Parliamentary Questions
Either see below Gil most recent written questions to Parliament or select a category.
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To ask the Scottish Government how (a) much has been awarded and (b) many activities for young people have been supported by the CashBack for Communities programme since 2008, broken down by local authority area.
Answered by Michael Matheson (23/07/2015):Information about investment in the CashBack for Communities programme and number of activities by local authority area, from 2008-09 until 2013-14, is set out in Table 3.5 and Table 3.10 of the National Evaluation of the CashBack for Communities Programme document published in May 2014:http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0045/00452165.pdf The data for 2014-15 is not yet available. To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) businesses and (b) people have submitted online planning applications via the ePlanning Scotland website in each year since 2009, broken down by local authority, and what the average saving was.
Answered by Alex Neil (25/03/2015):Anyone who registers on the portal can set their account as either a ‘professional’ or a ‘general public’ user. The reason for this initial distinction is to customise their experience. As regular users of the portal professionals benefit from additional functionality made available to them. The general public are assisted with easy to use forms and guidance. The Scottish Government does not however retain information on the breakdown of applications submitted through the ePlanning portal by types of user, whether they be professionals, businesses or the general public. The average saving per applicant is based on several factors associated with producing a traditional paper based application. This includes savings to be made from costs associated with printing technical drawings, design statements, visualisations etc. as well as the packaging and postage costs. Other savings are generated by the efficiencies the portal provides, freeing up the applicants time to work on other activities. None of these savings have a bearing on which planning authority is processing the application or who the applicant is; an average is applied across all applications. Answered by Keith Brown (05/03/2015):The Commissioner, Eric Fraser, spent an initial period meeting with and listening to key interests involved in delivering support to the veterans’ community in Scotland. These included local authorities, health boards, service delivery organisations, ex-service charities and, crucially, individual veterans.
Drawing on these wide ranging discussions and information gathering, the Commissioner has now produced a strategy and workplan for 2015 that he is publishing today and available to view at:http://scotland.gov.uk/About/public-bodies/veterans-commissioner/Publications. The Commissioner has set out a testing and ambitious programme but I believe it is achievable and will lead both to new and improved support and opportunities for veterans. The Commissioner will prioritise his 2015 work on housing and employability issues impacting on veterans. He will also examine the findings and recommendations contained within the 2014 report from Lord Ashcroft entitled Veterans transition Review, commissioned by the Prime Minister, in order to advise Scottish Ministers on how best they can be addressed and implemented in Scotland in respect of our devolved responsibilities. A copy of the strategy and workplan will be available in SPICe. The Commissioner will be happy to engage at the earliest opportunity on his strategy and workplan with MSPs and other interests and, as a first step, will attend a ‘Meet The Commissioner’ Scottish Parliamentary reception on 1 April 2015 hosted by the Chairman of the Cross Party Group on Armed Forces Veterans. To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the voluntary sector.
Answered by Alex Neil (27/11/2014):The Scottish Government Draft Budget 2015-16 will enable us to continue to significantly invest in the third sector as a key social partner, maintaining funding of £24.5 million towards direct support of the third sector. This only represents our direct third sector budget – areas across the Scottish Government contribute funding to the third sector. We have not previously produced an amalgamated figure, but work is being finalised on tracking total Scottish Government third sector spending. We have also begun a discussion with the sector about what approach might be taken going forward, to secure a buoyant and sustainable third sector. To ask the Scottish Government how the justice system works with ASSIST to support victims of domestic abuse.
Answered by Kenny MacAskill (05/03/2014):The prosecution of domestic abuse is a strategic priority of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). Prosecutors recognise the need to work with specialist organisations to create a criminal justice system where victims get the help and services they need. ASSIST is a valued partner of the police and COPFS. Police officers will refer victims of domestic abuse to ASSIST who will carry out a risk assessment of the victim and ensure that safety planning has been put in place. They will then provide a report to prosecutors containing additional information that may be beneficial to the case including information about risk posed to the victim and the victim’s views on special bail conditions and non-harassment orders where this information is available. ASSIST supports victim engagement throughout the court process. Prosecutors are in daily contact with workers from ASSIST in order to ensure that they have up to date information on the cases they deal with. I have visited ASSIST myself on a number of occasions, including last week, and I am always impressed by the excellent service they provide to victims, and their effective partnerships with all other agencies who are working tirelessly to tackle this most devastating of crimes. To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to extend the duration of the public inquiry into the Clostridium difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven hospital.
