Marco Biagi

1 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the temporary agency staff it employs can apply for permanent posts and, if so, when this policy was introduced and for what reason it introduced this.

Answer · John Swinney: It has always been the case that temporary agency workers can apply for permanent posts in the Scottish Government where these posts are openly advertised to the external market. Selection for such posts is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. …

16 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which public bodies it funds jointly with the UK Government and one or more other devolved administrations.

Answer · John Swinney: Public Bodies the Scottish Government funds jointly with the UK Government and one or more other devolved administrations are as follows. The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency The Board for Academic Medicine The British Cattle Movement Servi…

4 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08195 by Michael Russell on 2 July 2012, whether it will provide a breakdown by nation of the international study destinations for Scotland-domiciled students participating in Erasmus.

Answer · Michael Russell: The numbers as provided by The British Council (the UK National Agency for Erasmus) are as follows: 2008-09 Host Country Study Work Total Austria 20 3 23 Belgium 34 5 39 Bulgaria     0 Cyprus 2   2 Czech Republic 32 3 35 Denmar…

4 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08195 by Michael Russell on 2 July 2012, whether the figures refer to students (a) inbound to Scottish institutions, (b) outbound to other EU institutions or (c) both.

Answer · Michael Russell: The figures provided refer to UK outgoing Erasmus students from Scottish institutions.

27 Jun 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on NUS Scotland's report, Unlocking Scotland’s Potential.

27 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are boards of public bodies to which ministers make appointments of which 60% or more of the membership is female.

Answer · John Swinney: There are currently three regulated public boards in Scotland that have 60% or more female membership. These are: Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland - 76% female NHS Education for Scotland - 88% female NHS Health Scotland - 77% female.

27 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the interest payments to providers of Professional and Career Development Loans for students in Scotland are arrangements made by the (a) Secretary of State or (b) Scottish Ministers under the terms of section 12 of the Further Education and Training Act 2007.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) pays the interest in respect of borrowers’ Professional and Career Development Loans (P&CDLs) whilst they are studying. Section 12 of the Further Education and Training Act 2007 gave powers to the Learning and Skills Council (…

21 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many higher education students from Scotland have received funding through the Erasmus programme in each year for which information is available.

Answer · Michael Russell: The numbers as provided by the British Council (the UK national agency for Erasmus) are as follows: Year Numbers 2006-07 942 2007-08 1,344 2008-09 1,251 2009-10 1,466 2010-11 1,614 The figures are based on numbers of students per institution, fro…

11 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether electronic cigarettes offer therapeutic value.

Answer · Michael Matheson: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which is responsible for the regulation of medicines across the UK, has consulted on the issue of regulation of electronic cigarettes and is currently undertaking scientific research on these pro…

11 Jun 2012 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to address the disparity in the suicide rate in Scotland compared with the rest of the UK.

24 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will create opportunities to access Scottish studies through adult education.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: The Scottish Government’s aim, across all areas of learning, is to expand knowledge of aspects of Scottish life and culture. That is why we established the Scottish Studies Working Group to provide strategic advice on the development of Scottish Studies in ou…

23 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in taking forward proposals to extend the council tax exemption to include articulating students and those moving directly from an undergraduate to a postgraduate course.

17 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it (a) gives and (b) will give community councils following the winding up of the Association of Scottish Community Councils.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Since 2007 the Scottish Government has worked in partnership with COSLA and the Association of Scottish Community Councils to develop and produce a package of measures to raise the profile, effectiveness, and support of Community Councils throughout Scotland.…

16 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that access to postgraduate qualifications is based on ability to learn rather than ability to pay.

2 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits will be seen in Edinburgh from the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

26 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of school leavers has gone into positive destinations in each year for which information is available, broken down by highest Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level passed.

Answer · Michael Russell: The requested information on the percentage of school leavers in a positive destination by year and Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level is provided in the following table. Information on individual school leaver destinations by qualifica…

23 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on its proposed changes to the prison visiting committee system.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In the recent parliamentary debate on visiting committees it was recognised that an independent prisoner advocacy service would contribute to better offender outcomes, which the Scottish Government is committed to deliver. The debate did however raise concern…

19 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-06436 by Derek MacKay on 19 April 2012, how much additional support was requested by the City of Edinburgh Council for flood prevention; when these requests were made, and what funding was made available.

Answer · Derek Mackay: An application from the City of Edinburgh Council was made on 23 December 2011 seeking £39.5 million additional grant for the Water of Leith Flood Prevention Scheme. The Scottish Government wrote to the Council on 16 February 2012 explaining that the agreeme…

18 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers home reports to have on supply and demand in the housing market.

Answer · Keith Brown: The interim review of the home report found that there was no evidence in the data to suggest that the introduction of the home report in 2008 either caused a reduction in sales or weakened the market recovery. Recent housing market statistics also show that…

18 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the effectiveness of home reports, in light of these being discontinued in England and Wales.

Answer · Keith Brown: Home reports in Scotland are completely different from Home Information Packs (HIPs), which were suspended in England and Wales. HIPs were introduced to provide a range of legal and other documents. They did not contain a survey and were widely criticised for…

18 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether night-time hospital discharges take place in Scotland.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Discharging patients during the night is not normal practice in Scotland. However, there may be instances when discharges take place during the night such as mothers who give birth during the night and want to go home or when patients discharge themselves aga…

18 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the proposed Network Rail design for Haymarket railway station as part of the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Project will provide adequate access for (a) pedestrians coming from Dalry Road, (b) people with impaired mobility and (c) cyclists.

Answer · Keith Brown: As part of the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP), The Scottish Government is investing £25 million at Haymarket Station to accommodate the anticipated growth in patronage and deliver further significant benefits, transforming passenger access and…

12 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties have been purchased through its shared equity schemes, and how many were subsequently sold, in each year since 2006.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government’s Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) brings together three shared equity schemes to help first time buyers access home ownership. The schemes are the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme, formerly known as Homestake (OMSE), t…

28 Mar 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to tackle graduate unemployment and underemployment.

23 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have applied for the flooding component of the General Capital Grant as per its letter of 5 December 2011; which projects it covered, and how much was sought in each case.

Answer · Derek Mackay: As part of the 2011 Spending Review the Scottish Government and COSLA agreed to a new mechanism for funding major new flood protection schemes for the period 2012-15. The following table identifies the eligible bids considered by a joint Government – COSLA as…

8 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who comprises the “wider, virtual network of stakeholders from across Scotland” that supports the work of the Scottish Private Rented Sector Strategy Group.

Answer · Keith Brown: Membership of the virtual network of stakeholders, who support the work of the Scottish Private Rented Sector Strategy Group, comprises of the following organisations: Aberdeen University Students Association Angus Council Association of Student Residentia…

7 Mar 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that tenants in the private-rented sector can participate in consultations and policy-making on housing.

15 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much central funding has been given to strategic park and ride projects in each year since 1999.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has provided funding by means of capital grant to Regional Transport Partnerships, and since 2008, to local authorities to enable them to develop and enhance transport, including the provision of park and ride sites, in their areas. It…

8 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address the health inequalities particular to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We work in partnership with NHSScotland to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people’s health needs are met and that they don’t experience discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or transgender identity. NHSScotland has …

3 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has given to hydrogen-fuelled vehicles and associated infrastructure since 2007.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is technology-neutral in supporting the transition to low carbon vehicles, recognising that a range of technology options are likely to be required in order to meet ambitious emissions reduction targets. We made £4.3 million of fundin…