Parliamentary questions
Maureen Macmillan
249 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 May 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 24 May 2004.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I attended the one-day Agricultureand Fisheries Council in Brussels on 24 May 2004 with Ben Bradshaw.</p><p>On fisheries, the Council reachedpolitical agreement on the Regulation establishing regional advisory councils (RACs).The creation of RACs is a key ele…
30 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional measures it will introduce to further support and develop the rail network in the Highlands and Islands in light of the recent report by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The Case for Rail in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive strongly welcomesthis report, and will continue to be supportive of new rail projects developed byHighland Council and its transport partners.</p>
30 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to develop water and sewerage infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands, in light of the recent announcement of funds for new affordable homes in the region.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I understand that CommunitiesScotland has not finalised its investment plans for the Highlands andIslands following its recent announcements. In these circumstances, it is not possibleto comment in detail on any plans to develop water and wastewater infrastru…
26 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its progress in implementing the Water Framework Directive.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I am publishing today thefirst annual report on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, the<i>Water Environment and Water Services (</i><i>Scotland</i><i>) Act 2003 –Annual Report to the Scottish Parliament</i>. I am placing copies of this docume…
19 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will put in place to support NHS dentistry.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I announced on 20 November 2003, aconsultation on modernising NHS dental services in Scotland, togetherwith some measures to assist recruitment and retention of dentists. I can todayannounce that the Executive will make available £3 million in the financial y…
15 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the proposal to build a 3.5 megawatt hydroelectric generating station at Shieldaig/Slattadale, Wester Ross.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I can announce that the Scottishministers have refused consent to this proposal in terms of section 36 of theElectricity Act 1989.</p><p>This announcement follows alengthy consultation process which involved environmental groups, governmentbodies and members …
27 Feb 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 24 February 2004.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Irish Presidencypresented its work programme for the first half of the year. Their generalpriorities were enlargement, simplification and enhancement of food safety.</p><p><b>On agriculture</b>, the Council noted progress on technical leveldiscussions pre…
25 Feb 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support small businesses in complying with Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 when it comes into force.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Disability Discrimination Act is reserved to the UK Parliament. The Department of Work and Pensions is working to ensure that service providers and employers are prepared in good time for the new duties coming into force in October 2004. The enterprise n…
21 Jan 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support Scottish community drama.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Executive support for community drama, as with all other types of drama, is channelledthrough the Scottish Arts Council. The Council continues to work with variousorganisations, including the Scottish Community Drama Association, to promoteand develop communi…
31 Dec 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the next European Council negotiations on fishing take cognisance of ecological considerations.
Answer · Ross Finnie: One of thestated objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy is to provide sustainableenvironmental conditions; one of its guiding principles is consistence withother Community policies, including environmental policies.</p><p>To thatend, Article 1 of the Frame…
3 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Water regarding waste water and sewage disposal at Campbeltown.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As you know, officialscontacted Scottish Water earlier this year in order to provide information formy reply to you of 3 March 2003 about the situation at Campbeltown. But since thisis an operational matter for Scottish Water, the Executive would not normally…
2 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-3355, S2W-3356, S2W-3357, S2W-3358, S2W-3360, S2W-3361, S2W-3362, S2W-3363 and S2W-3364 by Mr Jim Wallace on 10 November 2003 and S2W-3965 by Mr Jim Wallace on 20 November 2003, to whom the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise is accountable f…
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Board of Highlands andIslands Enterprise (HIE) is responsible to Scottish ministers for ensuringefficient and effective use of resources throughout that organisation. A managementstatement for which the Scottish Executive is responsible sets out,among oth…
7 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise is considering reducing the number of staff employed as a result of any reduction in the workload of staff who manage business advice services in light of its planned arrangements for supply partners.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operationalmatter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise.</p>
17 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23566 by Mr Jim Wallace on 28 February 2002, where the further Public Defence Solicitors' Office pilot projects will be located.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: After careful consideration,I have decided to locate one office in Glasgow and the other in Inverness, dealing with thecourts in Dingwall, Dornoch, Elgin, Inverness, Nairn, Tain and Wick. The offices will also be ableto represent clients in other courts if th…
