Parliamentary questions

Rhoda Grant

2,396 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 or over have been convicted of carrying knives or possessing an offensive weapon in Moray in each of the last five years.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information onpersons with a charge proved in court is given in the following tables.Persons Aged Under 18 in MorayLocal Authority Area1 with a Charge Proved in Court for CarryingKnives or Possessing an Offensive Weapon2</…

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 or over have been convicted of carrying knives or possessing an offensive weapon in the Northern Constabulary area in each of the last five years, broken down by local area command.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information onpersons with a charge proved in court is given in the following tables.Persons Aged Under 18 in theNorthern Police Force Area with a Charge Proved in Court for Carrying Knives orPossessing an Offensive Weapon1, 20…

5 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 or over have been convicted of carrying knives or possessing an offensive weapon in Argyll and Bute in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information onpersons with a charge proved in court is given in the following tables.Persons Aged Under 18 in Argylland Bute Local Authority Area1 with a Charge Proved in Court forCarrying Knives or Possessing an Offensive Weap…

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would support a restricted occupancy policy, similar to that adopted by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, or a two-tier housing market structure, as is operated in Guernsey, to alleviate the shortage of affordable housing for local people.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentis currently assessing a broad range of housing issues across the country and isaware of the pressures on affordable housing in some areas. It is for local planningauthorities to determine whether they wish to employ specific planning m…

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address the shortage of affordable homes in areas where a significant proportion of homes are classed as second or holiday homes.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentis currently assessing a broad range of housing issues across the country and isaware of the pressures on affordable housing in some areas. Scotland is characterisedboth by areas of demand for housing and by areas which have a surplus o…

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address the issue of temporary accommodation, in light of its responsibilities under the Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Powers undersection 9 of the Homelessness etc. Scotland Act 2003 were exercised in 2004 tobring into force the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2004.As a consequenceof this Order, local authorities placing homeless household…

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to reduce housing waiting lists.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentis acutely aware of the importance of meeting Scotland’s wide range of housing needs,and is currently taking stock of the action required to ensure that sufficient housingis available for those on housing waiting lists who are in need.<…

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to support the Homestake shared ownership housing grant scheme.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The ScottishGovernment is currently considering how best to support those who aspire tohome ownership, but who are unable to become owner-occupiers with their ownresources, and will look at the Homestake shared equity scheme in that context.

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist first-time buyers to get on to the property ladder.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We are acutelyaware of the importance of meeting Scotland’s widerange of housing needs. We are looking carefully at potential action to helpfirst time buyers. One of our key aims is improving measures to help moreindividuals and families who are currently exc…

7 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it will commit to the provision of affordable homes in the forthcoming spending review.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Decisions onaffordable housing investment beyond 2008 will depend on the outcome of the spendingreview later this year.

5 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executivewhen it intends to publish the report on the evaluation of the Rural Voices programme which funded action research projects in rural communities and whether it will consider reviving Rural Voices as part of the new Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scotland Rural DevelopmentProgramme will open up new opportunities for rural communities. We are looking forways to encourage capacity building within those communities to ensure they cantake full advantage of these opportunities.Ministers have not…

5 Jun 2007 · General Question

Answer · John Swinney: Thegovernment is committed to abolishing the unfair council tax as part of our agendato create a wealthier and fairer Scotland. It is my intention to consult on our proposals before the endof this calendar year, and to introduce legislation to abolish the cou…

21 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its decision not to allocate aggregates levy proceeds on a geographical basis or in proportion to the amount raised by the levy in a particular area.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Part of the proceeds of the aggregates levy is available to support communities affected by aggregates extraction through community environmental renewal grants. Grants are available to projects which address the environmental effects of past or present aggre…

21 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any underspend in 2002-03 in respect of the aggregates levy community environmental renewal grants will be rolled forward and added to the 2003-04 budget.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Grants Panel allocated £922,000 for community environmental renewal grants to 38 projects. We believe that there is demand for the grant scheme and that there are good projects which can come forward. Were there to be any carry forward, then its use would…

7 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any merit in Inverness being given status as a separate local authority area within the Highlands and whether it has any plans to review the Highland Council boundary.

Answer · Peter Peacock: As stated in the White Paper Renewing Local Democracy: The Next Steps, published in March 2002, there are no plans to review local authority boundaries or the number of councils in the foreseeable future. The Review of Scotland's Cities publishe…

7 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to answer to question S1W-31034 by Dr Elaine Murray on 8 November 2002, what factors Historic Scotland takes into consideration when deciding whether a building can be restored for contemporary domestic use or is too important to the nation to warrant any change.

Answer · Elaine Murray: I have asked Graeme Munro, Director and Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to reply. His response is as follows:Most listed buildings already have a contemporary use and listed building consent is the process by which necessary changes to allow on-going …

7 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31031 by Dr Elaine Murray on 8 November 2002, whether consolidation work to arrest any further deterioration of Castle Tioram should take place within the next 12 months in order to protect the castle's cultural and historical significance.

Answer · Elaine Murray: I have asked Graeme Munro, Director and Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to reply. His response is as follows:The undertaking of consolidation work, at an early date, would be advantageous for the monument. This is a matter for the owner of the monumen…

7 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31027 by Dr Elaine Murray on 8 November 2002, how many of the 66 representations received about the future of Castle Tioram (a) were in favour and (b) objected to the plans put forward to redevelop the castle.

Answer · Elaine Murray: I have asked Graeme Munro, Director and Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to reply. His response is as follows:Of the 66 representations received about the future of Castle Tioram, 62 were in favour and four objected to the plans put forward by the curr…

7 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31036 by Dr Elaine Murray on 8 November 2002, when Historic Scotland expects year-round public access to Castle Tioram to be restored.

Answer · Elaine Murray: I have asked Graeme Munro, Director and Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to reply. His response is as follows:Castle Tioram was open to the public until its ownership changed hands in 1997. The question of allowing public access rests with the owner of…

3 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether EAGA Partnership (Scotland) is under any obligation to respond to enquiries from the general public in relation to the central heating installation programme within a set timescale.

Answer · Des McNulty: The time taken for Eaga to respond depends on the kind and number of enquiries and it is not practicable to set a general time limit. Eaga answer all telephone enquiries immediately. Letters are acknowledged as soon as possible after receipt and a full reply …

3 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many enquiries EAGA Partnership (Scotland) has received in relation to the central heating installation programme in each month of 2002.

Answer · Des McNulty: This information is not collected. Information collected by Eaga about the central heating programme can be found on their website at <A HREF="http://www.eaga.co.uk/grants/scotland">www.eaga.co.uk/grants/scotland</A>. Information not shown is not collected re…

14 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans for a review of Historic Scotland.

Answer · Elaine Murray: In their response to the Public Appointments (Scotland) Bill, the Education, Culture and Sport Committee asked Scottish ministers to review the roles and responsibilities of Historic Scotland. Ministers are actively considering this request and will respond t…

8 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average annual cost to the NHS is of caring for someone with arthritis.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally.

8 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is normal practice for NHS boards, following recommendations by the Health Technology Board for Scotland that a new drug should be prescribed, to receive additional funding to ensure that the drug can be made available.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards are given a unified budget to enable them to meet the health care needs of their resident populations. It is for each individual NHS board to decide the level of funding to allocate to meet the costs of prescribed drugs.

8 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been given to each NHS board to take account of the costs of prescribing drugs in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03.

8 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been given to NHS boards about prescribing new drugs that have been endorsed by the Health Technology Board for Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards should ensure that drugs or treatments recommended by the Health Technology Board for Scotland are made available to meet clinical need.

8 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards in Scotland currently prescribe the anti-TNF drugs etanercept and infliximab and when any such boards started prescribing these drugs.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. Etanercept and infliximab are available on NHS prescription. However, their use depends on the clinical judgement of specialists experienced in the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Data on drugs dispensed in…

31 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its performance in answering ministerial correspondence was in the first quarter of 2002.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: In the answer given to question S1W-24583 on 28 March 2002, I undertook to continue to report quarterly on the numbers of letters received by ministers and our performance in answering them. In the quarter April to June 2002, 3,898 letters were received for m…

30 Oct 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its crime statistics support the research by the Scottish Gas and Help the Aged partnership into the fear of crime amongst older people.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The recent findings published by Scottish Gas and Help the Aged support data from the Scottish Crime Survey which suggest that Scotland is a safer place to live not only for older people but also generally. However, whilst our statistics tend to confirm that …

29 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the powers and responsibilities of Historic Scotland, as set out in the Historic Scotland Framework Document 2001, are not available for public view on the agency's website and whether there are any plans to make the framework document available on the website.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Historic Scotland has recently refreshed its website and is currently extending the range of publications on it. This includes the framework document which is now available on the website.