Parliamentary questions
Nora Radcliffe
316 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether environmental and social factors are part of the auditing process for best value.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The best value audit of local authorities examines the range of services that local authorities provide, including the services that have an impact on environmental and social factors (e.g. education, housing, environment and consumer protection, social work)…
6 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors its suppliers on the basis of their commitment to environmental improvements and, if so, how this is done.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Where it is relevant to the performance of the contract, standard practice is to request suppliers to have in place appropriate environmental management polices and systems.</p><p>The Executive has published guidance for purchasers and suppliers on sustainabl…
2 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the British Dental Association about the use of fillings containing mercury and whether current dental practice has resulted in there now being fewer fillings containing mercury than previously.
Answer · Tom McCabe: No meetings have taken placewith the British Dental Association about the use of fillings containingamalgam. The number of amalgam fillings provided under NHS general dentalservices is reducing. Information is not collected on fillings provided underprivate a…
2 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is per crematorium of fitting mercury-scrubbing equipment to crematorium chimneys.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has estimated that the cost per crematorium of fitting mercury scrubbing equipment is approximately £250,000. This figure will vary according to the individual circumstances at each crematorium.</p>
2 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much mercury is normally present in ashes after cremation.
Answer · Allan Wilson: A report published by AEA Technology in 2001 indicated that virtually no mercury remains in the ashes after cremation.</p>
2 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish crematoria were involved in the monitoring by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs that was carried out to establish mercury levels emitted into the atmosphere after cremation.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I am unaware of any work undertaken by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to establish mercury levels emitted into the atmosphere after cremation. However, AEA Technology, on behalf of the Federation of British Crematoria Authorities, publ…
16 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to prepare for the implementation of the Special Waste Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has taken the necessary steps to change its procedures and systems. SEPA and the Executive have met representatives of the waste industry to explain the new measures.</p>
16 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the necessary measures to implement the Special Waste Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004 will be in place by 1 July 2004.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). I understand that SEPA has taken the necessary steps to change its procedures and systems.</p>
5 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Luxembourg on 26 April 2004.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Allan Wilson and Ben Bradshawattended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on26 April 2004.</p><p class=MsoBodyText>On agriculture, after several hoursof talks, the Irish Presidency concluded that it was not possible to identify acompromise pro…
30 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management has made since its appointment in November 2003 and when it intends to visit Scotland.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Committee on RadioactiveWaste Management (CoRWM) has begun its task of reviewing the long-term managementof radioactive waste. It has designed a detailed work programme which is currentlywith ministers of the UK Government and the devolved administrations…
19 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in developing secondary legislation under the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I am publishing today aconsultation paper, <i>The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland)Regulations 2004</i>. It outlines our proposals to introduce regulations tocontrol activities that have an impact on the water environment. I am placingcopie…
1 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding the application to the European Commission seeking the establishment of safeguard measures for the fish farming industry.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Following consultation withand feedback from member states, on our Safeguards application, the Commissionformally opened an investigation on 6 March 2004and is now engaged in gathering evidence. This process should be completed withinnine months. The Commissi…
17 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what performance indicators exist for monitoring the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people as users and staff of public services; which public bodies have developed, or are developing, such indicators, and how information on any existing indicators is dissemin…
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Health Department hasfunded Stonewall Scotland to manage an LGBT inclusion in health project toresearch and develop a mainstreamed approach to the effective inclusion oflesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in health planning and services.As part …
10 Mar 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting the work of credit unions.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: TheExecutive is committed to supporting the work of credit unions throughimplementing Unlocking the Potential - an Action Plan for the Credit Unionmovement in Scotland. We launched a £1.1 million capacityfund in September 2003 to increase credit unions’ abili…
2 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in improving the monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries activities.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Effective monitoring,control and surveillance are critical to the operation of the Common FisheriesPolicy and measures to conserve fish stocks. Towards the end of last year theEuropean Commission drew attention to shortcomings in the United Kingdom’scontrol a…
19 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the visitscotland.com website will be accessible to all AOL users.
