Parliamentary questions

Irene McGugan

716 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

15 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minimum age has been set below which the morning-after pill will not be prescribed.

Answer · Susan Deacon: A decision to prescribe emergency hormonal contraception, as with any other drug or treatment, depends on the clinical judgement of the health professional concerned, informed by advice and guidance about its use. No minimum age has been set below which emerg…

15 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in which local authority areas the morning-after pill is available via school nurses.

Answer · Susan Deacon: School nurses can only provide medication where authorised to do so under a Patient Group Direction, issued by their NHS Trust. No Directions in respect of school nurses and emergency contraception have been issued anywhere in Scotland to date.

15 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made, since the debate on the issue in the Parliament on 21 March 2001, in taking forward the Scottish berry project.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Officials of the Health Department, Rural Affairs Department and the Food Standards Agency had a constructive meeting with representatives of the Scottish Berry Group on 23 April 2001 to discuss their proposals for a pilot berry project. The group agreed to d…

15 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to halt the decline in the number of growers involved in producing soft fruit.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is taking a number of measures to assist the soft fruit industry in its current difficulties. These include assisting a number of grower co-operatives to decide whether to apply for recognition as a Producer Organisation (which is an es…

9 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8217 by Sarah Boyack on 6 July 2000, where in Parts 3 and 4 of the National Audit Office report on the Skye Bridge is the percentage of the #23.64 million used to fund the Skye Bridge which was public money identified.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: As the National Audit Report makes clear, the figure of £23.64 million was calculated in 1991 as the maximum toll revenue which Skye Bridge Limited may collect in order to recover their costs of constructing and operating the bridge, after taking account of t…

8 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what roads in mainland Scotland users are (a) required to pay tolls and (b) required to pay tolls where no alternative route by road exists.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: In Scotland, tolls are charged at the Erskine, Forth, Tay and Skye Bridges. Alternative road routes exist in the first three cases.

8 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Skye is currently or has been at any time regarded as part of mainland Scotland rather than an island for the purpose of regulations concerning the movement of livestock during the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, and, if so, why.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Skye has been treated as an island in the General Movement licence issued on 6 April (and subsequent updates) covering movements within and between Scottish islands.

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14933 by Allan Wilson on 26 April 2001, whether the Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture has (a) received and (b) accepted any invitations to meet representatives of Scottish Ballet, other than at performances, since his appointment.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I have received no other invitations.

20 Apr 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-14808 on 18 April 2001, when it is anticipated that public information in ethnic and European languages will be made available on the Parliament's website.

Answer · David Steel: It is anticipated that the information will be available from September 2001.

9 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14288 by Allan Wilson on 4 April 2001, which of the actions referred to in Creating our Future, Minding our Past relate to cultural projects for which it would not in general provide direct support and in relation to which actions it has funding avai…

Answer · Allan Wilson: The actions identified in Creating our Future, Minding our Past depend on a wide range of bodies, both in the public sector and elsewhere, working together within the general framework of the strategy. Overall funding for the strategy and the national …

9 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14288 by Allan Wilson on 4 April 2001, what the source would be of any public funding required in connection with the proposal for a centre for the languages of Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: No public funding has been identified for the proposal.

9 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14288 by Allan Wilson on 4 April 2001, what the status is of the proposal for a centre for the languages of Scotland put forward by the group chaired by Professor Ron Asher and how the proposal is to be taken forward.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland has awarded a grant to Dr Victor Skretkowicz of Dundee University for a pilot study on the languages of Scotland. Taking the proposal forward would be a matter for the proponents of the proposal.

9 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many invitations to meet representatives of Scottish Ballet the Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture has (a) received and (b) accepted since his appointment.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I have received two invitations to performances, one of which I have accepted.

9 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not yet prepared, and circulated to all of the young people who attended, a report on the Youth Summit held in June 2000.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: A report is in the final stages of preparation and should be published shortly.

9 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to prepare, and circulate to all of the young people who attended, a report on the Youth Summit held in June 2000.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The report of the Scottish Youth Summit is in the final stages of preparation and will be circulated and made available shortly.

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the assistance available, and criteria used to award lottery funding, from sportscotland to national governing bodies of sport to provide assistance to elite athletes differ from the assistance available and criteria used in relation to Sport England's World Class Performance Pro…

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14816.