9 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from individuals and businesses in Orkney regarding supply partner arrangements being established by Highlands and Islands Enterprise for business advice services and whether it has had discussions with Orkney Enterprise on the proposals.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We have not received any representations on supply partnerarrangements from individuals and businesses in Orkney. Neither have we haddiscussions with Orkney Enterprise on the proposals.</p>
9 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise has ensured uniform quality standards for the provision of business advice services throughout its 10 local enterprise company areas and whether it has quality-assured other aspects of its operations.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Highlands and IslandsEnterprise.</p>
9 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise examined the implications for self-employed advisers under the Inland Revenue IR35 assessment rules as part of any assessment of the impact of arrangements for the development of supply partners for business advice services and what the results we…
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Highlands and IslandsEnterprise.</p>
9 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the supply partner arrangements established by Highlands and Islands Enterprise will be the only route through which a business will be able to source advice in the highlands and islands and whether independent business advisers will be required to refer their clients to supply p…
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Highlands and IslandsEnterprise.</p>
9 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role local enterprise companies and Highlands and Islands Enterprise will play in economic development in the highlands and islands once it has completed its arrangements for supply partners to secure business advice services.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Highlands and IslandsEnterprise.</p>
9 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise consulted with any self-employed advisers or advisory representatives prior to announcing the launch of its supply partner scheme and advertising for suppliers.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Highlands and IslandsEnterprise.</p>
9 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether supply partners purchasing services from self-employed advisers will be required to follow public sector procurement rules.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Publicsector procurement rules include European legislation, UKlegislation and administrative rules. The application of the public sectorprocurement rules is dependent upon the status and nature of the bodyconcerned.</p><p>Where a “supply partner” isa private…
9 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise approved the proposed arrangements for supply partners to deliver business advice services.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Highlands and IslandsEnterprise.</p>
9 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence Highlands and Islands Enterprise has of support amongst small businesses for its supply partner proposal.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Highlands and IslandsEnterprise.</p>
9 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements Highlands and Islands Enterprise is putting in place for supply partners for business advice services and whether these arrangements are anti-competitive.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operationalmatter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise.</p>
9 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise has conducted an assessment of the impact on small business advisory firms of its proposal for supply partner arrangements for business advice services and whether it will publish any such assessment.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Highlands and IslandsEnterprise.</p>
1 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the approximately #4.5 million final tranche of the Arbuthnott settlement will be paid to NHS Highland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is expected that, alongwith most other boards, Highland NHS Board will reach its current Arbuthnotttarget share of resources by 2005-06.</p>
30 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its consultation paper on the proposed Fire Services (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: <i>The Scottish Fire and RescueService – Proposals for Legislation</i> isbeing published today. The paper is being made available on the Scottish Executive website and copies will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.The document Bib. number is 2944…
24 Sep 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to target anti-smoking information and advertising towards teenage girls.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Whilst there have been a substantialachievement in reducing the smoking prevalence among teenage boys it is disappointingthat there has not been a similar decrease in smoking rates for teenage girls. the Scottish Executive is currently undertaking a detailed …
18 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will rescind the Conservation of Seals (Scotland) Order 2002, given that the outbreak of phocine distemper virus in seal is now over.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Conservation of Seals (Scotland) Order2002 was introduced on the basis of independent scientific advice from the NaturalEnvironment Research Council’s Special Committee on Seals, the Government’s statutoryadvisors on seal management issues. The future of …
16 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what further progress on developing Gaelic-medium education can be promoted under provisions of the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Standards in Scotland’sSchools etc. Act 2000 requires education authorities to plan for and secureimprovement in school education. It places specific requirements on authoritiesto address Gaelic-medium education in their annual statements of improvementob…