Mike MacKenzie

14 Mar 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Developing the Young Workforce programme.

9 Mar 2016 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish a consultation paper on a new tax to replace air passenger duty in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: I have published on 14 March 2016, a consultation paper inviting comments on a new tax to replace Air Passenger Duty in Scotland from April 2018.

7 Mar 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the dualling of the A9.

22 Feb 2016 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group.

11 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will issue the final invitation to tender for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The final invitation to tender (ITT) to operate the Clyde and Hebrides lifeline ferry services (CHFS) has issued to CalMac Ferries Ltd. and Serco Caledonian Ferries Ltd. The Independent Procurement Reference Panel’s final report on the procurement process f…

8 Feb 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the productivity of the Laggan and Tormore fields west of Shetland.

18 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent investment it has made in school infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: Through the Schools for the Future programme, the Scottish Government are currently supporting the construction costs of 20 school projects in the Highlands and Islands. In addition, the First Minister announced on Monday 25 January 2016 that we will be supp…

11 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the UK Government’s decision to rule out a return to the post-study work visa.

6 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it takes to promote the use of locally-sourced stone when work is being carried out on buildings and structures that are considered iconic.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: ‘Creating Places’, the Scottish Government policy on architecture and place, published in 2013, encourages project clients, commissioners, designers and approvers to take advantage of locally-sourced materials to facilitate sustainable development. An overar…

6 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action its agencies take to promote the use of locally-sourced stone.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Environment Scotland, which is a non-departmental public body, is working with the British Geological Survey to develop a natural stone database for Scotland that will enable public access to records and information on building stone types, quarries …

6 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice it provides to local authorities to encourage the use of locally-sourced stone.

Answer · John Swinney: ‘Creating Places’, the Scottish Government policy on architecture and place, published in 2013, encourages project clients, commissioners, designers and approvers to take advantage of locally-sourced materials to facilitate sustainable development. The Scotti…

5 Jan 2016 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on reopening the Forth Road Bridge to all vehicles.

14 Dec 2015 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what regular assessment it is making of the operation of the plan to minimise the disruption to journey times since the closure of the Forth Road Bridge.

7 Dec 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes.

2 Nov 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress with the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services procurement.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Clyde and Hebrides ferry services interim invitation to tender (ITT) has issued to both bidders and will be published today (3 November 2015) on Transport Scotland’s website together with the Independent Procurement Reference Panel’s report confirming the…

26 Oct 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what feedback it has received following its decision to increase the air discount scheme from 40% to 50%.

5 Aug 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) affordable homes, (b) homes for social rent and (c) council houses have been completed under the affordable housing supply programme in each year since 1999.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The following table shows the number of (a) affordable homes, (b) homes for social rent and (c) council houses completed under the affordable housing supply programme in each year since 2000. Figures in respect of 1999-2000 are not available in this format. …

7 Jul 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many social sector homes have been completed in each year 2000.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: The following table shows the number of social sector homes completed in each year since 2000 as part of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme: Financial year Number of completed social sector homes 2000-01 4201 2001-02 4531 2002-03 3983 2003-04…

1 Jun 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of how telehealth could assist in the delivery of healthcare across the Highlands and Islands.

26 May 2015 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government on the subject of HS2.

21 May 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what improvements it has made to the A82.

18 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what socioeconomic benefits would arise from providing interconnectors to the islands.

1 May 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it is providing to increase affordable housing in rural and remote areas.

13 Apr 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing in this year of food and drink to encourage local authorities and NHS boards to promote Scottish food.

20 Mar 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what targets it expects Registers of Scotland to achieve in 2015-16.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Ministers have set the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland (RoS) the financial targets of achieving: 3% efficiency savings; and an increase in RoS’ commercial income of 5%. In addition, the keeper has set the following service standards for her d…

9 Mar 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the Schools for the Future programme can help improve the school estate and how many pupils it impacts on.

5 Mar 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of homes that have been purchased through the (a) Help to Buy (Scotland) and (b) Open Market Shared Equity scheme, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Help to Buy (Scotland) sales are published quarterly in arrears on the Scottish Government website (www.gov.scot/htb). The following table provides the most recent data covering Help to Buy sales from October 2013 until 31 December 2014. Help to Buy (HtB) –…

24 Feb 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it will allocate to Wave Energy Scotland and what its work programme will be.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The budget for Wave Energy Scotland (WES) is £1.3 million in the current financial year (2014-15) and £13 million in 2015-16. Scottish ministers recognise the potential of wave energy to contribute to Scotland’s sustainable energy future. We set up WES to en…

16 Feb 2015 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24217 by Derek Mackay on 11 February 2015, on what date it will announce the details of its approach to the invitation to tender.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The contract notice for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services was submitted to Public Contracts Scotland today for publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This is the first formal step in taking forward a competition for the next Clyde and …

26 Jan 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help bring empty properties back into use as housing.