Rhona Brankin

18 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which major golfing events will be included in the major events strategy.

Answer · Mike Watson: The events which may be included in the Major Events Strategy are being considered by Objective Performance Limited as part of the work they are carrying out on behalf of the Executive. This work should be completed by the autumn.

18 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution women's golf events make to the economy.

Answer · Mike Watson: Golf tourism contributes in the region of £100 million each year to the economy. This is not, however, broken down into separate figures for men's and women's golf.

10 Apr 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to support exporters.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: In October 2001 the Scottish Executive launched the Global Connections Strategy which set out the Executive's aims for future international economic development activity. This strategy led to the creation of Scottish Development International.<P>Scottish Deve…

20 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to improve the assessment and provision of education services for young people with special educational needs.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive's proposals for improvement are set out in our response to the consultation on <I>Assessing our children's educational needs - the Way Forward</I>. This was published on 19 February 2002.

6 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to promote women's golf.

Answer · Elaine Murray: We are working to strengthen girl's and women's golf through the Junior Golf Development Partnership. Golf is also a core sport of the Scottish Institute of Sport and the National Coach has a specific remit to include the development of girl's and women's gol…

4 Mar 2002 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister, in light of the Delivering for Scotland conference on 1 March 2002, how the Scottish Executive plans to evaluate improvements in the delivery of public services.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I am determined to see improvements in services for patients, parents, pupils and passengers. We will measure those improvements in partnership with those who deliver the service and those who use it.

21 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have an archaeology service.

Answer · Elaine Murray: I have asked Graeme Munro, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to answer. His response is as follows: <P>Most of Scotland's local authorities either maintain, or have access to, a professional archaeology service on the lines defined in National Planning Pol…

21 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy on archaeology is.

Answer · Elaine Murray: It is the policy of the Scottish Executive to encourage the preservation of archaeological sites wherever possible through the powers of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, backed up by National Planning Policy Guideline 5 on archaeology …

21 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have an arts or cultural strategy.

Answer · Elaine Murray: No records are held centrally. Cultural responsibilities are discretionary and local authorities approach them in different ways. The Executive is aware that a number of authorities have a range of strategies dealing with cultural aspects, including arts and …

21 Feb 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what targets the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has set for energy saving by the Parliament.

Answer · David Steel: The SPCB has not yet set any energy saving targets. The Parliament currently occupies a mixture of leased and serviced accommodation, making it difficult to obtain accurate energy consumption data. Energy saving targets will be established once the Parliament…

24 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the start date is for the introduction of pedestrian/cyclist priority measures at the Sheriffhall roundabout on the Edinburgh city bypass.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Project management of the pedestrian/cyclist priority measures at the Sherriffhall roundabout is a matter for Midlothian Council. <P>I understand they are not yet in a position to identify a start date or completion date for construction, as a result of on-go…

24 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to alleviate the congestion at the Sheriffhall roundabout on the Edinburgh city bypass for (a) motorists, (b) cyclists and (c) pedestrians.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive currently has no plans for improvement works at Sheriffhall Roundabout. We are, however, assisting Midlothian Council in developing a bridge for cyclists and pedestrians over the A720 at Sheriffhall with an award of £802,000 from the Public Tran…

23 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the proposed Midlothian Community Hospital at Bonnyrigg to become operational.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I understand from NHS Lothian that the hospital is likely to be completed in 2004-05.

16 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to promote science in schools.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is taking a range of actions to implement the commitments to school science education in <I>A</I> <I>Science Strategy</I> <I>for Scotland.</I> These actions include commissioning support for teachers of science; improving assessment of…

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether preparations for the introduction of off-peak concessionary travel for older people are on schedule.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Yes. All local authorities are committed to provide, as a minimum, free local off-peak concessionary bus travel from 30 September 2002. <P>I launched the first strand of the Executive's publicity campaign on Tuesday of this week to ensure that elderly and dis…

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the theft of osprey eggs in Perthshire, when it will introduce legislation to strengthen the laws on wildlife crime.

Answer · Allan Wilson: As the First Minister announced this morning, we will bring forward a draft Nature Conservation Bill by March 2003. That draft bill - including important measures dealing with wildlife crime - will then be available to be taken forward and introduced by the i…

12 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Midlothian has featured on any of the shortlists for the relocation of public bodies.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Midlothian has not appeared on any shortlistof locations.</p>