Parliamentary questions

Cathy Jamieson

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

7 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency participated in occupational training programmes funded by Scottish Enterprise in each of the last five years.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The information requested covering individuals who participated in occupational training programmes broken down by geographical area and by year is a matter for the current delivery body. As such this information is not held centrally by the Scottish Governme…

7 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals in Ayrshire participated in occupational training programmes funded by Scottish Enterprise in each of the last five years.

7 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to improve opportunities for lifelong learning in Ayrshire given projections by Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire that, while 23% of all job opportunities to be filled in Ayrshire over the next decade will require degree level qualifications, only 13% will be suitable …

Answer · Maureen Watt: These are one set of forecasts based on historic data from economic performance inherited from previous government. They reflect the historic underperformance of the Scottish economy which is why we have taken a new approach to economic development with the G…

7 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in light of figures from Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire that, while part-time jobs are projected to rise by 12%, full-time jobs are projected to drop by 5% between 2007 and 2017.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9637 on 6 March 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…

7 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the 4% drop in male employment in Ayrshire between 2007 and 2017 as forecast in recent figures from Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire.

7 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to increase opportunities for employment in Ayrshire, given that recent information from Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire forecasts that the rate of growth in employment in Ayrshire will be 1% between 2007 and 2017 while in Scotland as a whole it will be 4%.

Answer · Jim Mather: These are forecasts based on historic data and reflect the historic underperformance of the Scottish economy, which is why we have taken a new approach to economic development with the Government Economic Strategy. We have placed sustainable economic developm…

7 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what coalfield communities will benefit from the Midnight Leagues football project for young people.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The following table reflects the Midnight League activities which took place in coalfield communities in 2007. It is expected that the same communities as well as Tranent in East Lothian will benefit from Midnight League football activities in 2008. <tab…

7 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what communities in East Ayrshire will benefit from the Midnight Leagues football project for young people.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: There are currently two locations in East Ayrshire which hold Midnight League activities “ Cumnock Academy and Muirkirk Games Hall. The venues provide football playing opportunities to 60 and 30 young people respectively. Activities at both venues no…

7 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what communities in South Ayrshire will benefit from the Midnight Leagues football project for young people.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: There are currently two locations in South Ayrshire which hold Midnight League activities “ Whitletts Astro Turf, Ayr and Hamilton Park, Girvan. The venues provide football playing opportunities to 70 and 30 young people respectively. Activities at b…

7 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the local public inquiry into the proposed Kyle wind farm to report.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Kyle wind farm public inquiry report was received by Scottish ministers on 20 November 2007. The report is one of the material considerations that Scottish ministers will have regard to when determining the Kyle wind farm application. Ministers expect to …

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7993 by Kenny MacAskill on 23 January 2008, whether £20,000 is the cumulative total amount available to all 32 Scottish local authorities or whether it is the maximum amount which can be drawn down on a case-by-case basis.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Women victims of trafficking for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and children both receive support under separate arrangements. For Scotland as a whole, £20,000 has been set aside in 2007-08 to pay for the support of all remaining victims who ha…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations ministers have met to discuss human trafficking and the efforts to help the victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation in Scotland.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Scottish ministers have not received any requests from organisations to meet with them to discuss human trafficking.

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when officials last met UK Government officials to discuss tackling human trafficking and the global sex trade.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Scottish Government officials last met with their counterparts in the UK Government on 15 and 24 January 2008 to discuss tackling human trafficking, and are in regular contact.

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers last met UK ministers to discuss tackling human trafficking and the global sex trade.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Scottish ministers are represented on the UK Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking, which last met on 24 January 2008. I last met UK ministers specifically to discuss this issue on 19 July 2007, and a further meeting is being arran…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a response to findings contained in the Women Not for Sale report published in January 2008 by the UK Government Equalities Office.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is aware of the report by the UK Government Equalities Office on the advertising of sexual services in local newspapers. We welcome the decision by the Newspaper Society to update its guidance for members on those advertisements which …

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to carry out any research in Scotland regarding the advertising of women for sex in newspapers and magazines.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has no plans to carry out research regarding the advertising of women for sex in newspapers and magazines. We consider that such research would be unlikely to add significantly to the findings of the report Women Not for Sale: A re…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any data or research regarding adverts in local, regional and national newspapers advertising sexual services.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We have not collected any data nor commissioned any research regarding advertisements for sexual services in Scottish newspapers.

