Elaine Murray

5 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances non-resident spouses can evict their partners and dependent children from family homes where the mortgages are in joint names and whether the Family Law (Scotland ) Act 2006 has affected the conditions under which this may happen.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: It is open to someone who ownsa property in common with another person to raise an action for division, or anaction for division and sale. This would mean that the court orders either the divisionof the property, or its sale and the division of the proceeds. …

5 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any legal barrier to a (a) housing association and (b) private housing provider providing accommodation only for persons assessed by a local authority as being homeless.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Section 20 of the Housing (Scotland)Act 1987 as amended by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 requires that registeredsocial landlords give reasonable preference in the selection of their tenantsto homeless persons and persons threatened with homelessness alongs…

31 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why an upper age limit is set for some of the grants available to establish new businesses.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Business Start-up Grant forYoung People in the 18 to 30 age group, delivered by Scottish Enterprise’s BusinessGateway network in conjunction with the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust,is the only grant scheme for new businesses with an upper age limi…

31 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available to assist individuals to establish new businesses.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish Enterprise andHighlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) have the lead responsibility for providingassistance to individuals wishing to establish a business. In addition, there area number of schemes delivered and directly funded by the Scottish Executiv…

26 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any concerns have been raised with it about the implications for national emergency planning of the reduction in size of the Territorial Army.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: No concerns have been raisedwith the Scottish Executive with regard to the impact of the reduction in size of the Territorial Army on national emergency planning. Matters to do with the ArmedForces are of course a matter reserved to Westminster.</p>

23 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-19064 by Tavish Scott on 20 September 2005 and S2W-22307 by Nicol Stephen on 30 January 2006 and the publication of A Study into Broadband Reach in Scotland, when it expects broadband to be available in Ewes in Langholm, Dumfriesshire.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: At the end of last year, I allocated£5 million funding to help extend coverage to those who still cannot receive a broadbandservice. We are currently prioritising areas according to need as well as the costsof potential solutions. We expect to announce the fi…

23 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the liquidation of One Plus will have on projects such as the “Grow Your Own” training programme for community workers in north-west Dumfries.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>In light of the liquidation ofOne Plus, Dumfries and Galloway Council are working with affected projectsin their area, including the “Grow You…

18 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it values the provision made at Crichton Campus in Dumfries and what its attitude would be to any diminution in the number and variety of courses on offer.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We fully support the CrichtonCampus. This successful and innovative cross-sector development is making HigherEducation accessible to those who would not otherwise have been able to engage inthe south west and is forming important links with local businesses a…

18 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it supports universities which establish outreach campuses, such as Crichton Campus in Dumfries, to provide higher education in rural areas.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish ministers have advisedthe Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to ensure the adequacy of provision of furtherand higher education in the South of Scotland.</p><p>Responsibility for decisionson the funding of individual higher education institutions lies wi…

18 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of student places funded by the Scottish Funding Council at the University of Glasgow's Crichton Campus in Dumfries has increased in line with actual student numbers and what the reasons are for this position.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The allocation of places to theCrichton Campus is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). It is not anarea in which ministers can intervene.</p><p>The SFC has supported highereducation provision at the Crichton campus by allocating an additional 100 …

18 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of a potential withdrawal of the University of Glasgow from the Crichton Campus in Dumfries and, if so, what action it can take to help the university address any shortfall in the funding of its operations in Dumfries.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2F-2690 on 1 February 2007. All answers to parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website the search facility forwhich can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/of…

17 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been received by Transport Scotland regarding the provision of a new rail halt at Eastriggs in Dumfriesshire.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has receivedtwo responses to the Consultation on Rail Priorities in support of reopening Eastriggsstation in Dumfriesshire. One from Dumfries and Galloway Council, the other did not give permissionfor their response to be made public.</…

17 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on twin tracking the railway line between Annan and Gretna.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Network Rail is working towardsa redoubling of the track between Annan and Gretna for completion in February 2008.</p>

8 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any indicative figures for Aggregate External Finance to local authorities for 2008-09 and 2009-10 and, if so, what these figures are for each local authority.

