Parliamentary questions

Ms Wendy Alexander

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

17 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what external research it has commissioned to inform the forthcoming planning consultation.

Answer · Margaret Curran: On 1 April we published two consultation papers, Rights of Appeal in Planning and Making Development Plans Deliver.On 8 April we published a further consultation paper, Satellite Dishes and Other Antennas: Consultation on Possible Changes to …

17 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the planned national planning policy guideline for west Edinburgh will assist development.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Review of the WestEdinburgh Planning Framework arises from the UK Government White Paper TheFuture of Air Transport, and is necessary to accommodate the land use andtransport planning issues consequent on the policy for the growth of Edinburgh Airp…

17 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the impact that delays in installing water and sewage infrastructure have in restricting development, and how such a situation may be improved.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive has made no suchestimates. In relation to the issue of water infrastructure constraints, ScottishWater has been actively engaged with all Scottish local authorities for someconsiderable time and there is now a detailed understanding of the exten…

17 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out any research on factors affecting land supply for recent commercial developments.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: No research has specificallyaddressed this matter, but aspects of land availability for commercialdevelopment have been examined in recent studies published by the Scottish Executive. These include Land Values and the Implications for Planning Policy”a…

17 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any research has been carried out on factors affecting land supply for housing in urban areas to inform the formulation of forthcoming plans for planning reform.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The review of the Executive’splanning policy on housing, which led to the publication, in 2003, of ScottishPlanning Policy (SPP) 3 : Planning for Housing, was informed by an advisorygroup consisting of representatives of local authorities, community co…

10 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will take forward the commitment made in Educating for Excellence to consult on the future of the age and stage regulations.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Today I have launched aconsultation on the future of the age and stage regulations which seeks viewsfrom stakeholders as to whether there should be additional flexibility overwhen young people can receive certification for National Units and be presentedfor e…

26 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the implications of the Barker Review for Scotland and whether the Executive has published any data on rises in real house prices or the extent to which house supply is responsive to changes in prices.

Answer · Margaret Curran: We have been liaising closelywith the Barker Review team and we will consider the conclusions of the reviewafter the final report has been published and we have had an opportunity toconsider their implications for Scotland.The Scottish Executive publis…

24 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the planning system is a contributory factor to house building levels being relatively unresponsive to price signals.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Review of Housing Supply concluded at Great Britain level that the availability of land and the planning system are amongst the factors which affect housing supply.The land use planning system has an important role in enabling development to…

24 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional level of private housebuilding is necessary to arrest recent rises in house prices.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The interim report of theBarker Review contains an analysis of how an increase in house-building mightlead to a zero real rate of house price growth. This is one of several optionsin the interim report for considering housing supply levels, each of which isto…

24 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had into the Atkinson Review on national statistics and what relevance this review will have for Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Officials within the Executive have met with the Atkinson team, and will be helping them to sourcethe Scottish data for the devolved services as they develop any new measuresfor the UK as a whole. In parallel, Scottish Executive analysts are considering the w…

18 Feb 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the next steps in the Clyde waterfront regeneration project will be and what level of investment, over what period, is being committed to the project.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The nextstep proposed by the Clyde Waterfront Working Group is the establishment of astrategic partnership board to promote and facilitate regeneration of thewaterfront. The overarching proposal contains a range of projects, andinvestment in these is a matter…

6 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are currently employed in its performance and innovation unit.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Two members of Scottish Executive staff currently work in the performance and innovation unit, althoughit is able to draw on inputs from a wider range of staff. One is Mr Nick Parker,who took up post as head of the unit on 2 February. One of his first tasks i…

6 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many expert advisers are currently working as temporary civil servants; how many such advisers are full-time; what grade they are; how they are distributed across departments, and how these numbers have changed on an annual basis since the establishment of the Parliament.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is set out in the following table:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> Number of expert advisers currently working as temporary civil servants </td> <td> 5 </td> </tr> <tr> <td…

4 Feb 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to improve the enforcement of bus regulation by traffic commissioners.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Officialsare in regular contact with the Traffic Commissioner for the Scottish TrafficArea, in particular about issues relating to the registration of local busservices as such issues are devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

27 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of doctors in NHS Argyll and Clyde has increased since (a) 1997 and (b) 1999 and, if so, by how much.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table showsthe number of consultants in NHS Argyll and Clyde and the difference between2002, the latest available information, and the figures for 1997 and 1999.Number of Consultants in NHS Argyll & Clyde as at 30th September <table b…

13 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will offer for kerbside collections of recyclable material from domestic residences in Renfrewshire.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Renfrewshire Council hassubmitted an application for funding from the Strategic Waste Fund. It proposeskerbside collection schemes involving fortnightly collections of dry recyclablesand green waste. In addition mini-recycling centres will be provided forflat…

9 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of doctors in the NHS has increased since (a) 1997 and (b) 1999 and, if so, by how much.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The table below shows thenumber of consultants in NHSScotland and the difference between 2002, thelatest available information, and the figures for 1997 and 1999.Table 1: Whole TimeEquivalent and Headcount of Consultants in NHSScotland as at 30 Septemb…

9 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of qualified nurses and midwives in the Argyll and Clyde NHS Board area has increased since (a) 1997 and (b) 1999 and, if so, by how much.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following tables showthe number of qualified nurses and midwives in the Argyll and Clyde NHS boardthe difference between the most recent figures (31 March 2003) and the figuresfrom 1997 and 1999 (as at 30 September).Table 1a: Headcount and WTEof Qu…

9 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the increase has been in police numbers within (a) Strathclyde Police and (b) K division of Strathclyde Police since (i) 1997 and (ii) 1999.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Police numbers inStrathclyde have increased by 365 since 1997, and by 186 since 1999. Similarinformation for “K” division of Strathclyde Police is not held centrally and isa matter for Strathclyde Police.

9 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been an increase in the number of teachers in publicly-funded schools in Renfrewshire since (a) 1997 and (b) 1999 and, if so, by how much.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The information whichanswers this question is available from a range of Scottish Executive Education Department statistical publications. For ease of reference, thenumber of full-time equivalent (FTE) pre-school, primary, secondary and specialschool teachers …

6 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has spent on housing grants for domestic lead water pipe replacement in each year from 1992-93 to 2002-03.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The information requestedhas been provided in a table entitled “Housing grants for domestic lead waterpipe replacement”, a copy of which has been place in the Parliament’s ReferenceCentre (Bib. number 30536).

26 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many extra police officers were recruited and/or deployed (a) across Scotland, (b) in each police force and (c) in K division in Strathclyde, in both (i) the period from 1998-99 to 2002-03 and (ii) the last fiscal year for which figures are available.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information is not held centrally on the assignment of recruits by division within Strathclyde Policenor on the numbers of officers deployed within each division of StrathclydePolice. That information is a matter for Strathclyde Police. Equivalentinformation …

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1429 by Mr Frank McAveety on 6 August 2003, when the action plan for Scotland's museums and galleries will be published.

Answer · Frank McAveety: An Action Framework forMuseums - Consultation and Responsewas published on 22 August 2003. Copies are available in the Parliament’s ReferenceCentre (Bib. 28833).

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure the future viability of the Scottish Maritime Museum.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Executive is responsibleonly for the National Institutions. Independent museums are the responsibilityof the trustees. Continued support for the Scottish Maritime Museum fromthe strategic change fund at current levels beyond its expiry in March 2003will b…

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it applies current legislation on the control of pigeons in urban environments.

Answer · Allan Wilson: It is the responsibility of Scotland’slocal authorities to monitor and control pigeons within their areas, and totake action where appropriate to address pigeon related problems.Local authorities have astatutory duty of pest control and there is nothin…

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to develop best practice for local authorities and others in dealing with nuisance caused by pigeons in towns and cities.

Answer · Allan Wilson: There are currently no plans to develop best practice guidance in relation to feral pigeons. The Scottish Executive is not aware of an increasing problem concerning feral pigeons and local authorities have adequate powers to resolve problems which they experi…

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it, or NHS Argyll and Clyde, will take to enhance the quality of breast cancer services in Renfrewshire.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The current breast cancerservice in Renfrewshire is working well. Two one stop multi-disciplinary breastclinics are established at Royal Alexandra Hospital. In addition an innovative appointment systemdeveloped in partnership with primary care has helped ensu…

4 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards implementing the proposals contained in Non-domestic rates: Returning Prescribed Industries to Conventional Valuation - A consultation paper.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We intend to return thecurrently prescribed industries to conventional valuation at the nextnon-domestic revaluation which is due to take place on 1 April 2005. Thismeans that these industries will be treated in the same way as otherindustries: valued by inde…

8 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the year-on-year improvements have been in (a) coronary heart disease, (b) cancer and (c) stroke mortality rates in (i) the NHS Argyll and Clyde area and (ii) Scotland since 1990.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Relevant death rates arepresented in the following table.<h4 align=left>Rates per 100,000 Population</h4><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> </td> <td> Argyll and Clyde </td> <td> …

8 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether GPs can refer patients to osteopaths or chiropractors and, if so, whether the costs of the treatment will be met by the NHS.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: A GP may refer a patient forosteopathic or chiropractic treatment if, in his or her clinical judgement, itis appropriate. It is open to NHS boards to fund such treatment from theunified budgets made available to them by the Executive, based on theirassessmen…