Derek Mackay

21 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many applications for funding for cultural projects in Renfrewshire have been granted since 2007.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

21 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve cycle lanes and related sustainable travel.

Answer · Keith Brown: We are committed to delivering the actions in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland which will help us achieve our vision that by 2020, 10% of journeys will be by bike. We continue to work in partnership with local authorities and other stakeholders in deliver…

21 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is in place to assist the development of ice hockey in (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: This is an operational matter for sportscotland and I have asked the Chief Executive, Stewart Harris, to provide you with the information requested.

21 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its next steps will be to tackle antisocial behaviour.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Tackling antisocial behaviour and making communities safer and stronger remains a top priority for this Government. On 19 March 2009 the Scottish Government and COSLA jointly published their Framework for tackling antisocial behaviour, Promoting Positive Outc…

21 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funds are available for organisations that want to promote or provide cultural activities for under-18s in Renfrewshire.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There are a variety of funds that organisations who want to promote or provide cultural activities for under-18s in Renfrewshire may access. In particular, Renfrewshire Council itself has responsibility for cultural activity in the local area and can support …

21 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is in place to assist the development of basketball in (a) Renfrewshire and (b) Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: Basketballscotland has received significant funding from sportscotland to support the implementation of the sport’s development plan and sportscotland also operate a number of funding streams that are available to assist the development of sports clubs and gr…

14 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the next stage will be in progressing the Fastlink project.

Answer · Keith Brown: The next stage of the Fastlink project is to progress the statutory planning processes including Traffic Regulation Orders, a statutory Quality Partnership and planning permission for the infrastructure construction.

14 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what rights occupiers have in relation to absentee landlords in cases where communal repairs are required to properties.

Answer · Keith Brown: All owners of tenements have a duty under section eight of the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 to maintain the support and shelter of the tenement. Other owners may enforce this duty collectively or individually through the courts. If owners cannot be traced, …

14 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) its policies and (b) legislation on dangerous dogs will next be reviewed.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government keeps its dangerous dogs policy under review as appropriate. We are committed to ensuring our communities are protected from dangerous dogs and we would support any sensible and practical measures that help achieve this, but there are …

14 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many dog attacks against children under 12 have been recorded in the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally. I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04031 on 17 November 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found…

14 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what penalties there are for private landlords who fail to maintain their properties at an acceptable standard and how they are enforced.

Answer · Keith Brown: A tenant in the private rented sector can apply to the Private Rented Housing Panel if they consider that their landlord has not maintained the property they rent to an acceptable standard. If the panel decides that the landlord has failed to comply with the…

14 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money from the Cashback for Communities scheme has been invested in Renfrewshire since 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Cashback funding is not allocated to individual local authority areas. Instead, funding is allocated to our partner organisations, who are tasked with delivering diversionary and participatory activities, or developing local facilities that will benefit our c…

14 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many dog attacks have been reported to the police in the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table. As well as the number of attacks by dogs which result in an injury, and are subsequently recorded by the police, the numbers include offences connected to destruction and disqualification (for having …

14 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it can offer Renfrewshire Council for its Gateway to the Games strategy.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to creating a lasting legacy for the whole of Scotland from Glasgow hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We continue to work in partnership with local authorities to ensure they get every possible benefit of major events c…

14 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are penalties for private landlords who are not registered.

Answer · Keith Brown: Under the landlord registration system administered by local authorities, landlords who do not register are committing a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £50,000. A local authority can also serve a Rent Penalty Notice on an unregistered landlor…

14 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many dog attacks have resulted in hospitalisation in the last five years.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The following table shows information on the number of hospital episodes within NHS Scotland where a diagnosis of ‘bitten or struck by dog’ has been recorded for each of the last five financial years. The data include all inpatient and day case elective, emer…

14 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to place greater responsibility on private landlords in relation to antisocial behaviour.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011 requires that when considering whether a private landlord is a fit and proper person to let property, a local authority must take into account antisocial behaviour affecting the property, whether by the landlord,…

7 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how far it has progressed toward its target of reducing the suicide rate by 20% by 2013.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is available at: http://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics//Public-Health/Publications/index.asp#594.

2 Nov 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further action will be taken to reduce litter.

12 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the future of general services at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde remains committed to providing a range of high quality services from the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

12 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has been advised on the weighting to be given to clinical factors in considering the future of ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are currently in the early stages of a clinical review of the inpatient paediatric services delivered from Ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. All NHS boards keep their services under review to ensure that they ar…

12 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement ministers will have in the consultation process with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on the future of ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are currently in the early stages of a clinical review of the inpatient paediatric services delivered from Ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. No decisions have been made. Should the clinical review result in NHS…

12 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4O-00262 by Nicola Sturgeon on 6 October 2011, whether Renfrewshire will be included in the initial or pilot phases of NHS Great Glasgow and Clyde's family nurse partnership programme.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I will ensure that Renfrewshire is considered by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Many factors are taken into account at this stage, but the most important is organisational readiness.

21 Sep 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde on the delivery of a family nurse partnership.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We are in discussion with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to identify the best place to deliver the Family Nurse Partnership programme.

7 Sep 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with Strathclyde Partnership for Transport regarding Fastlink.

31 Aug 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it encourages further education establishments to collaborate on course choices across the country.

28 Jun 2011 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to revise the memorandum of understanding between the UK Government, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: On 8 June 2011, the First Minister, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and I attended a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary), which included representatives from the UK Government, the Welsh Assembly Governmen…

27 Jun 2011 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what recent discussions the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government on the issue of borrowing powers.

15 Jun 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether procedures are in place to ensure that NHS medical staff seek a full employment history for all new mesothelioma cases.

10 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it can provide to Regenersis, based in Inchinnan, in light of reports that staff might be made redundant as a result of its repair contract with Hutchison 3G UK not being renewed.

Answer · John Swinney: Officials from Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise (SE) have been working closely with local management at the Regenersis plant at Inchinnan for many years providing a broad range of support. Since this announcement, officials have been…