Parliamentary questions
Siobhan McMahon
301 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Sep 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of BBC Scotland and what issues were discussed.
7 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08695 by Alex Neil on 9 August 2012, what progress has been made in implementing the MI New Home Scheme and when it will become operational.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The scheme was launched by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities on 12 September 2012.
7 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08694 by Alex Neil on 9 August 2012, for what reason there was a reduction in the number of completions through the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme in South Lanarkshire from 44 in 2009-10 to 3 in 2010-11 and 2 in 2011-12.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-09452 on 21 September 2012. 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…
7 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-8694 by Alex Neil on 9 August 2012, for what reason there was a reduction in the number of completions through the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme in North Lanarkshire from 45 in 2009-10 to 5 in 2010-11 and 1 in 2011-12.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-09452 on 21 September 2012. 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…
7 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08694 by Alex Neil on 9 August 2012, for what reason there was a reduction in the number of completions through the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme in Falkirk from 21 in 2009-10 to 11 in 2010-11 and 2 in 2011-12.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: In 2009-10, the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot was extended across all of Scotland and available to all first time buyers. In 2010-11, the scheme was available to help waiting list applicants from the previous year and when there were no waiting list applica…
7 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08694 by Alex Neil on 9 August 2012, for what reason there were no completions through the New Supply Shared Equity Scheme with Developers in (a) Falkirk, (b) North Lanarkshire and (c) South Lanarkshire in (i) 2010-11 and (ii) 2011-12.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: There were no completions in the Falkirk, North Lanarkshire or South Lanarkshire areas through the New Supply Shared Equity with Developers Scheme in either 2010-11 or 2011-12 as no developments were approved to participate in the scheme for those two financi…
7 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08694 by Alex Neil on 9 August 2012, for what reason there was a reduction in the number of completions through the Shared Equity Housing Scheme in Falkirk from 18 in 2009-10 to 0 in 2010-11 and 0 in 2011-12.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The reduction in the number of completions through the New Supply Shared Equity Scheme in Falkirk from 2009-10 to 2011-12 was due to other higher strategic housing priorities being identified by the local authority in its Strategic Housing Investment Programm…
7 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08694 by Alex Neil on 9 August 2012, for what reason there was a reduction in the number of completions through the New Supply Shared Equity Housing Scheme in South Lanarkshire from 56 in 2009-10 to 8 in 2010-11 and 0 in 2011-12.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The reduction in the number of completions through the New Supply Shared Equity Scheme in South Lanarkshire from 2009-10 to 2011-12 was due to other higher strategic housing priorities being identified by the local authority in its Strategic Housing Investmen…
7 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08694 by Alex Neil on 9 August 2012, for what reason there was a reduction in the number of completions through the New Supply Shared Equity Housing Scheme in North Lanarkshire from 60 in 2009-10 to 6 in 2010-11.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The reduction in the number of completions through the New Supply Shared Equity Scheme in North Lanarkshire from 2009-10 to 2010-11 was due to other higher strategic housing priorities being identified by the local authority in its Strategic Housing Investmen…
3 Sep 2012 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that young people across Scotland have access to the relevant information regarding the legal and practical definition of rape.
12 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the MI New Home scheme will become operational.
Answer · Alex Neil: The scheme, which is led by Homes for Scotland, will be launched as soon as possible. Work is currently underway to finalise partnerships between participating housebuilders and lenders and to ensure that lenders are ready to accept applications in Scotland.
12 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the take-up rate has been for the (a) New Supply Shared Equity, (b) New Supply Shared Equity with Developers and (c) Open Market Shared Equity scheme in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Alex Neil: The number of completions for a) New Supply Shared Equity Scheme; b) New Supply Shared Equity with Developers Scheme, and c) Open Market Shared Equity Scheme by local authority area for 2009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12 are provided in the following tables. (a) …
12 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many new homes for social rent were built in 2011 and have been built in 2012, broken down by parliamentary constituency.
Answer · Alex Neil: The information requested is not held centrally by parliamentary constituency.
28 Jun 2012 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it is subject to the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012.
Answer · David Stewart: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is not subject to the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012. It is listed as a public body subject to the specific duties as covered by the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Dutie…
27 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator is subject to the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012.
Answer · John Swinney: The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator is subject to the public sector equality duty at section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. It is not however subject to the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations 2012.
27 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of its directorates were represented at the 2012 Scottish Minority Ethnic Achievement Awards.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish Government directorates are not aware of any civil servants having been invited to the 2012 Scottish Minority Ethnic Achievement Awards.
