Parliamentary questions
Kevin Stewart
579 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Apr 2015 · Topical Question
To ask the Scottish Government what help it can give to the people of Nepal affected by the recent earthquake and what assistance it can give to the Nepalese community in Scotland.
20 Apr 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the development of the new Aberdeen women’s hospital and cancer care centre.
31 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce legislation to ensure that proposed new developments do not hide, encroach on or have other negative impacts on buildings or sites of historic importance.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has no current plans to introduce legislation in this regard. The current legislation is: Historic Environment Scotland Act 2014 Historic Environment Amendment (Scotland) Act 2011 Planning (Historic Building and Conservation Areas)(…
31 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance Historic Scotland follows in deciding whether a proposed new development hides, encroaches on or has other negative impacts on buildings or sites of historic importance.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The guidance followed is set out in Historic Scotland’s ‘Managing Change in the Historic Environment’ guidance series. This guidance is also for use by planning authorities and other interested parties. It includes guidance on setting, providing advice on the…
31 Mar 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role Historic Scotland plays in ensuring that proposed new developments do not hide, encroach on or have other negative impacts on buildings or sites of historic importance.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Scotland has a role as statutory consultee in the planning system. It is the Scottish Government’s executive agency tasked with providing advice and guidance to planning authorities, developers and others on potential impacts of development on the hi…
20 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on changing bankruptcy legislation to ensure that any problems arising as a result of person being declared bankrupt are not transferred to an innocent party in a property transaction case.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government has already made relevant changes to the law on property rights following bankruptcy. Section 17 of the Bankruptcy and Diligence etc. (Scotland) Act 2007 made a number of amendments. In particular, the changes made by section 17 of th…
20 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Law Society of Scotland regarding reforms to the Guarantee Fund.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Government is aware of the terms of Sheriff Principal Bowen’s report in relation to consumer protections in conveyancing cases which makes a recommendation in relation to the Guarantee Fund. The Scottish Government also understands that the Law Socie…
20 Feb 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on clarifying the duty of solicitors acting on behalf of buyers in property transactions.
Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government expects all solicitors acting on behalf of buyers in property transactions to provide the best possible level of service and advice. Former Sheriff Principal Bowen’s report to the Council of the Law Society of Scotland on consumer pr…
9 Feb 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the financial impact on the industry in Scotland, what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the oil and gas fiscal regime.
26 Jan 2015 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with its partners about railway timetabling and capacity in the north east.
19 Jan 2015 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many pupils in Aberdeen are being provided with free school meals following its recently introduced policy.
23 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it monitors how local authorities deal with planning applications.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government monitors a limited number of applications which it considers are of national and strategic importance. Scottish Ministers also have a general power to intervene in the determination of a planning application where it appears there may…
23 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what time period the public should have to scrutinise planning applications published on the web.
Answer · Alex Neil: There is no statutory time period for public scrutiny of planning applications published on the web. Planning authorities are required to publish on the internet, as part of the list of applications, the date by which representations to the planning applicat…
23 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities have a statutory duty to publish all papers relating to a planning application, in full and on a website that is publicly accessible.
Answer · Alex Neil: There is a statutory duty on planning authorities under section 36A of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 to maintain a list of applications made to them and to publish this on the internet (Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Devel…
23 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent on welfare reform mitigation since April 2013 and how much it plans to spend in 2015-16, broken down by type of mitigation.
Answer · Margaret Burgess: From April 2013 to 2015-16, the Scottish Government’s current and planned funding will result in an investment of £296 million to mitigate the effects of the UK Government’s welfare reforms. Details are as follows: Welfare Reform Mitigation activity 2013-1…
14 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the views of sex workers should be taken into account by the organisations that provide services to support them.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This is a matter for the organisations in question. However, in general terms, the Scottish Government considers that it is important that the views of service users are considered by the organisations which provide services and support to them.
14 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role it considers sex worker-led organisations should have in discussions about the (a) development and (b) implementation of its policy toward (i) sex work and (ii) tackling violence against women.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government considers that it is important that those directly affected by a policy, and the organisations which represent them, are given an opportunity to contribute to its development and implementation. Consultation is an essential and importa…
14 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on pre-exposure prophylaxis being used as a method of HIV prevention.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Scottish Government policy reflects the joint position statement, issued by British HIV Association/British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, on pre-exposure prophylaxis in the UK. This statement recommends that ‘ad hoc prescribing is avoided, and that p…
14 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what analysis of pre-exposure prophylaxis will be carried out prior to its refresh of the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Development of the refreshed Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework is currently in its early stages and we are consulting with a variety of stakeholders. The refreshed framework will be published in summer 2015 but no decisions on any specific recomme…
14 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the interim results of the PROUD Study's report on pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Whilst the interim results of the PROUD study of pre-exposure prophylaxis are encouraging, we should await the full results before taking any decisions. Once the full results are available we will work with the NHS and other interested stakeholders to conside…
14 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much of its international development budget is spent on HIV treatment and education programmes.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government's international development budget does not provide funding for any projects whose sole function is to deliver HIV education/awareness raising. The budget does fund projects which contain an element of HIV education/awareness raising a…
9 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the current cost to NHS Grampian is of delayed discharges in the Aberdeen City Council area.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-23601 on 6 January 2015. 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/parliamentary…
9 Dec 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost to NHS Grampian has been of delayed discharges in the Aberdeen City Council area in each of the last three years.
Answer · Shona Robison: We have estimated the full cost of delayed discharges to the NHS at £150 million. We have asked NHS Information Services Division (ISD) to do a more detailed piece of work. ISD is now working with NHS boards to develop a costing methodology to apply to this …
8 Dec 2014 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister how the Scottish Government will respond to the findings of the all-party UK parliamentary inquiry into hunger in the UK.
17 Nov 2014 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making with the integration of health and social care.
10 Nov 2014 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Grampian.
Answer · Alex Neil: I met with patients, staff, their representatives and management within NHS Grampian on 17 November 2014 to discuss a range of issues.
10 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, if the appropriate powers were devolved, whether it would change the rules regarding the relationship between eligibility for the state pension and spouse or partner contributions.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has submitted its proposals for further devolution to The Smith Commission, which are available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2014/10/2806/0 As this sets out, we believe that decisions on welfare, including pensions, ar…
10 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on how many people in Scotland do not receive the full state pension and the reasons for this.
Answer · Alex Neil: Office for National Statistics data suggest that, in September 2012 at UK level, 80% of men and 46% of women of pensionable age were in receipt of the full basic state pension. Scotland level data is not available. Women receive lower state pension payments t…
10 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to people who do not receive the full state pension because of the impact of divorce or separation on their contributions.
Answer · Alex Neil: This is a reserved matter under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998. As such, the Scottish Government is currently unable to provide benefits to top up a partial state pension. Pension credit is available for pensioners on a low income. However, the Scottish …
10 Nov 2014 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding how spouse or partner contributions can impact on eligibility for the state pension and the impact that this might have for people in Scotland.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not had any discussions with the UK Government on this matter.