This search includes all content on the Scottish Parliament website, except for Votes and Motions. All Official Reports (what has been said in Parliament) and Questions and Answers are available from 1999. You can refine your search by adding and removing filters.
That is because, as I am sure the committee will understand, importing a criminal offence requires careful consideration of the legal and administrative practicalities. I want my officials to consult external bodies and electoral registration and returning officers to ensure that the inclusion of any offences would be practical and workable in the context o...
In 2007, Fiona Hyslop said:"If we get it right, we will energise an entire generation".—Official Report, 20 June 2007; c 883.Every set of Government statistics shows that she has not got it right.
To help all staff consider the possible implications of those provisions, senior officials in Forestry Commission Scotland have organised staff meetings in Edinburgh, Stirling, Inverness, Perth, Aviemore, Oban, Dumfries and Stranraer.
That is precisely why there is constructive engagement between officials, HITRANS and the council. It is why I welcome the active, energetic support of the local member to ensure that all the complexities of the issue are brought to the fore and form part of the decision making going forward.
Would it be appropriate to put the complaints mechanisms of the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner and the commission that deals with complaints about councillors under the broader heading of complaints about public services and the conduct of public officials or elected representatives? It is very difficult to know whether what is suggested is a...
In 2006, Tom McCabe, who was then Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, said on a similar issue:"We can do our best … to mentor local government and to encourage it to reach agreements that will strike the balance".—Official Report, Finance Committee, 21 February 2006; c 3419.Does the cabinet secretary agree with that?
Owners have the right to ask the sheriff to give them time to pay off arrears and lenders are obliged to comply fully with Financial Services Authority regulations.In addition, Government officials met the Council of Mortgage Lenders on 23 October.
The item is timely, as there will be a debate on the topic next Wednesday. We will not produce an official response to the Government's report, but if we wish to raise particular issues with the Scottish Government we can do so now as well as during the debate.
In February, in answer to a question from Duncan McNeil, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice said:"We are not closed to considering further legislative action".—Official Report, Written Answers, 27 March 2008; S30-2828.
He also agreed that"it would be a cause for regret if its services were not available."—Official Report, 28 February 2008; c 6479.Given that funding for that project has now been slashed by £140,000 as a result of Aberdeen City Council's budget cuts, does the cabinet secretary still believe that the right way to plug the funding gap is through voluntary con...