Parliamentary questions
Rhoda Grant
2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, chaired by Professor Shucksmith, had access to a draft report by Peter Cook on the economics and options for the Crofters Cattle Quality Improvement Scheme before considering its recommendation to end the scheme as currently constituted.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting operated independently of the Scottish Government, commissioned its own evidence and undertook its own consultation. The formal appraisal report, in terms of the contract issued by the Crofters Commission, was not received…
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what information the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, chaired by Professor Shucksmith, based its recommendation that a centralised bull hire facility should be ended.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting operated independently of the Scottish Government, commissioned its own evidence and undertook its own consultation. It placed much of the information it gathered on its website at <a href="http://www.croftinginquiry.org/…
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next discuss with the Scottish Ambulance Service the issue of there being only one paramedic on air ambulance night-time flights.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government discusses a range of issues with the Scottish Ambulance Service on a regular basis.</p>
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to allocating additional funds to ensure that ground-based Scottish Ambulance Service staff are trained to meet their additional responsibilities as a result of the changes to the staffing arrangements for air ambulance night-time flights.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18294 on 2 December 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
27 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to allocating additional funds to prevent there being only one paramedic on air ambulance night-time flights.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Decisions about the way the Scottish Ambulance Service allocates its resources are operational matters for them, within their total budget envelope. This includes decisions about resources for the air ambulance service and for staff training. The Scottish Amb…
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected pupil numbers are for primary 1 to 3 classes from August 2010 for (a) Highland, (b) Orkney Islands, (c) Shetland Islands, (d) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, (e) Argyll and Bute and (f) Moray councils.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Projected pupil numbers in each stage for each local authority are not generally produced centrally. However, using trends in the five to seven-year-old population from GRO Scotland''s projections and 2007 participation rates, projections for pupils in P1 to …
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to crofters who take over ownership of a Crofters Commission bull.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-17643 and S3W-17662 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://ww…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it can provide to crofters who do not have internet access to enable them to access the HI health planning scheme for livestock.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: HI health is an industry-led commercial initiative providing livestock health planning support to individual producers. We understand that its services can be accessed by both internet and paper-based correspondence.</p>
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provides to crofters to enable them to join the HI health planning scheme for livestock.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: HI health is one of a number of commercial providers of livestock health planning support. Those people who have signed up to the Animal Health and Welfare Management Programme, an option in the Land Management Contract Menu Scheme under the Scotland Rural De…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what costs are associated with the HI health planning scheme for livestock.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: HI health is a commercial enterprise and is not financially supported by the Scottish Government.</p>
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers are the benefits to producers of the HI health planning scheme for livestock.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Livestock health planning support provided by organisations such as HI health and individual veterinary practices is an important aid in assessing emerging on-farm animal health and welfare issues and identifying appropriate actions to deal with them. Such a …
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the HI health planning scheme for livestock is important to cattle production.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: HI health is an industry-led commercial initiative providing livestock health planning support to individual producers. The Scottish Government recognises the value that such a proactive approach makes to supporting good levels of animal health and welfare an…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evaluation has been made of farming incomes for bull producers following withdrawal of the Bull Hire Scheme.
Answer · Michael Russell: No such evaluation has been carried out in respect of the withdrawal of the Bull Hire Scheme.</p>
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the alternative is to the Bull Hire Scheme and what work has been carried out in establishing the practicality of that alternative.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-17650 and S3W-17655 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the market value is of Crofters Commission farms.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Crofters Commission manages three farms in the Inverness area on behalf of Scottish ministers: Beechwood, Knocknagael and Balrobert.</p> <p >An agreement to sale has been entered into with Highlands and Islands Enterprise in respect of Beechwood, an agr…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will create new crofts on Crofters Commission farms when the Bull Hire Scheme has ended.
Answer · Michael Russell: This will be one of the options to be considered when the future of the farms is appraised by Scottish ministers.</p> <p >The Scottish Public Finance Manual offers guidance on the factors to be taken into account when ministers consider the future use or dis…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of participating in the Bull Hire Scheme in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2002-03, (d) 2003-04, (e) 2004-05, (f) 2005-06, (g) 2006-07 and (h) 2007-08.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17871 on 27 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria were for participating in the Bull Hire Scheme in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2002-03, (d) 2003-04, (e) 2004-05, (f) 2005-06, (g) 2006-07 and (h) 2007-08.
Answer · Michael Russell: Individual crofters are not eligible to participate in the subsidised bull hire arrangements operated by the Crofters Commission. In the years in question, eligibility was normally confined to groups representing at least three cow owners. These requirements …
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the criteria are for participating in the Bull Hire Scheme.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17874 on 27 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many bulls were hired under the Bull Hire Scheme in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2002-03, (d) 2003-04, (e) 2004-05, (f) 2005-06 and (g) 2006-07.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17871 on 27 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many bulls were replaced during a hire period under the Bull Hire Scheme in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02, (c) 2002-03, (d) 2003-04, (e) 2004-05, (f) 2005-06, (g) 2006-07 and (h) 2007-08.
Answer · Michael Russell: The information requested is not held centrally. The Bull Hire Scheme is administered on behalf of Scottish ministers by the Crofters Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Crofters Commission to respond to you directly with the information yo…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance will be available to crofters in three years’ time when they need to replace the bull they inherit from the Crofters Commission.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17662 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial factors were taken into account when considering the proposal to utilise routinely only one paramedic on air ambulance night-time flights.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17784 on 17 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Ap…
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what clinical factors were taken into account when considering the proposal to utilise routinely only one paramedic on air ambulance night-time flights.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17784 on 17 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that patients’ clinical needs are not comprised as a consequence of the proposal to utilise routinely only one paramedic on air ambulance night-time flights, particularly on long flights required in some parts of the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17784 on 17 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that safety, both in-flight and on the ground, is not compromised as a consequence of the proposal to utilise routinely only one paramedic on air ambulance night-time flights.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17784 on 17 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
12 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial savings it expects the Scottish Ambulance Service to make as a consequence of the proposal to utilise routinely only one paramedic on air ambulance night-time flights.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Decisions taken about the crewing arrangements for the air ambulance service are operational ones for the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS). As such, the information sought is a matter for them and is not held centrally.</p> <p >The SAS have provided the Scot…
7 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-17299 and S3W-17300 by Stewart Maxwell on 6 November 2008, when the statutory guidance and regulations for local councils will be placed before the Parliament.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (Scheme of Assistance) Regulations 2008 were considered by the Local Government and Communities Committee on 12 November 2008, which recommended to the Parliament that they be approved. Draft statutory guidance accompanying the…
7 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) crofters, (b) grazings committees and (c) crofting communities hired a bull in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17632 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…
7 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many bulls for hire were sent to (a) crofters, (b) grazings committees and (c) crofting communities in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17632 on 14 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…