Seòmar agus comataidhean

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

Criathragan Hide all filters

Displaying 3544 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S4W-00168

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, prior to the decision to end the shared ownership scheme for affordable housing, it carried out research on the scheme's (a) take up and (b) effectiveness in meeting the demand for affordable housing in each region.

ODS Consulting carried out independent research for the Scottish Government on four of the low-cost initiative for first time buyers (LIFT) schemes in 2010-11. The four schemes were new supply shared equity, open market shared equity, shared ownership and grants for rent and ownership. The evaluation focused on the outcomes achieved by these LIFT schemes, and looked specifically at six key areas:

Meeting people’s needs;

Allowing for mobility;

Affordability;

Additionality;

Mixed communities, and

Value for money

It involved a desktop review, telephone interviews with 151 individuals who had purchased properties through one of the LIFT schemes, and stakeholder consultations. A copy of the report can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/01/18143303/0.

Question reference: S4W-00164

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 23 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 2 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances prospective home owners will be allowed to reduce their share of ownership to 51% when making an application under the New Supply Shared Equity scheme.

Question reference: S4W-00091

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what stakeholders will be involved in the development of a local broadband plan for Orkney.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is leading on the development of a local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region, which will include Orkney. Highlands and Islands Enterprise plans to engage with a range of stakeholders in the development of its local broadband plan, including local authorities, the Scottish Government, the wider public sector, industry, local businesses, communities and individuals, MSPs and the UK Government.

As this project is being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and is an operational matter for them, I suggest you write to its chief executive if you require additional information.

Question reference: S4W-00093

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to prioritise the roll-out of superfast broadband to each (a) region and (b) local area in each region.

The Scottish Government’s overarching ambition, as outlined in our Digital Strategy of 3 March 2011, is that next generation broadband will be available to all by 2020, with significant progress by 2015. We are developing a strategic infrastructure plan for Scotland, which will comprise local broadband plans and will be developed throughout 2011 collectively with local authorities, our Enterprise Agencies and other stakeholders. It is the responsibility of these bodies to set the criteria for the prioritisation of the rollout of next generation broadband in each region and local area within each region.

Question reference: S4W-00086

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out or plans to carry out an investigation of the impact on island-based businesses of the exclusion of business travel from the Air Discount Scheme.

Question reference: S4W-00087

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to help island-based voluntary organisations to participate in national events on the Scottish mainland following the exclusion of business travel from the Air Discount Scheme.

Question reference: S4W-00088

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the impact on (a) voluntary organisations and (b) businesses of the exclusion of business travel from the Air Discount Scheme.

Question reference: S4W-00092

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive to what parts of (a) Orkney, (b) Shetland and (c) the Western Isles next generation broadband will be rolled out by 2015.

Question reference: S4W-00090

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 1 June 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive what its target dates are for the development of a local broadband plan for each region.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is currently finalising its local broadband plan for the Highlands and Islands region.

Additionally, the South of Scotland Alliance, whose area covers the geographic boundaries of Scottish Borders Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council, expects to have a comprehensive plan completed by September 2011.

The Scottish Government is currently working with local authorities, Scottish Enterprise and other stakeholders to help them develop local broadband plans for the remaining regions of Scotland this year.

Question reference: S4W-00085

Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 31 May 2011

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out or plans to carry out an investigation of the impact on island-based voluntary organisations of the exclusion of business travel from the Air Discount Scheme.

The Scottish Government has not conducted, and has no plans to conduct, an investigation of the impact on voluntary organisations and businesses of the exclusion of business-related claims from the Air Discount Scheme (ADS).

We have not received representations from any voluntary organisations on the impact of the exclusion of business-related claims, although we have received a very small number of direct representations from businesses.

The ADS is designed to facilitate social support for individual scheme members. Although the scheme does not extend to providing voluntary organisations with help in participating in national events on the Scottish mainland, it is available to support individual members attending social type events on the mainland.