avoidance, including corporate tax avoidance, very seriously. In relation to t…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it provides funding to any company involved in the research, development or manufacture of arms in Scotland and, if so, what companies and how much.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15197 on 16 July 2013, we do not maintain details of companies based in Scotland that are specifically involved in research into development of or manufacturing of armaments. All answers to written parliamenta…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it maintains details of companies based in Scotland that are involved in research into, development or manufacture of armaments.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government does not maintain a central list of companies based in Scotland involved in research into, development or manufacture of armaments. Similarly, our enterprise agencies, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, do not ma…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible environmental impact, what its position is on the Nuclear Decommission Authority's statement in its letter to John Finnie dated 21 May 2013 regarding shipments of nuclear fuel by rail from Dounreay to Cumbria that “There are no plans to carry out a consultation …
Answer · Keith Brown: Nuclear material is transported by rail in dedicated flasks with exceptional crashworthiness and has been safely and continuously transported on a daily basis for over forty years without incident. The process and procedures for rail movements of nuclear mate…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible environmental impact, what discussions it has had since December 2012 with the UK Government regarding the transportation of nuclear fuel from Dounreay to Cumbria; who participated, and what the outcome was.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-15192 on 6 June 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…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has provided any funding to Direct Rail Services Ltd since 1999.
Answer · Keith Brown: Since 1999, the Scottish Government has paid revenue mode-shift freight grants totalling £1,767,488 to Direct Rail Services Ltd. These grant payments were made to enable the company to transfer commercial freight from road to rail on a number of rail services…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible environmental impact, what discussions it has had with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) regarding material at Dounreay described as exotics in the NDA’s strategy document.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government notes that the NDA published, on 21 February 2013, its preferred option to transport Dounreay exotics to Sellafield. Scottish Government officials will continue to have regular discussions with the NDA about the progress of these propo…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the possible environmental impact, what discussions it has had with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority since December 2012 regarding the transportation of nuclear fuel by rail; who participated, and what the outcome was.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government officials have regular discussions with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and UK Government on performance against the NDA activities set out in their annual business plan. The Scottish Government supports the NDA activity to com…
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the transportation of radioactive waste by rail.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government expects any transportation of radioactive waste and nuclear material to be done in a safe and secure manner, and in full compliance with the strict national and international regulations.
22 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it responds to questions posed to it via Twitter and other social media.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government recognises the opportunities offered by social media and its important role in helping to communicate the government’s purpose. The Scottish Government does not routinely reply to questions posed on our main social media profiles. Howe…
17 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will encourage providers of social care to sign up to UNISON's Ethical Care Charter.
Answer · Alex Neil: It is for providers of social care to decide whether or not to sign up to the Charter and it is for UNISON to promote its Charter with those providers. The Scottish Government is committed to a strong, competent, confident and valued social services workforc…
15 May 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what flexibility there is in the curriculum for excellence to reflect evolving situations in society.
14 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for the long-term future of the birth to three sector in Gaelic.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government wants to see this sector expand. Bòrd na Gidhlig has established a Gaelic Early Years Strategy Group and the group is expected to provide a report and recommendations later this year. The group has noted the recent early years progress…
14 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the priority given to early years development in the National Gaelic Language Plan 2012-17, what plans it has to address the reported lack of qualified staff available for Gaelic pre-school education.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government is working closely with Bòrd na Gàidhlig to identify key action areas. Bòrd na Gàidhlig has established a Gaelic Early Years Working Group to develop a strategy for Gaelic early years. The group will provide a report and recommendation…
14 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the written national guidance on Gaelic medium education referred to in paragraph 2.2.4 of the 2011 HMIE Report, Gaelic Education: Building on the successes, addressing the barriers.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to the Supplementary question given to S4O-02073 on 2 May 2013. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the parliaments website, the official report can be viewed at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/pa…
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government about policing the G8 summit in Northern Ireland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Officials had discussions with their counterparts about the mechanism for reimbursing the SPA for the cost of the deployment of Police Scotland officers and staff at the G8 Summit.
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can give that the safety of Police Scotland officers and staff deployed at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland will not be compromised if the threat level increases.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government understands that the Scottish Police Federation met the Association of Chief Police Officers to ensure relevant training and risk assessments are carried out to protect their members. Further information on this is an operational matte…
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can give that Police Scotland officers and staff deployed at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland will not be subject to litigation due to any lack of knowledge of Northern Irish law.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable.
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can give that Police Scotland officers and staff will not be subject to any operational direction by, nor participate in joint patrols with, (a) the UK military and (b) private security firms while deployed at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable.
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government under whose direction Police Scotland (a) officers and (b) staff deployed at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland will work.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Policing of the G8 Summit will be under the direction and control of PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggot.
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional training Police Scotland officers to be deployed at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland have been given and by whom.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government understands that all UK forces providing Mutual Aid to G8 have undergone training on the different policing tactics used in Northern Ireland. Further information on this is an operational matter for the Chief constable.
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can give that Police Scotland officers and staff will have adequate radio communications while travelling to and from and while on deployment at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable.
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it can give about the safety of Police Scotland officers and staff (a) travelling to and from and (b) while on deployment at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government understands that all UK forces providing Mutual Aid to G8 have undergone training on the different policing tactics used in Northern Ireland. Further information on this is an operational matter for the Chief constable.
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland and its predecessors has/have bought additional equipment for the G8 summit in Northern Ireland and, if so, what equipment; who sanctioned the purchase; what the cost was, and who the suppliers were.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many armoured vehicles Police Scotland owns.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an assessment has been made of any reputational damage to Police Scotland of (a) storing armoured vehicles at the Scottish Police College and (b) having officers and staff deployed in armoured vehicles.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether armoured vehicles have been stored at the Scottish Police College in the last 12 months.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. The Scottish Government does not hold this information.
13 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland officers deployed at the G8 summit in Northern Ireland will be using armoured vehicles and, if so, who owns those vehicles.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This is an operational matter for the Chief Constable.