Parliamentary questions
Christine Grahame
3,532 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates it has met each major electricity and gas supplier to express concern about the impact on low income households of additional tariffs on prepayment meters and record rises in energy bills in each year since 2003.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Officials met with representativesof each of the main suppliers in December 2003 to discuss debt and disconnectionsand fuel price rises. I met with Ian Marchant Chief Executive of Scottish and SouthernEnergy on 17 January 2005 and on 14 September 2006; with J…
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to organise a summit of gas and electricity suppliers to examine ways in which low income households are disproportionately disadvantaged or forced into voluntary disconnection as the result of additional tariffs on prepayment meters and record rises in energy bills.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I will meet over the next fewweeks with representatives from each of the main energy suppliers in Scotland to discussmeasures they are taking to protect vulnerable customers from the effects of risesin energy costs. I intend to include the issue of pre-paymen…
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations about the provision of additional assistance to low income consumers, in light of research by energywatch which indicates that higher tariffs charged on gas and electricity prepayment meters disproportionately disadvantage low-income households.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Energy pricing and regulationof energy supply companies are matters reserved to Westminster.Nevertheless I will meet over the next few weeks with representatives from the mainenergy suppliers in Scotland to discuss the measures they are taking to protect vuln…
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has about the number of voluntary disconnections which are estimated to take place among low income households this winter due to a combination of energy price rises and the additional tariff on prepayment meters operated by energy companies.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We do not have this information.</p>
24 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministerial visits to the Scottish Borders have been made in each year since 1999 by (a) Robert Brown MSP, (b) Ross Finnie MSP, (c) George Lyon MSP, (d) Euan Robson MSP, (e) Tavish Scott MSP, (f) Iain Smith MSP, (g) Nicol Stephen MSP and Jim Wallace MSP.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The information requested isshown in the following table. The information identified in the table has been gatheredfrom the various Ministerial Private Offices and is as complete as our records allow.Different Private Offices record and retain information in …
24 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministerial visits to the Scottish Borders are (a) scheduled and (b) under consideration to take place prior to the 2007 dissolution of the Parliament by the (i) Deputy First Minister and Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, (ii) Deputy Minister for Education and Young …
Answer · Tom McCabe: The information requested isnot held in this format. Ministerial diaries retain a record of engagements carriedout. We cannot provide an accurate picture for forthcoming events, as planned orscheduled ministerial visits are subject to constant change, often a…
24 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the sample which subsequently confirmed that a man from the Scottish Borders had died from anthrax was tested.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-27842 on 11 September 2006. 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…
24 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who the experts on the panel were that Health Protection Scotland consulted in respect of the incident of, and subsequent death from, anthrax in the Scottish Borders in July 2006.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27842 on 11 September 2006. 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…
24 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date ministers were first notified that a death from anthrax had taken place in the Scottish Borders.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27842 on 11 September 2006. 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…
24 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated time period is for confirming the presence of anthrax in samples sent for analysis.
Answer · Andy Kerr: It is not possible to givean absolute time period because each case depends on its own facts andcircumstances.</p><p>If large numbers of anthraxspores or bacilli are present then a sample might be reported provisionally asbeing positive within a few hours, wi…
21 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since 1999 officials from its Justice Department with responsibility for civil contingencies planning have met to discuss plans in the event of a possible accidental explosion of nuclear weapons stored in Scotland and what the worst estimates are for the number of li…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Responsibility for nuclear weaponsstored in Scotland is reserved to the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Arrangementsfor responding to radiation accidents are covered by The Radiation (Emergency Preparednessand Public Information) Regulations 2001 (REPPIR), which p…
21 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since 1999 officials from its Justice Department with responsibility for civil contingencies planning have met to discuss plans in the event of possible accidental leakage of chemical weapons disposed of in Beaufort’s Dyke and what the worst estimates are of the numb…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There are well-established proceduresinvolving the Police, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and, where required, MOD ExplosiveOrdnance Disposal (EOD) personnel for the removal and/or disposal of munitions beachingon land in Scotland. Detailed information on pas…
21 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many laboratory facilities there are in Scotland to test for anthrax and where they are located.
Answer · Andy Kerr: There is no specialist NHS clinicallaboratory facility in Scotland for anthrax testing. Any NHS bacteriology laboratorycould potentially make a provisional diagnosis of anthrax where this was not clinicallysuspected, but confirmation of the diagnosis or handl…
21 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many suspected cases of anthrax have been recorded in each year since 1995.
