Cathy Jamieson

19 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it considers it acceptable for Scottish sheep to be exported for slaughter without prestunning.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Althoughthe slaughter of animals without pre-stunning does not take place in Scotland, it would be perfectly legalfor this method to be used in Scottish slaughterhouses. The slaughter of sheepwithout pre-stunning for religious reasons is legal throughout the …

19 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken any action to move towards an export trade in carcases rather than live animals.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No. However, the ScottishGovernment provides financial support to Quality Meat Scotland in its effortsto promote Scottish meat sales in key overseas markets.</p>

19 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would prefer to see an export trade in carcases rather than live animals.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Yes, we would prefer to see atrade in meat rather than live exports. This avoids long distance travel of liveanimals whilst ensuring better returns across the industry from added value product.However, we cannot place a unilateral ban on the export of live an…

19 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that it is acceptable for calves to be exported to the continent for rearing in conditions which would not be allowed in Scotland under animal welfare legislation.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The UK cannot place a unilateral ban on theexport of calves as this would contravene free trade rules and would be illegalunder EU law. We believe that we have suitable legislation in place to protectthe welfare of animals during transport and many veal farms…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of the operation and management of the juror pool will be completed.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is preparinga consultation paper on a range of juror issues which I hope to publish in latespring.</p>

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6763 by Maureen Watt on 5 December 2007, what other sources of funding are available in order to allow local authorities to maximise their capital investment in schools.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Other sources of funding thatauthorities might access to contribute to a schools capital investment programmewill vary according to local circumstances. However, they could include, for example,contributions from developers, capital receipts from the disposal…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5488 by Shona Robison on 12 November 2007, what proportion of the £10 million fund for drug and alcohol teams is made available specifically to support young people.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government doesnot specify how resources should be distributed. Alcohol and Drug Action Teams makedecisions on allocations to services, including those to support young people, basedon local circumstances and identified need.</p>

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5526 by Jim Mather on 12 November 2007, what further events will be organised or supported by Scottish Enterprise to promote the case for clean coal.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Enterprise worksclosely with the Industrial and Power Association (IPA), whose membership comprisesmost of the Scottish companies’ active in this area. The IPA are organising a conference,Power Scotland 2008, being held in March of which Scottish Ent…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5526 by Jim Mather on 12 November 2007, what progress has been made in the discussions with Scottish Power and Scottish and Southern Energy on a feasibility study for carbon capture and storage.

Answer · Jim Mather: A range of private and publicsector partners, including the Scottish Government, are taking forward a feasibilitystudy to consider potential carbon storage sites, both onshore and offshore, alongwith an appraisal of options regarding the transportation of CO<…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission a STAG appraisal on improving public transport links and addressing traffic problems on the A76 through Mauchline.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland hasno plans to commission a STAG appraisal in the immediate future.</p><p>The Strategic Transport ProjectsReview (STPR) is examining the needs of our nationally strategic transport corridorsincluding the A76 which forms part of the transpor…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7041 by Kenny MacAskill on 5 December 2007, how much funding has been drawn down by each local authority to cover the cost of providing support to victims of human trafficking.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No funding has so far been drawndown by any local authority to cover the cost of providing support to victims ofhuman trafficking.</p>

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7041 by Kenny MacAskill on 5 December 2007, how much funding has been set aside to be drawn down by local authorities on a case-by-case basis to cover the cost of providing support to victims of human trafficking.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: £20,000 has been set aside inthe current financial year to fund local authorities to support, on a case-by-casebasis, adult victims of human trafficking.</p>

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7310 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 December 2007, how much funding has been allocated to each local authority under section 27(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Under section 3(5) (e) of theManagement of Offenders etc (Scotland) Act 2005, Community Justice Authorities (CJAs)it is the responsibility of the individual CJAs to determine how section 27(A) 1grant is distributed to constituent local authorities to support …

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7306 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 December 2007, with which organisations it is working to draw up proposals to reinvest the proceeds of crime.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: On Friday 11 January 2008 I announcedan exciting range of opportunities which will be made available to children allacross Scotland. This work to reinvest the proceeds of crime was developed in partnershipwith the Scottish Football Association and part financ…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-7306 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 December 2007, how it defines communities hardest hit by crime.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Funds recovered using the Proceedsof Crime Act 2002 will be reinvested to create an exciting programme of activitiesfor young people throughout Scotland. Particular attention will be paid to those communitiesthat have suffered most from crime. The organisatio…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy priorities are in respect of the distribution of its share of funding from the UK unclaimed assets scheme.

