Elaine Smith

18 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland has made an assessment of the environmental benefits of retaining direct London to Glasgow rail services on the east coast main line.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No. However, we are committed to modal shift from road/air to rail and the environmental benefits that it brings, thereby helping to achieve our 42% cut in emissions as set out in our world leading Climate Change (Scotland) Act. We therefore wish to see maxim…

18 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland has made an assessment of the economic benefits of retaining direct London to Glasgow rail services on the east coast main line.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland modelling suggests that the removal of services between Glasgow Central and destinations on the East Coast Main Line could generate reductions in the economic welfare of passengers equivalent to approximately £300 million. This value is mea…

18 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland has made representations to the Department for Transport in favour of the continuation of direct London to Glasgow rail services on the east coast main line.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Ministers have made strong representations to Lord Adonis, Secretary of State for Transport, emphasising that we will not accept an overall diminution of services or compromise on journey times for cross border services.</p> <p >The Scottish Govern…

15 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what cultural, trade or other links it has had with Cuba since 1999.

Answer · Michael Russell: Contacts between the governments of Scotland and Cuba have, to date, been limited, but the Scottish Government is aware of the work of the Cross Party Group on Cuba to promote links between the respective Parliaments. As the then Minister for the Environment,…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Association of Scottish Community Councils and the Association of Scottish Community Councils Ltd have an obligation to hold and report on AGMs.

Answer · John Swinney: The Association of Scottish Community Councils is the national representative body of community councils in Scotland. The Scottish Government has no involvement in its day-to-day business.</p> <p >The obligation to hold and report on their AGM is outlined in…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, since the formation of the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC), what responsibility the ASCC has for transparency of financial reports and due process with regard to both the general public and the community councils that it represents.

Answer · John Swinney: The Association of Scottish Community Councils is a longstanding body first established in 1993 as the national representative body of community councils throughout Scotland.</p> <p >Since the beginning of this financial year, the Scottish Government have re…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it provides direct funding to the Association of Scottish Community Councils, the Association of Scottish Community Councils Ltd or both.

Answer · John Swinney: The Association of Scottish Community Councils is a longstanding body first established in 1993. It is the national representative body for community councils throughout Scotland and any formally recognised community council may join them.</p> <p >The Scotti…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the remit of the Association of Scottish Community Councils and how this group differs from the Association of Scottish Community Councils Ltd.

Answer · John Swinney: The Association of Scottish Community Councils is a longstanding body first established in 1993 and is the national representative body for community councils in Scotland. The Association has recently added a Company Limited by Guarantee to its existing struc…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what outcomes it hopes to achieve following the establishment of the Association of Scottish Community Councils Ltd.

Answer · John Swinney: The Association of Scottish Community Councils is a longstanding body first established in 1993. The association has recently added a company limited by guarantee to its existing structure to carry out its operational work.</p> <p >We recognise the important…

11 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the success of the urban and rural pilot schemes involving community councils.

Answer · John Swinney: The urban and rural pilots being undertaken by Langside, Battlefield and Camphill Community Council (Glasgow City Council), and Arran Community Council (North Ayrshire Council) are currently on-going and an update will be provided on their completion.</p>

11 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to invite representatives from the mutual and co-operative sector into the Scottish Centre for Financial Education.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-6993 on 21 May 2009. All answers to parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQ…

10 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to review membership of the management group of the Scottish Centre for Financial Education.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-6993 on 21 May 2009. All answers to parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQ…

10 Jun 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to engage with Latin American countries.

Answer · Michael Russell : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0618-01.htm">http://www.scot…

14 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop a national strategy for people with lymphoedema.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We are clear that there should be equity of access to lymphoedema services across the country. The British Lymphology Society''s Best Practice document offers a good opportunity to share best practice at a national level.</p> <p >Lymphoedema is also covered …

14 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve services and treatment for people with lymphoedema.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We expect NHS boards to implement, through local protocols, the relevant Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guidelines. The Guidelines on the Management of Cervical Cancer (99), the Management of Breast Cancer (84) and the Care of Patients wit…

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which commercial banks are represented on the Scottish Centre for Financial Education Advisory Group.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Centre for Financial Education has representation from the following commercial banks on its advisory group:</p> <p >The Royal Bank of Scotland</p> <p >Clydesdale Bank</p> <p >Lloyds Banking Group.</p>

1 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which representatives of the co-operative and mutual sector are on the Scottish Centre for Financial Education Advisory Group.

