Parliamentary questions
Jayne Baxter
114 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the report of the national review of town centres.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The External Advisory Group of the Town Centre Review, established in September 2012, are currently considering their recommendations. We expect to receive the report in May 2013.
4 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend the availability of the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund to all local authorities.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As signalled in the Regeneration Strategy the Scottish Government and Convention Of Scottish Local Authorities are currently conducting a review of the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund. The review is likely to conclude in summer 2013.
4 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what funding is available to (a) local authorities and (b) community groups to invest in town and village centres.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Local authorities have responsibility for delivering local economic development and local regeneration. It is the responsibility of each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to it on the basis of local needs and priorities. In …
4 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to support intervention by local authorities in relation to dilapidated properties and their owners to prevent buildings deteriorating into a dangerous condition.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Local authorities have a range of powers available to help them deal with defective buildings. The Scottish Government intends to improve existing cost recovery powers in the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 and proposals will form part of the upcoming consultati…
4 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local authorities that are required to take action against commercial property owners because of properties falling into disrepair.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Local authorities are provided with a range of powers to help them deal with defective buildings. These powers generally require “the owner” to bring the building into a reasonable state of repair having regard to its age, type and location and apply to all t…
4 Apr 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the powers available to local authorities to deal with dilapidated properties before they become dangerous.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government intends to improve existing cost recovery powers in the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 for local authorities when dealing with dangerous and defective buildings. Proposals will form part of the upcoming consultation on the Community Empo…
26 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on making greater use of 20 mph speed limits without requiring the use of traffic calming.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13966 on 19 April 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/parliamentaryb…
26 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the guidance in Department for Transport Circular 01/2013, Setting Local Speed Limits that for “residential streets and other town and city streets with high pedestrian and cyclist movement, local traffic authorities should consider the use of 20 mph schemes”.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13966 on 19 April 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/parliamentaryb…
26 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update its guidance on setting local speed limits in Scotland, in light of the publication of Department for Transport Circular 01/2013, Setting Local Speed Limits.
Answer · Keith Brown: In its recent Circular 01/2013, the Department for Transport encouraged Traffic Authorities to “...consider the introduction of more 20mph limits and zones, over time.” Published in 2009, Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020 already includes a commitment…
22 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what contribution (a) Marine Scotland, (b) Scottish Natural Heritage and (c) the Joint Nature Conservation Committee made to the list of proposed marine protected areas.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13900 on 4 April 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/parliamentarybu…
22 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how (a) science-based and (b) non-science-based evidence has been used to identify sites for an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13900 on 4 April 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/parliamentarybu…
22 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether stakeholders have been included in discussions about the consultation of proposed marine protected areas.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13900 on 4 April 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/parliamentarybu…
22 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings of marine stakeholders have been held to discuss the proposed list of marine protected areas.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-13900 on 4 April 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/parliamentarybu…
22 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consult on each of the proposed marine protected areas in summer 2013 and whether it considers that the list constitutes an ecologically coherent network.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The following answer was corrected on 8 April 2013. The Report to Parliament on progress on identifying an MPA network was laid in Parliament on 14 December 2012, and was accompanied by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Joint Nature Conservation Committee’…
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what legal aid criteria apply to relatives applying for a (a) continuing or (b) welfare power of attorney.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Arrangements for powers of attorney are contained within the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. Individuals, while they have capacity, can grant a person or persons they trust powers to act as their continuing and/or welfare attorney in case capacity…
1 Mar 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what costs are associated with applying for a (a) continuing or (b) welfare power of attorney and what financial assistance is available to the (i) grantor and (ii) prospective attorney.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Arrangements for powers of attorney are contained within the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. Powers of attorney are granted by individuals and must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before they can take effect. The cost of regis…
26 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11030 by Alex Neil on 22 November 2012, for what reason it does not collate the information centrally.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Government sets the strategic policy direction for the NHS in Scotland, however the responsibility for service delivery and patient care rests locally with health boards and healthcare professionals. Any organisation that cares for dying people shou…
26 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consent is required from a person with the power of attorney on behalf of a patient before the patient is placed on the Liverpool Care Pathway.
Answer · Alex Neil: As stated in my answer to question S4W-13303 on 12 March 2013, because the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP), is a framework of good practice and not a treatment, written consent is not required before placing a patient on the LCP. However, identifying that someo…
26 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consent is required from a patient before being placed on the Liverpool Care Pathway.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Liverpool Care Pathway is a framework of good practice to support delivery of high quality care to an individual in their last days or hours of life. As such it is not a treatment and consent is not required. However, identifying that someone is in the la…
26 Feb 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS boards ensure that relatives are informed if a patient is placed on the Liverpool Care Pathway and, if so, whether they employ a uniform approach.
Answer · Alex Neil: Living and Dying Well (2008) Scotland’s first national action plan for the provision of palliative and end of life care set out the vision for how palliative and end of life care should be provided in Scotland. The plan recommends the implementation of an in…
17 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to use unused high-speed broadband lines in rural areas to ensure that rural communities have access to high-speed broadband.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is promoting infrastructure sharing as a means of extending the reach and reducing the costs of broadband roll-out across all of Scotland, and particularly in rural communities. Bidders for the two projects that form the Scottish Gove…
17 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether its broadband strategy will ensure that all rural areas have access to high-speed broadband.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government’s Digital Strategy commits us to delivering world-class digital infrastructure, capable of delivering high speed broadband, to all of Scotland by 2020. Those areas currently experiencing poor or no service will be a priority. As an in…
15 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the use of social impact bonds.
7 Jan 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent support it has given to developing walking and cycling infrastructure in Mid Scotland and Fife.