Parliamentary questions

Elaine Murray

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

27 Oct 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that sex offenders are properly supervised in the community.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We are implementing reforms stemming from the Cosgrove and McLean reports to make the arrangements for managing the risks from sex offenders more robust. Additional funding has also been made available to local authorities to develop an enhanced throughcare s…

27 Oct 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to assist local authorities in upgrading recycling points and centres.

Answer · Ross Finnie: £500,000 has been made available to upgrade recycling points and centres. This is in addition to funding local authorities have already received through the Strategic Waste Fund for recycling and composting infrastructure.

26 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is required of local authorities in monitoring the impact of planning decisions on town centres under sections 90 and 91 of National Planning Policy Guideline - Town Centres and Retailing - Planning Policy Series: NPPG 8 Revised 1998.

Answer · Johann Lamont: National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 8: Town Centres and Retailing recognises that retailing policies and proposals in development plans should be based on a factual assessment of retail development and trends, and emphasises the importance of up-to-date…

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4835 by Allan Wilson on 9 January 2004, whether the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement has now been fully implemented in Scotland and what the reasons are for the position on the matter.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Environmental Protection (Restriction on Use of Lead Shot) Scotland(No.2) Regulations 2004 (SSI 2004/358) have been laid before Parliament with the intention that they should come into force on 31 March 2005. These Regulations will fulfil an obliga…

17 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the statutory rights of access provided by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 will come into effect.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We expect to be in a position to bring the rights of access established by Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 into effect in the early part of 2005. Before then we intend to issue guidance to local authorities under section 27 of the act on the dis…

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which agencies are involved in securing the protection of areas of land that are habitats to rare plants or animal species.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Scottish Natural Heritage has primary responsibility for promoting and securing the protection of land that provides habitat for rare plants and animal species in Scotland.A wide range of other bodies exercise responsibilities which require them to hav…

18 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels on Monday 19 July 2004.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Margaret Beckett representedthe United Kingdom at a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Councilin Brussels on 19 July 2004.The new Dutch Presidency presentedits work programme for the next six months and identified as its key themes, sustainableag…

6 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any payments remain outstanding for the disinfection of farms during the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001 and, if so, when these payments will be made.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There are no payments outstanding for the disinfection of farms.

30 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many licenses for the control of predatory birds were (a) applied for and (b) granted in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Information on licences grantedfor the “control of predatory birds” is not held separately. However, informationon all the bird licences issued under Article 9 of the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC)is published in annual EC Derogation reports, listed under derog…

28 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken by a resident if a building warrant has been granted for a house where the conditions of the warrant have not been fulfilled.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard,acting Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency, to answer. Hisresponse is as follows:If the resident is the owner,and a completion certificate has not been granted, it is the resident’s responsibilityto t…

20 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how licenses for the control of sparrow-hawks under the Countryside and Wildlife Act 1981 can be applied for.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A written application must be submitted to the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department enclosing all the information required for the licensing to demonstrate compliance with Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Council …

19 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS dentists there have been per 1,000 population in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The following table shows the total number of NHS dentists per 100,000 population by NHS board area as at 30 September in each year since 1999. Table: NHS Dentists1, 2 per 100,000 Population, by NHS Board Area as at 30 September3<…

19 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to the consultation Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland consultation closed on 2 April. Responses to the consultation have been analysed and the Scottish Executive is now considering its response. We expect to publish this in the autumn.

19 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions require to be met before a license to control sparrow-hawks under the Countryside and Wildlife Act 1981 can be granted.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive may grant licences only for specified purposes, such as in the interests of public health and safety, where there is serious damage to crops, livestock, forests, fisheries and water interests or for the protection of flora and fauna. A …

7 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8969 by Cathy Jamieson on 24 June 2004, why Disclosure Scotland's helpline on 7 July 2004 provided, on answering incoming calls, a message stating that due to the increased volume of applications Disclosure Scotland would ask that if callers submitte…

Answer · Hugh Henry: The purpose of the helpline message was to inform callers and give them enough information about the status of their application to enable them to make a decision about whether or not they needed to speak to an operator. The periods quoted in the message rela…

7 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many disclosure checks have been processed by Disclosure Scotland and what the average processing time has been in each week since 1 April 2004.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The information requested is set out in the following table. In all cases, the processing times quoted are average times and apply to applications which did not require the correction of errors in the application form, clearance of payment arrangements or enq…

22 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that it obtains value for money in regard to the routine and structural maintenance of trunk roads.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: All trunk roads in Scotland are inspected and surveyed on a regular basis, the specific timescales of which can vary subject to the strategic nature and classification of the route. Any defects that are identified are measured against pre-defined standards to…

22 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many exchanges are unviable for ADSL broadband and how it will ensure that 100% of the population will be able to access broadband by 31 December 2005.

