Parliamentary questions
Neil Findlay
2,296 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 May 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review local government taxation.
16 May 2012 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it determines the validity of submissions and letters of support or objection when considering planning applications.
26 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with representatives from private ferry operators regarding (a) its draft ferries' plan and (b) the future ferry procurement.
Answer · Keith Brown: We have had no recent discussions with private ferry operators regarding either the Draft Ferries Plan or our consideration of the future approach to ferry services procurement. Recent discussions have, however, taken place with potential operators, includin…
26 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the benefits to (a) taxpayers and (b) passengers of ferry services that are provided by the (i) public and (ii) private sector.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Ferries Review took account of all ferry services within Scotland, both public and private sector. Our analysis involved a considerable amount of data collection and analysis, including a household survey. This allowed us to consider: what each c…
26 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received legal advice from the European Commission on the tendering process for ferry services and, if so, whether it will publish this.
Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06919 on 10 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…
26 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the European Commission on the requirement to tender for ferry services and whether it will publish the (a) outcomes agreed and (b) minutes taken at these.
Answer · Keith Brown: The European Commission’s position on the tendering of ferry services is set out in its Communication on the interpretation of the European Union’s maritime cabotage regulation (Council Regulation 3577/92): http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?u…
26 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were (a) directly and (b) indirectly employed by (i) public and (ii) private sector ferry services in each year since 2002.
Answer · Keith Brown: The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. This is a matter for the various private and public sector ferry operators concerned. In the case of David MacBrayne Ltd, a company wholly owned by the Scottish Ministers, employee nu…
25 Apr 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will complete its consideration of the Scottish Law Commission's 2009 Report on Succession and take forward any resulting action.
18 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements the Scottish Futures Trust places on applications for new school build contracts.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Future's Trust (SFT) does not receive applications for new school build contracts. Responsibility for developing and maintaining Scotland’s School Estate rests with local authorities. However, the SFT work in partnership with local authorities i…
16 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide the Scottish Environment Protection Agency with further powers to deal with breaches of licence conditions.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We intend to consult shortly on creating a range of proportionate and flexible enforcement options for SEPA focused on securing compliance in the most effective way depending on the circumstances.
16 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many landfill operators have been penalised for breaching licence conditions in each year since 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The information requested is not held centrally. Information on SEPA’s enforcement activity is set out in their annual enforcement reports, which are available at: http://www.sepa.org.uk/about_…
16 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions are available to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in relation to landfill operators breaching licence conditions.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency, as waste regulation authority, has powers under sections 38 and 59 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to revoke or suspend waste management licences and to require the removal of unlawfully deposited waste. Th…
16 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has initiated against waste-disposal operators for wrongful (a) disposal and (b) classification of waste in each year since 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The information requested is not held centrally. Information on SEPA’s enforcement activity, including cases reported to the Procurator Fiscal, is set out in their annual enforcement reports, w…
16 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for how many applications for waste disposal permits the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has changed the classification in each year since 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The information requested is not held centrally.
16 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many waste disposal permits it has issued for (a) hazardous, (b) non-hazardous and (c) inert waste in each year since 2007, broken down by region.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Ministers have no powers to issue waste management licences. Applications for such licences are made to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
16 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has employed in each year since 2007, broken down by (a) region and (b) division with responsibility for waste.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The information requested is not held centrally.
11 Apr 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the ICT in Education Programme Board last met and what was discussed.
10 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which schools meet the minimum standards recommended by Building Bulletin 93.
Answer · Michael Russell: Responsibility for the design, construction and maintenance of schools rests with local authorities. The Scottish Government does not therefore collect such information.
10 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether (a) local authorities and (b) the Scottish Futures Trust consult educational audiologists when considering the design of schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: Responsibility for the design, construction and maintenance of schools rests with local authorities. It would be for them to consider whether to consult educational audiologists should they wish to do so. Neither the Scottish Government nor the Scottish Futur…
10 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Building Bulletin 93 is taken into account when considering the design of schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: Responsibility for the design, construction and maintenance of schools rests with local authorities. It would be for them to consider whether Building Bulletin 93 is taken into account when considering the design of schools. We do, however, make extensive ref…
10 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements regarding acoustic standards does the Scottish Futures Trust set for applications to build new schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: The design, construction and maintenance of the school estate in Scotland are the statutory responsibility of the local authorities. The Scottish Futures Trust does not, therefore, receive applications to build new schools and as a consequence does not set re…
10 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether acoustic testing is carried out on all new school buildings before they open.
Answer · Michael Russell: Responsibility for the design, construction and maintenance of schools rests with local authorities. It would be for them to consider whether acoustic testing is carried out on all new school buildings. However, our guidance School Design: Optimising the Inte…
10 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to develop statutory guidance on minimum acoustic standards for school buildings similar to that for the rest of the UK.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has no such plans. The School Premises (General Requirements and Standards) (Scotland) Regulations 1967 give statutory requirements for school environmental conditions. This includes requirements for school environmental conditions. In…
2 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers local authorities have to deal with (a) noise and (b) other nuisance caused by livestock kept by homeowners and tenants in residential areas.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is a wide range of legislation and statutory powers available to local authorities to prevent and abate noise and nuisance in residential areas, including from livestock. This includes the statutory nuisance provisions in Part III of the Environmental P…
2 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides to local authorities on the keeping of livestock by homeowners and tenants in residential areas.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not issue guidance to local authorities specific to this area. Agreement to keep livestock may be detailed within the title deeds and/or the rental agreement relating to a property. Beyond this, it would be for the planning autho…
2 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides guidance to private parking operators regarding the (a) signage that they use, (b) conduct of their operatives and (c) wording of penalties notices and letters.
Answer · Keith Brown: The legislation relating to the operation of private parking operators, namely the Trade Descriptions Act 1988 and the Consumer Protection Act 1987, is reserved to Westminster. The Scottish Government is, however, considering what can be reviewed within devol…
2 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) legal and (b) other recourses are available to settle disputes between the public and private parking operators.
Answer · Keith Brown: The legislation relating to the operation of private parking operators, namely the Trade Descriptions Act 1988 and the Consumer Protection Act 1987, is reserved to Westminster. The Scottish Government is, however, considering what can be reviewed within devol…
2 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legal authority private parking operators have to enforce parking penalties on private land.
Answer · Keith Brown: Privately operated car parks are subject to the provisions within the Trade Descriptions Act 1988 and the Consumer Protection Act 1987, which are reserved to Westminster. This legislation protects motorists from false trade descriptions about the provision of…
2 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to regulate the operations of private parking operators.
Answer · Keith Brown: The legislation relating to the operation of private parking operators, namely the Trade Descriptions Act 1988 and the Consumer Protection Act 1987, is reserved to Westminster. The Scottish Government is, however, considering what can be reviewed within devol…
2 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the operations of private parking operators and, if so, when.
Answer · Keith Brown: The legislation relating to the operations of private parking operators, namely the Trade Descriptions Act 1988 and the Consumer Protection Act 1987, is reserved to Westminster. The Scottish Government is, however, considering what can be reviewed within devo…