Parliamentary questions
Neil Findlay
2,296 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) prisoner-on-prisoner and (b) prisoner-on-staff assaults have been reported in each prison in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The table below illustrates the total number of prisoner on prisoner assaults and prisoner on staff assaults broken down by Establishment for the…
4 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cause was of the reported incident that occurred at HMP Addiewell on 2 January 2012.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: This incident is currently subject to an investigation by Lothian and Borders Police and may be subject to court action. It would not be appropri…
4 Jan 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) prisoner-on-prisoner and (b) prisoner-on-staff assaults have been recorded at HMP Addiewell in each year since it opened.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The following table shows the number of assaults in HMP Addiewell since it opened in December 2008. The prisoner on prisoner assaults figures for…
20 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many passengers boarded trains at (a) Bathgate, (b) Armadale, (c) Blackridge, (d) Caldercruix, (e) Livingston North, (f) Uphall and (g) Drumgelloch stations from 12 December 2010 to 20 December 2011 broken down by calendar month.
Answer · Keith Brown: Passenger numbers boarding at the specified stations and broken down by calendar month are not available in the format requested. ScotRail monitor passenger numbers from its LENNON system. This is a rail industry passenger revenue allocation system which appo…
20 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties are (a) vacant and (b) occupied at Deans South, Livingston.
Answer · Keith Brown: West Lothian Council, as the strategic housing body for the area, has responsibility for the housing situation at Deans South, Livingston. West Lothian Council reports that, at late December 2011, there are 50 houses on the estate which are in private owners…
20 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what offers have been made to residents regarding the housing situation at Deans South, Livingston, and how many have been accepted.
Answer · Keith Brown: West Lothian Council, as the strategic housing body for the area, has responsibility for the housing situation at Deans South, Livingston. Previous offers made to owners have been based on the District Valuer valuation of the land, plus a West Lothian Counci…
20 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has received regarding the housing situation at Deans South, Livingston.
Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has not taken any legal advice regarding the housing situation at Deans South, Livingston, as West Lothian Council, the strategic housing body for the area, has responsibility for the housing situation at Deans South.
20 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met (a) residents, (b) West Lothian Council and (c) other organisations to discuss the housing situation at Deans South, Livingston and what the other organisations were.
Answer · Keith Brown: West Lothian Council, as the strategic housing body for the area, has responsibility for the housing situation at Deans South, Livingston. Scottish Government officials have worked closely with officials from West Lothian Council over a number of years, and …
20 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to resolve the housing situation at Deans South, Livingston.
Answer · Keith Brown: West Lothian Council, as the strategic housing body for the area, has responsibility for the housing situation at Deans South, Livingston. Scottish Government officials have worked closely with officials from West Lothian Council over a number of years, and …
20 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has implemented the recommendations made following the fatal accident inquiry into the sudden deaths of Erin Case and Christina Ilia.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We are currently working with clinicians, pharmacists, Epilepsy Scotland, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland to take forward the recommendations from the fatal accident inquiry report. We have com…
20 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many recorded sudden unexplained deaths in epilepsy there were in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The numbers of deaths involving epilepsy are given in the following table. These statistics were produced by the National Records of Scotland (NRS). The figures are based on what was recorded when the death was registered together with any additional informat…
20 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all hospitals have an epilepsy nurse.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Not all Scottish hospitals have an Epilepsy Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). Individual NHS boards are responsible for planning services in their area and for securing the staff, (including CNS’s), to deliver them. It is for NHS boards to determine their work…
19 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans for improvements to the Avon Gorge road.
Answer · Keith Brown: We are in continuing discussions with Falkirk and West Lothian Council and other stakeholders regarding the development of the Grangemouth Freight Hub. This includes consideration of the A801 which forms part of the schemes supported by the Tax Increment Fina…
19 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what investments are planned in infrastructure and public buildings in West Lothian under the Infrastructure Investment Plan and whether any such projects are at a value under £20 million are planned.
Answer · Alex Neil: West Lothian, and those who live there, will benefit directly and indirectly from a number of the investments set out in the Infrastructure Investment Plan, including the Edinburgh Glasgow Rail Improvements Programme, the Forth Replacement Crossing, the M8 M7…
14 Dec 2011 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to prevent an over-concentration of wind farms in particular areas.
