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-17485

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 10 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Scottish Ministers can delegate final decisions on approving compulsory purchase orders and, if so, to whom.

Question reference: S4W-17483

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 10 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what account the Scottish Ministers must take of the public interest when considering the approval of compulsory purchase orders and what other criteria they must meet.

In deciding whether or not to confirm a compulsory purchase order, the Scottish Ministers will consider each case on its merits considering whether the acquisition of the property by compulsory means is proportionate and in the public interest weighing the balance of the public interest against the private rights of the owner and those affected.

In doing so the Scottish Ministers take into account all relevant factors, including the purposes for which the land is being acquired, the criteria in the legislation enabling the compulsory acquisition and any objections to the order.

Question reference: S4W-17482

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 8 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether a site can be designated as a (a) site of special scientific interest and (b) special protection area without the approval of the Scottish Ministers.

A Site of Special Scientific Interest can be notified without the approval of the Scottish Ministers. The power to notify such sites is conferred on Scottish Natural Heritage by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.

A Special Protection Area under Directive 2009/147/EC (the Wild Birds Directive) must be approved by the Scottish Ministers in exercise of the duty to classify such sites as placed on them by Regulations 9A to 9C of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994.

Question reference: S4F-01622

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 October 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 October 2013

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government plans to implement a wage rise for NHS workers in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-17455

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 7 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-16862 by Alex Neil on 18 September 2013, how many new programmes have been funded since 1 January 2010.

Question reference: S4W-17460

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to reinstate the road equivalent tariff scheme for all vehicles using Western Isles services.

Question reference: S4W-17461

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how much it would cost to introduce the road equivalent tariff scheme for all vehicles using (a) south west and (b) Clyde services.

The cost to introduce a Road Equivalent Tariff (RTE) scheme for all vehicles (cars and commercial vehicles) on South West Services is estimated to be £4.4 million.

The cost to introduce RET scheme for all vehicles (cars and commercial vehicles) on Clyde Services is estimated to be £3.8 million.

These estimates exclude all passengers and are based on an analysis of the following routes:

South West:

Ardrossan - Brodick

Claonaig - Lochranza

Largs - Cumbrae Slip

Wemyss Bay - Rothesay

Colintraive - Rhubodach

Tarbert LF – Portavadie

Clyde:

Ardrossan - Brodick

Claonaig - Lochranza

Wemyss Bay - Rothesay

Colintraive - Rhubodach

Gourock – Dunoon

Question reference: S4O-02455

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 October 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that all schools have adequate internet connections.

Question reference: S4W-16860

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that it complies with a requirement to meet the public interest when the matters to be considered in doing so are not laid out in the relevant legislation.

The Scottish Government provides guidance for its staff on applying the public interest test in relation to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004. This is available on pages 44 and 45 at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0042/00427777.pdf. Staff are also directed to the Scottish Information Commissioner's guidance for public authorities on how to apply the public interest test in relation to different exemptions and exceptions which is available at:

http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/Law/FOISA-EIRsGuidance/Briefings.aspx.

Question reference: S4W-16859

Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 19 September 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether legislation that contains a requirement to meet the public interest specifies the matters to be considered in order to do so.

In relation to most exemptions used under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and all exceptions under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004, information can only be withheld if, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in disclosing the information is not outweighed by that in maintaining the exemption or exception.

This legislation does not specify the matters to be considered in carrying out the public interest test as the public interest arguments in favour of and against release of information will vary significantly depending on the specific information requested. If an applicant does not agree with the way in which the public interest test has been applied by a public authority they have a right to seek an internal review and then, if they are still not happy, to appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner.