Parliamentary questions
John Finnie
1,255 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it measures the success of the Gaelic language plans of public (a) bodies and (b) service providers.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to the question S4W-13423 on 15 March 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/parliament…
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages public (a) bodies and (b) service providers to (i) promote and (ii) use Gaelic.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government’s priority for Gaelic is to secure an increase in the number of people learning, speaking and using the language in Scotland. Scottish public authorities have a vital role in this and their policies and programmes can significantly sha…
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action can be taken by people concerned that a public body might be disregarding its Gaelic language plan.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: I refer the member to the answer to the question S4W-13423 on 15 March 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/parliament…
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what autonomy Cairngorm National Park Authority has regarding its use of Gaelic.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Cairngorms National Park Authority recognises that Gaelic is an integral and important part of the culture of the National Park and encourages its partners to support the Gaelic language. The Park Authority’s commitment to promoting Gaelic is set out in its G…
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cairngorm National Park Authority will (a) complete and (b) publish its Gaelic Language Plan, and for what reason it has not yet been completed.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Cairngorms National Park Authority submitted a draft Gaelic Language Plan to Bòrd na Gàidhlig for approval in February 2011. A copy of the draft Plan is available on the Park’s website at: http://cairngorms.co.uk/park-authority/about-us/publications Fol…
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what autonomy Transport Scotland has not to engage in the active promotion and use of Gaelic.
Answer · Keith Brown: As an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland is covered by the provisions of the Gaelic Language Plan which was published in 2010.
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update the Gaelic Language Plan regarding signage on trunk roads.
Answer · Keith Brown: The current Scottish Government Gaelic Language Plan is a five year plan which will be renewed in 2015. We are pleased that many commitments have been met and our policies continue to develop to support Gaelic. Road signage is one of these and we are now work…
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what direction it gives to Transport Scotland about the active promotion and use of Gaelic.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 enabled Bòrd na Gàidhlig (the Scottish Government’s principal Gaelic development body) to require public bodies to prepare Gaelic Language Plans. The Scottish Government’s Gaelic Language Plan was published in 2010. As…
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it was consulted by Transport Scotland about new trunk road signage on the A9 at Longman roundabout at Inverness and, if so, what advice was given.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland is responsible for the management and maintenance of the trunk road network on behalf of Scottish Ministers and implements the policy of the Scottish Government in terms of bilingual signs. This policy is that bilingual signs should be inst…
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what procedures it has in place to ensure that it considers the purchase of items of Scottish historical interest that become available for sale.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government provides support and funding to the National Collections bodies, National Records Scotland and Historic Scotland, all of whom have procedures in place which allow them to identify items of Scottish historical interest for possible purc…
26 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make some of its agricultural land at Knocknagael Farm in Inverness that is deemed surplus to its requirements available to meet local demand for allotments.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Bull Stud project aims to modernise the Scottish Government’s bull stud at Knocknagael. In the process of doing so an area of land within the current farm boundary has been identified as surplus to the stud’s future requirements. The current planning ap…
25 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it does not yet comply with the EU directive on combating sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and pornography.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Along with the other jurisdictions that comprise the UK, the Scottish Government is required to be compliant with this Directive by 18 December 2013. I consider that Scotland is already broadly compliant with the requirements of the Directive but the Scottish…
25 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it does not yet comply with the EU directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting victims (2011/36/EU).
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Along with the other jurisdictions that comprise the UK the Scottish Government is required to be compliant with this Directive by 6 April 2013. I consider that Scotland is already broadly compliant with the requirements of the Directive, but the Scottish Gov…
23 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government in how many incidents on the A9 between Inverness and Perth in the last 10 years road design was considered a contributing factor.
Answer · Keith Brown: The police record details of all personal injury accidents, including on the A9 trunk road, however road design is not recorded as a contributory factor.
23 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) fatal road collisions and (b) fatalities caused by road collisions there have been on the A9 between Inverness and Perth in the last 10 years.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland collates information on reported personal injury accidents on trunk roads in Scotland and this database is updated periodically, as data provided by the police is checked and verified. The following table shows the number of fatal accidents…
22 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what public sector information-sharing protocols exist to ensure that the Scottish Prison Service adheres to any restraints placed on prisoners' contact with victims of domestic violence.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Colin McConnell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: Whilst there is no specific information sharing protocol we work closely with our criminal justice partners to tackle the unacceptable behav…
15 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it seeks the consent of the Queen or Prince Charles prior to introducing legislation and, if so, in respect of (a) how many and (b) which bills it has sought such consent since May 2007 and for which bills consent was refused.
Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: Rule 9.11 of the Scottish Parliament’s Standing Orders (which reflects the requirements of paragraph 7 of Schedule 3 to the Scotland Act 1998) states that: “Where a Bill contains provisions, or is amended so as to include provisions, which would, if the Bill…
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the Scottish Police College charges for training police officers from overseas.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The provision of training to police officers from overseas is a matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority.
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to prevent the Scottish Police College from training police officers from regimes that contravene international law and human rights.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The provision of training by the Scottish Police College is a matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority.
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what involvement it has in encouraging overseas authorities to send senior police officers for training at the Scottish Police College.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Police College is internationally recognised as a centre of learning excellence. The Scottish Government supports the aims of the College but does not have a specific role in encouraging overseas authorities to send senior police officers for tra…
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it is informed when the Scottish Police College is involved in training police officers from overseas.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There is no requirement for the Scottish Police College to inform the Scottish Government when it is involved in the training of police officers from overseas.
18 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what advice it will provide to the Police Service of Scotland regarding the training of police officers from overseas.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The provision of training to police officers from overseas is currently a matter for the Scottish Police Services Authority and will be for the Scottish Police Authority to consider after 1 April 2013.
11 Dec 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what benefits specialist domestic abuse courts bring to victims.
29 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that senior public officials are provided with sufficient information about their job role and responsibilities to obviate the need to seek legal advice at public expense on such matters.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The statutory responsibilities of public bodies are set out in their founding legislation. The application pack for public appointments for senior public sector posts includes information on the background and functions of the public body and the skills, know…
29 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much public money the (a) Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland and (b) Chair of the Scottish Police Authority has been spent seeking legal advice in relation to their roles and responsibilities under the new Scottish Police Service.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. This is a matter for the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland and the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority.
29 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether ministers or officials authorised the (a) Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland and (b) Chair of the Scottish Police Authority to seek legal advice in relation to their roles and responsibilities under the new national police service and, if so, what guidance was give…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No.
29 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the (a) Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland and (b) Chair of the Scottish Police Authority consulted ministers or officials prior to seeking legal advice in relation to their role and responsibilities under the new national police service.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No.
29 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the (a) Chief Constable of the Scottish Police Service and (b) Chair of the Scottish Police Authority have spent on legal advice in relation to their roles and responsibilities under the new national police service.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. This is a matter for the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland and the Chair of the Scottish Police Authority.
9 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it gives to community councils to ensure that any representations that they make as statutory consultees in the planning process are informed, relevant, democratically agreed and reflective of the views of the communities that they represent.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government recognises that many community councils take a proactive role in planning matters. Following a review of community councils in 2006, a working group, which included the Scottish Government and COSLA, developed a package of measures to …
9 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the average time is between the conclusion of a public local inquiry and a ministerial decision.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Since 1 January 2008, the average time taken from the conclusion of a public inquiry/inquiry session to issuing a ministerial decision is 37 weeks.