Answer · Jim Mather: We have been working with theUK Government to ensure that Scotland’s share of any assets released through the Dormant Bankand Building Societies Accounts Bill is spent on Scotland’s priorities.</p><p>The Scottish Government intendsto consult widely with the t…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how funding received from the UK unclaimed assets scheme will be made available to local communities.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Dormant Bank and BuildingSocieties Accounts Bill, currently progressing through the UK Parliament, providesthat monies derived from dormant accounts will be distributed by the BIG Lotteryin Scotland under priorities set by Scottish ministers. The bill pro…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has received from the UK unclaimed assets scheme.

Answer · Jim Mather: No funds have been received fromthe UK unclaimed assets scheme.</p><p>The UK Dormant Bank and BuildingSocieties Accounts Bill is currently being considered by the UK Parliament. Subjectto the Bill progressing, and the Scottish Parliament agreeing to a Legisla…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to distribute its share of any funds that it receives from the UK unclaimed assets scheme.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Dormant Bank and BuildingSocieties Accounts Bill currently progressing through the UK Parliament providesthat these funds should be distributed by the BIG Lottery Fund under prioritiesset by Scottish ministers.</p><p>The Scottish Government willconsult wi…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6763 by Maureen Watt on 5 December 2007, how much of the (a) £3 billion for investment in infrastructure and (b) £115 million to be invested in schools has been allocated to South Ayrshire Council.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Allocations of capital resourcesreferred to in the answer to question S3W-6763 are set out in Annex I of FinanceCircular 6/2007, which can be found on the Scottish Government website at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/179…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6763 by Maureen Watt on 5 December 2007, how much of the (a) £3 billion for investment in infrastructure and (b) £115 million to be invested in schools has been allocated to East Ayrshire Council.

Answer · Maureen Watt: Allocations of capital resourcesreferred to in the answer to question S3W-6763 are set out in Annex I of FinanceCircular 6/2007, which can be found on the Scottish Government website at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/179…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools where it has intervened to prevent closure since May 2007, also showing the reason for the intervention.

Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-5512 on 7 November 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times since May 2007 it has intervened to prevent a school closure.

Answer · Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-5512 on 7 November 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…

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6614 by Stewart Stevenson on 3 December 2007, which organisations and public bodies it will consult as part of its review of the compulsory purchase order process.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We will look to involve organisationsand public bodies with an interest in the compulsory purchase order process, includinglocal authorities, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the Society ofLocal Authorities Lawyers and Administrators.</p>

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-6614 by Stewart Stevenson on 3 December 2007, what the timescale is for its review of the compulsory purchase order process.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Ministers have asked officialsto look at a range of issues regarding compulsory purchase orders. Officials arein the process of scoping out this work and no timescale has been set for its completion.</p>

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5533 by Jim Mather on 12 November 2007, whether it will list the dates of the meetings and events about the enterprise networks referred to in the answer, also showing all the attendees at each.

Answer · Jim Mather: The information requested isgiven in Formal meetingsand events held between either the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and SustainableGrowth, the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, or officials, during whichthe reform of the Enterprise Networks formed…

13 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which parts of the “new guidance regarding proposals to close rural schools” referred to by the Minister for Children and Early Years in the Cumnock Chronicle on 12 December 2007, is new or differs from the Additional Guidance on Local Authority Proposals for the School Estate, including …

Answer · Maureen Watt: The guidance itself does notdiffer and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning made that clearwhen she reissued it on 11 October 2007. What is new is the Cabinet Secretary’s covering letterto Education Conveners, which is available in the Sc…

13 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans the First Minister has to visit the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The First Minister currentlyhas no plans to visit Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentaryconstituency.</p>

13 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans the First Minister has to visit East Ayrshire.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The First Minister currentlyhas plans to visit East Ayrshire on 23 January 2008.</p>

13 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what options will be available to children’s hearings that wish to use intensive support and monitoring services if individual local authorities decide not to use the money allocated for such purposes to provide such a service.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The terms of the concordat betweencentral and local government commit to a reduction in central government monitoringof local government spending lines – this is reflected in the removal of ring-fencedresources for a significant amount of activity.</p><p>Fund…