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-08362

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 13 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how it encourages the start-up of new businesses in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley.

The Scottish Government is firmly committed to working with all partners across Ayrshire to maintain a supportive business environment, ensuring that measures are in place to encourage the development of new businesses in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley. The Business Gateway, delivered by local authorities as part of their local economic development responsibility, is the key delivery channel offering a first point of contact for all publicly funded advice to start-up and existing businesses.

Our key economic development agencies in the area, Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise, are working closely with East Ayrshire Council on the Make it Kilmarnock initiative. One strand of this initiative, Business Nurture, promotes Kilmarnock as a location for new businesses, particularly through the promotion of business parks at Moorfield and Rowallan.

In addition, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth officially opened the Entrepreneurial Spark facility in Sir Tom Hunter's premises in Dundonald last month. This joint initiative, involving the three local authorities in Ayrshire, will provide extensive hands-on support and mentoring for new business with growth potential.

Question reference: S4W-08370

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ask local authorities to review the council tax liabilities of terminally ill people who are hospitalised and who have unoccupied second homes.

Under the Local Government Finance Act 1992, which governs council tax, it is for each local authority to interpret and apply the provisions set out in legislation. Depending on individual circumstances, a number of exemptions and discounts may be awarded. This can include exemption where an individual is away from home to receive care and council tax discount for second or unoccupied properties.

However, local authorities do not have powers to provide discretionary exemptions based on health or other issues. This type of support for individuals is provided through the social security system, which is reserved to the UK Parliament.

Question reference: S4W-08366

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 29 June 2012
Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 3 July 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive how many court cases to resolve family contact disputes there have been under the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006.

Question reference: S4O-01187

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 June 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to grow the economy in Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley.

Question reference: S4O-00982

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 May 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 May 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to strengthen the role of mediation in resolving family contact disputes.

Question reference: S4O-00870

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider introducing the transcatheter aortic valve implantation heart valve procedure.

Question reference: S4W-05637

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 12 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason operable pancreatic cancer cases might not result in an operation being carried out.

There are a number of reasons why pancreatic cancer cases might not result in an operation being undertaken. The fitness of the patient, the choice of whether they wish to be operated on, consideration of how the tumour has developed and the risks involved in potential removal are, as examples, some of the considerations that will be taken into account.

The most suitable treatment option will be selected following discussion at a multi-disciplinary team meeting and also, most importantly, between the clinician and the individual.

Question reference: S4W-05634

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether survival rates for pancreatic cancer in Scotland have improved since 1992.

<>Data showing improvements in survival rates of pancreatic cancer can be found on Information Services Division Scotland's cancer statistics website at: http://www.isdscotland.scot.nhs.uk/Health-Topics/Cancer/Cancer-Statistics/Pancreatic/.

One year relative survival from pancreatic cancer has improved from 13.7% (diagnosis period 1993-97) to 17.3% (diagnosis period 2003-07). However, there has been no increase in five year relative survival (4.0% in 1983-87; 3.9% in 2003-07).

Question reference: S4W-05635

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to assist in the early detection of pancreatic cancer.

Our “Detect Cancer Early” initiative is initially focusing on the three most common cancers, lung, bowel and breast, which represent 45% of all cancers diagnosed in Scotland per year.

To allow the early stages of the programme to be appropriately managed and be the most effective, we have decided to focus on these three cancers to enable us to have the greatest impact both in terms of patient numbers and in addressing cancer in areas of deprivation where survival has historically been poorest. Once this initial phase is completed, we will consider which others cancers need to be addressed in a similar way and pancreatic cancer will certainly be considered as part of this process.

Question reference: S4W-05636

Asked by: Willie Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Current Status: Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 March 2012

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of operable pancreatic cancer cases result in an operation being carried out in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK.