Rhoda Grant

21 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the board for the single police force will be appointed and how it will be (a) constituted and (b) held accountable to communities.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Subject to the successful passage of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Bill, the intention is for the Scottish Police Authority to be appointed in the autumn. The bill currently provides that the Authority will have between seven and 11 members. The appoi…

2 May 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations Scottish Water must hold with communities prior to making changes to their water supply.

10 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for (a) how many and (b) what percentage of sailings per month there has been a waiting list on the Stornoway - Ullapool route since January 2007.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06658 on 24 April 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

10 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for (a) how many and (b) what percentage of sailings per month there has been a waiting list on the Tarbert - Uig route since January 2007.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06658 on 24 April 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

10 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for (a) how many and (b) what percentage of sailings per month there has been a waiting list on the Lochmaddy - Uig route since January 2007.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06658 on 24 April 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

10 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for (a) how many and (b) what percentage of sailings per month there has been a waiting list on the Lochboisdale - Oban route since January 2007.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06658 on 24 April 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

10 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for (a) how many and (b) what percentage of sailings per month there has been a waiting list on the Castlebay - Oban route since January 2007.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06658 on 24 April 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

10 Apr 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for (a) how many and (b) what percentage of sailings per month there has been a waiting list on the Islay - Kennacraig route since January 2007.

Answer · Keith Brown: This information is not held centrally or by CalMac Ferries Ltd.

28 Mar 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what cost analysis was carried out prior to the ending of the road equivalent tariff for commercial vehicles travelling to the Western Isles.

26 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether contractual obligations regarding reprocessing spent nuclear fuel could be fulfilled by Dounreay without building a vitrification plant.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is confident that Dounreay will be able to meet its historic contractual obligations regarding overseas radioactive waste without the need for a new vitrification plant to be built. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is in discussio…

26 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it took to ensure that there were no viable alternative options before agreeing to the Dounreay radioactive waste substitution policy.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government discussed alternative options with a number of stakeholders including the UK Government, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and SEPA. The Dounreay Radioactive Waste Substitution consultation paper, published on 3 December 2010, prov…

26 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what options were considered in relation to fulfilling contractual obligations regarding reprocessing nuclear waste at Dounreay.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As made plain in the consultation paper Dounreay Radioactive Waste Substitution, published by the Scottish and UK Governments on 3 December 2010, the following options were considered in addition to waste substitution: leaving overseas radioactive waste in …

26 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to contractual obligations that allow for waste to be returned in cement form, in light of responses to the Dounreay Radioactive Waste Substitution Consultation 2010.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the overseas radioactive waste resulting from historical Dounreay contracts signed in the 1980s and 1990s is returned as soon as possible. This will assist with the decommissioning and clean up of the Doun…

26 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with (a) the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, (b) Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd, (c) the UK Atomic Energy Authority and (d) the UK Government regarding fulfilling contractual obligations to reprocess nuclear waste at Dounreay.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has had no recent discussions with any external organisation regarding contractual obligations for overseas reprocessing contracts at Dounreay as these are matters for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. However, the Scottish Govern…

20 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for retirement on the grounds of stress have been approved for teachers who are members of the Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme in each of the last five years.

Answer · Michael Russell: The number of approved applications for ill-health retirement on the grounds of a stress related illness, from teachers who are members of the Scottish Teachers Superannuation Scheme, in each of the last five years are as follows – 2007-08 49 2008-09 43 …

14 Mar 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy last met the NHS boards that represent the Highlands and Islands.

13 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how environmental and other public interest concerns relating to enterprise areas will be considered in the streamlined planning process.

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06165 on 26 March 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…

13 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the legislative basis will be for the streamlined planning process for enterprise areas.

Answer · Derek Mackay: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-06165 on 26 March 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybus…

13 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the streamlined planning process for enterprise areas will involve.

Answer · Derek Mackay: The streamlined planning process for enterprise areas is concerned with ensuring that applications are processed swiftly and to an agreed timescale. It does not remove the requirement to obtain planning or other permissions. Environmental and other public int…

13 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S4W-03084 and S4W-03085 by Fergus Ewing on 28 October 2011 and S4W-03808 by Fergus Ewing on 15 November 2011, what (a) criteria it used in and (b) the conclusions were of its environmental impact assessment of potential enterprise areas.

Answer · Derek Mackay: “Environmental impact assessment” generally refers to the assessment of the environmental effects of projects and is undertaken in support of planning and consenting processes. Any development progressed at the sites selected as Enterprise Areas will be subje…

12 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the ferry service between Oban and Lochboisdale has been subject to (a) disruption and (b) cancellation in each year since 2007.

Answer · Keith Brown: The following table provides information relating to the number of disruptions and cancellations on the ferry service between Oban and Lochboisdale since 2002. A longer time series than that requested has been provided to illustrate the fact that the impact o…

1 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Lochboisdale community regarding the (a) reinstatement and (b) trial of a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service.

Answer · Keith Brown: We have engaged with the South Uist community on the proposed Mallaig-Lochboisdale ferry service over a number of years. The draft Ferries Plan published on 21 December 2011 makes clear that we accept the strength of feeling held by some of the South Uist c…

1 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which ferry has been identified for the purpose of a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service trial.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05991 on 8 March 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/MAQASearc…

1 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service trial will commence and how long it will run.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-05991 on 8 March 2012. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/MAQASearch/…

1 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether funds from Cal Mac’s marketing budget will be used to trial a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service.

Answer · Keith Brown: There are no plans to trial a Lochboisdale to Mallaig ferry service.

20 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote fibre sharing in order to roll out broadband.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government will ensure that fibre infrastructure procured through the implementation of Scotland’s Digital Future – Infrastructure Action Plan will be truly “open access” in nature. This is a stipulation of the current Highlands and Islands broad…

20 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive where fibre optic broadband cables have been laid.

Answer · Alex Neil: Information provided to the Scottish Government on the location of fibre optic broadband cables is commercial in confidence.

13 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements are planned for the A83 over the next 10 years.

Answer · Keith Brown: We are investing £1 million to address the problems created by landslips and this will include extending the length of debris flow netting on the hillside. We are also working closely with Forestry Commission Scotland to explore options for making emergency u…

8 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy last met NHS board chief executives and what was discussed.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I last met with chief executives of NHS boards as a group on 22 June 2011. I meet frequently with individual chief executives. During the meeting on 22 June we discussed the Scottish Governments priorities for the NHS in Scotland and matters concerning the he…

6 Feb 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding of £10 million received from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) will revert to (a) the Scottish Government and (b) BDUK if the Highlands and Islands Enterprise broadband project does not proceed under the Scotland's Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan.

Answer · Alex Neil: The £10 million allocated by BDUK to the Highlands and Islands Enterprise broadband project forms part of the total £68.8 million allocated to the Scottish Government by BDUK. The Highlands and Islands broadband project is an integral part of the Scottish Go…