13 Dec 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the benefits to (a) taxpayers and (b) passengers of running rail services on a not-for-dividend basis.
Answer · Keith Brown: Work is currently on-going to create financial and operational models to test different scenarios for the provision of future rail passenger services. This work, along with the outcomes from the Rail 2014 consultation, will be used to determine the way forwar…
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent high court decision that the closure of library services by Gloucestershire and Somerset county councils was unlawful, whether it will review its processes to ensure that all spending decisions are scrutinised for compliance with the public sector equality duty.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government takes its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and the public sector equality duty very seriously and we continue to work to ensure that the spending decisions we take pay due regard to their impact on equality. Further detail…
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what parliamentary receptions ministers have hosted since 7 May 2011.
Answer · John Swinney: Scottish Government ministers have hosted the following Parliamentary Receptions since 7 May 2011: Minister Date Description Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth 29-June RBS Reception Minister for Community Safety and Le…
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it will provide to deliver its manifesto commitment to “look to bring together the various existing funding streams to create a simpler, more easily accessible Town Centre Regeneration Fund".
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04220 on 1 December 2011. 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…
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it carried out an equality impact assessment when proposing a reduction in the further education budget for the next three years.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Scottish Government takes its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and the public sector equality duty very seriously and we continue to work to ensure that the financial decisions we take pay due regard to their impact on equality. An exercise was un…
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) financial education and (b) literacy initiatives it has established since May 2007; which of these have been developed jointly with other external bodies, and which have been used by (i) primary schools, (ii) secondary schools, (iii) further education colleges and (iv) universiti…
Answer · Michael Russell: On (a) financial education, the following tables set out the range of events and resources supported by Education Scotland (previously Learning Teaching Scotland), highlighting where these have been delivered in partnership where appropriate. Education Scotla…
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a contractual relationship with any conference organisers.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has a collaborative framework contract for the supply of marketing services. The framework was awarded in January 2009 and runs until 31 March 2012. Work is currently underway to relet this requirement. One of the categories within thi…
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that protected groups are not disproportionately affected by the proposed budget for 2012-13.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04212 on 8 December 2011. 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…
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it makes available to credit unions to help them develop and maintain sustainability.
Answer · John Swinney: Credit unions, as part of the third sector, have been eligible to apply to the Third Sector Growth Fund. The fund closed to applications on 19 September 2011. Applications are still being assessed and we expect decisions to be made in early December. Scotwest…
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much financial support it has given to credit unions in each year since 2007, also broken down by the amount awarded to each union.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Credit Union Assistance Fund provided small grants of up to £10,000 to 29 credit unions during the years 2006-07 and 2007-08. In addition, £800,000 was provided over the same period to the Service of General Economic Interest (SGEI) Fund. This al…
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its equality impact assessment and any other analysis in relation to the reduction in the further education budget in the context of the Equality Act 2010.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: Scottish Government takes its responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 and the public sector equality duty very seriously and we continue to work to ensure that the financial decisions we take pay due regard to their impact on equality. Further detail ab…
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it carried out an equality impact assessment while drafting the Scottish Spending Review 2011 and Draft Budget 2012-13.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04212 on 8 December 2011. 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…
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with credit unions since May 2011 regarding their (a) role and (b) concerns and the assistance that it gives them, including help on finding appropriate premises.
Answer · John Swinney: The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth met with Newarthill Credit Union in August 2011 regarding their concerns about the Financial Services Compensation Scheme and Single Customer View. Ministers and officials engage in regular …
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers spoke at a conference between 4 May 2007 and 6 May 2011; what the topic of their contribution was; who (a) organised and (b) sponsored the conference, and what payment they received.
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
23 Nov 2011 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will deliver the SNP manifesto commitment to "look to bring together the various existing funding streams to create a simpler, more easily accessible Town Centre Regeneration Fund”.
Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01547 on 3 August 2011. The Scottish Government recognises the important contribution made by Scotland's town centres towards the achievement of its purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth. The primar…