Answer · Keith Brown: At present there are no direct representatives from the co-operative and mutual sector on the Scottish Centre for Financial Education Advisory Group.</p>

11 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with rail companies other than First Group plc before the decision was made to extend the Scotrail franchise and with which companies.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the ministerial statement which can be found in column 7712 in the <i >Official Report</i> of Thursday 17 April 2008. The <i >Official Report</i> can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialRepo…

11 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what value for money assessment was made before deciding to extend the Scotrail franchise and whether it will publish any such assessment and the modelling used for it.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer to the ministerial statement I gave to the Parliament on 17 April 2008.</p> <p >A thorough value for money assessment was undertaken including extensive modelling. The principles of awarding an extension were carefully examined. The supporting eviden…

11 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Network Rail in respect of operating Scotrail as a not-for-profit organisation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has had no discussions with Network Rail on this point.</p>

11 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to operating Scotrail as a not-for-profit organisation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The experience of the last franchise re-letting process is that a four-year lead time is required to allow for effective consultation and for any significant changes in the basis of the franchise contract.</p> <p >Activating the extension clause in the curre…

13 Mar 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what links it is planning to establish with Venezuela.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I met the Venezuelan Ambassador on 21 February to discuss links between Scotland and Venezuela. The Scottish Government has no current plans to establish further links with Venezuela.</p>

7 Nov 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the exercise of its responsibilities for equal opportunities, it has taken account of any harm done to women as a result of extreme pornography.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The gender equalityduty, which came into force in April 2007, requires the Scottish Government to demonstratehow it is promoting equality of opportunity and eliminating unlawful discriminationand harassment. As part of a suite of measures to implement this du…

25 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to revisit the work left outstanding by the Expert Group on Prostitution in relation to (a) off-street prostitution, (b) trafficking and (c) men involved in prostitution.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We have no plans at present to reconstitute the Expert Group on Prostitution. However, I have suggested that the Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament might wish to consider a number of wider prostitution issues, such as indoor prostitution, which were…

11 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what specialist training has been given to airport and security staff to ensure a rapid and efficient response to any future terrorist incidents.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We understandthat all Scottish airports are meeting the requirements set out by theDepartment for Transport (Transport Security and Contingencies Directorate –TRANSEC), which is the security regulator in the UK.</p>

11 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what specific measures have been put in place to ensure the security of baggage following the recent terrorist incident at Glasgow Airport.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We understand thatBAA Glasgow is meeting the requirements set out by theDepartment for Transport (Transport Security and Contingencies Directorate – TRANSEC)which is the security regulator in the UK.</p>

11 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what additional security measures have been put in place following the recent terrorist incident at Glasgow Airport.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We understand thatBAA Glasgow is meeting the requirements set out by theDepartment for Transport (Transport Security and Contingencies Directorate – TRANSEC)which is the security regulator in the UK.</p>

12 Sep 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Monklands Hospital will be retained as a level three general hospital.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lanarkshire arecurrently looking at their original plans to produce revised proposals to enableaccident and emergency services to continue at all three sites in Lanarkshire. Irecently announced the full membership of the Independent Scrutiny Panel under t…

28 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to develop a public health strategy and guidance to raise awareness among the public and health professionals of the importance of vitamin D supplementation in high risk groups of the population.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish government’sPublic Health and Wellbeing Directorate, togetherwith  the Chief Medical Officer Directorate and the Food Standards Agency Scotland, are currently considering the detailedconclusions of the position statement, Update on Vitamin D<i>, …

28 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what surveys have been carried out in Scotland to ascertain the levels of vitamin D deficiency in specific vulnerable groups, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, elderly people, infants and black and ethnic minority groups.

Answer · Shona Robison: There have been no Scottish surveysof vitamin D status of the whole Scottish population.</p><p>There are Scottish participantsin the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) and also the recently completedUK Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey (LIDNS). H…