Parliamentary questions
Cathy Jamieson
1,344 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
2 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to build wind farms in the (a) South Ayrshire, (b) East Ayrshire and (c) Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituencies are currently before the Scottish Ministers awaiting a decision under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.
Answer · Jim Mather: Under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, Scottish ministers have received three wind farm applicationslocated in South Ayrshire (Mark Hill, Arecleoch and Dersalloch), a further two applicationsare also located in East Ayrshire (Afton and Kyle). All five …
2 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish on a weekly basis the cancer waiting times statistics that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing receives from each NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The informationrequested is unvalidated data for the purposes of operational management. There are no plans to publish these data.</p><p>NHS board performance is measured by validated datapublished quarterly and available at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland…
2 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what minimum level of consultant cover is required for an accident and emergency department.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Irefer the member to the answer to question S3W-1520 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website; the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…
2 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the standard definition is of an accident and emergency unit; what minimum level of service constitutes such a unit, and whether it will provide a detailed description of these services.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Irefer the member to the answer to question S3W-1520 on 16 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website; the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…
2 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Health Council has in the option appraisal process to look at the new proposals for review of services brought forward by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The ScottishHealth Council does not have a role in the option appraisal process. However,the Council is providing a secretariat service to the Independent ScrutinyPanel, set up to look at the new proposals for review of services broughtforward by NHS Ayrshire…
2 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of the set-up and running costs of the independent scrutiny panel established to look at the new proposals for review of services brought forward by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The main costs willconsist of the remuneration to panel members and their secretariat support. Panelmembers’ expenses will be reimbursed, and remuneration will be offered at a rateof £400 a day, which is consistent with the current rate for members of the Men…
2 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the public consultation undertaken by the independent scrutiny panel into the new proposals for review of services brought forward by NHS Ayrshire and Arran will be carried out in accordance with the guidance contained in HM Treasury’s Green Book.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-5008, on 9 October 2007, and confirm that I am content that theadopted process is consistent with the spirit of the HM Treasury Green Bookguidance, which recognises that the level of detail in any process undert…
2 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale has been allocated for public consultation by the independent scrutiny panel set up to scrutinise the new proposals for review of services brought forward by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-5008 on 9 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available onthe parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…
2 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what public consultation will be undertaken by the independent scrutiny panel set up to scrutinise the new proposals for review of services brought forward by NHS Ayrshire and Arran.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As was clearly set out inthe Independent Scrutiny Panel (ISP) terms of reference, the panel will need totake account of local circumstances and the views of individuals andcommunities affected by effectively engaging with local people, in liaison withthe Scot…
2 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations representing the views of tenants living in social housing will be part of the Housing Supply Task Force.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The purpose of thetask force is to promote action that will make a practical difference to the increaseof housing supply across all tenures in Scotland. Organisations representing the views of tenants living in social housingare not represented on the “core” …
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement the social enterprise sector will have in the regional advisory boards to be set up as part of the reorganisation of the enterprise network structure.
Answer · Jim Mather: Precisearrangements for membership of the regional business advisory boards will besubject to further consideration by Ministers. The principal objective will beto secure meaningful business involvement in the boards, however, appropriatewider representation …
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement trade unions will have in the regional advisory boards to be set up as part of the reorganisation of the enterprise network structure.
Answer · Jim Mather: Precisearrangements for membership of the regional business advisory boards will besubject to further consideration by Ministers. The principal objective will beto secure meaningful business involvement in the boards, however, appropriatewider representation …
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what process will be put in place to recruit and appoint members to the regional advisory boards to be set up as part of the reorganisation of the enterprise network structure.
Answer · Jim Mather: Precisearrangements for membership of the regional business advisory boards will besubject to further consideration by Ministers. The principal objective will beto secure meaningful business involvement in the boards.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding will be provided to (a) East Ayrshire Council and (b) South Ayrshire Council for local regeneration following reorganisation of the enterprise networks.
