Alex Rowley

22 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will adopt an “infrastructure first” approach to development and, if so, whether it will fully-fund this.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Infrastructure investment is central to the Scottish Government’s economic strategy and our vision for a prosperous, fair and well-connected Scotland. The Infrastructure Investment Plan 2015, published 16 December 2015, builds on the achievements delivered th…

22 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether public bodies will be required to prepare, maintain and publish a register of land wholly or partly within their area that is of a prescribed description, or satisfies prescribed criteria, with regard to brownfield land.

Answer · Angela Constance: We have no plans to require public bodies, or local authorities, to produce registers of brownfield land. A register of each urban vacant and derelict site surveyed by local authorities in the 2015 Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey is available on the …

22 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will protect the built environment while delivering development.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) sets out national planning policies for the protection and enhancement of the built environment. These promote the care and protection of the designated and non-designated historic environment whilst enabling positive change. Ch…

22 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will use (a) a national or regional infrastructure levy and (b) other new funding mechanisms to support an “infrastructure first” approach to development.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government is commissioning research to explore options for the introduction of an infrastructure charging mechanism within Scotland. This research project will inform a white paper, which we intend to fully consult on in winter 2016. Earlier in…

22 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that its map-based land register (a) establishes a national register of all brownfield land and (b) helps progress development.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 prescribes the information that the Keeper is required and empowered to include in the map-based Land Register of Scotland. We have no plans to prescribe the inclusion of information about brownfield land. We co…

22 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what (a) estimated and (b) maximum level of support will be provided each year through Housing Infrastructure Fund grants, broken down by (i) unit, (ii) development and (iii) developer, and how many it estimates will receive support.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-01605 on 16 August 2016. 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/…

22 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many schools have been delivered by (a) local authorities, (b) the Scottish Futures Trust, (c) independent schools and (d) other developers through housing development section 75 agreements in each year since 2011, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: The Scottish Government does not gather data on the nature or levels of contributions secured through section 75 agreements.

22 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms there are to allow (a) local authorities, (b) the Scottish Futures Trust, (c) independent schools and (d) other developers to deliver schools through housing development section 75 agreements.

Answer · Kevin Stewart: Section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) is a mechanism to allow local authorities to restrict or regulate development or the use of land. Section 75 agreements, otherwise known as planning obligations can be entered into b…

13 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will be represented at ministerial level at the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s review of the UK's 21st to 23rd periodic reports in August 2016 and, if so, by whom.

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government will participate fully in the examination of the UK's record by the UN Committee. The Scottish Government provides a contribution to formal UK written submissions to United Nations Committees as part of the reporting cycle under intern…

13 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether its upcoming programme for government will be subject to an equality impact assessment.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government is committed to incorporating equality practices across its activities, both in developing policy and as an employer. The work of the Scottish Government is underpinned by the principle that no one should be denied opportunities becaus…

13 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the finding in the Equal Opportunities committee report in session four, Removing Barriers: race, ethnicity and employment, (SP paper 890), that “initiatives such as ‘unconscious bias’ training are not the solution and can serve to mask underlying negative attitudes towards …

Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government offers “unconscious bias” training for all its staff. This is part of comprehensive range of measures implemented to help us provide a fair and inclusive workplace and complement our fair and open approach to resourcing.

13 Jul 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the finding of the Independent Advisor on Poverty and Inequality's report, Shifting the Curve, that some services perceive themselves as "race blind" and “unlikely to deliver a high quality service", whether it will introduce anti-poverty initiatives that are focused on mino…

Answer · Angela Constance: The Scottish Government has committed to consider measures to tackle poverty across all ethnicities, reflecting our approach to social justice and our response to the report from the Independent Adviser on Poverty and Inequality. In the Race Equality Framewor…

10 Mar 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has allocated specific funds for the building of a new health centre for Lochgelly.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Fife are currently in the process of developing a business case for the project, and the project will be funded by central funds when it is approved by the NHS Capital Investment Group.

22 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has cost NHS Fife to use agency staff from Medinet Wales Ltd in each week since 26 January 2016; how many agency staff have been hired; which clinical specialities have been provided, and how many patients have been seen by them.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

19 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on current consultant vacancies in NHS Fife and whether the board is having difficulties recruiting in specific clinical areas.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHS Fife continues to proactively recruit to available consultant posts, with a targeted media campaign resulting in the successful appointment of a number of permanent consultants. Under this government, the number of consultants in NHS Fife has increased b…

19 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimates it has of the number of extra GPs required in the Cowdenbeath constituency.

Answer · Shona Robison: There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to service provision and health boards are expected to design and put in place those service models that best reflect their local circumstances. We are working to increase the number of GPs in Scotland, and the First …

19 Feb 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding any difficulty in obtaining a GP appointment in the Cowdenbeath constituency.

Answer · Shona Robison: Under the legal framework for service provision, NHS boards are responsible for ensuring the provision of primary medical services for their areas. NHS Fife works with GP practices to ensure that everyone in Fife has access to GP services. This includes appoi…

18 Jan 2016 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how the apprenticeship levy scheme that was announced in the 2015 Autumn Statement will apply to Scotland.

Answer · Annabelle Ewing: The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the rate and scope of the UK apprenticeship levy that will be implemented from April 2017. The rate for the levy will be set at 0.5% of an employer’s pay-bill. All employers will receive an allowance of £15,000 meanin…

8 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts it has awarded to organisations (a) represented by and (b) with an established link to the communications firm, Charlotte Street Partners, in each year since 2007, also broken down by the name of the organisation and the (i) duration and (ii) value of each contract.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not hold records of organisations being represented by, or with established links to, Charlotte Street Partners.

8 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts it has awarded to the communications firm, Charlotte Street Partners, in each year since 2007, also broken down the (a) duration and (b) value of each contract.

Answer · John Swinney: No contracts have been awarded by the Scottish Government to Charlotte Street Partners since 2007.

8 Oct 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many meetings it has had with the communications firm, Charlotte Street Partners, in each of the last five years, broken down by meetings organised by (a) it and (b) the firm, and how many were attended by (i) the First Minister, (ii) other ministers and (iii) officials.

Answer · John Swinney: Information on ministerial meetings is routinely published on the Scottish Government website.

2 Jun 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many unfilled consultant posts there are in NHS Fife.

26 May 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that there is an adequate joined-up approach to tackling antisocial behaviour.

28 Apr 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints Police Scotland has received from Fife residents regarding police response and call-out times since services were moved from the Fife control centre to Bilston Glen.

15 Apr 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government who is responsible for ensuring the water quality in relation to new building developments.

2 Mar 2015 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many young people who left school in 2014 are not in education, employment or training.

23 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many new jobs will be needed by (a) 2020 and (b) 2025 to meet the changing demographics of the labour force.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not produce forecasts of jobs or the changing demographics of the labour market. The Office for National Statistics principal population projections (2012) are for the Scottish working age population to increase by 162,000 in the…

23 Feb 2015 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has made of employment trends up to (a) 2020 and (b) 2025, and what information it has regarding how this compares with the projections made by the UK Commissioner for Employment and Skills.  

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not produce forecasts of employment trends comparable to the projections made by the UK Commissioner for Employment and Skills. The UK Commission for Employment and Skills produces labour market projections for the UK including S…

17 Feb 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many civilian police posts have been lost since 2007.

21 Jan 2015 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting colleges and other adult learning providers to improve adult literacy and numeracy and what progress has been made in tackling poor basic skills levels in adults.