Questions and answers

Chamber and committees

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 ��˿�� 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-28117

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 16 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when it (a) last reviewed and (b) will next review the permitted noise levels set out in the Antisocial Behaviour (Noise Control) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.

The Scottish Government published a call for evidence to support a policy review of the noise regime under Part 5 of the Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004 on 7 May 2014. This included a review of the permitted noise levels.

We sought evidence from a wide range of people across Scotland. There was a broad consensus that the current permitted levels are appropriate. We will review them again if there is strong evidence to suggest alternatives.

Question reference: S4W-28120

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 23 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Aileen McLeod on 16 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government under what circumstances it would consider setting permitted noise levels based on areas or descriptions of areas as set out in the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004.

Part 5 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 gives discretionary powers to local authorities to adopt the noise provisions for such times and for such areas they consider appropriate. The provisions complement noise nuisance enforcement legislation and complement police powers. There has been and continues to be consensus that these permitted levels should be the same across Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-28100

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 10 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government for what reasons private student accommodation complexes are exempt from non-domestic rates.

Question reference: S4W-28103

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government how it will monitor the impact on (a) passenger safety and (b) adherence to licensing law of app-based hire car companies entering the Scottish market.

Any individual or company operating in the taxi or private hire car trade is required to work within the existing licensing regime. For example all drivers, as well as vehicles, must be licensed otherwise they will be committing a criminal offence.

We will consult on the impact of modern technology such as smartphone apps, and if required amend the relevant legislation to address concerns over passenger safety and compliance.

The provisions included within the Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2015 will further strengthen the ability of local Licensing Authorities to address concerns, for example by allowing them to limit the number of private hire car vehicle licences in their area, and the creation of the role of Civic Licensing Standards Officer, to supervise compliance, provide information and mediation to resolve disputes.

Licensing authorities have extensive powers available and we would expect them, together with Police Scotland, to take robust action regarding any failure to comply with the existing licensing law or public safety concerns. However, we will continue to liaise with them both to monitor the position.

Question reference: S4W-28099

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 3 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether, as part of its changes to the planning system, it will consider making the provision of 3D visualisations a requirement for developers who are involved in what it considers significant schemes.

Question reference: S4W-28101

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 3 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the planning process exempts developers of private student accommodation complexes from providing car parking.

Scottish Planning Policy (2014) sets out the Scottish Government’s policy on enabling the delivery of new homes. It defines national maximum parking standards for significant travel-generating uses such as retail, business and leisure developments. For residential developments, planning authorities should set locally-derived standards which take account of the characteristics of their area.

Question reference: S4W-28102

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Alex Neil on 3 November 2015

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the planning process exempts developers of private student accommodation from obligations to provide affordable housing.

Question reference: S4F-03029

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 02 November 2015
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 November 2015

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's position is on how the UK Government's latest amendments to the Scotland Bill could impact on the governance of Scotland.

Question reference: S4W-28098

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 October 2015
Current Status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 29 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm that organisations representing current sex workers will be contacted for their input at an early stage in its recently announced research into the Swedish model of legislation on sex work.

The Scottish Government is undertaking a systematic evidence review specifically on the impacts of criminalisation of the purchase of sexual services alongside a desk-based review of published research evidence on prostitution in Scotland and to summarise up to date evidence on the scale and nature of prostitution in Scotland. We can confirm that organisations representing and supporting those involved in prostitution including men and women will be contacted for their input at an early stage as part of this work.

Question reference: S4O-04687

Asked by: Kevin Stewart, MSP for Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 September 2015
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 7 October 2015

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Aberdeen City Council to discuss education matters.

I met with the Leader of Aberdeen City Council at the teachers’ summit held on 30 September 2015 in Aberdeen. I discussed with her and other local authority leaders from the north of Scotland issues relating to the recruitment and retention of teachers.

The government is already providing an additional £10 million on top of the existing £41 million to help all local authorities to maintain existing teacher numbers, and Aberdeen City Council has been allocated an appropriate share of that funding. We provided funding for the University of Aberdeen and its partner local authorities to develop and deliver a part-time distance learning initial teacher education programme, and Aberdeen City Council have employees on the programme training to be teachers. We have increased the numbers of student places in Initial Teacher Education and allocated extra places to the University of Aberdeen and the University of the Highlands and Islands. And we have recently launched a national promotional campaign to encourage even more talented young people to become teachers.