Answer · Jim Mather: This has not yetbeen determined but such matters will be taken into account in due course.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is envisaged that local authorities will develop effective working relationships with chambers of commerce following reorganisation of the enterprise networks.
Answer · Jim Mather: This will be amatter for local authorities and the Chambers of Commerce between which theyare already many examples of effective working relationships.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff from Scottish Enterprise’s headquarters will be located in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency following reorganisation of the enterprise networks.
Answer · Jim Mather: This will be an operationalmatter for discussion between Scottish Enterprise and relevant local authorities.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding will be provided to community planning partnerships in (a) East Ayrshire and (b) South Ayrshire to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities for economic growth.
Answer · John Swinney: The government believescommunity planning partnerships have a significant role to play in joining up thedesign and delivery of services at local level.</p><p>Future funding decisionswill be considered as part of the current strategic spending review.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Enterprise staff will be co-located with South Ayrshire Council staff in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency as part of the revised enterprise network structure.
Answer · Jim Mather: This will be an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise in discussion with South Ayrshire Council.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Enterprise staff will be co-located with East Ayrshire Council staff in the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley parliamentary constituency as part of the revised enterprise network structure.
Answer · Jim Mather: This will be an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise in discussion with East Ayrshire Council.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Enterprise staff will be relocated to Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley under the revised enterprise network structure.
Answer · Jim Mather: This will be anoperational matter for Scottish Enterprise.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff will deliver Business Gateway advice in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley under the revised enterprise network structure.
Answer · Jim Mather: This will be amatter for the contractors, Alba Smart Thinking, recently appointed to run theBusiness Gateway service in Ayrshire.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which locations will deliver Business Gateway services in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley under the revised enterprise network structure.
Answer · Jim Mather: Access to theBusiness Gateway is increasingly through the website reflecting customerchoice. The provision of local advisory services will be a matter for the contractorappointed to run the Business Gateway service in Ayrshire. The contractor willhowever prov…
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which representatives of the trade unions in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley were consulted on the changes to the enterprise networks.
Answer · Jim Mather: We consulted widelyon the reforms which will be made to the enterprise networks, including with nationaltrade union representatives. No specific discussions took place with trade unionsin the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley area.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which representatives of the business community in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley were consulted on the changes to the enterprise networks.
Answer · Jim Mather: We consulted witha broad cross section of the Scottish business community during the process todevelop the enterprise networks reform proposals. No particular constituencieswere targeted, however, we did consult with the Chamber of Commerce whosemembership ha…
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any future review of the SPECS speed camera system operating on the A77 will consider whether changes need to be made to the system to identify speeding motorcycles.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The issue ofidentification of speeding motorcyclists will be considered as part of theSPECS review.</p><p>Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and canbe contacted for further information if required.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next review the effectiveness of the SPECS speed camera system operating on the A77.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is currently collating the accident and speed datafor the first two years operation of the SPECS average speed camera system. Theeffectiveness of the SPECS system will be fully assessed after three years ofoperation in late 2008.</p><p>Tran…
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents on those parts of the A77 currently covered by the SPECS safety camera system have involved motorcycles in each of the last five years.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The table belowshows the number of accidents in the last five years on that section of the A77trunk road covered by the SPECS system which have involved motorcycles.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td valign=top> <p align=c…
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of accidents on those parts of the A77 currently covered by the SPECS safety camera system have involved motorcycles in each of the last five years.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The table belowshows the percentage of accidents in the last five years on that section of theA77 trunk road covered by the SPECS system which have involved motorcycles.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td valign=top> <p>&nb…
20 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to the free central heating scheme are currently being processed for residents of the Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley constituency.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The information isonly available by postcode area. The Programme Managing Agent (Scottish Gas) hasindicated that there are currently 852 appli…
20 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley have benefited from the free central heating programme since its inception.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Installations in theprivate sector are only available by postcode area. As at the end of August 2007,a total of 4,524 households have received…