Parliamentary questions

Cathy Jamieson

1,344 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been made for freight facilities grants since May 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have received a total of seven formal applications for freight facilities grant since May 2007.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be available under the Strategic Timber Transport Fund in each of the next three years.

Answer · Michael Russell: As I announced last December, the Scottish Government extended the life of the Strategic Timber Transport Fund which was due to close in January 2008. We will continue to provide financial support until 2011, with an allocation of £5 million per annum and a t…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be available for freight facilities grants in each of the next three years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The budget to support the freight industry, including freight facilities grants, is £14.9 million in each of the next three years.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which projects have been funded by the reallocation of the Freight Facilities Grant of £5.2 million, originally awarded in January 2006 towards the construction of a new railhead at Barrhill, South Ayrshire.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: At the time of the decision by JST Services to withdraw from the Barrhill project on 2 November 2007 the planned payment period of the grant covered three financial years: 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10. The allocation of funds from within the Freight Facilitie…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken with Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire prior to the decision to reallocate the Freight Facilities Grant of £5.2 million, originally awarded in January 2006 towards the construction of a new railhead at Barrhill, South Ayrshire, to other projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: None. JST Services, the grant holder, decided not to proceed with the Barrhill rail project and withdrew their application for Freight Facilities Grant.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken with South Ayrshire Council prior to the decision to reallocate the Freight Facilities Grant of £5.2 million, originally awarded in January 2006 towards the construction of a new railhead at Barrhill, South Ayrshire, to other projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: JST Services, the grant holder, decided not to proceed with the Barrhill rail project and withdrew their application for Freight Facilities Grant.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken with Forestry Commission Scotland prior to the decision to reallocate the Freight Facilities Grant of £5.2 million, originally awarded in January 2006 towards the construction of a new railhead at Barrhill, South Ayrshire, to other projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: My officials discussed issues linked to the Barrhill project with Forestry Commission Scotland, both prior to the award of grant and during the period between the award of grant and JST Services'' final decision to withdraw from the project. These discussions…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken with Network Rail prior to the decision to reallocate the Freight Facilities Grant of £5.2 million, originally awarded in January 2006 towards the construction of a new railhead at Barrhill, South Ayrshire, to other projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: JST Services, the grant holder, decided not to proceed with the Barrhill rail project and withdrew their application for Freight Facilities Grant.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken with local communities prior to the decision to reallocate the Freight Facilities Grant of £5.2 million, originally awarded in January 2006 towards the construction of a new railhead at Barrhill, South Ayrshire, to other projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: JST Services, the grant holder, decided not to proceed with the Barrhill rail project and withdrew their application for Freight Facilities Grant.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who took the decision to reallocate the Freight Facilities Grant of £5.2 million, originally awarded in January 2006 towards the construction of a new railhead at Barrhill, South Ayrshire, to other projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Officials followed standard operating procedures for the grant scheme. In these particular circumstances funds remain within the national freight grant budget for use by other eligible projects.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was taken to reallocate the Freight Facilities Grant of £5.2 million, originally awarded in January 2006 towards the construction of a new railhead at Barrhill, South Ayrshire, to other projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: JST Services formally intimated on 2 November 2007 that they would not be taking forward the Barrhill project. This triggered the lifting of the allocation of funds within the freight grant budget to this project.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been made to the £200,000 fund, announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment at the Village Halls Summit on 23 February 2008, from (a) South Ayrshire and (b) East Ayrshire councils.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Funding of £195,000 has been provided for 2008-09 to enable the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), to whom such enquires should be made, to provide support for non-crofting rural community bodies to draw up investment plans and seek funding …

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-764 by Nicola Sturgeon on 18 June 2007, when it now believes that building work will commence on the new community hospital in Girvan.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Ayrshire and Arran anticipate that, subject to obtaining the Building Warrant and favourable tenders, site preparation work will begin in July 2008.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-765 by Nicola Sturgeon on 18 June 2007, when it now believes that the new community hospital in Girvan will be completed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Work on the new community hospital should be completed at the end of October 2009.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-766 by Nicola Sturgeon on 18 June 2007, whether it will provide updated details of the budget allocated for the (a) building and (b) running of the new community hospital in Girvan, indicating whether the previously estimated costs have increased and…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information from NHS Ayrshire and Arran is that the budget for the Girvan Community Hospital remains unchanged from that given in my answer on 18 June 2007. The capital budget is around £20 million and annual running costs £3.65 million.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the construction of a footpath alongside the A77 in South Ayrshire on the stretch of road between the Ainslie Manor Nursing Home and the Mill Road junction, to ensure the safety of those who walk this route.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has asked Amey to investigate the feasibility of constructing a footpath at this location. I have asked Transport Scotland to write to you when the study is completed at the end of July.

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the construction of a footpath alongside the A76 between Cumnock and New Cumnock to ensure the safety of those who walk this route.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are currently no plans for construction of a footpath alongside the A76 trunk road at this location. An investigation was carried out into the feasibility of providing a footpath in 2004; however, the cost was estimated then at over £250,000 and did not…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for products used in school meals in respect of meeting the standards of recognised organic schemes.

Answer · Adam Ingram: We have not set any targets for the use of products meeting the standards of recognised organic schemes in school meals. As of 4 August 2008, under the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007, education authorities and managers of grant-a…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for products used in school meals in respect of meeting the standards of recognised farm-assured schemes.

Answer · Adam Ingram: We have not set any targets for the use of products meeting the standards of recognised farm-assured schemes in school meals. As of 4 August 2008, under the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007, education authorities and managers of gr…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the use of fair trade produce in school meals.

Answer · Adam Ingram: We have not set any targets for the use of fair trade products in school meals. As of 4 August 2008, under the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007, education authorities and managers of grant-aided schools will have a duty to have reg…

30 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase the amount of locally produced food in prisons.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows: The Scottish Prison Service as a public body must comply with the European Union Procurement Rules - all SPS food supplies are purch…

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the £5.2 million Freight Facilities Grant for a railhead at Barrhill, South Ayrshire, announced in January 2006, has been utilised.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Once JST Services withdrew their application for Freight Facilities Grant the funding allocated to the Barrhill project reverted to the national freight grant budget.

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals contacted the specialist information service for kinship carers between 4 December 2007 and 24 April 2008.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally.

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many carers were receiving payments for kinship care on 24 April 2008, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally.

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many carers were receiving payments for kinship care on 30 November 2007, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally.

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average rent rise will be for housing association tenants in (a) South Ayrshire and (b) East Ayrshire as a result of reductions in support for housing associations.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Recent proposals for change to the standard assumptions and allowances used when calculating subsidy reflect the actual performance reported by associations, which includes rent increases. Rent levels are a matter for individual associations to agree in consu…

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreements it has received from (a) East Ayrshire and (b) South Ayrshire councils detail how two hours of PE per week will be delivered for every pupil in those areas.

Answer · Maureen Watt: All 32 local authorities in Scotland have submitted draft single outcome agreements (SOAs) that set out how they will contribute to the agreed national outcomes in relation to education provision. Those drafts are currently the subject of discussion. We aim t…

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement from South Ayrshire Council specifies how many P1 to P3 classes in South Ayrshire will be reduced to 18 in each of the next three years and, if so, what the details are in the agreement.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12268 on 1 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement from East Ayrshire Council specifies how many P1 to P3 classes in East Ayrshire will be reduced to 18 in each of the next three years and, if so, what the details are of the agreement.

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft single outcome agreement from South Ayrshire Council specifies how many P1 to P3 classes in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley will be reduced to 18 in each of the next three years and, if so, what the details are in the agreement.