Parliamentary questions

Mrs Margaret Ewing

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

18 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any consideration has been given to altering the eligibility criteria under the Bellwin formula.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We keep the criteria under review in light of the incidents that result in claims for assistance with emergency costs.

18 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to amend the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961 to enhance the possibility of grants to local authorities in times of emergency caused by flooding and to accelerate the statutory processes for the approval of flood prevention schemes.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive is currently reviewing the statutory and administrative processes for confirmation of flood prevention schemes: this review will be completed shortly. An Ad Hoc Committee of Ministers is also reviewing flooding issues more generally. It is too e…

18 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1F-613 by Henry McLeish on 2 November 2000, what guidelines and requirements have been drafted and/or brought into force as a result of the research that it commissioned to consider the impact of climate change on the frequency of flooding and measures …

Answer · Allan Wilson: A copy of the report Climate Change: Review of Levels of Protection Offered by Flood Prevention Schemes was issued to each local authority in Scotland in May 2001. The report recommended that all new schemes should allow for future climate change and t…

18 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11172 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 24 November 2000, how the #5.2 million for flood prevention measures has been distributed, broken down by local authority area and organisation, in each year from 2000 to 2004; how much of this money has been spent, and o…

Answer · Allan Wilson: The additional funding of £5.2 million, announced in the answer given to question S1W-11172, is being used to strengthen arrangements for addressing flooding concerns in Scotland. To date, it has been used to support the extension of the Floodline flood warni…

5 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children of school age are deaf or hearing-impaired, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive, through its annual school census, collects information on the main learning difficulty of all pupils attending special schools and those pupils with a Record of Needs who attend publicly funded or independent mainstream schools. Figure…

5 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government about giving official recognition to British Sign Language.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Official recognition of British Sign Language (BSL) is a matter for the Westminster Parliament. However, the Executive would be consulted on any Westminster plans to officially recognise BSL.In order to develop a strategic approach to BSL issues in Scotlan…

5 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up-to-date figures are regarding how many teachers are trained to teach deaf or hearing-impaired children in each local authority area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: At September 1998, there were an estimated 164 full-time equivalent teachers who had a hearing impairment teaching qualification in publicly funded schools in Scotland. Detailed information is not held for all authorities and is therefore not available in the…

5 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up-to-date figures are on how many speech therapists are currently employed in each NHS board area.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Information on the number of speech therapists employed in NHS Scotland Health Board areas is available in Table F4 on the ISD website at: <A HREF="http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/NHSiS_resource/Workforce/workforce_statistics.htm">http://www.show.scot.nhs.…

12 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce legislation regarding the regulation of charities and when such legislation will be introduced.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21447 on 21 January 2002. More recent progress was reported in the answers given to questions S1W-24449 and S1W-24450, both on 24 April 2002; but this does not affect the timing of legislation.

15 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an intervention by Her Majesty's Government is possible under EC Regulation 2408/92 in order to ensure the continuation of the Inverness to Gatwick air link.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Yes.

15 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be able to announce a decision on the possible imposition of a Public Service Obligation in respect of the Inverness to Gatwick air links.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive expects the UK Government to announce a decision on the case for the imposition of measures to secure access to Gatwick for the Inverness air service after they have been given it full and proper consideration.

15 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made a positive submission to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in connection with the possible imposition of a Public Service Obligation in respect of the Inverness to Gatwick air links as supported by the former Minister for Transport and Plan…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish ministers fully supported the case presented by the Highland Council in support of measures to secure access to Gatwick for the Inverness air service. The publication of the case is a matter for the council.

15 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent negotiations it has had with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on imposing a Public Service Obligation in respect of the Inverness to Gatwick air links.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish ministers and officials have met, and have had discussions with, their counterparts at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on a regular basis to promote the case for measures to secure access to Gatwick for the Invernes…

13 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has loaned to local enterprise companies (LECs) in each year since the establishment of LECs.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for the enterprise networks. The Executive does not hold this information centrally.

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities currently provide pipe band tuition on (a) a part-time and (b) a full-time basis.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Schools can make provision for instrumental tuition in a range of instruments, and musical styles, in line with the resources available to them and local need. They are free to decide which instruments they support within their school, and can opt to make pro…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to encourage local authorities to fund pipe band tuition in schools.

Answer · Elaine Murray: The Executive works closely with local authorities and the Scottish Arts Council to promote all aspects of music tuition in schools. We are in the final stages of planning a pilot programme of cultural co-ordinators to maximise the potential contribution of c…

5 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has held with Her Majesty's Government regarding the possibility of implementing a public service order for air links to and from Inverness airport, when any such meetings took place and with whom.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish ministers and officials meet their counterparts at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, as well as Scotland Office ministers, on a regular basis to discuss a wide range of matters. This has included the pursuit of the c…

5 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional resources to all NHS boards to help with the increased waiting lists for tonsillectomies following the postponement of this procedure.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The National Waiting Times Unit expects NHS boards to be targeting the lengthy waits for routine tonsil and adenoid surgery which have built up, whilst concerns over patient health and safety and issues around surgical instruments were resolved. The unit i…

5 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that the investigation into the use of equipment used in tonsillectomies will be completed.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: An audit of all tonsil and adenoid surgery, performed with single-use instruments since July 2001, was completed recently. Routine tonsil and adenoid surgery recommenced with effect from 11 March 2002 and a prospective audit of surgery will be undertaken from…

5 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), what matters were discussed and when it next intends to meet representatives of HIAL.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Ministers last met the management of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) on 23 January 2002, when a variety of issues were discussed. Scottish Executive officials meet HIAL's management regularly to discuss financial and operational matters, and are rep…

31 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the Minister or Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning to visit Moray and, if a visit is planned, whom the Minister or Deputy Minister will meet.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No invitation has been received and there are no immediate no plans to visit Moray.

30 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the management and accountability of higher and further education institutions.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Higher education institutions are autonomous with their own governing bodies to whom they are responsible. As part of the Review of Higher Education, we will be taking the opportunity to consult on a wide range of issues including aspects of management and ac…

30 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it has received to its policy and financial management review of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and when it plans to undertake a second stage consultation on this issue.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: There have been 45 responses to the first consultation paper issued in October 2001. It is planned to issue a second stage, wider-ranging consultation paper on higher education and the future role of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council in April.

30 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is currently allocated to the upgrading of the A96 and what measures and further funding are planned to take this matter forward.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Motorway and Trunk Road Programme announced in March 2001 includes 10 schemes on the A96, including the proposed bypass for Fochabers and Mosstodloch. The estimated cost is £26 million.