Answered by Alex Neil (07/02/2014):Lord MacLean, Chairman of the Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry, wrote to me on 17 December 2013 informing me that the warning letter process will not be completed in sufficient time to allow for the publication of the report by March 2014. Under the legislation, the chairman must issue a warning letter to any individual or organisation likely to be the subject of significant or explicit criticism in his report. The warning letter allows them a reasonable opportunity to consider and respond to the criticisms. As a matter of fairness, the chairman must consider these responses. The warning letter process is not yet complete and Lord MacLean is unable to give a reporting date until this process is fully completed. I will, therefore, inform Parliament as soon as the reporting date is known. Question S4W-05676:
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it considers that the Scottish Older People’s Assembly plays in society. Answered by Nicola Sturgeon (13/03/2012): I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05669 on 13 March 2012 (find below). Question S4W-05675: To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to the Scottish Older People’s Assembly. Answered by Nicola Sturgeon (13/03/2012): I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05669 on 13 March 2012 (find below). Question S4W-05674: To ask the Scottish Executive how (a) individual people and (b) organisations can become members of the Scottish Older People’s Assembly Steering Group. Answered by Nicola Sturgeon (13/03/2012): I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05669 on 13 March 2012 (find below). Question S4W-05671: Gil Paterson, Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 15/02/2012 To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Older People’s Assembly has a written constitution. Answered by Nicola Sturgeon (13/03/2012): I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05669 on 13 March 2012 (find below). Question S4W-05670: To ask the Scottish Executive how many organisations are represented on the (a) Scottish Older People’s Assembly and (b) Scottish Older People’s Assembly Steering Group. Answered by Nicola Sturgeon (13/03/2012): I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05669 on 13 March 2012 (find below). Question S4W-05669: To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals members there are of the (a) Scottish Older People’s Assembly and (b) Scottish Older People’s Assembly Steering Group. Answered by Nicola Sturgeon (13/03/2012): The Scottish Older People’s Assembly is run by older people, for older people, and its purpose is to be a voice for older people in Scotland. It was not set up by the Scottish Government, nor is it a Scottish Government organisation, but information about the Assembly and its Steering Group is at http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/sopa2011. The first Assembly was held in October 2009, and the Scottish Government provided funding of £31,016.32 in 2009-10, £30,000 in each of 2010-11 and 2011-12, and we have promised £30,000 for an assembly in 2012. To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals members there are of the (a) Scottish Older People’s Assembly and (b) Scottish Older People’s Assembly Steering Group.
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon (13/03/2012):The Scottish Older People’s Assembly is run by older people, for older people, and its purpose is to be a voice for older people in Scotland. It was not set up by the Scottish Government, nor is it a Scottish Government organisation, but information about the Assembly and its Steering Group is at http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/sopa2011. The first Assembly was held in October 2009, and the Scottish Government provided funding of £31,016.32 in 2009-10, £30,000 in each of 2010-11 and 2011-12, and we have promised £30,000 for an assembly in 2012. To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to (a) proposed and (b) existing community councils.
Answered by John Swinney (22/01/2010): The level of support provided to community councils, including any financial support, is at the discretion of each individual local authority. However, in partnership with COSLA and the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC), we are continuing to raise the profile and effectiveness of community councils throughout Scotland to enable them to build their capacity and to allow them to engage as key participants in local decision making and delivery. This includes promoting the adoption of the Model Scheme of Establishment of Community Councils and Code of Conduct for Community Councillors, documents developed by a Scottish Government Community Council Working Group (CCWG). Adoption of these documents is key to the building of capacity as they will help establish a greater consistency of operational arrangements and a culture of accountability. The Scottish Government is also funding a series of Community Council Pilot Projects. The pilots will focus on budget management, community council elections and potential asset management. S3W-30731: To ask the Scottish Executive what role it sees community councils having in local decision making.
Answered by John Swinney (22/01/2010): I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30730 (below) on 22 January 2010. S3W-30730: To ask the Scottish Executive what value it sees in community councils advancing local democracy. Answered by John Swinney (22/01/2010): The Scottish Government values the important role that community councils can play in ensuring that the views of the community it represents are reflected in local decision making. The general statutory purpose of community councils is to ascertain, co-ordinate and express to local authorities for its area, and to public authorities, the views of the community which it represents, in relation to matters for which those authorities are responsible, and to take such action in the interests of that community as appears to it to be expedient and practicable. In that respect they can bring an important local dimension to the development and delivery of services by local public bodies. A Scottish Government Community Council Working Group (CCWG) was invited to identify expanded roles and responsibilities for community councils. They found that many, in discussion and agreement with their local authority, already undertook a variety of roles and responsibilities, for example “ arranging minor repairs of certain local authority amenities, control of common good funds and Community Hall management/maintenance. However, in order for this to be more widespread, it was recognised that the capacity of community councils would require strengthening. In partnership with COSLA and the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC), therefore, we are continuing to raise the profile and effectiveness of community councils throughout Scotland to enable them to build their capacity and to allow them to engage as key participants in local decision making and delivery. |
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ArchiveNote: This page contains both questions laid by Gil as MSP for West of Scotland (2007-2011, title starts "S3W/O") and Clydebank & Milngavie (2011-present, title starts "S4W/O")
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