Parliamentary questions

Drew Smith

636 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

9 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider third-party reporting rights to allow private rented housing panels or others to defend appeals against decisions of the panel rather than the tenant complainer.

Answer · Keith Brown: Local authorities already have powers to serve work notices and to take other steps, such as closing a property if they are concerned that it is serious disrepair. The Scottish Government is working in partnership with members of the Scottish Private Rented …

9 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing a minimum fine for landlord registration offences.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is working in partnership with members of the Scottish Private Rented Sector Strategy Group to produce a consultative strategy aimed at improving standards and quality within the private rented sector in Scotland. As part of developme…

9 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the case for management control orders, or similar, to allow local authorities to take control of premises that continue to operate after a private landlord’s registration has been revoked or refused.

9 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing stated grounds of appeal for refusal of private landlord registration.

9 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities have the power to perform random checks or checks in response to specific information on the premises of registered private landlords.

Answer · Keith Brown: Local authorities in Scotland do not have a general power to perform random checks on the premises of registered private landlords. However, they do have specific rights of entry in relation to property standards in private rental dwellings that are licensed …

9 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing mandatory disclosure checks in respect of private landlord registration.

Answer · Keith Brown: Under the Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011 local authorities already have the power to request disclosure checks on registered landlords. A local authority can require that a private landlord provide a criminal record certificate if it deems it nece…

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy sought regarding the cabinet secretary's duty as a holder of public office to further the conservation of biodiversity before approving its agenda for cities, as set out in Scotland's Cities: Delivering for Scot…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Biodiversity will be considered in relation to specific investment programmes and projects, once these have been identified by the Scottish Cities Alliance.

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how its agenda for cities, as set out in Scotland's Cities: Delivering for Scotland, furthers the conservation of biodiversity.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland’s Cities: Delivering for Scotland is focussed on collaborative opportunities for enhancing sustainable economic growth, attracting large scale investment and creating jobs. Through its themes, it recognises the importance of the sustainability of our…

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) in that organisation's role as facilitator of the Scottish Cities Alliance on the duty of public bodies to further the conservation of biodiversity.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Guidance on the duty of public bodies to further the conservation of biodiversity is available to all on the Biodiversity Scotland website: http://www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk/duty/.

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role public health considerations had in the development of its agenda for cities, as set out in Scotland's Cities: Delivering for Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Cities Alliance is focussed on collaborative opportunities for enhancing sustainable economic growth, attracting large scale investment and creating jobs. Consistent with the Government Economic Strategy, it recognises sustainable economic growth…

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role nature conservation organisations will have in the Scottish Cities Alliance.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Cities Alliance is a partnership of Scotland’s six cities and the Deputy First Minister, as Cities Minister. The alliance will take forward a programme of collaborative action aimed at optimising the contribution of our cities and their regions t…

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether projects for furthering biodiversity conservation will be eligible for funding through the Cities Investment Fund.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Cities Alliance is focussed on collaborative opportunities for enhancing sustainable economic growth, attracting large scale investment and creating jobs. The Cities Investment Fund will support the alliance in its work and programmes that meet t…

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role biodiversity conservation has in promoting the sustainability of cities.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Biodiversity conservation can play a variety of roles in promoting the sustainability of cities including contributing to green networks, local food production, flood management, recreation, sense of place and energy efficiency.

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations were consulted during the development of its agenda for cities, as set out in Scotland's Cities: Delivering for Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The agenda for cities was developed by the Scottish Government in collaboration with the six city local authorities which in turn led an engagement with their wider regional stakeholders. Many organisations were involved in the development process and in Nove…

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the sustainable development duty under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 applies to the secretariat of the Scottish Cities Alliance.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Cities Alliance is a partnership of Scotland’s six cities and the Deputy First Minister, as Cities Minister. It has no legal status, however, its constituent public bodies will continue to be subject to the public sector duty.

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the duty on public (a) bodies and (b) office holders to further the conservation of biodiversity under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 applies to the secretariat of the Scottish Cities Alliance.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Cities Alliance is a partnership between Scotland’s six cities and myself. It has no legal status, however, its constituent public bodies and office holders will continue to be subject to the public sector duty.

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its agenda for cities, as set out in Scotland's Cities: Delivering for Scotland, has been subject to a strategic environmental assessment.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland’s Cities: Delivering for Scotland has been considered within the terms of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. It has been determined to be exempt under Section 7 of the 2005 Act, as it is likely to have no or minimal effect in relation …

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers its agenda for cities, as set out in Scotland's Cities: Delivering for Scotland, to be a plan or a project.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The agenda for cities sets out our intent for cities, through the Scottish Cities Alliance, to collaborate to develop investment programmes of scale that support sustainable economic growth

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making toward the reform of the Children's Hearings System and when local plans will be in place.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is continuing to work towards September 2012 as the target date for the delivery of the reforms set out in the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 at both national and local level, including agreement around the establishment of ar…

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the minimum period of time for which a public sector vacancy should be advertised.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government would normally advertise public sector posts for two weeks; this is considered to be good practice.

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it provides on advertising public sector vacancies over the festive period.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not provide standing guidance on advertising vacancies over the festive period; requests for advice are considered on a case-by-case basis.

7 Jan 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) Transport Scotland, (b) Network Rail, (c) ScotRail and (d) representatives of passengers and communities regarding a possible reconfiguration of rail services or stations in Glasgow.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is consulting widely across Scotland, including with passengers and community representatives, on the future of rail services in Scotland. Transport Scotland officials have held a number of stakeholder meetings and events in relation t…

9 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role Scottish Enterprise has in relation to promoting regeneration on brownfield sites.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Enterprise works with businesses across Scotland to stimulate economic growth and improve the business environment which can include the regeneration of brownfield sites.

9 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Enterprise regarding the masterplan for the development of the Washington Street site in Glasgow in which Scottish Enterprise has an interest.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04544 on 10 January 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/parliamentaryb…

9 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that Scottish Enterprise supports potential development at the Washington Street site in Glasgow in which Scottish Enterprise has an interest.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.

9 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it is having with relevant agencies to promote the Washington Street site in Glasgow in which Scottish Enterprise has an interest.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Minister and officials meet representatives of Scottish Enterprise on a frequent basis to discuss a wide range of issues. I am not aware that the Washington Street site has formed a specific part of those discussions.

9 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the proposed development at the Washington Street site in Glasgow in which Scottish Enterprise has an interest is important to the economy.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-04542 on 10 January 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/parliamentaryb…

9 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote development on the Washington Street site in Glasgow in which Scottish Enterprise has an interest.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting sustainable economic growth and job creation throughout Scotland and our Economic Strategy provides us with the overarching economic framework to do that, outlining the actions that we are taking to accelerat…

1 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had, and with what organisations, concerning the reported decline in the number of foreign language assistants in schools.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages met with British Council Scotland on 3 November and discussed the decline in the number of FLAs in schools. The Minister also provided a message of support for use at the Foreign Language Assistants …

1 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many foreign language assistants there have been in schools in each year since 2005.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The numbers of Foreign Language Assistants (FLAs) in Scottish schools since 2005 are as follows:- Academic Year No. of FLAs 2005-06 284 2006-07 264 2007-08 257 2008-09 244 2009-10 191 2010-11 128 2011-12 59