Kevin Stewart

22 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with type 1 diabetes have completed the Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE) course in each NHS board area since the course was introduced.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not centrally held. Information on the numbers and type of different structured education courses will be reported for the first time in the annual Scottish Diabetes Survey next year. There are a number of structured education courses, s…

23 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government about devolving power over fuel duty to the Scottish Parliament in light of the financial impact on Scottish businesses.

Answer · John Swinney: Since 2007, the Scottish Government has made regular representations to the UK Government regarding fuel duty and fuel prices in Scotland. Most recently, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth wrote to the Chancellor on 9 March …

23 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider linking non-domestic rate levels for licensed premises to the amount of alcohol sold.

Answer · John Swinney: Non-domestic rates are a property tax, based on the rateable value of a property, as determined by the independent Scottish Assessors. The Scottish Government keeps the rating system under regular view, but has no plans to change the current basis on which r…

23 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government about devolving powers over alcohol and tobacco duty to the Scottish Parliament in light of the health impacts in Scotland of smoking and drinking alcohol.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government proposed devolving alcohol excise duty in the Scotland Bill. A detailed proposition to align tax revenues with the public spending cost from alcohol consumption in Scotland was sent to the UK Government on 6 October 2011. The UK Govern…

23 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the average council tax payer in each local authority area has saved since the inception of the council tax freeze.

Answer · John Swinney: Over the five year period the council tax freeze will have been in place (2008-13), the average Band D household in Scotland will have benefited from cumulative savings of £487. The following table sets out how much the average Band D household within each lo…

29 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average council tax saving has been in Aberdeen since the council tax freeze was introduced.

22 Feb 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in securing a Tax Increment Funding pilot for Aberdeen.

22 Feb 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding the business rates incentivisation scheme.

20 Feb 2012 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, given the economic impact, what action the Scottish Government is taking to ensure that competition remains on routes from Scotland to Heathrow airport.

16 Feb 2012 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it plans to review the audit processes of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.

Answer · Liam McArthur: Under the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is required to keep and prepare accounts in respect of each financial year in accordance with an Accounts Direction from Scottish Ministers. The Ombudsman must send …

15 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many former military personnel are on each council house waiting list.

Answer · Keith Brown: This data is not held centrally.

15 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the UK Government has given any indication of its intention to transfer military housing to local authorities or housing associations.

Answer · Keith Brown: There is a Framework Document between the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and Scottish Government in relation to the disposal of surplus Ministry of Defence property and land in Scotland. This allows Scottish Government early sight of any proposed disposa…

15 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to issue guidance to local authorities on the allocation of social housing to veterans and those leaving the military.

Answer · Keith Brown: A practical guide to social housing allocations was published online in March 2011. This aims to help social landlords understand the requirements and the flexibilities they have in allocating their housing. It includes revised guidance on housing ex-service …

15 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the UK Government has provided funding to help house military personnel who have been made redundant.

Answer · Keith Brown: Funding by the UK Government is a matter for the UK Government. But to support those who have served in the armed forces to find suitable housing the Scottish Government has: Published a tailored housing options leaflet: A Scottish housing guide for people l…

11 Jan 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives are in place to encourage children to read more.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The launch of the Literacy Action Plan on 27 October 2010 heralded our commitment to raising standards of literacy for all, from the early years to adulthood. We continue to work with our partners to support measures to develop our nation’s literacy and to e…

21 Dec 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to allow artworks of national importance to be displayed throughout the country.

19 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government about maritime reconnaissance aircraft provision in Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In September 2010, the Scottish Government made representations regarding the replacement of the Nimrod MRA4 reconnaissance capability through its response to the UK Government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) in a cross party submission with th…

19 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government about search and rescue helicopter provision in Scotland.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: On 28 October 2011, the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Ms Cunningham, wrote to the Secretary of State for Transport to outline the current position of the Scottish Government in relation to Search and Rescue Helicopters, to seek reassurance …

19 Dec 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government about the venues for military inquests of Scottish soldiers killed in action overseas.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Sections 12 and 50 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 make provision for a fatal accident inquiry to be held in Scotland into the death abroad of any service personnel domiciled in Scotland. These provisions have not yet been commenced by the Ministry of Ju…

30 Nov 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth last met the leader of Aberdeen City Council.

24 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding rolling out the 4G network across Scotland.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government most recently held official-level discussions with the UK Government about mobile telecommunications issues on 16 November 2011. The opportunities for Scotland arising from the UK Government’s October announcement of £150 million to im…

16 Nov 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council about improvements to the trunk road network in the north east.

2 Nov 2011 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how much the Parliament’s new voting system cost.

Answer · David Stewart: The cost of purchasing and installing the new Chamber sound and voting system, which included an upgrade to sound reinforcement in the Chamber and the broadcasting sound booth, was £278,169.52.

2 Nov 2011 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what guarantee there is on the Parliament’s new voting system.

Answer · David Stewart: The voting consoles come with a twelve month guarantee and a ten year maintenance and support contract is in place for the hardware and software.   The contract also made provision to ensure that the contractor guarantees that the goods meet the specificat…

2 Nov 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding reducing VAT on house extensions and other improvements.

1 Nov 2011 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether there are penalties for failure in the contract for installation of the Parliament’s new voting system.

Answer · David Stewart: The specification included a penalty clause that reduced the amount of the fee payable by us to the contractor if installation extended beyond the agreed date. The system however passed all the tests which were carried out over the summer recess period theref…

1 Nov 2011 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it has discussed changes to Standing Orders to allow for votes to be taken in the event of failure of the electronic voting system.

Answer · Tricia Marwick: Rule 11.7.2 of Standing Orders allows for a roll call vote, or a vote in accordance with such other manner of voting as the Presiding Officer may decide, to be held in the event that the electronic voting system cannot be used for any reason.

1 Nov 2011 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how long it will take to resolve the problem with the Parliament's new voting system that arose on 27 October 2011.

Answer · David Stewart: The manufacturer, Danish Interpretation Systems (DIS), have been urgently working to fix this fault which has occurred worldwide on systems with over 100 consoles. DIS have now developed a resolution to the problem and will be installing and testing a new ver…

1 Nov 2011 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what testing was done on the Parliament's new voting system before it became operational.

Answer · David Stewart: As part of the evaluation process, prior to contract let, a test environment was set up which allowed testing using sample votes. Post contract let, after installation of the system in the chamber, rigorous acceptance testing was undertaken to demonstrate tha…

26 Oct 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is issued to NHS boards about the funding of advocacy services.