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-06520

Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 29 March 2012
Current Status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the results of the internal review of NHS Ayrshire and Arran's compliance with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 commissioned by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy following decision notice 036/2012 issued by the Scottish Information Commissioner.

I can confirm that I have received the conclusions of the internal review I commissioned from John Burns, Chief Executive of NHS Ayrshire and Arran. I wrote to Mr Burns on 18 March to acknowledge receipt of the report and the associated action plan, and to confirm that successful implementation of the actions will afford me the necessary confidence that local processes are fit for purpose and fully meet the requirements of the Freedom of Information legislation.

My officials will monitor the board's implementation of the actions closely and
Mr Burns intends to report back to me on progress by the end of May. I have provided a copy of my letter to Mr Burns and NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s action plan to the Interim Information Commissioner, for her information and assurance. A copy has also been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre under Bib. number 53831.

Question reference: S4O-00741

Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 1 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what its priorities are for the development of the Ayr-Stranraer railway line.

Question reference: S4O-00715

Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy last met NHS Ayrshire and Arran and what matters were discussed.

Question reference: S4O-00647

Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 February 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the job creating potential of enterprise areas will be, net of displacement.

Question reference: S4O-00475

Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 December 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress Ayrshire colleges have made in implementing post-16 education reforms.

Question reference: S4W-02323

Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 21 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding changes to the cold weather payment and, in particular, for those older people who are not in receipt of benefits.

Cold weather payments is a subject on which I have made a number of representations to the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) outlining the need for a review. In particular, the “seven day” rule to take account of longer but more broken cold spells, and that the use of a small number of weather stations does not take into account localised conditions which may mean that some people are living at temperatures noticeably below those recorded for the weather station to which they are linked.

We will continue to press DECC on this issue and the need for a full review.

Question reference: S4W-02322

Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 16 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to energy companies regarding the establishment of a social tariff for (a) older people and (b) those classed as fuel poor.

The Minister for Housing and Communities wrote to The Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change on 21 March 2011 regarding the UK Government’s proposed Warm Home Discount Scheme. This scheme replaces the current social tariff voluntary arrangements. He welcomed the proposals to extend the requirement on energy companies to assist vulnerable households, provide consistency over eligibility and to put this on a mandatory footing.

However, he expressed disappointment that a flat rate discount was proposed that does not take into account the more severe climate prevailing in Scotland and its longer heating season so disadvantaging vulnerable households in Scotland.

The powers in this area are reserved to Westminster, but ministers will continue to press Energy Companies to provide as much assistance as possible to help vulnerable households manage their energy bills.

Question reference: S4O-00197

Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 22 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it employs to assist businesses that have entered administration to trade out of administration, specifically in relation to relief from business rates liabilities.

Question reference: S4W-00607

Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 June 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what target has been set regarding wattage from offshore wind farms and how this impacts on the projected number and locations of future developments.

The Scottish Government has not set a specific target regarding wattage from offshore wind farms.

The market will determine the specific technology mix to deliver the capacity required to deliver the equivalent of 100% of our electricity consumption by 2020. Scottish Government will continue to deliver the stable and supportive economic environment necessary in order to allow the market to flourish.

The Scottish Government recognises that it must achieve a balance in order to manage the challenge of the 2020 target for 100% of electricity consumption from renewables and the impacts this will have on the projected number and locations of future developments.

Published on 18 March 2011, Blue Seas – Green Energy: A Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy in Scottish Territorial Waters sets out the Scottish Government’s vision for developing offshore wind energy up to and beyond 2020.

Question reference: S4O-00116

Asked by: Adam Ingram, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 September 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is addressing any constraints on aviation interests arising from wind farm planning issues.