Parliamentary questions
Kevin Stewart
579 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Jan 2016 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how work on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route is progressing.
5 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what powers it has to regulate the number of staff employed in betting shops with fixed-odds betting terminals and to ensure that the terminals are placed in sight of staff desks.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Betting, gaming and lotteries are a reserved matter. While Scottish Ministers do have the power to set conditions on betting premises licences, these must be within their devolved competence.
5 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the impact of problem gambling on health and communities, whether it will (a) commission independent research on the impact of fixed-odds betting terminals and (b) review the planning regulations regarding the (i) provision and (ii) licensing of betting shops.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to legislate to regulate gambling or fixed-odds betting terminals in Scotland, the Scottish Government has no current plans to commission specific research on the impact of fixed-odds betting terminals. In t…
5 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what services are provided by (a) local authorities, (b) NHS boards and (c) other public bodies to help treat people who have a gambling addiction, and what information it has regarding the contribution by the betting and gaming sector toward such treatment.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: In common with other behaviours that cause difficulties in people’s lives and contribute to their ill health, problem gambling is addressed as part of wider health issues that a person may be experiencing including mental health problems and substance misuse …
5 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many gambling licences in Scotland have been reviewed each year since the Gambling Act 2005 came into force.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Annual returns from licensing authorities for 2014-15 collated by the Gambling Commission indicate there were three reviews of premises licences issued under the Gambling Act 2005 across Great Britain during this period, with one of these occurring in Scotlan…
5 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the impact of problem gambling on health and communities, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding amending the Gambling Act 2005 to allow licensing boards to better regulate betting premises.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government fully supports amending the Gambling Act 2005 to allow licensing boards to better regulate betting premises. The Scottish Government first wrote to the UK Government in 2011 to raise this issue. To date, the UK Government has not mad…
5 Jan 2016 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding devolving all aspects of (a) gaming and betting legislation or (b) the regulation of fixed-odds betting terminals, including curbing the terminals' speed of play and maximum stakes.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government argued in the Smith Commission that the power to regulate gambling should be devolved to Scotland. The commission recommended a more limited devolution that would allow the Scottish Parliament to control the proliferation of fixed-odds…
5 Jan 2016 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what discussions the Scottish Government has had with the UK Government regarding the proposed referendum on EU membership.
7 Dec 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the planning review panel to complete its work.
30 Nov 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the introduction of fiscal measures to promote oil and gas exploration.
2 Nov 2015 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on how the UK Government's latest amendments to the Scotland Bill could impact on the governance of Scotland.
23 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances it would consider setting permitted noise levels based on areas or descriptions of areas as set out in the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: Part 5 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 gives discretionary powers to local authorities to adopt the noise provisions for such times and for such areas they consider appropriate. The provisions complement noise nuisance enforcement legisla…
23 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances it would consider varying the permitted noise levels or times as set out in the Antisocial Behaviour (Noise Control) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The permitted noise levels and times that are specified in the Antisocial Behaviour (Noise Control) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 are based on robust research, produced in conjunction with environmental health officers from across Scotland. We would consider ma…
23 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it (a) last reviewed and (b) will next review the permitted noise levels set out in the Antisocial Behaviour (Noise Control) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government published a call for evidence to support a policy review of the noise regime under Part 5 of the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004 on 7 May 2014. This included a review of the permitted noise levels. We sought evidence from a w…
21 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will monitor the impact on (a) passenger safety and (b) adherence to licensing law of app-based hire car companies entering the Scottish market.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Any individual or company operating in the taxi or private hire car trade is required to work within the existing licensing regime. For example all drivers, as well as vehicles, must be licensed otherwise they will be committing a criminal offence. We will c…
21 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the planning process exempts developers of private student accommodation from obligations to provide affordable housing.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Planning Policy (2014) sets out the Scottish Government’s policy on enabling the delivery of new homes. It sets out that local authorities, through their development plans should address the supply of land for all housing. Development plans should id…
21 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the planning process exempts developers of private student accommodation complexes from providing car parking.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scottish Planning Policy (2014) sets out the Scottish Government’s policy on enabling the delivery of new homes. It defines national maximum parking standards for significant travel-generating uses such as retail, business and leisure developments. For reside…
21 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons private student accommodation complexes are exempt from non-domestic rates.
Answer · Alex Neil: The responsibility for determining the classification of whether a property is either domestic or non-domestic in Scotland lies with the independent Scottish assessors. Private student accommodation is classed as domestic and therefore may be liable for coun…
21 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether, as part of its changes to the planning system, it will consider making the provision of 3D visualisations a requirement for developers who are involved in what it considers significant schemes.
Answer · Alex Neil: A review of planning is being carried out by an independent panel. It is for the panel to identify priority areas for action and they will make recommendations to the Scottish Ministers in Spring 2016. I would encourage all parties to submit their ideas and v…
21 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm that organisations representing current sex workers will be contacted for their input at an early stage in its recently announced research into the Swedish model of legislation on sex work.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government is undertaking a systematic evidence review specifically on the impacts of criminalisation of the purchase of sexual services alongside a desk-based review of published research evidence on prostitution in Scotland and to summarise up …
28 Sep 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Aberdeen City Council to discuss education matters.
Answer · Angela Constance: I met with the Leader of Aberdeen City Council at the teachers’ summit held on 30 September 2015 in Aberdeen. I discussed with her and other local authority leaders from the north of Scotland issues relating to the recruitment and retention of teachers. The …
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recourse is available to a homeowner in a block of flats whose property has been damaged if another property in the building is the subject of a disposition dispute.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The usual position when property in a block of flats is damaged by property owned by somebody else is to seek recompense from the owner of the property that has caused the damage. Section 18 of the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 provides that owners of flats i…
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Law Society of Scotland regarding (a) compensating victims of and (b) conveyancing matters and fraudulent disposition.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: These matters have arisen as part of regular discourse with the Law Society of Scotland. I most recently met with the Law Society of Scotland on 3 September 2015 as part of my quarterly meetings with them. At this meeting, I emphasised the need to resolve qui…
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many home buyers have been victims of fraudulent disposition in each year since 1999.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government answered a similar question S4W-22567 on 2 October 2014. We do not hold the information requested. However, there is published statistical information on criminal proceedings in Scotland: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/…
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it protects home buyers from fraudulent disposition, and what plans it has to introduce further measures.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There are a number of ways in which home buyers are protected. First of all, fraud is a criminal offence. Secondly, the Keeper of the Registers takes a number of steps to combat fraud. Although the keeper is not usually the target of fraudulent acts, the la…
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on updating the Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 with regard to the time limits used by the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission to determine whether to investigate a complaint (a) generally and (b) if the complainant has an outstanding claim agains…
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: With regards to time limits, specifically under section 32(1) of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007, the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) makes rules as to its own practice and procedure (although Scottish Ministers, along with others including the …
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what would happen in the event of enforcement action taking place under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 if a property in a block of flats was the subject of a disputed disposition.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: Local authorities have powers under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to issue work notices and maintenance orders on owners in blocks of flats. When owners are unable or unwilling to comply with a notice or order the local authority can carry out work itself a…
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there is provision in planning guidance to ensure that redundant satellite dishes are removed from properties.
Answer · Alex Neil: There is no such general provision where a condition is attached to planning permission for a satellite dish requiring the removal of a redundant dish, enforcement of such a condition would be matter for the planning authority. The permitted development right…
31 Aug 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings and communications it has had with the UK Government regarding the oil and gas industry.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I have for the past five years attended PILOT meetings chaired by the UK Government. I have included UK Government representatives on the Industry Leader Group which I co-chair and have regularly urged the UK Government since 2011 to provide to the oil and ga…
24 Aug 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it is spending in 2015-16 to mitigate the UK Government’s social security reforms.