Linda Fabiani

17 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of special constables was from ethnic minority groups in each police force at 31 March 2002.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The percentages of special constables from ethnic minority groups in each police force at 31 March 2002 are shown in the following table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=426><TR><TD WIDTH="49%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=21><P>Force</TD><TD WIDTH="51%…

17 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of special constables was female in each police force at 31 March 2002.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The percentages of female special constables in each police force at 31 March 2002 are shown in the following table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=436><TR><TD WIDTH="37%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=17><P>&nbsp;<P>Force</TD><TD WIDTH="63%" VALIGN="TO…

13 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) target and (b) actual median current waiting times are for an opthamological examination by a consultant opthamologist in each NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in ophthalmology, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner, by NHS board of residence, in the year ended 31 December 2001, is given in the following table. <P>The targe…

6 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many officers recruited into each rank within (a) each police force and (b) the Scottish Crime Squad from April 2001 to March 2002 were from ethnic minority groups.

Answer · Jim Wallace: From April 2001 to March 2002 there were nine officers in total from ethnic minority groups recruited to Scottish police forces - three to Lothian and Borders and six to Strathclyde. Information by rank is not held centrally.<P>The Scottish Crime Squad was re…

6 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many officers recruited into each rank within (a) each police force and (b) the Scottish Crime Squad from April 2001 to March 2002 were female.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The number of female officers recruited to each police force from April 2001 to March 2002 is shown in the following table. Information by rank is not held centrally.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=302><TR><TD WIDTH="56%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Force…

6 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of officers at each rank within (a) each police force and (b) the Scottish Crime Squad at 31 March 2002 was from ethnic minority groups.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is shown in the following table. There were no officers from ethnic minority groups above Chief Inspector. The Scottish Crime Squad was replaced by the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) on 1 April 2001.<P>Percentage of Officers…

6 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of officers at each rank within (a) each police force and (b) the Scottish Crime Squad at 31 March 2002 was female.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is shown in the following table. There were no female chief constables. The Scottish Crime Squad was replaced by the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) on 1 April 2001.<P>Percentage of Female Strength by Rank at 31 March 2002<TA…

5 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities fund independent living services or jointly fund care packages under the Independent Living Fund and how many such packages have been funded in each local authority area in each of the last three years.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on independent living services and which local authorities fund them, is not held centrally.<P>The Independent Living Fund is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and data relating to the fund is not held by the Scottish Executive.

5 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26044 by Hugh Henry on 30 May 2002, when a decision will be made on whether to call in the planning application for a crematorium to be developed at Greenhall Park, High Blantyre, South Lanarkshire.

Answer · Hugh Henry: It is not possible to say at this stage when a decision will be made. Every effort will, however, be made to reach an early decision.

24 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it has had with, and representations it has had from, Glasgow Airport and the appropriate air traffic control authority in regard to the proposed wind farm at Whitelees and what the outcome was of any such consultations and representations.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Details of ScottishPower's proposal to construct a 240 megawatt windfarm at Whitelee Forrest were issued on 24 January to a wide range of consultees, including the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services (NATS).<P>We received a response fro…

20 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS board areas have dedicated stress centres.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

17 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or anybody on its behalf has met (a) representatives of the proposed developer or its subsidiary company or companies or (b) any objector to the proposed Whitelees Wind Farm and, if so, when any such meetings took place and who (i) was invited and (ii) attended.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Officials from Energy Division met with representatives from Scottish Power to discuss the Whitelee proposal on three occasions between November 2001 and May 2002. <P>In addition, during this period, Executive officials have attended a public meeting organise…

17 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will call in the planning application for a crematorium to be developed at Greenhall Park, High Blantyre, South Lanarkshire.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The planning application for this proposed development has been notified to the Executive and is currently being considered. It would be inappropriate, at this stage, to comment on whether it will be called in for the Scottish ministers' determination.

