Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S4W-11317

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 16 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 27 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it provides in exporting Scottish culture to China.

The First Minister signed a Cultural Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China in December 2011 to strengthen Scotland’s cultural links with China. As part of the MOU the Scottish Government has provided networking opportunities to enable creative practitioners to develop cultural links and partnerships with the Chinese creative sector. Both Scottish Government and Creative Scotland have provided funding to support a number of Scottish performances in China this year including a tour by the Scottish Ensemble, a collaboration between Janis Claxton Dance and LDTX in Beijing, Scottish Opera educational project in Tianjin, National Theatre of Scotland tour of ‘Monster in the Hall’ and the forthcoming Royal Scottish National Orchestra tour.

The Scottish Government works with the British Council in China by supporting the ‘Connections through Culture’ initiative which provides support, information, advice, networking opportunities and development grants to cultural organisations in Scotland to build long lasting relationships and cultural collaborations between organisations in the two countries.

Question reference: S4O-01529

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how the Opportunities for All policy is being implemented in the west of Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-10801

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 14 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it provides to members of the public who have difficulty obtaining legal aid.

The Scottish Government provides funding through the legal aid scheme to assist people who might not otherwise be able to afford legal representation in civil litigation or criminal cases. Applications for legal aid are considered by the Scottish Legal Aid Board, who applies the following statutory tests: probable cause, reasonableness and financial eligibility.

Criminal legal aid is automatically available in some circumstances, and may be granted by the court in other circumstances. Otherwise the test for criminal legal aid for solemn proceedings is undue hardship, and for summary and appeal proceedings undue hardship and the interests of justice.

Ministers cannot interfere in the operation of these tests in individual cases by the Scottish Legal Aid Board. Section 4 (2)(c) of the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 provides a power for Ministers to direct that payments be made from the legal aid fund outwith the usual statutory parameters, but this is only done in limited and unusual circumstances.

In order for legal aid to be granted, the applicant will require a solicitor who is prepared to represent them. For details of the position of people who may have difficulty finding a solicitor, I refer the member to the answer to S4W-10186 on
8 November 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Question reference: S4W-10799

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 14 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle antisocial behaviour in West Scotland.

Tackling antisocial behaviour and making communities safer and stronger remains a top priority for this Government. Recorded crime in Scotland is at it a 37 year low and has fallen by 25% since 2006-7. There are also 17,373 Police officers (full-time equivalent) working in our communities.

In March 2009 the Scottish Government and COSLA jointly published their Framework for tackling antisocial behaviour, Promoting Positive Outcomes. It followed a thorough review of national antisocial behaviour policy, recognising that prevention; early and effective intervention; and diversion, should be at its heart.

Since 2007, over £1.6 million has been invested through CashBack for Communities across local authorities in the West Scotland region through a wide range of CashBack partner organisations including the Scottish Football Association (SFA), Scottish Rugby Union (SRU), Youth Scotland and Youthlink Scotland promoting positive inclusive behaviours through their activities.

Question reference: S4F-00972

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 12 November 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15 November 2012

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's assessment is of the economic impact on Scotland of the planned three pence increase in fuel duty.

Question reference: S4W-10800

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 9 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it provides to victims of crime in West Scotland.

The Scottish Government provides funding for a number of organisations which offer support and assistance to victims throughout Scotland, such as Victim Support Scotland, People Experiencing Trauma and Loss (PETAL) and Rape Crisis Scotland.

In addition, around £25m is made available each year to fund Scottish cases within the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

The Scottish Government offers a range of information which may be of assistance to victims. This includes the Victims of Crime website which can be found at; www.victimsofcrimeinscotland.org.uk; tailored information aimed at victims of serious crime, such as rape and sexual assault; and for bereaved families following murder, culpable homicide or a road death.

The Scottish Government is committed to introducing a Victims and Witnesses Bill in this Parliamentary session to further improve the support available to victims and witnesses across Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-10186

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 11 October 2012
Current Status: Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 8 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what provisions are there to help people wanting to take a civil case forward but unable to obtain legal representation.

<>The Scottish Government provides funding through the legal aid scheme to assist people who might not otherwise be able to afford legal representation in civil litigation. The Scottish Legal Aid Board (“the Board”) has a statutory responsibility to monitor the availability and accessibility of legal services in Scotland, and the first monitoring report can be found at the following link. http://www.slab.org.uk/export/sites/default/common/documents/about_us/whatwedo/2012_Final_Monitoring_Report.pdf.

The Board found no general evidence of lack of access to legal services. The Board also provides four Civil Legal Assistance Offices in Scotland, which offer legal services in targeted geographical and subject areas.

The Law Society of Scotland offers a comprehensive online search facility on its website (www.lawscot.org.uk) to help members of the public find a solicitor. Other sources of information and support include independent advice agencies, such as Citizens Advice Bureaux or Shelter, and local authority advice services.

Ultimately, though, the Government cannot direct solicitors to provide legal representation in individual cases, and nor is legal representation formally required in order to bring forward a civil case.

Question reference: S4O-01438

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 7 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve the prison estate in the west of Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-09284

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 21 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines regarding surplus office furniture NHS boards have.

Question reference: S4W-09280

Asked by: Stuart McMillan, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 21 September 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what are each NHS board's (a) procurement strategies for and (b) contract providers of office furniture.

The management and procurement of office furniture is an operational matter for NHS boards.

NHS National Services Scotland (National Procurement) has in place a national contract for furniture and which is available for all NHS boards to use. The scale and scope of the contract is based on engagement between NHS National Services Scotland and NHS boards regarding their requirements.

Such opportunities for suppliers and details contracts let are published on the Public Contracts Scotland Website. Details of the current contract can be accessed at:

http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP098738.