Parliamentary questions
Mark Griffin
2,186 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 May 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the works associated with the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme will impact on services from Croy railway station.
2 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government with whom it is consulting on developing a form of local taxation based on the ability to pay and what it considers to be affordable types of such taxation.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14635 on 17 May 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/parliamentarybus…
2 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth last reported to the Cabinet on local taxation.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-14635 on 17 May 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/parliamentarybus…
2 May 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when local taxation was last discussed at the Cabinet.
Answer · John Swinney: The current council tax system is unfair, which is why the Scottish Government has frozen the tax at 2007-08 levels. This policy has proved overwhelmingly popular with people across Scotland. We are committed to continuing the freeze for the duration of this…
8 Apr 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that people have access to regular and reliable local bus services.
18 Mar 2013 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of its consultation on the Maintenance of Land on Private Housing Estates, which closed on the 11th June 2011.
18 Feb 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the waiting list figures, and accompanying analysis, for Cumbernauld College will be published.
16 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) mean and (b) median wage is for police (i) officers and (ii) civilian support staff.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally. This is a matter for police forces.
15 Jan 2013 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 is compliant with the (a) European Convention on Human Rights and (b) Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and, if so, what evidence it has to support this.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government’s view is that the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006 complies with the European Convention on Human Rights. The statements from the Presiding Officer and the then Minister for Justice provide evidence of this. They are available on the Sc…
7 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when the waiting list figures for Cumbernauld College will be published.
Answer · Michael Russell: As I explained to Drew Smith on 16 January 2013 (Official Report c.), an update has been placed in SPICE today (Bib. number 54653). The audit looked a sample of seven colleges including Cumbernauld College. Even at this interim stage it is clear that, in a v…
17 Dec 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its priorities are for culture and external affairs in 2013.
6 Dec 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08924 by Kenny MacAskill on 20 August 2012, on what date it will report the findings of the consultation that closed on 6 June 2011.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We are aiming to publish the consultation responses in the New Year. We will outline the next steps around the same time.
3 Dec 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that 24-hour public access to local police stations continues where it already exists.
19 Nov 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether college budgets have been confirmed for 2012-13.
Answer · Michael Russell: The budgets which are allocated to individual colleges are a matter for the Scottish Funding Council and not ministers. Information on allocations is available on the Funding Council’s website.
13 Nov 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-10640 by Michael Russell on 13 November 2012, how many invoices to overseas companies or governments remain outstanding; what the value of each invoice is; when payment was requested, and from what companies or governments.
Answer · Michael Russell: This is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). Since the information is not held centrally I have asked the chief executive of the SQA to write to you.
12 Nov 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress the Scottish Studies Working Group has made in promoting opportunities to learn British Sign Language in schools.
31 Oct 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government on what date the “exceptional circumstances” arose that the Lord Advocate refers to in his letter to Ruth Davidson of 30 October 2012 relating to legal advice on an independent Scotland's membership of the European Union.
29 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what income the Scottish Qualifications Authority has received from foreign companies or governments in each year since 2007 and how much it is owed.
Answer · Michael Russell: The income received by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) from foreign companies or governments from its consultancy and awarding activities in each year since 2007 is in the following table. The value of all invoices raised by the SQA up to 31st Oc…
29 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what services the Scottish Qualifications Authority has provided to foreign companies and governments in each year since 2007.
Answer · Michael Russell: Services provided by the SQA to foreign companies and governments come under two broad categories – consultancy and awarding. international services/activities make a significant contribution to Scotland’s international engagement strategy and plans and also …
22 Oct 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what combined savings local authorities are expected to make in 2013-14.
1 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the First Minister’s itinerary was for his trip to the 2012 Ryder Cup.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11204 on 27 November 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…
1 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much (a) it and (b) its agencies spent in relation to the 2012 Ryder Cup and what the purpose of this expenditure was.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11204 on 27 November 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/parliamentary…
1 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which (a) ministers, (b) special advisers, (c) officials and (d) representatives of its agencies attended the 2012 Ryder Cup in an official capacity and what their role was.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-11204 on 27 November 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…
24 Sep 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the year-on-year revenue savings will be as a result of reduced borrowing associated with the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government remains committed to the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme and the electrification of the Scottish network. The estimated cost for the initial phase that I announced on 4 July is £650 million. The timing, specification and cost o…
3 Sep 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the claims made under the concessionary travel scheme in 2011-12 exceeded the scheme's budget and, if so, by how much.
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many trains will stop at Croy station as a result of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme proposals announced on 4 July 2012.
Answer · Keith Brown: There will be no alteration to the current calling pattern at Croy station as a result of the proposal announced on 4 July.
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many additional seats per hour will be available on services on the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High line as a result of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme proposals announced on 4 July 2012, also expressed as a percentage.
Answer · Keith Brown: The specification of the rolling stock to operate the route has not yet been concluded, however, an increased seating capacity of over 25% is forecast.
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme proposals announced on 4 July 2012 will lead to an increase in passenger satisfaction for those travelling from Croy to Glasgow and Edinburgh and whether more seats will be available and there will be less overcrowding at peak times.
Answer · Keith Brown: The proposals announced on 4 July will result in more capacity on the Edinburgh Glasgow route. This in turn will result in less overcrowding for passengers boarding at Croy in peak times.
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether trains on the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk High service will call at the proposed Edinburgh gateway station.
Answer · Keith Brown: Trains on the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk High service will not call at the proposed Edinburgh Gateway station under the first phase of EGIP (Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme) announced on 4 July 2012.
27 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much the proposed electrification of the Cumbernauld line will cost and whether it will provide details of the infrastructure requirements.
Answer · Keith Brown: Network Rail are in the process of procuring these works. These works will include the electrification of the route from Springburn to Cumbernauld, a turnback facility at Hyndland station and infrastructure works at Springburn station. The cost estimate for …