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the assistance available, and the criteria used to award lottery funding, under sportscotland's Talented Athlete Programme differ from the assistance available and criteria used by Sport England in relation to the Athlete Personal Awards element of its World Class Performance Pro…

Answer · Allan Wilson: In Scotland, athletes are supported directly from sportscotland through the Talented Athlete Programme (TAP) to cover their programme and living costs. The governing bodies are asked to endorse applications, but the funds go directly to the successful …

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the award of lottery funding from sportscotland to elite athletes is tied to Olympic participation.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Talented Athlete Programme (TAP) operated by sportscotland is open to all athletes participating in any sport jointly recognised by all of the sports councils within the United Kingdom. One of the aims of the TAP is to place athletes onto the World…

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support Peter Nicol was receiving from sportscotland prior to his decision to play for England and how any such support compares with any support he is now receiving from Sport England.

Answer · Allan Wilson: In 1997, sportscotland offered Peter Nicol an award of up to £15,000 under the Talented Athlete Programme, dependent upon financial need. He did not claim any of that award and has made no application since. Also, in December 2000, the Scottish Institu…

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Scottish Commonwealth Games Council and Scottish Squash requesting that they reconsider their reported intention to block Peter Nicol's participation in the 2002 Commonwealth Games as an England player.

Answer · Allan Wilson: This is a matter for the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland and Scottish Squash.

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to investigate the reasons behind Peter Nicol's decision to play for England rather than Scotland; what conclusions any such investigation has reached and, in particular, to what extent any difference in the level of public funding available was found to be a cont…

Answer · Allan Wilson: sportscotland has contacted the Squash Rackets Association (the sport's governing body in England) and sportengland to ascertain what services Peter Nicol would receive from the World Class Performance Programme (WCPP). The re…

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the level of public funding available to support Scotland's elite athletes and the criteria used to award such funding.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The division of lottery funds is decided by the UK Government in consultation with the devolved administrations. The Lottery Sports Fund is divided by relative population size amongst Wales, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland, with UKSport receiving appro…

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, if lottery funding from sportscotland for elite athletes is only or mainly available to those participating in Olympic sports, it will instruct sportscotland to reconsider this restriction in order that sportspeople participating in non-Olympic sports or non- Olympic forms of pa…

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14809.

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether lottery funding is available from sportscotland to elite athletes who participate in non-Olympic sports or non-Olympic forms of particular sports and, if it is not, whether the arrangements disadvantage such sportspeople in comparison (a) with competitors from other countries and…

Answer · Allan Wilson: Awards made by sportscotland under the Lottery Sports Fund are not restricted to Olympic sports. Athletes who are eligible to represent Scotland and the United Kingdom in any sport which is recognised by sportscotland, jointly with the other spo…

4 Apr 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-14079 on 23 March 2001, which ethnic and European languages are being considered for use in making public information about the Parliament available on its website and under which of these language categories information is likely to be made available…

Answer · David Steel: The languages under consideration are Urdu, Chinese, Punjabi, Hindi, Gujarati, Scots, French, German, Spanish and Italian. For the purposes of presentation of information on the website, there will be no distinction between categories of language. Users will …

21 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13805 by Ross Finnie on 14 March 2001, why it decided to support the formation of the Scottish Association of Farmers' Markets.

Answer · Ross Finnie: With the growing interest in farmers' markets in Scotland, the industry was keen to establish a body which would allow markets to share information, co-ordinate activity, promote best practice, etc. As part of its grant-funded activities, the Executive encour…

21 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13805 by Ross Finnie on 14 March 2001, whether any information on the impact of farmers' markets is available as a result of any such markets receiving funding under the LEADER II programme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Only a small number of farmers' markets in Scotland have been assisted under the LEADER II Programme. In these cases, funding was directed towards initial costs such as assistance towards incorporation of Angus Farmers' Market as a friendly society and a stud…

21 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance could be made available to voluntary sports clubs to help them meet the cost of water and waste-water charges.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Phasing in of water charges to all organisations affected by the decision to withdraw reliefs is being made over a period of 5 years. This should allow such organisations time to prepare for the changes and ease the immediate impact of increased charges.Ad…

21 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the visions for sport in Scotland set out in Sport 21: Nothing Left to Chance are achievable within current funding levels for sport.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The first review of Sport 21 was published in October 2000 and copies were distributed to all members of this Parliament. That review highlighted the way in which investment in Scottish sport is helping to achieve the aims of the strategy. The addition…

19 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in expanding support for families and very young children through family centres, and mobile and outreach services, for at least 5,000 additional children by 2002, as set out in the Making it work together: A programme for government.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has already provided £23 million, and will be providing a further £57 million for the three forward years from April 2001, to expand support for families with very young children through Sure Start Scotland. This funding has been alloca…