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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-27363

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 17 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the Law Society of Scotland regarding (a) compensating victims of and (b) conveyancing matters and fraudulent disposition.

These matters have arisen as part of regular discourse with the Law Society of Scotland. I most recently met with the Law Society of Scotland on 3 September 2015 as part of my quarterly meetings with them. At this meeting, I emphasised the need to resolve quickly the cases in Aberdeen and Happy Valley, West Lothian which were the subject of the report by former Sheriff Principal Bowen to the society on consumer protection in conveyancing: http://www.lawscot.org.uk/media/439009/Law-Society-report-Consumer-Protections-in-Conveyancing-Cases.pdf

The Scottish Government will continue to discuss with the society and others what changes should be made generally to conveyancing following the recommendations in Sheriff Principal Bowen’s report and with particular focus on preventing any similar case arising in future and, if they do, seeing them resolved more effectively.

Question reference: S4W-27357

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 17 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is provision in planning guidance to ensure that redundant satellite dishes are removed from properties.

There is no such general provision where a condition is attached to planning permission for a satellite dish requiring the removal of a redundant dish, enforcement of such a condition would be matter for the planning authority. The permitted development rights for certain changes to the exterior of dwelling houses and flats, which could include satellite dishes, do not include such a condition.

Question reference: S4W-27358

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 17 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what would happen in the event of enforcement action taking place under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 if a property in a block of flats was the subject of a disputed disposition.

Local authorities have powers under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to issue work notices and maintenance orders on owners in blocks of flats. When owners are unable or unwilling to comply with a notice or order the local authority can carry out work itself and recover costs from owners. The local authority has power under section 186 of the Act to make inquiries necessary to assist it in exercising these powers. It would be for the local authority to decide who it considers to be the owner of the property for the purpose of serving a notice. Section 64 of the Act provides a right of appeal to the Sheriff for anyone who is aggrieved by the local authority’s decision to serve a notice or order.

Question reference: S4O-04565

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 9 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what recent meetings and communications it has had with the UK Government regarding the oil and gas industry.

Question reference: S4O-04528

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 2 September 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how much it is spending in 2015-16 to mitigate the UK Government’s social security reforms.

Question reference: S4W-26544

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 5 August 2015

To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the control of urban gull populations across Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-26545

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 5 August 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether any local authorities use management rules under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to discourage the feeding of gulls on public land.

Question reference: S4W-26546

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 03 July 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 30 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government which local authorities issue planning guidance on gullproofing, and whether the effectiveness is monitored.

Question reference: S4W-26321

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 28 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many local authority (a) teaching and (b) other staff are non-EU citizens and how many earn under £35,000 per year.

Question reference: S4W-26323

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 25 June 2015
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 23 July 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how many of (a) its and (b) its agencies' staff are non-EU citizens and how many earn under £35,000 per year.

Under the Civil Service Nationality Rules, only nationals from the following countries are eligible to be employed by the Scottish Government:

Republic of Ireland

Commonwealth and Dependent Territories

European Economic Area

Switzerland

Turkey - only eligible if they have been lawfully employed in the UK for four years in any job, or three years in a job within the same occupation as they post which they wish to take up within the civil service.

Pre-employment checks confirm compliance with these rules. Historically this information has not been routinely transferred to our electronic HR system. This is being addressed and at present we have the following noted on our system:

At 31 May 2015 there were 14 directly employed staff in core Scottish Government directorates with a recorded nationality of non-EU. Of those, 13 have an annual full time equivalent basic salary of under £35,000.

At 31 May 2015 there were 10 directly employed staff in Scottish Government agencies with a recorded nationality of non-EU. Of those, nine have an annual full time equivalent basic salary of under £35,000.