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-05888

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessments of risks and ramifications were made before deciding to remove Transport Scotland officials from the management board of the Edinburgh trams project in 2007.

Question reference: S4W-05890

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 6 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposed Rights of Children and Young People Bill will take account of the impact of reserved policy matters on the lives and welfare of children and young people.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an international obligation of the UK and has been ratified by the UK Government. Under the current constitutional settlement, the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate on those matters that are reserved. In bringing forward their proposals for legislation, Scottish Ministers will seek to reflect the principles of the UNCRC insofar as the current settlement allows, taking into account all factors that are relevant. As outlined in my answer to S4W- 05889 on 6 March 2012, the Scottish Government will provide more detail of its legislative proposals in the spring of this year.

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-05706

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Liam McArthur on 5 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it plans to review the role of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman and, if so, whether this will include considering (a) the introduction of panel investigations similar to those operated by the UK Parliamentary Ombudsman and (b) extending the avenue for appeals.

Question reference: S4W-05903

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 2 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it anticipates Barnett consequentials arising from the £23.7 million Coastal Communities Fund launched on 9 February 2012 by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

In respect of the £23.7 million Coastal Communities Fund, launched by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 9 February 2012, Scotland’s share for 2012-13 will be £3.9 million. The Coastal Communities Fund will be administered by the Big Fund (the brand that the Big Lottery use to distribute non lottery funds). It has been agreed with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury that the Scottish Government will transfer £3.9 million to the Big Fund once the 2012-13 Block Grant has been augmented by this sum.

Question reference: S4W-05724

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 20 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 2 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason its Draft Youth Employment Strategy does not refer to the contribution of youth work.

Question reference: S4O-00762

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to defend and extend the rights of private sector tenants in Edinburgh.

Question reference: S4W-05397

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 29 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Accountant in Bankruptcy is equipped to support individuals on completion of a protected trust deed.

A Protected Trust Deed is a formal arrangement between an individual and an insolvency practitioner who becomes their trustee. The Accountant in Bankruptcy does not act as a trustee in Protected Trust Deeds but does take on a supervisory role.

In accordance with the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985, the Accountant in Bankruptcy does not hold a role or function with regards supporting an individual in a Protected Trust Deed. However, the Scottish Executive does provide funding for advice through the National Debtline and local authorities as well as funding for the training of free sector money advisers throughout Scotland. The Scottish Executive also produces a number of free publications for those people in debt.

Question reference: S4W-05398

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 29 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the law on protected trust deeds.

The Protected Trust Deed – Improving the Process Consultation was made available to the public on 17 October 2011. The purpose of this consultation was to review and decide on the future of Protected Trust Deeds. The closing date for responses from the public was 31 January 2012 and the responses are currently being collated and considered. The results of the consultation are due to be published on 24 April 2012, however should you wish to view the consultation you can access it at the following website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/10/14103349/0.

Subject to the responses received the Scottish Executive will review the law on Protected Trust Deeds.

Question reference: S4W-05396

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 02 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 29 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the role and functions of the Accountant in Bankruptcy.

Question reference: S4W-05697

Asked by: Kezia Dugdale, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 17 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 28 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of NHS employees disclosed a disability to their employer in 2011-12 and how this compares with each of the last two years for which information is available.

Information on the proportion of NHSScotland staff that have disclosed a disability to their employer can be found by following the link below to the Equality and Diversity table on the ISD website:

www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/2011-06-28/Equality_and_Diversity_2011.xls.

The information can be viewed in terms of the number of staff, or the percentage of workforce headcount, that have made such a disclosure. It can also be viewed by individual NHS board or for NHSScotland overall. It should, however, be noted that the information is based on optional self-reporting by staff in NHSScotland.