Parliamentary questions

Elaine Murray

2,411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

18 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any mechanism through which a landowner may appeal against a decision by inquiry reporters not to allow land to be included in a local plan.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The planning authorityis responsible for the final content of the local plan and is not therefore obligedto accept the reporter’s recommendations. If the planning authority proposes tomake modifications to the plan, derived either from the agreements reached …

13 Jun 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve transport infrastructure in the Dumfries parliamentary constituency.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Improvements to transportinfrastructure in the Dumfries parliamentary constituency are the responsibilityof SWESTRANS and Dumfries and Galloway Council. The Scottish Executivewill continue to work closely with those bodies, in line with the National Transport…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-45 by Fiona Hyslop on 6 June 2007, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, a member of her ministerial team or the First Minister has met the Principal of the University of Glasgow to discuss the suspension of the universit…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Cabinet Secretaryfor Education and Lifelong Learning has discussed the suspension of the University of Glasgow’s intake of undergraduate students at theCrichton Campus in Dumfries with the Principal.

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-45 by Fiona Hyslop on 6 June 2007, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, a member of her ministerial team or the First Minister has met the Scottish Funding Council to discuss the suspension of the University of Glasgow’s…

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Cabinet Secretaryfor Education and Lifelong Learning discussed the suspension of the University of Glasgow’s intake of undergraduate students at theCrichton Campus in Dumfries with the Chief Executive of the Scottish FundingCouncil at a meeting she had wi…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements it intends to make to the presentation of equalities information in the Scottish budget.

Answer · John Swinney: The main sources ofinformation on equalities will be our reports on performance in respect of the EqualityStrategy and the public sector duties on equality. We are reviewing the format of the budget documents for 2008-09 onwards, including the presentation of…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in establishing baselines in the forthcoming Scottish budget to enable overall savings to be quantified and to ensure that the Executive pursues internal efficiency savings to a level comparable with those required of local authorities.

Answer · John Swinney: The SpendingReview is on-going and as a part of this we will establish the detail of ourefficiency programme for 2008-11; this will include the setting of baselinesfor the programme. We will expect public services across Scotland to deliver cash-releasing rec…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the findings of Professor Lorne Crerar’s independent review of scrutiny of public services in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-803 on 12 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sear…

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Professor Lorne Crerar’s independent review of scrutiny of public services in Scotland has been completed.

Answer · John Swinney: No. Professor Lorne Crerar’sindependent review of scrutiny of public services in Scotland is dueto be published at the end of August 2007. Further information on the review is available at <ahref="http://www.scrutinyreview.org/">www.scrutinyreview.org</a>.

8 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the 2007 spending review.

Answer · John Swinney: Work on StrategicSpending Review 2007 is already underway, and the outcome will be announcedin the autumn. I will provide Parliament with further detail shortly.

4 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhat action it will take to increase the number of construction apprenticeships in Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We are committedto reviewing the modern apprenticeship (MA) programme to ensure that the MAsbeing delivered match skills gaps. In this context, we will take stock ofcurrent provision before taking a view on individual geographical areas and wewill also consid…

4 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it will continue to provide funding for community warden schemes in Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Local authority funding to promotecommunity safety and tackle antisocial behaviour, including that for Dumfries and Galloway, is notring-fenced for community wardens or other services but is for delivery againstspecific outcomes in local outcome agreements.</…

4 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivehow much funding it intends to make available to Dumfries and Galloway Council to enable it to freeze council tax in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.

Answer · John Swinney: The funding to be made availableto local authorities, including Dumfries and Galloway Council, in 2008-09 and 2009-10will be confirmed later this year, following the outcome of spending review.

4 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhether it intends to freeze council tax in 2008-09.

Answer · John Swinney: We have made clear that we arecommitted to freezing council tax levels at 2007-08 levels and we will be workingclosely with local government to achieve this.

4 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to take forward the recommendations of the previous Executive’s implementation plan, Getting it right for every child, in respect of the delivery of children’s services and the effectiveness of the children’s hearing system and, if so, how it will do this.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Getting it right forevery child supports many of the Scottish Executive’s objectives. We are keen toprogress action which improves outcomes for children. We will continue to supportmeasures designed to improve practice and remove barriers We are currently con…

4 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish its strategy for fostering and kinship care.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-277 on 7 June 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.sear…

4 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how an appeal may be made against a decision taken by Registers of Scotland with regard to the registration of a title.

Answer · John Swinney: The Land Registration (Scotland)Act 1979 provides for appeals to the Lands Tribunal for Scotland onquestions of fact or law arising from anything done or omitted to be done bythe Keeper of the Registers of Scotland in respect of registration of title inthe La…

4 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in considering the case for the payment of allowances to kinship carers.

Answer · Adam Ingram: I will be publishinga strategy for fostering and kinship care later this year, which will address theprovision of support for kinship carers.

4 Jun 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executivehow much funding it intends to make available to Dumfries and Galloway Council to enable it to freeze council tax in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Reducingalcohol-fuelled crime and antisocial behaviour is a key priority for this government.We are funding local agencies in the Highlands and Islands to provide a range of services aimed at delivering this outcome.

4 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-46 by Jim Mather on 1 June 2007, why the Scottish Ministers have not yet received the findings for the public local inquiry into CRE Energy’s planning application for a wind turbine development at Harestanes when the public sessions took place in Jun…

1 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a victim may appeal against the decision of a judge to reduce the sentence of a sex offender on appeal by the offender and, if so, how the victim’s appeal may be made.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No. In Scots law the victim doesnot have right of appeal against sentence at any stage. The Lord Advocate can appealagainst the original sentence passed on conviction where it appears that the sentenceis “unduly lenient”, in terms of section 108 of the Crimin…

1 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what secondary legislation is planned consequent to the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: During the course of this ParliamentI will consider the need for secondary legislation on a range of animal health andwelfare issues as proposed by the previous administration under the Animal Healthand Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. I anticipate that regulatio…

1 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the results of its consultation on snaring.

Answer · Michael Russell: Analysis of the responses tothe consultation on snaring is currently underway and I expect to make an announcementto Parliament after summer recess.The non-confidential responsescan be viewed on the Executive website at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.…

1 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the budget of NHS Dumfries and Galloway will be affected by the decision to retain accident and emergency services at Ayr and Monklands hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No.

1 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements are planned for the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway; when these are expected to be undertaken, and at what estimated cost.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A contract worth £9.2 million(excluding VAT) has been awarded to Graham Construction to build what is known asthe A75 Overtaking Opportunities scheme. The scheme consists of new overtaking opportunitiesat Barfil; at Newton Stewart, and at Planting End. Works …