Parliamentary questions
Drew Smith
636 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local authorities regarding internet filtering in schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: Guidance is provided by Education Scotland to local authorities on filtering requirements for the use of Glow. In addition, Education Scotland provides information to teachers, parents and young people on all aspects of internet safety and responsible use.
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce a national filtering policy in relation to internet use in schools.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has no current plans to introduce a national filtering policy in relation to internet use in schools. It will review its approach following receipt of the report of the ICT in Education Excellence Group.
15 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what impact the changes concerning trade union facility time announced by the Minister for the Cabinet Office will have on its workforce.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government Partnership agreement with the Council of Scottish Government Unions will continue much as at present as the Scottish Government has decided not to pursue a similar course to the UK Government.
1 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers have been disciplined in each year since 2007 for the inappropriate sharing of information with the media.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The discipline of Police Officers is a matter for the relevant Deputy Chief Constable to consider.
1 Oct 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is given to the (a) police and (b) Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service regarding making public material gathered as part of a criminal investigation.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38760 on 24 January 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…
27 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what use it is making of information held by local authority housing or revenue departments to model the likely impact of welfare reform, for example the numbers of tenants who are entitled to disability premiums.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Scottish Government does not hold this data centrally. However, we are engaged in a range of analytical work, including work which draws on the experiences of Scottish councils as they deal with the reforms, as well as providing our own analysis of the im…
26 Sep 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with trades unions regarding support for international projects in which they are both involved.
13 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will include a clause in its proposed Sustainable Procurement Bill to prevent public contracts being awarded to firms that engage in illegal trade union blacklisting.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We are currently consulting on the proposed content of the Procurement Reform Bill and dealing with inappropriate conduct and poor performing suppliers is an important aspect of the consultation. The public consultation was launched on 10 August and runs unti…
13 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what responsibility it will take for setting the level of the living wage in future.
Answer · John Swinney: This government fully supports the principles of the living wage campaign and is committed to ensuring that all staff covered by its public sector pay policy is paid at least the Scottish Living Wage (currently set at £7.20 per hour, which is equivalent to an…
13 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the payment of the living wage should be achieved by (a) raising the pay floor or (b) paying special supplements.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government is ensuring a Scottish living wage for employees covered by our pay policy. We encourage public, private and third sector employers to do likewise.
10 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-09163 by Alasdair Allan on 4 September 2012, for what reason it stopped collating information on the cost of school meals.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: In autumn 2010, a consultation took place to ascertain what educational data collection continued to be necessary and what data could cease to be collected. Following the consultation a number of data collections, including information on the cost of a school…
10 Sep 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government is taking to address the growing demand for food banks.
3 Sep 2012 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent action it has taken to maintain employment and create new jobs.
Answer · John Swinney: On Monday 10 September, we published a progress report on our Government Economic Strategy which sets out the actions that are being taken to accelerate the recovery, maintain employment and create new jobs. Our immediate priorities for supporting output an…
3 Sep 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what opportunity there is for the medical and life sciences industry to benefit from investment in the new South Glasgow Hospitals.
Answer · Alex Neil: The new South Glasgow Hospitals will create a range of opportunities for the medical and life sciences industries. For example, the planned construction of Clinical Research Facilities will provide a focus on clinical and translational research making them s…
30 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of his comments at the Edinburgh International Television Festival on 24 August 2012, whether the First Minister has had discussions with (a) the BBC (i) Trust, (ii) management and (iii) staff trades unions and (b) representatives from (1) non-BBC television companies and (2) t…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The intention, under independence, to create “a national public service broadcaster (based initially on the existing staff and assets of BBC Scotland)” was set out in Your Scotland Your Voice: A National Conversation, published on 30 November 2009. In the n…
30 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers there are to take action against the illegal charging of additional fees by landlords and letting agents.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: The Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 currently makes it an offence to charge or receive any premium or require the making of any loan, in addition to rent and a refundable deposit (not exceeding two months’ rent), as a condition of the grant, renewal or continuance o…
30 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the legal status is of additional fees charged by landlords and letting agencies.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: Section 82 of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 currently makes it an offence to charge or receive any premium or require the making of any loan, in addition to rent, as a condition of the grant, renewal or continuance of a tenancy (section 27 of the Housing (Scot…
30 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it has given to Eden Springs Ltd hand for what reason it provided this.
Answer · John Swinney: The financial assistance paid to Eden Springs UK from Scottish Enterprise since 2010 has totalled £173,397.59 of a maximum of £200,000 payable over three years. This has encompassed a number of grants providing assistance towards: training needs analysis; di…
29 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government which part of its organisation is responsible for the protocol surrounding visits and events involving the First Minister and who heads this.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Protocol surrounding events and visits involving the First Minister is the responsibility of the Scottish Government’s Visits and Events unit which reports to the Director General for Strategy and External Affairs.
29 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that local authorities should record reports they receive regarding nuisance from gulls.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: It is a matter for individual local authorities in Scotland to decide whether it is necessary to record nuisance incidents involving gulls, according to their particular circumstances. There are no Scottish Government requirements for local authorities to re…
29 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the potential economic impact, whether it has a strategy to help develop the (a) television and (b) film industry.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government and agencies such as Creative Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are doing much to help the television and film production sectors. Efforts to encourage television production in Scotland, following the …
29 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people have been employed by the (a) television and (b) film production industry in (i) Scotland, (ii) Glasgow and (iii) Glasgow Kelvin in each year since 1999.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Statistics on employment in the creative industries, as one of the seven growth sectors identified in the Government Economic Strategy, are being compiled from 2009 onwards and are available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Business/P…
29 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made toward making the platforms at Hyndland railway station fully accessible to passengers who are disabled.
Answer · Keith Brown: Network Rail is on site installing a new footbridge and three lifts that will significantly improve access to the station. These improvements will create step free access from the station to the Broomhill residential estate on one side and Gartnavel Hospital …
29 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the legislation concerning rehabilitation of offenders.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government keeps criminal justice legislation under review, but we do not have formal plans for reform of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 at this time. However, we are happy to hear views from all those with an interest in the operation …
20 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether dental practices that have received investment from the NHS must carry out NHS work.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Significant financial incentives have been made available by NHS boards aimed at encouraging dentists to join NHS board’s dental lists, to improve access to, and increase delivery of NHS treatment. Grants under the Scottish Government Scottish Dental Access …
20 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether charging schemes must be on display in dental surgeries.
Answer · Michael Matheson: NHS Regulations require a dental contractor to display in a prominent position at the practice premises such information as the health board or the agency may issue. Information regarding the leaflet: HCS2 - A Quick Guide to Help with Health Costs, should b…
20 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it carries out of fees charged by GPs for providing references for patients and what its position is on such charges being applied to benefit claimants and appellants.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not monitor professional fees. The majority of GP practices in Scotland operate as independent contractors under the terms of a UK general medical services contract and when GPs agree to provide services outwith their NHS contract…
20 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how the system of charging fees for access to medical records operates.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Data Protection Act 1998 gives individuals the statutory right, subject to some exemptions, to see information contained within their own health records. A charge between £10 and £50 can be applied.
17 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is for pupils to buy a school meal, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Alasdair Allan: We no longer hold this information centrally, the last collection was in 2010 and can be accessed through the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/07/06095048/31.
6 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it encourages the reporting of female genital mutilation.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Scottish Government takes the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM) very seriously and sees it as a form of physical abuse of women and girls and a violation of their human rights under the guise of culture and/or religion. A number of methods are used to…