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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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S4W-22594

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 September 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 6 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government what the cost of the public inquiry into Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital has been and how this compares with the costs of other recent public inquiries.

The information on inquiry costs is set out in the following table:

Inquiry	Cost
ICL Inquiry	£1.9 million
Fingerprint Inquiry	£4.75 million
Penrose Inquiry (ongoing)	£11.5 million (as at 31 August 2014)
Vale of Leven Hospital Inquiry (ongoing)	£10.1 million (as at 30 July 2014)

It is not possible to make direct comparisons of the costs associated with different public inquiries, established under the Inquiries Act 2005, because the terms of reference are specific to each inquiry.

Question reference: S4W-22577

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 September 2014
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 3 October 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities have been advised that they can cancel arrears of the so-called bedroom tax arising in 2013-14 and when it will issue guidance on the matter.

The management of arrears, including those related to the bedroom tax, is a matter for landlords as part of their responsibility to manage their tenants, stock and finances.

The cap for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) will be lifted once the power to do so is transferred to Scottish Ministers. When that happens, local authorities will be able to top up their DHP accounts to make any further payments in line with local priorities.

Question reference: S4F-02289

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 22 September 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2014

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on raising the minimum wage to £8 per hour.

Question reference: S4F-02254

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 11 August 2014
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 14 August 2014

To ask the First Minister whether there will be foodbanks in an independent Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-22079

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21351 by John Swinney on 9 June 2014, for what reason no diversity training for external selection panel members specific to the workstream has been delivered.

The key findings report from the event Women On Board: Quality through Diversity held in November 2013 included an action: “training in unconscious bias, equality and diversity for everyone involved in the recruitment process”. The Scottish Government’s Public Bodies and Corporate Diversity Programme Board has supported the integration of this action across the programme strands.

Further scoping work is currently underway to devise how to provide suitable diversity training for external board members. The programme board and relevant stakeholders will consider the content and timing of such training to ensure that any investment made delivers results.

Question reference: S4W-22078

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 10 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 5 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-21350 by John Swinney on 9 June 2014, whether the events are evaluated on a (a) formative or (b) summative basis and, if so, whether it will publish the evaluation (i) methodology and (ii) findings.

Events held by the Public Appointment Centre of Expertise vary greatly, from hosting a stand at a conference to organising large events such as Women On Board: Quality through Diversity, held in November 2013. As such, not every event is evaluated, and methods used may be on a formative, summative or other method as considered appropriate. Any evaluations that are published will be available on the Scottish Government’s website, alongside more information on the work of the Public Bodies and Corporate Diversity Programme Board:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality/PublicBoardsCorporateDiversityProg

Question reference: S4W-22168

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 18 July 2014
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 1 August 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether the NHS has (a) sold or (b) passed-on the names and addresses of patients to commercial companies in the last five years and, if so, for what reason.

Question reference: S4W-21971

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 25 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is required to cover VAT charges on fees for safeguarders.

Question reference: S4W-21969

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 25 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government how VAT on safeguarders fees was dealt with when the fees were paid by local authorities; how it is dealt with under Children 1st, and what the Scottish Government's position is on the matter.

The payment of safeguarders prior to the 2011 Act was a matter for local authorities. It is understood that the method and range of payments varied between local authorities as well as in respect of individual safeguarders. Prior to the 2011 Act and associated regulations coming into force on 24 June 2013, the Scottish Government undertook a consultation on fees applicable to the new arrangements with all safeguarders. A revised set of nationally consistent fees, expenses and allowances, with levels set on a ‘no detriment’ basis was published by the Scottish Government. From 24 June 2013, Children 1st have been responsible for the payment of fees and expenses to safeguarders - VAT is not payable on these fees.

Question reference: S4W-21970

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2014
Current Status: Answered by Aileen Campbell on 25 July 2014

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received representations on the issue of the payment of VAT on safeguarders' fees and, if so, when, and what action it has taken as a result.