Parliamentary questions
Jenny Marra
379 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it consulted specifically on its proposal to extend the repayment period for bankruptcies from three to four years and, if so, with what outcome.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: There is no “repayment period” set out in the Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Bill. Section 4 provides for the introduction of the ‘debtor contribution order’. Under section 4 of the Bill, a debtor may be required to pay a contribution either for a peri…
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many dog attacks have been recorded in each year since 1999.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18116 on 21 November 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/parliamenta…
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the NHS has spent treating injuries caused by dog attacks in each year since 1999.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information sought is not held by the Scottish Government.
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many people have attended accident and emergency services as a result of a dog attack in each year since 1999.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Statistics on the number of people that have attended accident and emergency services as a result of a dog attack are not available from data collected centrally by ISD. Information is available on the number of emergency admissions to hospital that were a r…
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has a timescale for achieving full cost recovery for the Accountant in Bankruptcy.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Accountant in Bankruptcy does not have a set timetable for achieving full cost recovery.
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) steps it is taking to achieve and (b) sources of revenue are compatible with its stated aim of full cost recovery for the Accountant in Bankruptcy.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Accountant in Bankruptcy is guided by the Scottish Public Finance Manual, particularly the section on Fees and Charges:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/spfm/feescharges.
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons it (a) doubled the fee for access to the low income low asset route to bankruptcy from £100 to £200 in June 2012 and (b) has decided to guarantee that the minimal asset procedure in the Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Bill will have an application fee of under £100…
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Debtor application fees cover the cost of the process involved in the Accountant in Bankruptcy determining an award of bankruptcy applied for through a debtor application. In June 2012, the Scottish Government increased these fees from £100 to £200. This was …
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the differences to be between debt relief orders and bankruptcy.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government considers that debt relief order (DROs) and bankruptcy are similar in effect, in that both place restrictions on the debtor and prevent creditors from pursuing debts (in a DRO this is done via a moratorium for a 12 month period). Howev…
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that both an individual voluntary arrangement and a protected trust deed are voluntary agreements between debtors and creditors.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Yes.
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what it considers the differences to be between an individual voluntary arrangement and (a) bankruptcy and (b) a protected trust deed.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Bankruptcy, protected trust deeds (PTDs), and individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) are all insolvency proceedings as defined by Article 2(a) of European Council Regulation (EC) No. 1346/2000 on insolvency proceedings. All three have similar features, inso…
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 129 respondents to its consultation on the Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Bill felt that the payment product referred to in paragraphs 5.59 and 5.60 of the Accountant in Bankruptcy's response was not required.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government’s consultation on bankruptcy law reform ran from 24 February to 18 May 2012. A Scottish Government response to the consultation was published on 7 November 2012. Question 10.38 in the consultation asked, “Should a new payment product …
9 Jan 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what research it has carried out into the impact of lengthening the payment period for bankruptcies on (a) debtors and their families and (b) the rate of defaults on payments, and with what outcomes.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has examined the evidence which shows that lengthening the payment period for bankruptcies will have no impact on the majority of debtors and their families or the rate at which they might default. A significant majority of debtors wh…
22 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that deaf British Sign Language (BSL) users have continued access to the NHS 24 service beyond the current three-month funded period.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18534 on 3 December 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/parliamentar…
22 Nov 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons were for the closure of the British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting service for NHS 24 on 29 October 2013.
Answer · Alex Neil: The pilot online British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting service is still in operation. The online service is part of the NHS24 led BSL pilot project which was introduced in April 2012 to improve linguistic access to health service for members of the deaf c…
4 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made on the Tay Estuary Rail Service.
28 Oct 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what financial commitment sportscotland has made to the regional performance centre in Dundee.
Answer · Shona Robison: Sportscotland will continue to support Dundee City Council and other local partners as they work up a proposal that meets the sporting needs of the people of Dundee and the surrounding areas.
30 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a register of teachers of deaf people.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Keeping the register of teachers in Scotland is one of the functions of the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). The GTCS became the independent, profession-led regulatory body for the teaching profession under The Public Services Reform (General Tea…
17 Sep 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what organisations it funds to provide care and support to children who have been trafficked.
Answer · Aileen Campbell: Within Scotland our policy around child trafficking is robust. We have firmly embedded child trafficking into the wider child protection system through multi agency working at local level. We do not hold information centrally on the resources these agencies m…
16 Sep 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its financial commitment is to the regional performance centre in Dundee and when it will open.
16 Sep 2013 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent attacks by dangerous dogs.
9 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many reports of female genital mutilation have been made to the police by NHS staff since 2005.
2 Sep 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many times a procurator fiscal’s recommendation to proceed on solemn procedure has been rejected by the Crown Office since 1999.
26 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to make assisted changing toilets available during the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the need for suitable changing facilities in toilets for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Provision of appropriate facilities for the 2014 Commonwealth Games is the responsibility of the Glasgow 2014…
24 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it raises awareness about female genital mutilation in communities where it is considered that the practice is likely to occur.
Answer · Michael Matheson: A number of methods are used to raise awareness and encourage the reporting of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) including engaging with individuals and minority ethnic women’s organisations such as Dignity Alert Research Forum, Saheliya and Shakti Women’s Aid …
24 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) positions and (b) specific units there are in the (i) police and (ii) NHS to help prevent female genital mutilation.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Police Scotland has a dedicated officer who will coordinate all actions against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) nationally. FGM is addressed by the Honour Based Violence Working Group chaired by a Detective Chief Superintendent. Victims of FGM can access NHS …
24 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action is taken by the (a) police and (b) NHS when a woman or girl is identified as having experienced genital mutilation.
Answer · Michael Matheson: If an incident of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is reported, the police will carry out a thorough investigation and report the case to the Procurator Fiscal for the appropriate action. Midwives, along with other health professionals such as doctors, nurses…
24 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is available to the (a) police and (b) NHS to (i) identify and (ii) help women and girls who have experienced genital mutilation.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The guidance available for police officers includes the Honour Based Violence, Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation Standard Operating Procedures document which provides officers with the necessary understanding and skills to deal appropriately and c…
24 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) women and (b) girls in Scotland are estimated to (i) have experienced or (ii) be at risk of genital mutilation.
Answer · Michael Matheson: It has been estimated that 3,000 women and girls are at risk in Scotland. This figure for Scotland is a pro rata projection based on research by FORWARD in England and Wales in 2007. According to the 2001 Census data, there were 2,946 women between the ages o…
24 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it is allocating in 2012-13 to tackle female genital mutilation.
Answer · Michael Matheson: In 2012, Saheliya was allocated £225,390 from the Violence Against Women Fund to tackle Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) over the period 2012-15, and will receive a further £137,000 from the Third Sector Early Intervention Fund during 2013-15 for work with min…
24 Jul 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had since July 2012 with (a) the police, (b) the NHS, (c) COSLA, (d) the Home Office, (e) social work departments and (f) support organisations regarding female genital mutilation.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has engaged on an ongoing basis since July 2012 with organisations, individuals and groups of people from the communities affected by Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), to raise awareness of the harm caused by FGM, along with awareness a…