Parliamentary questions

Dr Winnie Ewing

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

24 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what subsidies are available to farmers who grow genetically modified crops, what levels of subsidy are payable; by whom and what conditions are attached to each subsidy.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Farmers in Scotland are not entitled to any subsidies specifically for the purpose of growing a GM crop. Such farmers are, however, entitled to the same subsidies under the normal conditions as other arable farmers.

14 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what problems are caused to rivers by giant hogweed, and what solutions it proposes to any such problems.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Giant hogweed can cause soil erosion on riverbanks but the main problems arise when the plant is handled.The Executive is participating in a GB-wide review of the current and potential threats posed by invasive non-native species, including giant hogweed. …

2 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how police files containing information on individuals' criminal records are currently disposed of; whether it is satisfied with practice in this area, and whether it has any plans to review arrangements.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Criminal conviction information is held by the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) Criminal History System. Under current policy, decisions on the retention and disposal of the information are based on one or more of a number of factors, for example the se…

17 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce universal fortification with folic acid of all wheat flour.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive Health Department and the Food Standards Agency jointly conducted an initial public consultation between July and October 2000, following recommendations by the Committee on Medical Aspects on Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) on the for…

17 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make it illegal for mechanically recovered meat to be included in statistics detailing the meat content of food products such as sausages, pies and burgers.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: On matters relating to food safety the Scottish Executive is advised by the Food Standards Agency. The agency is fully committed to ensuring that food manufacturers provide relevant and meaningful information for consumers.There have been increasing restri…

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the fishing vessel decommissioning scheme and what criteria are applied in deciding eligibility for the scheme.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We recently laid before the Scottish Parliament legislation to provide for a Scottish decommissioning scheme. Amongst other things, the legislation will lay down basic eligibility criteria for the Scottish scheme. These will require that an applicant's vessel…

4 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidance similar to that recently issued to local authorities in England by the Department of Health under section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 regarding social care for deafblind children and adults.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has no plans to issue guidance similar to that issued recently in England on social care for deafblind children and adults. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14638.

29 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the number of its staff located on Eilean Siar by relocating departments or parts thereof from Edinburgh and what discussions it has held with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and others regarding any such relocation.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The Executive has no current plans to relocate staff from Edinburgh to Eilean Siar. Discussions have been held with Highlands and Islands Enterprise about opportunities across their area, with the agreement of the local authorities concerned.Last December …

28 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives involving Scotland's written heritage are currently being taken forward or planned as part of its National Cultural Strategy and what plans it has to ensure that the archive sector is fully involved in cultural initiatives.

Answer · Allan Wilson: In the National Cultural Strategy we recognised the importance of the written heritage to the culture of Scotland and wish to make it as widely available as possible. The National Archives of Scotland currently provide content from the national archive collec…

28 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role Gaelic broadcasting plays in its strategy to encourage the use of Gaelic; whether an extension of its powers in this area would enhance its ability to promote Gaelic language and culture and, if so, whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government requesting that…

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Gaelic broadcasting, for which the Scottish Executive provides a grant of £8.5 million a year, is an important part of our strategy for Gaelic. While Gaelic broadcasting, in common with other aspects of broadcasting, is a reserved subject, this has not preven…

28 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2956 by Sarah Boyack on 15 February 2001, what implications its current trunk road and motorway tourist signposting policy has for individual tourist businesses and what assessment it has made of any cost to the industry as a whole of the length of t…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The purpose of the Trunk Road Motorway Tourist Signposting Policy which was produced in consultation with the Scottish Tourist Board is to provide clear and consistent directions for travellers on Scottish Trunk Roads.Tourist signs are not a substitute for…

28 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Camanachd Association will receive in core funding from sportscotland over the next four years and how much core funding the association has sought from sportscotland for this period.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Sportscotland's financial planning cycle covers the next three years. The Camanachd Association has been allocated £15,000 per year for the next three years from Exchequer funding for the period covered by the cycle. The association has also been alloc…

28 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12945 by Allan Wilson on 14 February 2001, whom sportscotland intends to appoint as consultants in connection with the review of aspects of their organisation and operations; why any such appointment is being made by sportscotland rather than by the …

Answer · Allan Wilson: In view of the importance of sport within the Executive's overall programme, and notwithstanding the wider review of NDPBs being carried out by the Executive, we agreed with sportscotland's assessment that the early review of aspects of their organisat…

21 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that BEAR Scotland Ltd has no depot from which to direct its Lochaber operations and what impact this situation will have on the company's ability to fulfil its road maintenance obligations.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: A planning application for a depot at Lochaber was lodged by BEAR Scotland Ltd on 10 January 2001 and negotiations are continuing with the planning authority. If the planning authority refuse permission, or fail to determine the application within two months,…

21 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide development funding for teacher training at Sabhal Mor Ostaig.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The provision of teacher training is a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and the Scottish higher education institutions it funds. Any arrangements for delivery via colleges is a matter for individual higher education institutions and th…

21 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any unmet need for Gaelic language teachers and, if so, what steps are being taken to address this.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The supply of Gaelic-medium teachers continues to be a priority for Scottish Ministers. In recent annual guidance to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) on setting of intakes to courses of initial teacher education the Executive asked SHEFC …

13 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12915 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 13 February 2001, whether any regulations have been amended or repealed as a result of the work of the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit, specifying any such regulations.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Improving Regulation in Scotland (IRIS) Unit can make the most telling contribution by ensuring that the Scottish Executive takes fully into account the need for all regulations to be proportionate and fit for purpose. With this aim, the unit has assisted…

13 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12904 by Jackie Baillie on 13 February 2001, whether, following housing stock transfer, the requirement on new landlords to install central heating will be (a) statutory, (b) funded from the Executive's central heating programme and (c) subject to a …

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Tenants who transfer to community ownership will receive central heating as part of the overall investment by the new landlord. The Scottish Executive will ensure that proposals for transfer will deliver the installation of central heating in houses which do …

13 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date funding will be made available for the central heating initiative in (a) Highland, (b) Western Isles, (c) Orkney and (d) Shetland for (i) local authority properties, (ii) housing association properties and (iii) households in the private sector.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The resources for the Central Heating Programme have been allocated for 2001-02 and will be made available during that year.

27 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to supermarkets in respect of the impact which their policies and practices regarding timeous payment of invoices from suppliers have upon the Scottish economy.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive meets with supermarket representatives regularly to discuss a wide range of issues. The Scottish Executive also supports the Better Payment Practice Group's code of practice on payment of commercial debt and would encourage all firms to…

27 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the members are of the Joint Ministerial Committees on pensioner poverty and child poverty; on what dates the committees have met, and on what dates they are next scheduled to meet.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Joint Ministerial Committee on Poverty has met twice, on 9 December 1999 and 26 May 2000. Membership includes Ministers from each of the devolved administrations as well as the UK Government. No further meetings are scheduled at present.