Answer · Jim Wallace: There are 399 exchanges in Scotland that are commercially unviable to upgrade for ADSL broadband. The Executive is taking forward a technology-neutral procurement exercise which will ensure that every community in Scotland has broadband access by the end of 2…

22 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8575 by Nicol Stephen on 21 June 2004, which harbour authority has responsibility for the River Nith.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Nith Navigation Commission is the statutory harbour authority and was established under the Nith Navigation Order Confirmation Act 1929. The commission ceased to operate in the 1960s, although the legislation remains in force. In the absence of an active …

16 Jun 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will avoid the charge of paying farmers not to break the law as referred to in Scottish Environment Link's evidence in respect of cross-compliance rules in Common Agricultural Policy reform.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform agreement requires farmers receiving direct payments to respect a number of European laws and to maintain the land in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition.

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures will be undertaken to improve and upgrade the A76 between Kirkconnel and Dumfries in each of the next five years and what funding has been, or will be, allocated to each of these measures.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Two major schemes are currently under consideration. Options to provide guaranteed overtaking at Glenairlie on the A76 are being examined. A preferred scheme has still to be identified and it is too early in the preparation process to be definite on funding a…

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been undertaken to improve and upgrade the A76 between Kirkconnel and Dumfries since 1 July 1999 and what funding was allocated to each of these projects.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: No major schemes have been undertaken since July 1999. Routine and structural maintenance has been carried out. Information on the nature and costs of such work is not available by route or part route.

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures will be undertaken to improve and upgrade the A7 between Langholm and the border between Scotland and England in each of the next five years and what funding has been, or will be, allocated to each of these measures.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: A scheme to realign approximately 3km of the A7 at Auchenrivock is in the early stages of preparation. It is too early to give commitments on funding and programme timing but, assuming that the scheme demonstrates value for money, it is likely to cost some £4…

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been undertaken to improve and upgrade the A7 between Langholm and the border between Scotland and England since 1 July 1999 and what funding was allocated to each of these projects.

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures will be undertaken to improve and upgrade the A701 between Moffat and Dumfries in each of the next five years and what funding has been, or will be, allocated to each of these measures.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There are no current plans to undertake major schemes on this. Routine and structural maintenance will be carried out. Information on the nature and costs of such work is not available by route or part route.

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been undertaken to improve and upgrade the A701 between Moffat and Dumfries since 1 July 1999 and what funding has been allocated to each of these measures.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Junction improvement works have been undertaken at the A701/B7020 Buckrigg south of Beattock. The works, which included visibility improvements and widening of the carriageway from 6.7m to 7.3m to provide a wide verge on the east side of the existing embankme…

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how its proposals for the development of Business Improvement Districts will address environmental problems caused by unoccupied derelict or abandoned buildings in small towns and villages.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) will be local initiatives with local businesses and local authorities working in partnership to address the needs of the businesses in the area concerned. It is possible that a BID project plan could include proposals to …

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are available under the (a) Building (Scotland) Act 1959, (b) Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, (c) Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and (d) Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 to address environmental problems caused by unoccupied derelict or abandoned buil…

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Section 13 of the Building (Scotland) Act 1959 allows local authorities to take action requiring the repair, securing or demolition of buildings found to be dangerous. Local authorities have powers under Section 87 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Ac…

27 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received European funding towards the costs of improvements to sections of the A75 and, if so, what percentage of the total costs are covered by such funding.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive received the residue of an award made to The Scottish Office in 1997 from the Trans European Network funds towards the construction costs of the A75 improvement at the Glen west of Dumfries. Construction costs are eligible for 10% fundi…

27 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable and locations will be for forthcoming Tourism Network Scotland meetings.

Answer · Frank McAveety: My officials, along with officialsfrom VisitScotland and senior staff from area tourist boards, are in the processof meeting all Scottish local authorities to explain the background to the new tourismnetwork, to secure their support for our overall tourism am…