27 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding (a) it and (b) the NHS has given to organisations to settle employment tribunals, broken down by organisation.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not provide specific funding to NHS boards to settle employment tribunals. The NHSScotland Central Legal Office, part of NHS National Services Scotland, provides legal support to boards in relation to litigation, at cost to indiv…
27 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has given to the Black Leadership Network in each of the last three years and which (a) person and (b) organisation is accountable for the use of this.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Black Leadership Network (BLN) was established under the auspices of the Council for Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (CEMVO) and the Glasgow Anti Racist Alliance (GARA) now known as the Coalition for Racial Equality & Rights (CRER). The Scottish G…
27 Jun 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what procedures there are to monitor the use of funds allocated through the CashBack for Communities programme.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Since the inception of the highly successful CashBack Programme in 2007, over £46 million recovered from the proceeds of crime has been invested throughout Scotland, directly benefitting over 600,000 young people and generating over 11,000 young person volunt…
14 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-07216 by Keith Brown on 29 May 2012, what discussions it had with (a) Serco Group and (b) trade unions regarding employees' pensions prior to the announcement of preferred bidder for the 2012-18 contract for the Northern Isles ferry services.
Answer · Keith Brown: On 11 October 2011 I met with the STUC and all of the trade unions with an interest, including the RMT, to discuss a range of ferry-related issues, including staff transfer arrangements in the event of a change of operator for the Northern Isles ferry service…
14 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the pension entitlements of employees on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services are protected in the 2013-19 contract.
Answer · Keith Brown: Under EU law, the Scottish Government will be required to go out to tender for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services. In the event that the current operator, Calmac Ferries Ltd, was not successful in the procurement of services, staff would be entitled to tra…
14 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with representatives of Serco Group plc regarding the Scottish Government's final ferries plan and future ferry procurement and whether it will publish minutes from any such discussions.
Answer · Keith Brown: There have been no recent discussions with the Serco Group about the final Ferries Plan or future ferry procurement.
14 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it will have with trade unions prior to embarking on future tendering processes for ferry services.
Answer · Keith Brown: Trade Unions will be invited, along with any other organisations and individuals, to participate in any future consultation on ferry services. In addition, we will engage with the relevant Trade Unions when preparing tender documentation. We will also continu…
14 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place regarding protections for the (a) workforce, (b) passengers and (c) affected communities during the competitive dialogue with bidders for the 2012 to 2018 contract for Northern Isles ferry services.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-07216 on 29 May 2012. 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/parliamentarybusin…
14 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what protections there are for the (a) workforce, (b) passengers and (c) affected communities in the 2012 to 2018 contract for Northern Isles ferry services.
Answer · Keith Brown: In relation to the workforce, Transfer of Undertakings - Protection of Employment (TUPE) will apply, as a matter of law, to the staff and crew providing the Northern Isles ferry services. The new operator, Serco Ltd, will be working with the current operator,…
14 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of the tendering process for the 2012 to 2018 contract for Northern Isles ferry services and what proportion relates to the competitive dialogue with bidders.
Answer · Keith Brown: Staffing costs associated with the tendering process for the Northern Isles ferry services are considered to be part of Transport Scotland’s direct running costs. It is therefore not possible to provide details of the precise amount associated with this tende…
14 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings there have been between Transport Scotland officials and representatives of (a) NorthLink Ferries, (b) Serco Group and (c) other bidders as part of the competitive dialogue for the 2012 to 2018 contract for Northern Isles ferry services and whether minutes of those meeti…
Answer · Keith Brown: As part of the Competitive Dialogue process, Transport Scotland officials held three separate meetings with each of the individual bidders, including NorthLink and Serco Ltd. Bidders were also invited to attend a joint fourth meeting to discuss the financial …
14 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003, destitute asylum seekers who have been granted support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 can apply for accommodation.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish local authorities are obliged by statute to provide asylum seekers with accommodation under the homelessness legislation where eligibility for such assistance has been granted by the United Kingdom Borders Agency.
14 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the proposed transfer of the contract for providing accommodation and transport for asylum seekers to Serco Civil Government on 31 August 2012 will have on the support that the Scottish Government provides to asylum seekers whose application to remain in the UK has been refuse…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Asylum and Immigration are matters reserved to the UK Government, the United Kingdom Borders Agency and its delivery partners, and provision of support is a matter for them. However, the Scottish Government remains clear that whilst asylum seekers are in Scot…
14 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the (a) UK Government and (b) UK Border Agency regarding the treatment of asylum seekers in Scotland.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Asylum and Immigration are matters reserved to the UK Government, the United Kingdom Borders Agency (UKBA) and its delivery partners. However, the Scottish Government remains clear that whilst asylum seekers are in Scotland they are to be welcomed and support…