Drew Smith

31 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to amend the law so that a person who deliberately causes or allows serious physical harm to a child or vulnerable adult can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There are a number of existing criminal laws in relation to the protection of children and vulnerable adults. Section 12 of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937 contains an offence which, amongst other matters, criminalises the exposing of chil…

30 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08574 by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 July 2012, whether it would maintain a system of expenses for witnesses attending employment tribunals.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Until responsibility for the operation of employment tribunals is transferred to Scottish ministers, matters affecting the delivery of their service, including expenses for witnesses, remain reserved to the UK Government.

30 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many times since 1999 employment tribunals in Scotland have made a majority decision where the lay judges were in agreement.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not hold this information as matters relating to employment tribunals in Scotland remain reserved to the UK Government.

30 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08574 by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 July 2012, whether it considers that the removal of lay judges from employment tribunals would make the system fairer.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Matters relating to employment tribunals remain reserved to the UK Government.

30 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08574 by Roseanna Cunningham on 30 July 2012, whether it would apply charges for raising employment tribunal claims.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Matters relating to employment tribunals remain reserved to the UK Government. The responsibility for setting fees has not been included in proposals from the UK Government to transfer the administration of reserved tribunals to the Scottish ministers.

30 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the recent report commissioned by the Scottish Campaign against Irresponsible Driving calling for access to investigation reports in road traffic accidents.

Answer · Lesley Thomson: On 17 July 2012, the Lord Advocate received a copy of the research report commissioned by the Scottish Campaign against Irresponsible Driving (SCID) titled Access in Europe by a bereaved family to information gathered during an investigation into a fatal road…

25 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of the tourism value to rural Scotland of a new landscape designation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers are not considering a new landscape designation for Scotland.

25 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it recognises the contribution that wild places make toward promoting Scotland as a location for hill walking and wildlife tourism.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Wildlife tourism and hill walking are valuable niche markets within the tourism industry in Scotland. The industry-led tourism strategy “Tourism Scotland 2020” identifies “nature, heritage and activities” as one of four groups of key assets that the industry …

25 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has set a date for completion of Scottish Natural Heritage’s updated wild land mapping.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Natural Heritage is continuing to take forward its work on wild land mapping, the next phase of which will be completed in the autumn. A specific date has not been set for its completion.

25 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what meetings the (a) First and (b) Deputy First Minister have held with the UK Government to discuss equal or same-sex marriage and which UK ministers attended.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This issue has been taken forward by officials. The Deputy First Minister will discuss with her UK counterparts as and when required.

19 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-02170 by Nicola Sturgeon on 5 September 2011, what (a) meetings, (b) conferences and (c) public events the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy has attended since that date regarding the development or implementation of its ci…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Since 5 September 2011, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy has attended: (a) the following meetings [with external participants]: 20 September Leader of Stirling Council (Councillor Graham Houston) 27 October Leader of Dundee …

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions the Deputy First Minister has met the UK Government concerning the Scottish Government's cities strategy and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I have not met the UK Government specifically to discuss the Scottish Government’s cities strategy.

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers have worked on its constitutional team in each quarter since 2007.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Staff across the Scottish Government support Ministers in work on constitutional policy, including preparing for the implementation of the Scotland Act 2012 and the independence referendum in relation to their own policy areas, as and when required. For detai…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what protocol it follows regarding the display of flags at events hosted by the First Minister.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are no specific protocols regarding the display of flags at events hosted by the First Minister. The Scottish Government Flag Flying Guidance 2012 applies to SG buildings (including Agencies & Non Departmental Public Bodies) but is not based on the pre…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance or instructions the First Minister's office issues regarding the display of flags at events where the First Minister is expected to speak.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is no guidance regarding the displaying of flags at events where the First Minister is expected to speak. The Scottish Government Flag Flying Guidance 2012 applies to SG buildings (including Agencies & Non Departmental Public Bodies) but is not based o…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it and its agencies have spent on paper or plastic flags in each year since 2007.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The distribution of plastic flags to audiences has been a common practice during the current and previous administrations at events both at home and abroad. Most recently this has been the case at the Ryder Cup handover ceremony and the Olympics. Since the …

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many trainees have been (a) recruited to and (b) retained in its legal service in each year since 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: (a) The Government Legal Service for Scotland (GLSS) has recruited legal trainees each year since 2007, as set out below. The main offices of the GLSS which use these legal trainees are the SG Legal Directorate, the Office of the Advocate General and the Offi…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent civil servants, including secondees, have been employed in each ministerial private office in each quarter since 2007.

Answer · John Swinney: Prior to the election in May 2007 the civil servants employed in each Ministerial Private Office is outlined below: Private Office FTE Staff First Minister 10 Deputy First Minister 6 Enterprise and Lifelong Learning 3 Parliamentary Business 5 Justi…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on pin badges since 2007 and from what budget.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government uses pin badges as mementoes for visiting dignitaries and interest groups. They are also used as gifts when ministers visit overseas. In addition, the Scottish Government receive adhoc requests to send mementoes to overseas school chil…

10 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-07014 by Fiona Hyslop on 16 May 2012, when the information will be available.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I replied to the Member on 8 August 2012 and a copy has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 53983).

5 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met representatives of (a) employers and (b) trades unions in the shipbuilding industry and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Ministers regularly meet with employers and representatives at various visits and events during the year, and discuss issues of importance to individual companies. The Cabinet Secretary also regularly meets with all Industry Leadership Group Chairs, including…

5 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making in taking over responsibility for employment tribunals in Scotland from the UK Government.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Lord Chancellor wrote to me on 31 October 2011 outlining the basis of proposals which would transfer the administration of reserved tribunals to Scottish ministers and the responsibility for judicial leadership to the Lord President. Discussions have sin…

5 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on devolution of responsibility for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to the Scottish Government.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is of the view that a separate Scottish scheme would be desirable with an emphasis on alleviating the hardship often experienced by victims of violent crime.

5 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the UK Government has suggested devolving responsibility for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to the Scottish Government.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No such proposal has been made by the UK Government.

5 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has met representatives of ABP UK, or associated companies, and, if so, what issues were discussed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Development International (SDI) and Scottish Enterprise (SE) along with Skills Development Scotland, Glasgow City Council and Clyde Gateway have had a close working relationship with Freshlink for more than 12 months around the possible relocation an…

5 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many meat product factories there are in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow region and (c) the Glasgow Shettleston constituency.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Based on information provided by the Food Standards Agency Scotland, there are in total 325 approved meat product and meat preparation factories in Scotland, of which 29 meat plants are located in the Glasgow region, including three within the Shettleston con…

5 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the unemployment level is in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow region and (c) the Glasgow Shettleston constituency.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Annual Population Survey (APS) is the preferred source of data on unemployment at a local level. Area Unemployment Level (a) Scotland 216,100 (b) Glasgow City 38,300 (c) Glasgow Shettleston SPC 2,700* Source: Annual Population Survey, January to…

5 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people are employed in the meat products industry in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow region and (c) the Glasgow Shettleston constituency.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The latest available data on the number of people employed in the meats products industry is taken from the Business Register and Employment Survey, which shows that in 2010 there were 6,600 people employees in the “Processing and preserving of meat and produ…

5 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how significant the meat products industry is in the context of its strategy for the food and drink industries.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The meat products sector in Scotland has a significant contribution to make towards the delivery of this Government's Food and Drink strategy.

5 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its targets are for growing the meat products industry.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No individual targets have been set for specific sectors within the food and drinks industry in Scotland.