Parliamentary questions

Cathie Craigie

239 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reorganise local government boundaries.

Answer · John Swinney: I have alreadyannounced that there will be no boundaries reform of local government duringthis Parliament.

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will ask Scottish Gas to use in giving priority to the most vulnerable applicants to the central heating programme following her announcement on 21 November 2007.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked JamesHynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response isas follows:The arrangements forhandling waiting lists for central heating this winter, announced on 21 November 2007 by the Cabinet Secretary, will allow …

26 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing’s announcement of new funding for the central heating programme on 21 November 2007, what its definition is of “most vulnerable pensioners”.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked JamesHynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response isas follows:I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-6971 on 5 December 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Par…

7 Nov 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take action to raise the level of home loss payments for those affected by transport schemes.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Governmentwill consider whether the Home Loss Payments scheme can be improved in general terms.Any approach to compensation forloss of a home should take account of distress caused and the wider context of prioritisationof resources in Scotland.<…

16 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the final regulations required by the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Twenty sets of regulationsand orders have already been made under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. The final Commencement Order for the act was made on 18 October.Following recent consultations, further regulations on fees and defining relevantoffences will…

6 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many minor offenders are held in prisons.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4104 on 18 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

6 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who are classified as minor offenders.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Governmenthas not established any classification of “minor offenders”.

6 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fine defaulters are held in prisons.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:As of Monday 10 Septemberthe Scottish Prison Service had in custody 5,833 sentenced prisoners, of which 623had defaulted on fine payments. Of t…

6 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the prison officer to inmate ratio is in the Scottish Prison Service.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:The current prisonofficer ratio to prisoners in the Scottish Prison Service is 1:2.4.

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children will be involved in the pilot scheme starting in October 2007 to provide free school meals for P1 to P3 pupils.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The free school mealstrial will encompass up to approximately 37,700 P1 to P3 pupils, though some ofthese pupils will already be entitled to free school meals.

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the announcement to reverse the decision to downgrade accident and emergency services at Monklands Hospital will affect plans for improving primary health care facilties for communities north of the A80 in Cumbernauld, as set out in NHS Lanarkshire’s report, A Picture of Health.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-745 on 18 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the announcement to reverse the decision to downgrade accident and emergency services at Monklands Hospital will affect planned investment in Kilsyth Victoria Cottage Hospital, as set out in NHS Lanarkshire’s report, A Picture of Health.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-745 on 18 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the announcement to reverse the decision to downgrade accident and emergency services at Monklands Hospital, whether patients residing in the NHS Lanarkshire area will still be able to access treatment in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Forth Valley areas.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We operate a NationalHealth Service where patients can access treatment in board areas other than theirown, where this is considered clinically appropriate.

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the announcement to reverse the decision to downgrade accident and emergency services at Monklands Hospital will have on plans for the new health campus in Kilsyth.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-745 on 18 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-745 on 18 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the announcement to reverse the decision to downgrade accident and emergency services at Monklands Hospital will have on other health service plans detailed in NHS Lanarkshire’s report, A Picture of Health.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As I outlined in mystatement in the Chamber on 6 June 2007, I have instructedthe board of NHS Lanarkshire to review their original plans and to produce revisedproposals that will enable accident and emergency services to continue at thethree sites in Lanarksh…

21 Mar 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in growing the economy over the last 12 months.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Growing the economy is our toppriority and over the last 12 months, the Scottish economy has continued to performrobustly.Themost recent data show annual GDP growth of 2.3%;Theeconomy has grown above its long‑run average rate in each of th…

21 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide full details of the transfer of property, rights and liabilities package agreed between Scottish ministers, North Lanarkshire Council and the former Cumbernauld Development Corporation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested iscontained in the New Town (Cumbernauld) (Transfer of Property, Rights and Liabilities)Order 1996/464, a copy of which can be obtained from the Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre.

27 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport will announce his decision on the future of the A80.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I announced my decision on 4 July 2006.

27 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-9110 by Tavish Scott on 2 March 2006, whether it will provide an update on the anticipated publication date of the report on the findings of the local public inquiry into the proposed upgrade of the A80.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The report of the public localinquiry was published on 4 July 2006 and is available on the Scottish Executive websiteat: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications">www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications</a>.

26 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what timetable is envisaged for implementing the recommendations in Moving Forward: Review of NHS Wheelchair and Special Seating Services in Scotland.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am currently considering therecommendations in this report, and will respond to them in due course.

26 Apr 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the guidance, recently issued by the Scottish Medicines Consortium, in relation to the use of temozolomide for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Medicines Consortium(SMC) has made a careful appraisal of the evidence provided by the manufacturerand has not recommended Temozolomide (Temodal®) for use within NHS Scotland forthe treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme in combinat…

4 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to provide a replacement radio system for the fire and rescue service.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I am pleased to announcethat, having considered a number of options, we have decided to participate inFirelink, the GB-wide procurement of a replacement radio system for the Fireand Rescue Service, subject to finalisation of the necessary contractual andinter…

1 Mar 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further action will be taken to recover unpaid fines.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Last week we announced reforms to the system of fines enforcement as part of our package of summary justice reform. These include the introduction of dedicated fines enforcement officers, who will take effective action against those who can pay their fine but…

22 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the report of the local public inquiry into the proposals to upgrade the A80 will be presented to ministers and be available to the general public.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The report of the public localinquiry into the proposals to upgrade the A80 has recently been received from the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit. The reporter’s findings are now beingassessed and every effort will be made to reach an early decision.<…

15 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is given to local authorities to encourage and promote community use of sporting facilities in schools.

Answer · Robert Brown: In the School Estate Strategy which we published jointly with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities in 2003, the local authorities signalled a clear objective that the new school facilities would benefit local communities. It is very much for the autho…

20 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to publicise the statutory requirement for all non-residential landlords to register with local authorities from 31 March 2006.

Answer · Johann Lamont: We are working closely with local authorities to support them in their promotional work at local level. We are also cooperating with a range of national level organisations to ensure that landlords and professionals linked to the private rented sector are ful…

20 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total budget is for providing public information on access rights under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, broken down by form of publicity.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Providing public information on access rights is a shared responsibility under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which places duties upon Scottish Natural Heritage and on the access authorities. Scottish Natural Heritage has responsibility for publi…

7 Dec 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making on its priority of growing the economy.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Significant progress has been made. Over the year to 2005 Q2 the Scottish economy annual growth rate was above our long-term annual average of 1.7 per cent, and at its highest for four years. Additionally, the labour market is strong, with the employment rate…

10 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism it will use to issue statutory guidance to local authorities in order to improve services for people with dual sensory impairment.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Any guidance that is issued following the implementation of the Sensory Impairment Action Plan will be under Section 5(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.