Answer · Andy Kerr: In Scotland, therehave been no notifications of suspected cases of Anthrax in humans recorded since1995. The last suspected cases in animals were in 2005 and the last confirmed casein animals was in 1997.</p>
21 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out in the last five years into the prevalence of anthrax among wild mammals.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Anthrax is a rare disease inthe UK. Experience of dealing with anthrax in domestic animals over many decadesby the State Veterinary Service has not led to suspicion of anthrax in the wildanimal population to date.</p><p>No research to determine theprevalence …
21 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice there was prior to July 2006 for individuals and businesses who work with animal hides in relation to the potential risk from anthrax.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Advice and guidance on the potential risk from Anthraxto individuals and businesses who work with animal hides is a matter for the Healthand Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE has advised the Scottish Executive Health Department that guidancepublished in 1997 on…
21 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it offers to individuals and businesses who work with animal hides in relation to the potential risk from anthrax, in light of the recent death in the Scottish Borders.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Advice and guidance on the potentialrisk from Anthrax to individuals and businesses who work with animal hides is amatter for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The HSE has advised the ScottishExecutive Health Department that guidance published in 1997 on…
21 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministerial visits to the Scottish Borders by Liberal Democrat ministers are (a) scheduled and (b) under consideration to take place prior to the 2007 dissolution of the Parliament.
21 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministerial visits to the Scottish Borders have been made by Liberal Democrat ministers in each year since 1999.
17 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27465 by Mr Tom McCabe on 14 August 2006, whether it will list the names of those individuals with a known or declared membership of the Labour or Liberal Democrat parties appointed by Scottish ministers to (a) NDPB and (b) NHS boards.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive’s public appointmentswebsite details the declared political activity of current appointees, includingthe name of the party for which the activity was undertaken. This information canbe found at:</p><p><ahref="http://194.247.95.101/Topics/Governm…
9 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reassurances it will give to staff at Selkirk Glass following Edinburgh Crystal and Caithness Glass going into administration.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Selkirk Glass, like its parentcompany Edinburgh Crystal and sister company Caithness Glass, has earned a reputationfor quality. It is therefore deeply disappointing that on 11 August 2006 this distinguishedcompany closed, with the loss of 34 jobs.</p><p>Our m…
9 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role Scottish Enterprise is playing with regard to Edinburgh Crystal.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: As part of the Partnership for Action on Continuing Employment (PACE)team, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothianwill contribute to action to ensure thatif employees are affected by the situation, they receive the necessary support.</p>
9 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not sent in a task force to assist Edinburgh Crystal in continuing in production in response to my request to the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: It will be for theadministrator to decide on the future of the business. I understand that the companycontinues to trade and that the aim is to sell it as a going concern.</p><p>The Partnership for Action onContinuing Employment (PACE) team is monitoring the …
9 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the administrator of Edinburgh Crystal with regard to (a) its future and (b) payment and assistance to redundant staff.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish EnterpriseEdinburgh and Lothian is playing a key role working with Edinburgh Crystal and withMidlothian Council in its discussions with Deloitte, the administrator. To helpEdinburgh Crystal staff who may be affected, the local Partnership Action for …
31 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests for information received by it have not been responded to within the required 20 working day period stipulated by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 in each month since Jan 2005 and expressed as a percentage of the total number of requests made.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Information on the number and percentage of requests dealt with by the Scottish Executive within the 20 working-day time period during 2005 is available in a report on information requesthandling in the Scottish Executive. This report is available in the Scot…
31 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests for information to it resulted in an appeal to the Scottish Information Commissioner in each month since January 2005.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Information on appeals and Decisionsof the Scottish Information Commissioner, including those concerning the Executiveare published on the Commissioner’s website: </p><p><ahref="http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/appealsdecisions/index.htm">http://www.itspubl…
31 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many internal reviews by it under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 resulted in successful appeals to the Scottish Information Commissioner since January 2005.
Answer · Margaret Curran: A request by an applicantfor an internal review of a decision is required before any appeal for aDecision of the Scottish Information Commissioner can be made. To end of July2006, 108 Executive requests have been appealed to the Scottish InformationCommission…
31 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many internal review requests it has received following the application by officials of exemptions under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 in each month since January 2005.
Answer · Margaret Curran: An applicant may request aninternal review if dissatisfied with the way in which a Scottish publicauthority has dealt with a request for information, including the applicationof exemptions. Information on numbers ofinternal reviews requested of the Scottish E…
31 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the top five most commonly used exemptions it has applied under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 are to requests for information in each month since January 2005.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Information on the level of use of each exemption by the Scottish Executive during 2005 is availablein a report on information request handling in the Scottish Executive. Thisreport is available in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number39491)…
31 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many exemptions it has applied under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 to requests for information in each month since January 2005.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Information on the use of exemptions by the Scottish Executive during 2005 is available in a report on informationrequest handling in the Scottish Executive. This report is available in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 39491) and on the…