16 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-17791 by Mr Jim Wallace on 21 September 2001, whether the elements of restorative justice which appear in various current initiatives include restorative cautioning and, if not, whether it is being considered as a future initiative.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Cautioning is not used as an alternative to prosecution in Scotland. However, a number of mediation and reparation schemes are operating locally as part of the Executive funded national roll out of diversion from prosecution schemes.<P>£2 million has been mad…

13 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will institute a public inquiry to examine issues surrounding the planning application for the proposed wind farm at Whitelees Forest.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This application for consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 is currently the subject of consultation. Responses from the three local authorities concerned are still outstanding. It would be inappropriate to take any decision on a public inquiry …

10 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that there is adequate ambulance cover in Lanarkshire during periods when demand for the service is expected to increase.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service.

10 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many ambulance call-outs there have been in Lanarkshire in each month since January 2002 and what the (a) average and (b) target response times were in each of these months.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25782.

10 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current level of ambulance cover is in Lanarkshire; what level of cover it considers appropriate, and whether it is acceptable for there to be periods when no ambulance cover is available in the area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25782.

10 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many ambulance shifts were not covered in Lanarkshire in each month since January 2002.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25782.

9 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what flood risk assessment has been completed in connection with the proposed wind farm at Whitelee Forest; whether any such assessment has been provided to (a) it, (b) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and (c) the local authorities in the area, and whether any such assessment wi…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Environmental Statement prepared on behalf of the developer addressed the issue of flood risk assessment and will be addressed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the local authorities concerned as part of the consultation process. <P>The ap…

9 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any concerns have been raised about possible despoiling of an area of special scientific interest in regard to the proposed wind farm at Whitelee Forest.

Answer · Allan Wilson: There are no Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or international nature conservation sites within the vicinity of the proposed wind turbine development at Whitelee Forest, and the Scottish Executive is not aware of any concerns about possible damage…

9 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction in the production of greenhouse gases has been effected by the advent of wind generated electricity.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The most recently published data shows that wind generation in Scotland in 2000 accounted for 216.7GWh. Depending on the fuel that is displaced, this will reduce emissions by about 20,000 to 40,000 tonnes of carbon.<P>Scottish wind generation has increased si…

9 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction in the combustion of fossil fuels has been effected by the advent of wind generated electricity.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Wind energy at present accounts for a very small fraction of Scottish electricity generation - around 1%. However, the introduction of the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) has created a huge demand for new sources of renewable energy, which onshore wind is ve…

9 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities may treat applications for wind farms under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 as if such applications were planning applications under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Acts.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A determination on an application made under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 (if the capacity of the power station exceeds 50 MW) would fall to the Scottish ministers. Under the terms of this act, the Scottish ministers are obliged to consult with the …

9 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much energy from wind power is exported as Green Credits.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In 2000-01, Scotland exported around 19% of its generated electricity; a breakdown of exports by source is not available. The system of Renewable Obligation Certificates under the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) is not yet in full operation, but will not req…

9 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any concerns have been raised over the extraction of peat from the site of the proposed wind farm at Whitelee Forest and, if so, what its response was to any such concerns.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any concerns over any potential extraction of peat from Whitelee Forest.

9 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental assessment is required before planning permission for a wind farm is granted and whether such assessment includes a flood risk assessment.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Wind farms of over 50 mega watts capacity require consent from the Scottish ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. In granting consent under this procedure planning permission is deemed to be granted. Wind farms of smaller capacity require pl…

9 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role or powers it has in respect of the licensing of off-shore wind farms.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: To construct or operate a generation station off-shore, a developer would require a licence under Part II of the Food and Environmental Protection Act 1985 and consent under section 34 of the Coastal Protection Act 1949. At present consent under section 36 of…

9 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to off-shore wind farms and whether it has been consulted about any such farms.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Scottish ministers have powers to issue all relevant consents and licences for off-shore wind farms proposed in waters adjacent to Scotland. Officials have had discussions with Natural Power on the scope of an Environmental Impact Assessment for their proposa…

9 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many wind farms are currently (a) operational and (b) planned.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There are currently 12 wind farms in operation across Scotland. Four developers have submitted applications for the consent of Scottish ministers under section 36 of the 1989 Electricity Act for windfarms of over 50MW capacity. A further five applications are…