Parliamentary questions

Marco Biagi

180 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

9 Nov 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is regarding the statutory repairs system for shared buildings in the City of Edinburgh Council area.

3 Nov 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will spend on active and sustainable travel, as referred to in the 2011 SNP manifesto, in each year from 2011-12 to 2014-15 and what proportion this represents of (a) overall transport spend, (b) transport spend excluding the Forth Replacement Crossing and (c) overall spend as…

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government’s planned spend on active and sustainable travel, as reflected in the spending review and draft budget, is set out in the following table, together with the requested comparisons. The draft budget is still subject to parliamentary proc…

3 Nov 2011 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the Children, Young People and Families Unified Voluntary Sector Fund.

Answer · Angela Constance: I am pleased to announce that a review of the Unified Voluntary Sector Fund and the funds known as CLD HQ funds will begin shortly. The review will be carried out by an expert group chaired by Julia Swan, currently Director of Education Services, Falkirk Coun…

3 Nov 2011 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how and when it will respond to the recent consultation on university tuition fees for students from the rest of the UK.

Answer · Michael Russell: I will today be laying before the Scottish Parliament new legislation which will enable Scottish universities to set their own tuition fees for students who usually live in other parts of the UK. This will not affect eligible Scottish domiciled students who, …

2 Nov 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in bringing forward an approved tenancy deposit protection scheme and when the details of such a scheme will be announced.

21 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spent on (a) cycling and (b) active transport as a whole in the most recent year for which information is available, also expressed as a percentage of its transport spending.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. However, in the most recent year, 2011-12, we have allocated £7.458 million to local authorities for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets projects. It is up to local authorities if they wish to a…

6 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on a repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 and any consequences for Schedule 4 of the Scotland Act 1998.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998 would have important constitutional implications for Scotland, including in relation to the powers of both ministers and the parliament. The Scottish Government would expect to be consulted by the UK Government in relation …

6 Oct 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would maintain the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 in Scotland if the Act were repealed by the UK Government.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Human Rights Act 1998 is itself explicitly reserved by Part I of Schedule 4 to the Scotland Act. The Scottish Parliament nonetheless has competence in relation to “observing and implementing obligations under the Human Rights Convention”. Were the 1998 Ac…

5 Oct 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what encouragement it gives local authorities to invest in walking and cycling facilities.

21 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-02592 by Keith Brown on 21 September 2011, whether it expects to update the estimated carbon impact of the Edinburgh Glasgow Rail Improvement Programme as the project develops and, if so, when.

Answer · Keith Brown: The estimated carbon impact of the Edinburgh Glasgow (Rail) Improvement Programme will be shown in the Outline Business Case (expected to be completed by late 2011 or early 2012) and updated if necessary in the Full Business Case. After opening, the programme…

21 Sep 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how its cities strategy will incorporate urban environmental issues such as sustainable transport and green spaces.

20 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the publication of figures which confirm that turnover in Scotland’s food and drink sector was £11.9 billion in 2009, whether it will review and upgrade its current target of supporting the industry to achieve a £12.5 billion turnover by 2017.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The target for the growth of Scotland’s food and drink sector of £12.5 billion by 2017 is set by Scotland Food and Drink, with the support of the Scottish Government. Any decision to review that target is a matter for Scotland Food and Drink. The Scottish Go…

15 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what scope exists for the use of EU funding streams to support early years intervention strategies.

Answer · Angela Constance: I intend to explore the scope to utilise EU funding to support the development of early learning and childcare in Scotland. Monies for the current European Structural Fund programmes are largely committed for the period 2007-13. However, consideration around…

13 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to (a) develop and (b) extend the support offered to cooperatives by Scottish Enterprise.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise to write to you with the information.

9 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme will have on greenhouse gas emissions and, if this information is not available, when it will be.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Outline Business Case for the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme is predicated on a reduction in Scottish CO2 emissions of around 6,000 tonnes a year, which represents a decrease in Scottish rail emissions of approximately 4% despite increasing the n…

22 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what central funding announcements have been made regarding (a) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and (b) autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in the last 12 months.

Answer · Michael Matheson: (a) No additional government funding has been allocated directly for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). (b) However, in March 2011, The Minister for Public Health and Sport, when providing evidence to the Education, Lifelong Learning and Cultu…

22 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-01432 by Michael Russell on 22 July 2011, whether it will consider collecting National Statistics-Socio Economic Classification (NS-SEC) data for entrants to college-based higher education.

Answer · Michael Russell: The collection of additional information in the student records of colleges would be considered if there was a policy need for this information. Such a decision would consider the additional burden this would place on colleges in the collection and processing…

1 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will use forthcoming borrowing powers to issue bonds to finance public capital projects.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has made proposals on a robust, sustainable framework for borrowing. The Government’s proposals are available here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/919/0118589.pdf The Scottish Government proposes that appropriate value for …