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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-11426

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Burgess on 5 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what guidelines there are for local authorities or housing associations on allowing priority allocation for veterans who require social housing.

The Scottish Government published a practice guide to social housing allocations in March 2011. This aims to assist local authorities and housing associations to understand their legal requirements and the flexibilities they have in determining priority for their housing. It includes strengthened guidance for social landlords on housing for those leaving the armed forces and veterans, which was revised in consultation with Veterans Scotland. The guide is available on the Scottish Government’s website at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/16342/management/socialhousingaccess/allocations/Guide

The answer to question S4W-05689 on 16 March 2012 set out the Scottish Government’s intention to develop additional practical examples of approaches being taken by social landlords in Scotland to support those who have served in the armed forces. These examples are currently being finalised and will be shared with Scottish social landlords shortly.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Question reference: S4W-11423

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how much money is allocated annually to train alcohol counsellors.

Question reference: S4W-11424

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 4 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many trained alcohol counsellors are working in each local authority area.

Question reference: S4W-11425

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2012

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a nationally recognised accreditation scheme for alcohol counselling services.

There is currently no nationally recognised accreditation scheme for alcohol counselling services.

The UK Health and Social Care Act 2012 asked the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) for Health and Social Care (formerly the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence) to set up a scheme for people working within health and social care who are not required by law to be on one of the registers of the health and social work professional regulators in the UK. This includes counsellors and psychotherapists.

COSCA (Scotland’s professional body for counselling and psychotherapy) is working towards applying for its register of counsellors and psychotherapists to be accredited by PSA.

The PSA published its draft standards for consultation (accreditation standards for organisations that hold voluntary registers for health and social care occupations). PSA are currently analysing the responses.

Question reference: S4O-01533

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 28 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to boost co-operation between Scottish universities and their international counterparts to enhance research and student opportunities.

Question reference: S4W-10837

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what rail operating companies it provides funding to and how much each company receives.

Scottish Ministers have responsibility for procuring rail passenger services which operate wholly in Scotland. There is currently one main contract, the rail franchise operated by First ScotRail, and this is due to end in November 2014. The cost of this rail franchise in financial year 2011-12 was £305.3 million.

There is also a further minor contract with Arriva for £70k per year to operate one early morning weekday service from Dunbar to Edinburgh.

Question reference: S4W-10836

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 9 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how the rail network is funded.

The rail network is managed by Network Rail. For financial planning purposes Network Rail works within five-year 'Control Periods' each one beginning on 1 April and ending on 31 March to coincide with the financial year. The next control period starts on 1 April 2014 and under current UK railways’ legislation, the Scottish Ministers are responsible for funding the rail network in Scotland. The responsibility for conducting a periodic review of Network Rail’s revenue requirements and regulatory outputs lies with the Office of Rail Regulation.

The rail infrastructure budget supports the costs of Network Rail maintenance and safe operation of the Scottish rail network and investment in infrastructure enhancement and is payable directly to Network Rail. The rail franchise budget includes funds which are paid by the franchisee to Network Rail to fund track access charges.

Question reference: S4W-10840

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are employed by Network Rail to deal with the rail network in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-10839

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government how many Network Rail staff are based in Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-10838

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 November 2012
Current Status: Answered by Keith Brown on 8 November 2012

To ask the Scottish Government what input it has into the tendering of cross-border rail services.

Cross border passenger rail services are specified by the Department for Transport.

The Scottish Government currently provides ‘non-binding’ advice to the Department on its expectation of the level of service provision specified for cross border rail franchises.

There is no legal or contractual relationship with either the Department or train operating companies in this regard.

Earlier this year I agreed with UK Ministers a closer role for the Scottish Government in the specification of the forthcoming InterCity East Coast franchise, and a role assisting in the evaluation of bids for this franchise as they affect Scottish services.

However, the terms of this arrangement are yet to be put in place by the Department, and it is unclear whether the timescale for this refranchising will be delayed following cancellation of the InterCity West Coast franchise procurement.