Answer · Frank McAveety: As I said in the Parliamenton 11 February, the visitscotland.com website is now accessible to AOL users.</p>
19 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when visitscotland.com first became aware of any problems AOL users had in accessing the website and what action it took to remedy the situation.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Visitscotland.com becameaware of the problems experienced by AOL users approximately four months ago.Visitscotland.com worked closely with AOL to identify the source of theproblem. It was established that the problem was one of compatibility betweenthe config…
19 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the origins are of all (a) enquiries and (b) bookings made to visitscotland.com, broken down by country of origin.
Answer · Frank McAveety: This is an operationalmatter for visitscotland.com.</p>
19 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of visitscotland.com's bookings are made (a) to its call centre and (b) via email, giving also (i) number and (ii) value of bookings.
Answer · Frank McAveety: This is an operationalmatter for visitscotland.com.</p>
19 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether visitscotland.com will publish data it has collected about visitors to Scotland.
Answer · Frank McAveety: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6345 on 15 March 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…
19 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what data about visitors to Scotland visitscotland.com has been made available to (a) it, (b) visitscotland and (c) subscribing tourist businesses, in light of the statement made by visitscotland.com that the main benefit of directing traffic to the booking centre is the capture of data a…
Answer · Frank McAveety: Visitscotland.com does notprovide data to the Scottish Executive, nor to tourism businesses directly; rather data isprovided to VisitScotland and the 13 area tourist boards that are partners in thecompany. Data provided includes an analysis of VisitScotland m…
19 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff work for (a) visitscotland.com and (b) the visitscotland.com national booking hotline.
Answer · Frank McAveety: This is an operationalmatter for visitscotland.com.</p>
19 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone calls there are, on average, to the visitscotland.com national booking hotline, broken down by hour of day.
Answer · Frank McAveety: This information by hour ofday is not available. However, in 2003, visitscotland.com averagedapproximately 1,200 calls per day.</p>
18 Feb 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the reintroduction of native species to Scotland.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Executive policy on the reintroduction of non-native speciesis guided by the provisions of Article 11 of the EU Birds Directive and Article22 of the EU Habitats Directive.</p><p>Inconsidering individual proposals for reintroduction, the Scottish Executive fol…
16 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of land in each Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) has benefited from a NVZ grant towards the cost of slurry storage.
Answer · Allan Wilson: It is not possible todetermine the percentage of land that may benefit as unlike schemes that aredesigned to pay grant on a per hectare basis, the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone GrantScheme is for capital improvements. Its aim is to assist farmers in complyingwith t…
16 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of farmers in each nitrate vulnerable 'one have (a) applied for and (b) received grants from the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone Grants Scheme.
Answer · Allan Wilson: 100% of farmers whosubmitted a valid application under the first tranche of the Nitrate VulnerableZone Grants Scheme have been offered entry into the Scheme.</p>
16 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers have benefited from the Nitrate Vulnerable Zone Grants Scheme, broken down by such 'one.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Thirty-nine farmers hadtheir applications for grant accepted under the first tranche.</p><p>The breakdown by NitrateVulnerable Zone is as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p>Moray/Aberdeenshire/Banff and Buchan</p> </td> …
5 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is utilising European structural funds for the development of broadband services.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is using European structural funds for the development of broadbandservices in Scotland and continues to assess funding opportunities forprojects aimed at further increasing the availability of such services.</p><p>Under the structural …
5 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support the public sector is providing to ensure that broadband internet services are available to households in remote and rural areas.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The provision of broadbandservices to all areas remains a commercial decision for suppliers related todemand.</p><p>However, the Scottish Executive is supporting a range of initiatives to help bring broadband servicesto remote and rural areas. These include t…
5 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of households currently has access to a broadband internet connection.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Around 70% of Scottishhouseholds can now access a broadband internet connection. The Executive hastherefore achieved its broadband access target and is currently consideringmeasures to help take coverage beyond this figure.</p>