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-24375

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2015
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 20 February 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the Tenancy Deposit Scheme guidance.

The Tenancy Deposit Schemes were introduced to resolve the long standing issue of disputes between landlords and tenants over the return of deposits. The three schemes came into force in July 2012.

The Scottish Government is not aware of any significant issues with the implementation of the Regulations and so has no plans to review them. It continues to provide oversight of the schemes as set out in the Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011.

Question reference: S4W-23795

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what factors determined the rate of loss of earnings compensation for jurors.

In general the same rates are payable for loss of earning compensation for jurors in Scotland as in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. These rates have been occasionally adjusted to take account of inflation.

However, from 2011 the Scottish Government increased the amount of compensation available for longer periods of service in respect of the response to the 2008 consultation The Modern Scottish Jury in Criminal Trials, about which further information may be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/archive/law-order/juryreform

Rates of compensation for longer periods remain more generous in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK.

Question reference: S4W-23796

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 December 2014
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when it will next review the standard rate of loss of earnings compensation for jurors and what factors it will take into account.

The Scottish Government most recently reviewed the standard rate of loss of earnings compensation for jurors in September 2014. We would anticipate doing so again in the course of 2015.

When carrying out a review we seek the views of the Scottish Court Service, which makes these payments from its own budget. The Scottish Court Service, and any other interested party, may make representations to the Scottish Government about jurors’ allowances at any time.

Question reference: S4W-23680

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2014
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 9 January 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its policies on pets and, if so, when.

As noted in response to parliamentary question S4W-21706 on 24 June 2014, the Scottish Government has begun an initial review of existing companion animal welfare legislation and intends to develop long-term options for further work in this area.

While the current priority on companion animals is responsible dog ownership, a wider review of Scottish Government policies on pet legislation will be undertaken in due course with assistance from stakeholders. We will then consider how best to proceed; any new or revised legislation would need to be preceded by full public consultation.

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-23561

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 05 December 2014
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-23257 by Shona Robison on 27 November 2014, what consideration the National Planning Forum gave to whether there is a need to extend the provision of transcatheter aortic valve implantation beyond a single site at its meeting on 4 December 2014.

The National Planning Forum has agreed that the transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) service at The Royal Infirmary Edinburgh continues to deliver a high-quality service with excellent outcomes.

There is currently no evidence of unmet demand for TAVI. Based on the current and predicted volume of patients that are suitable for TAVI, there is no requirement to expand the service at this time.

Expansion will not be ruled out in future, should unmet demand be identified, and a safe and sustainable route to expansion can be found.

Question reference: S4O-03797

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support devolving to local authorities delivery of the work currently carried out under the Department for Work and Pensions' Work Programme.

Question reference: S4W-23296

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 3 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Expert Ferry Group about the draft budget 2015-16.

Question reference: S4W-23298

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 3 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ensure that the increase in private expenditure in the ferries sector outlined in the draft 2015-16 budget is not used to encourage private sector bids for the 2016-22 contract for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service.

Question reference: S4W-23301

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 3 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-22734 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 October 2014, what the EU's deadline is for the transposition of directive 2014/24/EU.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-22734 on 30 October 2014. The three new procurement directives must be transposed into Scots law by 18 April 2016. The Scottish Government expects Scottish regulations to be in place towards the end of 2015.

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-23297

Asked by: Drew Smith, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2014
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 3 December 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how much the roll-out of the Road Equivalent Tariff for (a) Clyde and Hebrides and (b) Northern Isles ferry services will cost.

When the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme is rolled out to the entire Clyde and Hebrides network, the estimated total annual cost will be between £13.4 million and £15.2 million. Final outturn costs will be contingent on the levels of patronage.

As noted in the Ferries Plan, published in December 2012, implementing RET for the Northern Isles ferry services, now or in the next few years, would mean an increase on a range of fares currently available. The Ferries Plan made clear our intention to phase in the introduction of RET fares over a much longer time-frame so that no one will pay more for a RET fare their current standard single fare. Estimated costs are not therefore available for the Northern Isles ferry services at this stage.