Parliamentary questions

Rhona Brankin

707 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what alternatives to killing buzzards it is considering in relation to changes to agricultural licences.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Any guidance should contain a list outlining alternatives solutions that must be shown to be unsatisfactory before any licence can be considered. This would include: increasing cover in release pens, changes to pen construction or placement, disrupting predat…

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering changing the key tests applied to the granting of agricultural licences to kill buzzards.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: There is no change planned in relation to any of the tests used in considering applications to control predatory birds to prevent serious damage to livestock.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what key tests are applied before an agricultural licence is granted to kill buzzards.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No licence to kill buzzards for this purpose has been granted. However any application to carry out licensed control of avian predators to prevent serious damage to livestock would have to meet two tests as set out in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981:</p…

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether research evidence supports the claims that raptors cause damage to game birds.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Yes, available research does confirm that raptors cause damage to game birds.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to the taxpayer has been of undertaking research into alleged damage to other birds by raptors.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Public sector funding contributions to recent research into impact of raptors on other birds is as follows: Racing Pigeons: Impact of Raptor Predation CSL report to SNH & SHU 2004 £122,000. Sparrowhawks & Racing Pigeons - SG/SHU/SNH …

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list ongoing research projects looking at alleged damage by raptors to other birds.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Langholm Demonstration Project is the main ongoing research project. This topic has been looked at several times and was reviewed by Park et al in 2005 The Impacts of Predatory Birds on Waders, Songbirds, Gamebirds and Fisheries Interests</i…

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that any legislative changes that would allow landowners to kill buzzards would comply with EU tests and regulations.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No legislative change is required to allow the control of predatory birds under licence.

4 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research evidence it has considered in relation to licensing landowners to kill buzzards.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The research evidence taken into account includes: Allen, D.S., Packer, J.J., Blanchard, C. and Feare, C.J., 2000. Raptors and the rearing of Pheasants: problems and management needs. ADAS Consulting Ltd. Unpublished report to the British Association…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the system of direct payments to people assessed as needing community care services.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is currently consulting on proposals for a Self-directed Support Bill. The proposals include some changes to existing statute that provides for direct payments for people assessed as needing community care services. The changes would e…

14 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of a possible buyer for Noble Foods Ltd in Loanhead.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In the first instance the Scottish Government would expect a potential buyer to approach Noble Foods Ltd to discuss the possible acquisition of the facility.

14 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support would be available to a possible buyer for Noble Foods Ltd in Loanhead.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The nature of any support the Scottish Government may make available to a buyer of Noble Foods Ltd would be determined by their business proposals.

14 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to secure the future for employees of Noble Foods Ltd in Loanhead.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is, through Skills Development Scotland, coordinating local response teams under the Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) initiative, to provide tailored help and support to the employees of Noble Foods Ltd. PACE present…

6 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it has no plans to contribute funding toward community facilities at the planned new Lasswade High School Centre.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is providing funding towards the replacement of the existing Lasswade High School and all of the facilities currently contained therein, including community facilities such as the gymnastics centre. The government understands that Midl…

19 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that NHS Lothian and NHS Fife comply with the national criteria that the upper age limit for Level III Assisted Conception Treatment should be 39 years inclusive.

Answer · Shona Robison: Infertility Network Scotland is working with NHS boards to ensure fairer access to treatment and to offer patients direct influence on the future direction of infertility services in Scotland. At my request, the charity has concentrated their initial work on …

3 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatal accidents have been recorded on roads in Midlothian since 1999, broken down by (a) year and (b) road.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported fatal accidents on Midlothian roads since 1999. <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > Road </td> <td nowrap valign=bott…

3 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many serious accidents have been recorded on roads in Midlothian since 1999, broken down by (a) year and (b) road.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following table shows the number of reported serious accidents on Midlothian roads since 1999. <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=609 > <thead> <tr > <td width=94 nowrap valign=bottom > Road </td> <…

23 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards that raised the upper age limit for infertility treatment to up to and including people who are 39 years old.

Answer · Shona Robison: The following NHS boards are compliant with national criteria that the upper age limit for Level III Assisted Conception Treatment should be 39 years inclusive. NHS Ayrshire and Arran NHS Borders NHS Dumfries and Galloway N…

23 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards comply with the national criteria for access to level III services.

Answer · Shona Robison: The following NHS boards fully comply with national criteria for Level III Assisted Conception Treatment: NHS Ayrshire and Arran NHS Borders NHS Dumfries and Galloway NHS Grampian NHS Highland NHS Lanarksh…

23 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what scientific institutions have used snares in the last five years and, broken down by institution, what the purposes of the captures were, how many animals were captured and where they were captured.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This information is not available. While we are aware that some published scientific research will have involved the use of snares, there is no legal requirement for scientific institutions or scientific researchers to seek approval or provide reports on thei…

23 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the importance of the Midlothian Snowsports Centre at Hillend as a training facility for competitive skiers in Scotland.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Midlothian Snowsports Centre at Hillend, which is owned and operated by Midlothian Council, is regarded by the Scottish Government as important to the future development of snowsports in Scotland. Sportscotland is working with Midlothian Council to examin…

22 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many doctors from outwith the United Kingdom are working for NHS hospitals, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally. However, information on staff in post in NHSScotland is published annually by National Services Scotland, Information Services Division (ISD). Data for hospital, community and public health services staff by gr…

22 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many GPs from outwith the United Kingdom are working for the NHS, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for the NHS health boards. The information requested is not held centrally.

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the value to the economy is of wildlife tourism, excluding shooting and stalking.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government commissioned research into the economic impact of wildlife tourism in early 2009. This research covers non-consumptive wildlife tourism and therefore does exclude shooting and stalking. The study is ongoing and is planned to be complet…

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has looked at EU research on the banning of snaring.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is not aware of any EU research on the banning of snaring.

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether snares are commonly used by scientists.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Snares are commonly used by scientists for the capture of wild animals, such as rural foxes, as when used in accordance with best practice, they allow for target and non target species to be released unharmed. The Defra report published in 2005 called Report …

14 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how often the provisions of the Adults with Incapacity Act 2000 have been used following concerns raised by a family member, carer or guardian regarding the inappropriate prescribing of drugs to an adult with incapacity.

Answer · Shona Robison: There are no specific provisions under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, as amended, in respect of inappropriate prescribing. Rather, the act sets out a framework for regulating intervention in the affairs of adults who lack, or may lack, capaci…

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which NHS boards have evaluated the success of policies designed to increase the uptake rate of breast screening.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards who have evaluated the success of policies designed to increase uptake rates are: NHS Ayrshire and Arran NHS Lanarkshire NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether evidence exists that women living in areas of social deprivation have a lower uptake of breast screening services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28602 on 12 November 2009. All answers to 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/Apps2/Busin…

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many significant case reviews have been carried out in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Adam Ingram: In Scotland, since 2007 a significant case review has been undertaken in those instances identified in the Scottish Government''s national guidance, Protecting Children and Young People: Interim Guidance for Child Protection Committees for Conducting a Si…

17 Dec 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the safety modifications to the A68 Dalkeith bypass will be completed.

Answer · John Swinney: There are no safety modifications planned on the mainline of the A68 Dalkeith Bypass. However, works are planned to improve the layout of the Fordel Mains Junction. These works are due to commence on 5 January 2010 and are expected to take eight weeks to comp…