John Mason

13 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that developers prioritise full fibre broadband rollout and promote consumer choice by consulting more than one broadband provider, and whether such changes could be built into the Planning (Scotland) Bill by way of secondary legislation or guidance for local autho…

Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-21656 on 5 March 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/2…

13 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to including provisions in the Planning (Scotland) Bill to ensure that new (a) housing developments are built with future-proofed broadband connections, and (b) home buyers have a choice in broadband networks when moving into a new housing development.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Through the Reaching 100% Programme, the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that each and every premises in Scotland has access to superfast broadband. We would, however, expect new housing developments to be served commercially without the need for…

7 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses it expects will benefit from its extension of transitional relief for offices in Aberdeen city and Aberdeenshire until the next revaluation.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The following table shows the estimated number of office properties that are eligible for Transitional Relief in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in each financial year up until the next revaluation by Local Authority. The table should be interpreted as the maximum…

7 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses it expects will benefit from the extension of transitional relief for the hospitality sector, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The following table the estimated number of hospitality properties that are eligible for Transitional Relief in each financial year up until the next revaluation by Local Authority. The table should be interpreted as the maximum number of hospitality properti…

7 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of how much the cap on the increase in the rates poundage in Scotland will save businesses, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Kate Forbes: For 2018-19 we limited the inflationary increase in the non-domestic rates (NDR) poundage to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rather than the Retail Price Index (RPI) as had previously been the case. In 2019-20 we have gone further by limiting the inflationary…

7 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in each local authority area will be exempt from business rates in 2019-20.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The Scottish Government does not make forecasts of the number of properties that will be exempt from non-domestic rates in future years. The table below presents the estimated number of properties exempt from non-domestic rates in 2018-19. Exempted properties…

7 Feb 2019 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much business rates relief has cumulatively saved businesses since 2007, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Kate Forbes: The following table shows how much non-domestic rates relief has saved businesses cumulatively from 2009-10 until 2017-18, based on local authority audited income returns. Local authority breakdowns are not currently available for earlier years.   Local Aut…

29 Jan 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to increasing pay for local councillors.

15 Jan 2019 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the citizens' basic income pilot schemes.

8 Jan 2019 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the decline in kestrel numbers in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government shares the concern over the recent decline in kestrel numbers. The causes are not yet fully understood but are likely to involve multiple factors such as agricultural intensification, land use change, climate change, use of rodenticide…

11 Dec 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it expects the impact to be on social security and older people in Glasgow of its draft spending and tax plans for 2019-20.

27 Nov 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether children in Glasgow must demonstrate greater needs than those in other parts of Scotland in order to gain access to an Additional Support for Learning school.

29 Oct 2018 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking in response to the reported rise in antisemitism.

23 Oct 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support it can give to older people who find themselves lonely and isolated.

12 Sep 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of the number of free-to-use ATMs reducing at a record rate, whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to support communities on this issue, particularly those in remote and rural areas.

27 Aug 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with banks and the UK Government regarding branch closures.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Bank branch closures are a matter of great concern, affecting communities across Scotland with no constituency unaffected. Whilst the regulation of banking services remains a reserved issue, Scottish Government ministers have been in regular contact with bot…

13 Jun 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Parkhead should be the location for a new health and social care hub for the east end of Glasgow.

1 May 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the next local government elections are still planned for May 2022.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The date of the next Local Government Elections remains on the first Thursday in May 2022 as set out in legislation. In the interests of the voter, Local Government Elections in Scotland should be held on a dedicated polling day when no other electoral event…

16 Apr 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to assisting fathers gain access to their children in situations where courts have granted access but mothers refuse to comply.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: We held a roundtable discussion in January 2017 with key stakeholders on enforcement of contact orders. We intend to launch a consultation shortly on the review of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. This consultation will seek views on a number of issues incl…

10 Apr 2018 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to a new railway station at Parkhead Forge on the Airdrie line, which would also serve Celtic Park and the Emirates Arena.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: The Scottish Government is committed to improving connectivity across the rail network but have no plans for a new rail station at Parkhead Forge. However, the Scottish Government has recently published the Local Rail Development Fund and the Rail Enhancement…

21 Mar 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Glasgow City Council, Police Scotland and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the Bellgrove Hotel.

19 Feb 2018 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Glasgow Centre for Population Health and Joseph Rowntree Foundation report, Building Connections: co-locating advice services in general practices and job centres.

Answer · Angela Constance: We welcome this report from the Glasgow Centre for Population Health and Joseph Rowntree Foundation. We are aware of the benefits of co-locating advice services with other services to ensure people are given all of the support they need in one location. There…

8 Dec 2017 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm the location, lead partners and funding for the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland.

Answer · Keith Brown: The National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS) will be an industry-led international centre of manufacturing expertise where research, industry and the public sector work together to transform skills, productivity and innovation to attract investmen…

5 Dec 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding European Structural Funds and regional policy after Brexit.

21 Nov 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the planned upgrade of the Parkhead Hospital site.

7 Nov 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Network Rail concerning the impact on bus services when its engineering work requires road closures.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: Transport Scotland encourages Network Rail to plan engineering work with local partners well in advance to minimise potential disruption to local communities and the travelling public and thus enable, in respect of road closures, local authorities and Regiona…

30 Oct 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to tackle air pollution through the implementation of a low emission zone in Glasgow.

Answer · Humza Yousaf: A Glasgow Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Delivery Group has now been established. Glasgow City Council are meeting with Transport Scotland, SEPA and SPT on a monthly basis to ensure that Glasgow's LEZ is put in place by the end of 2018. We will also be engaging with…

24 Oct 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses in Glasgow receive support from the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

17 Oct 2017 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving to how tenement housing can be better maintained.

12 Sep 2017 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the proportion of retailers adhering to single use carrier bag legislation.