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from organisations or individuals regarding adverts in local, regional and national newspapers advertising sexual services.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No formal representations have been received regarding newspaper advertisements for sexual services.

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidences of cancer have been diagnosed in South Ayrshire in each of the last 10 years, broken down by type.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is shown in the following table, for the years 1995-2004 (the most recent data available). Trends in incidence of selected cancers in residents of South Ayrshire council area, 1995-2004 (Numbers of registrations, by year of …

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidences of cancer have been diagnosed in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency in each of the last 10 years, broken down by type.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is shown in the following table for the years 1995-2004 (the most recent data available). Trends in incidence of selected cancers in residents of Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency, 1995-2004 (Number…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5529 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 November 2007, whether the estimated cost of leasing the two additional trains required to provide a half-hourly rail service between Glasgow and Kilmarnock has changed since the original estimation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9565 on 21 February 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/weba…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5529 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 November 2007, whether it has any plans, in the medium to long-term, to purchase rolling stock to provide a half-hourly rail service between Glasgow and Kilmarnock.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to answers to questions S3W-9564 and S3W-9565 on 27 February 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.Scotti…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5531 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 November 2007, how much additional rolling stock it has asked the franchisee to lease to provide a half hourly service between Glasgow and Kilmarnock.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9564 on 21 February 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/webap…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5531 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 November 2007, whether it will provide details of the request it has made to the franchisee with regard to the leasing of additional rolling stock required to provide a half hourly service between Glasgow and Kilmarnock.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: First ScotRail was instructed on 11 November 2007 to commence negotiations for the leasing of rolling stock to add to the ScotRail fleet, for the purpose of a number of planned service enhancements. The negotiations were completed and resulted in the leasing…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to procure additional rolling stock to accommodate an increase in rail services between Ayr and Stranraer.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Increasing services between Ayr and Stranraer is not currently a priority. We have not, therefore, taken any steps to procure additional rolling stock for that purpose.

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to procure additional rolling stock to accommodate an increase in rail services between Ayr and Glasgow.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Procurement of trains for the new Airdrie to Bathgate services provides an opportunity to improve rail service capacity, through longer trains, between Ayr and Glasgow.

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has provided in fees to (a) East Ayrshire Council and (b) South Ayrshire Council for the processing and administration of wind farm applications, broken down by planning applicatio.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9559 on 21 February 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/webap…

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8799 by Stewart Stevenson on 1 February 2008, what additional resources and support it has provided to (a) East Ayrshire Council and (b) South Ayrshire Council from the consultant employed by the Executive to offer assistance to planning authorities,…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8799 on 1 February 2008. The resources referred to are the time and expertise of the consultants. They are providing advice and support to the councils on the preparation of spatial frameworks and policies for …

6 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has provided to (a) East Ayrshire Council and (b) South Ayrshire Council in fees, for administering windfarm applications made under the Electricity Act 1989 or planning legislation, broken down by individual application.

Answer · Jim Mather: Since 1 July 2005 the Scottish Government has paid Planning Authorities two thirds of any new application fee received under the Electricity (Applications for Consent) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The intention of this payment is to ensure the plann…

1 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8801 by Cathy Jamieson on 31 January 2008, which local authorities have given an early indication that they intend to allocate funding to Homecoming Scotland.

Answer · Jim Mather: EventScotland is aware that anumber of local authorities are considering providing funding in support of HomecomingScotland projects, but none have yet confirmed such funding. It is for local authoritiesto decide how they allocate their funding.