Answer · Tom McCabe: No. The Aggregate External Finance(AEF) totals for the period 2008-11 will not be known until after the conclusionof the 2007 Spending Review. Under the expected timetable, local authorities wouldbe notified of the new figures in late November or early Decemb…

22 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30371 by Lewis Macdonald on 19 December 2006, why the dental bursary is not available to Scottish students studying in the rest of the United Kingdom who intend to work in Scotland after graduation.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A dental bursary schemeavailable elsewhere in the UK could not be restricted only to Scottish students.</p><p>The main purpose of thebursary scheme is to encourage students, who are studying at the dental schoolsin Scotland, to remain in Scotland and work in …

19 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the evaluation of the mandatory supervised attendance order pilots in Glasgow and Ayrshire.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The final evaluation of the pilotschemes for use of Supervised Attendance Orders on a mandatory basis in Glasgow and Ayr is publishedtoday and is available at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Rece…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would be possible to repeal section 26(2) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 by means of an amendment to the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: It is not possible to repealsection (26)(2) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland)Act 2003 through the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill. However, we do intend to examine existingarrangements in the Annan and Solway as part …

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the River Annan is excluded from the restrictions on fishing without legal right in the Solway in section 26(1) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 2003.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Solway Firth Fisheries Act1804 created a separate fishing regime for the Solway Firth and the rivers flowinginto it, including the River Annan. Section 9 of that act provided restrictionson fishing without legal right. The Annan Fisheries Act 1841 removed…

15 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities are permitted to use the Supporting People grant for the provision of services which are not included in the list of prescribed housing support services in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (Housing Support Services) Regulations 2002, such as the provision of suppo…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Local authorities are notpermitted to use Supporting People grant for the provision of any services other thanthose prescribed by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 (Housing Support Services) Regulations2002 These services include the provision of advice and sup…

13 Dec 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve safety on trunk roads.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland monitorsthe trunk road network annually to identify accident cluster sites and implementsan annual programme of road safety improvements as well as a number of largerschemes, most of which bring road safety benefits.</p><p>In addition we su…

12 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what sources of funding are available to community groups wishing to promote healthy activity among young people by providing play equipment.

Answer · Robert Brown: A number of Scottish Executivefunding streams passed via local authorities can support a range of activity, includingplay and play equipment, but the main sources of funding available to communitygroups are local programmes supported through Community Regener…

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Dumfries and Galloway (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006 (SSI 2006/434) could be withdrawn and replaced in time for the local government elections in 2007.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The process for revoking or varyingthe Order is complex and set out in section 26 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act1973. The varying order must be prepared in draft form and copies sent to the localor public authorities and community councils concerned, …

11 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it received representations from Dumfries and Galloway Council requesting that Ward 13, Annandale East, be renamed to include “Eskdale” in its title in the Dumfries and Galloway (Electoral Arrangements) Order 2006 (SSI 2006/434) and, if so, what its reasons were for not agreeing t…

Answer · Tom McCabe: Yes, representations were receivedfrom Dumfries and Galloway Council on 7 July 2006 requesting Ward 13be renamed “Eskdale”. I regret this was overlooked by officials.</p><p>Dumfries and Galloway Council did not make representations tothe Local Government Boun…

5 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS Dental Bursary Scheme is only available to students studying in Scotland and, if so, why this is the case.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Yes, the new dental bursary isavailable only to students studying in Scotland.</p><p>The main purpose of the bursaryscheme is to encourage students, who are studying at the dental schools in Scotland, toremain in Scotland and take up working in the NHS dental…

4 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration is being given to the supply of “shelter safe care” stoma flanges (UF7000) by NHS prescription, as was agreed in England on 1 August 2006, and, if so, when a decision is likely to be made.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Yes. Applications for additionof stoma appliance products to the Scottish Drug Tariff are now considered by theStoma Nurses Commodity Advisory Panel, which is planned to meet next during January2007.</p>

27 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues any guidance to local authorities on levying parking charges.

Answer · Tavish Scott: No. Local authorities havepowers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to make, and vary, TrafficRegulation Orders specifying parking charges at designated parking placesthroughout their local authority area. The parking charge tariffs set byindividual l…

27 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill will be enacted and when the provisions in respect of swords will come into force.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Custodial Sentences and Weapons(Scotland) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 3 October and is currently subjectto Stage 1 consideration by the Justice 2 Committee. Subject to Parliament’s approval,the Executive anticipates that it would receive Royal As…

27 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the provisions of the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill will have on the transportation and carrying of swords for use in Scottish highland dancing classes and competitions.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The provisions of the CustodialSentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill do not change the law on the carrying of swordsin public.</p><p>It is an offence under section49 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 to have any article which has a blade…

27 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the provisions of the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill will have on the use of swords in Scottish highland dancing classes and competitions.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Bill will enable ministers to make exceptions to a banon the sale of swords for legitimate religious, cultural and sporting purposes.The Policy Memorandum for the bill makes clear that Scottish Highland dancing i…

22 Nov 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities will meet its recycling targets and what examples of good practice could be disseminated to other local authorities.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We have Scotland widetargets to recycle or compost 25% of municipal waste by 2006 and 30% by 2008. Insupport of these national targets, each local authority has made a separate commitmentto recycle or compost a certain level of waste linked to their Strategic…