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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.

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Question reference: S4W-15264

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 13 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that strategic environmental assessments of single outcome agreements are carried out; what benefits such assessments bring, and what the implications might be if they are not undertaken.

The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires a Responsible Authority to secure the carrying out of an environmental assessment in relation to a qualifying public plan or programme during the preparation of that plan or programme. The main benefit of environmental assessments is to ensure that the likely impact on the environment of public plans and programmes is considered before they are finalised. The iterative assessment procedures can enhance the public consultation processes by ensuring that those consulted are better informed of the likely environmental effects of a public plan or programme.

A single outcome agreement (SOA) would only require an environmental assessment if it is regarded as being a public plan or programme as defined in the 2005 Act. The Scottish Government believes that in principle SOAs are unlikely to fall within the 2005 Act definition of a public plan or programme and so are unlikely to be subjected to Strategic Environmental Assessment. However, whether a particular SOA falls within the scope of the 2005 Act will depend on its content. It is therefore for each community planning partnership to interpret and apply the 2005 Act in relation to its own SOA and decide whether an assessment should be carried out.

Question reference: S4O-02285

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government which policies in the Draft Scottish Planning Policy will inform local authority development plans in relation to housing needs for older people.

Question reference: S4W-15232

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 June 2013

To ask the Scottish Government when the second round of data from the 2011 Scottish Census results, in relation to religion, will be released.

Question reference: S4O-02187

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 30 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian.

Question reference: S4W-14670

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 03 May 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 15 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-11911 by John Swinney on 17 January 2013, who it plans to consult; what the timescale is, and what models it has considered as possible replacements for the council tax.

The current Council Tax system is unfair, which is why the Scottish Government has frozen the tax at 2007-08 levels.

That policy has proved overwhelmingly popular with people across Scotland. We are committed to continuing the freeze for the duration of this Parliament, by which time the policy will have saved the average household around £1,200.

We will consult with others to produce a fairer local tax based on ability to pay later in this Parliament. All potential alternative proposals which meet this criteria will be considered.

Question reference: S4W-14526

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 10 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report, Managing the Social Risks of Public Spending Cuts in Scotland.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation report addresses issues that are key to improving local outcomes, and is a welcome contribution to the debate. These issues are being addressed throughout the Scottish Government’s policy-making, budgeting, data provision and collaboration with delivery partners, through taking a broad outcomes-based approach at national and local levels. All public services across Scotland are aligned with a single framework, the Scottish Government’s Purpose and National Outcomes, which provides a clear vision of the kind of Scotland we want to see, covering all aspects of a successful and flourishing society. The Scottish Government and local government are committed to delivering the reforms recommended by the Christie Commission, particularly around prevention, and have agreed the Statement of Ambition for strengthening Community Planning. The Single Outcome Agreements currently under development, focusing on key policy priorities and a clear understanding of place, will support local decision-making that can explicitly consider the full impact of decisions on all citizens, as advocated by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in its report. This is supported by the work of the joint Scottish Government, COSLA and Improvement Service working group on Improving Evidence and Data.

Question reference: S4W-14527

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 10 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider developing a social risk impact assessment model to complement the process of equality impact assessments.

Question reference: S4W-14598

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Current Status: Answered by Derek Mackay on 9 May 2013

To ask the Scottish Government on what date it will introduce the proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill.

Question reference: S4O-02040

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 April 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with NHS Lothian regarding the board's investigation of readmission rates.

Question reference: S4W-13795

Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 3 April 2013

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support capacity building in (a) financial, (b) project management and (c) business planning skills in local authorities.