Marco Biagi

19 Dec 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether (a) it or (b) the NHS is aware of residents of Scotland seeking private organ transplants abroad and, if so, in which countries and on what scale.

Answer · Alex Neil: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is the organisation responsible for the collection and publication of organ donation and transplantation statistical information for Scotland. There is no requirement for clinicians to provide NHSBT with data on patients who h…

25 Nov 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle air pollution in cities.

19 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans for an independent Scotland to recognise the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and, if so, whether it would wish to invoke any of the exemptions under clause 298.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the event of independence, the Scottish Government intends to recognise the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. All aspects of that law will be considered.

11 Nov 2013 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Government and NHS are taking to increase awareness and understanding of HIV.

28 Oct 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the potential introduction of NHS charges for overseas visitors will apply in Scotland.

Answer · Alex Neil: Before we could agree to bring any proposals to apply the Home Office’s “health levy” before this Parliament, we would need to be convinced that the proposal was necessary, proportionate and cost effective and that it would not affect our ability to attract t…

18 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role Transport Scotland will have with the operation of the proposed Transport for Edinburgh arms-length company.

Answer · Keith Brown: The new arms-length company will be wholly owned by the City of Edinburgh Council and Transport Scotland will have no direct involvement in its operation. Transport Scotland will however work with it as it carries out its functions on behalf of the council, a…

18 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of it being one of the conditions that it set in order to provide funding for it, how it will monitor the benefit-to-cost ratio of the Edinburgh tram project.

Answer · Keith Brown: The benefit-to-cost ratio was used as a conditions precedent for the approval of the Scottish Government grant. In order to qualify for the grant funding the business case had to demonstrate a benefit-to-cost ratio of greater than one. This conditions precede…

18 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Edinburgh tram project should continue to have a positive benefit-to-cost ratio.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-16765 on 13 September 2013. All answers to written questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/288…

18 Aug 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what role Transport Scotland had in drawing up the 15-year financial projection for the Edinburgh tram project that was published by City of Edinburgh Council on 16 August 2013.

Answer · Keith Brown: This is the responsibility of the City of Edinburgh Council. Transport Scotland was not involved in the drawing up of the 15-year financial projection for the Edinburgh tram project.

8 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has provided in grants to support the retrofitting of bus fleets since 2007, broken down by operating company.

Answer · Keith Brown: In 2010-11, the Scottish Government awarded the City of Edinburgh Council £177,198 from the Emissions Reduction Grant Scheme, which was used by Lothian Buses to retrofit 20 buses. In March 2011, the Scottish Government awarded the City of Edinburgh Council £…

25 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much each of the interventions set out in A Low Carbon Scotland, the Second Report on Policies and Proposals will save in cost-per-kilogram of carbon dioxide saved.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Part 3 of the Technical Appendix to Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting the Emissions Reduction Targets 2013-2027 (RPP2), published on the Scottish Government website, contains available information on annual emissions abatement, financial costs and benefits relatin…

25 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it estimates the Edinburgh tram project will save each year in carbon emission reductions, also broken down by cost-per-kilogram of carbon dioxide saved.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Edinburgh Tram remains a City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) project. The Edinburgh Tram Network STAG 2 Appraisal of December 2006 prepared by CEC predicts an increase of 2.6% in CO2 emissions. This information has not been updated since 2008. The assumption…

24 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what capital projects it has funded or part-funded, or expects to fund or part-fund, in Edinburgh between 2007 and 2016; what the value is or will be of its contribution for each project, and what the overall value is or will be of each project.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Edinburgh has benefitted and will benefit from a wide range of capital investment between 2007 and 2016. Information relating to major projects which are completed or which are currently in construction within the Edinburgh area and which the Scottish Governm…

17 Jun 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on deciding on the location of the proposed national performance centre for sport.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The closing date for submission of stage 2 bids is 5 July 2013. The bids will then be assessed by the steering group who will offer advice and recommend a preferred bidder which I expect to be in a position to announce on schedule this summer.

13 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update the code of practice of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000 to take account of the new national policing structure and, if so, how.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Revised Codes of Practice on covert surveillance and covert human intelligence sources will be issued for public consultation in summer, this year.

23 May 2013 · Topical Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce the proposed Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill.

20 May 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what benefits would accrue to Edinburgh as the capital city as a result of Scottish independence.

9 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will monitor enforcement of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 with regard to the offence of charging an illegal tenancy premium.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: It is for landlords and letting agents acting on their behalf to comply with section 82 of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 (as amended by section 32 of the Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011). The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with c…

9 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the enforcement body is for breaches of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 with regard to the charging of premiums.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: There is no single enforcement body for such breaches. Any person who requires payment of such a premium, and any person who receives the premium, is guilty of an offence under section 82 of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 (as amended by section 32 of the Privat…

9 May 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recourse there is for prospective tenants faced with a premium that contravenes the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984.

Answer · Margaret Burgess: Any person who requires payment of such a premium, and any person who receives the premium, is guilty of an offence under section 82 of the Rent (Scotland) Act 1984 (as amended by section 32 of the Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011). Prospective ten…

30 Apr 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle air pollution in cities.

26 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions Historic Scotland has provided advice to a planning authority on an application for renewal of planning consent that has differed from the advice given on the original application.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Historic Scotland, acting on behalf of Scottish Ministers, considers all planning applications notified to them on their particular merits, bearing in mind the relevant planning policies and the individual circumstances of each case. In the majority of circu…

23 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of reasons given in applications for shotgun and other firearm certificates for each year for which information is available.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally. The administration of shotgun and firearm certificates is an operational matter for the Police Service of Scotland.

23 Apr 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what systems Police Scotland will use to monitor and record shotgun and other firearm licensing.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Shotgun and firearm licensing is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland. At present, applications and certificates continue to be monitored and recorded using systems developed by the previous eight police forces. Thes…

22 Apr 2013 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how businesses in cities can benefit from being part of a business improvement district.

8 Apr 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress it is making toward meeting its target for modern apprenticeships.

Answer · Angela Constance: I am delighted to announce that, once again, this Government has not only met, but has surpassed the challenging target we set ourselves to deliver 25,000 Modern Apprenticeship opportunities in each year of the current Parliament. In fact, in 2012-13 the Sco…

8 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advisory or consultative bodies provide it with advice on issues relating to the financial services industry and what the membership of each body is.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Financial Services Advisory Board (FiSAB), supported by the Financial Services Implementation Group (FiSIG), provides the Scottish Government with advice on issues relating to the financial services industry. FiSAB is a partnership between the financial …

25 Feb 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when a process will be in place for determining funding allocations to local authorities for flooding projects after 2015 and what organisations it plans to involve in this process.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Government is in discussion with COSLA to agree the principles and process for a funding scheme for flooding projects after 2015. The next meeting between COSLA and Scottish Government officials will take place on 3 April 2013. All funding all…

8 Jan 2013 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many modern apprenticeship starts there were in Edinburgh in the most recent year for which information is available and how this compares with 2006-07.

Answer · Angela Constance: In 2011-12 there were 1,618 modern apprenticeship starts in the City of Edinburgh Council area and in 2006-07 there were 1,031 starts.

28 Nov 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the number of Lothian and Borders Police officers compares with the number in quarter one of 2007.