Dr Winnie Ewing

23 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take in the light of the 2nd Report 2001 of the Rural Development Committee Impact of the Closure of the Islay Creamery.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The report raises a number of detailed issues relating to factors affecting rural and island communities across Scotland. The Executive is giving the report's findings and recommendations careful consideration.

13 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why 52 licenses were issued to kill robins in the 1990s.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Licences were issued on public health grounds to kill or take robins in food preparation premises and major food outlets. Such licences are issued only where all non-lethal methods of removal have failed, there is a clear hazard to food preparations and a thr…

13 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support the case of St Kilda for gaining world cultural heritage status.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Nominations for World Heritage Sites are made to UNESCO by individual States; proposals for Scottish sites are drawn up and submitted by the Scottish Executive. We are considering the possibility of seeking to add cultural criteria to the case which is curren…

12 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what rules exist to govern the advertising of vacancies for general practitioners in rural areas in relation to (a) the number of adverts to be placed, (b) the duration of the advertising campaign and (c) the publications in which adverts should appear; whether any such guidelines were f…

Answer · Susan Deacon: The rules which govern the advertising of vacancies for general practitioners are set out in the National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1995. The Regulations require the notice of vacancy to include details of the practice a…

12 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that the candidate who fills the vacant post of general practitioner for Helmsdale is based in Helmsdale after appointment.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The arrangements to fill the vacancy following the resignation of the General Practitioner at Helmsdale are matters for the Scottish Medical Practices Committee and Highland Primary Care NHS Trust.

8 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) individuals and (b) families were homeless in (i) Highland Council area, (ii) the Western Isles, (iii) the Orkney islands, (iv) the Shetland Islands and (v) Scotland in each year since 1990.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The available information relates to applications to Scottish local authorities under the homeless persons legislation. The following two tables give the numbers of such applications where a single person (Table 1) or a household with dependent children (Tabl…

8 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many public authority homes were constructed in (a) Highland Council area, (b) the Western Isles, (c) the Orkney islands, (d) Shetland Islands and (e) Scotland in each year since 1990.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The table presents the number of new public authority dwellings completed annually since 1990-99 (latest available information), for each of the requested local authority areas and in the whole of Scotland, as reported to the Scottish Executive.<TABLE BORDER …

8 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many empty properties in (a) Highland Council area, (b) the Western Isles, (c) the Orkney Islands, (d) the Shetland Islands and (e) Scotland are targeted to be brought back into use under the empty homes initiative; how many such homes had been brought back into use in each area by th…

Answer · Margaret Curran: The table below provides the information requested. It lists the number of empty properties expected to be returned to use by 2002 under the Empty Homes Initiative from its inception in 1997 and shows the number of properties returned by the end of 2000. Whil…

30 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what areas in the Highlands and Islands will be designated as pilot areas when NHS 24, the NHS telephone advice service, is rolled out in 2001 and when the service will cover the whole of the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Project Director is currently developing a detailed service specification for the roll out of NHS 24. Consideration of the issue of location for the service centres has yet to begin.

30 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the implementation of the central heating scheme for pensioners who are council tenants in Highland, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland will be subject to the result of tenants' ballots on stock transfer proposals.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: All tenants in the social rented sector who lack central heating will receive it. If they vote for stock transfer under the New Housing Partnership initiative the new landlord will be required to install central heating. If they vote to remain with the local …

30 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to expand Gaelic-medium education in the next five years.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Executive will continue to support the expansion of Gaelic-medium education through the Specific and Pre-school Grant Schemes. The Specific Grant will be £2,834,000 for 2001-02. The Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000 requires Education Authoriti…

11 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government about the environmental impact of any possible use of depleted uranium shells on the Tain bombing range.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: My officials have contacted the Ministry of Defence about this matter. They were advised that depleted uranium based ammunition has not been fired at the Tain bombing range.

11 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, or any predecessor body, has carried out any environmental studies of the Tain bombing range.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has not undertaken any environmental studies of the Tain bombing range, and is not aware of any studies undertaken by its predecessor bodies.

30 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will press the EU Fisheries Council to seek compensation for Scottish fishermen should they have to cease fishing for cod.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I see no prospect of Scottish fishermen having to cease fishing for cod. The recent negotiations between the EU and Norway saw an agreed total allowable catch of 48,600 tonnes.

16 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding is available for the delivery of its programme of sewage treatment round Scottish coasts and when improvements will be made at Stornoway, Kirkwall and Lerwick.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The three public sector Scottish Water Authorities are delivering substantial investment programmes which will provide, within the next five years, new or upgraded wastewater treatment facilities at over 130 sites around the Scottish coastline and inland, imp…

13 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it undertook with the local authority and the local National Farmers Union regarding the decision to conduct a genetically modified crop trial at Daviot.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The identification of individual sites to participate in these trials is the responsibility of a body representing the interests of the industry, and including the National Farmers Union within its membership. However, the proposed sites must meet the criteri…

13 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an assurance that, if it brings forward legislation providing for proportional representation to be introduced for local government elections and the legislation is passed, it will be implemented at the first available opportunity.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Executive announced on 27 June 2000 in question S1W-8280, how it will take forward its consideration of the recommendations of the Renewing Local Democracy Working Group. The Executive will consider implementation as part of its wider consideration of the…

17 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the report on rural peripherality commissioned by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions and co-authored by researchers from the University of Aberdeen and Cardiff University and what action it intends to take on its findings,

Answer · Ross Finnie: The report referred to, <I>Spatial Planning and Peripherality</I>, is due to be published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions shortly. The Executive was represented on the steering committee for this study, and will give careful co…

6 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average estimated cost is per week in the Highlands and Islands Health Board of caring for an elderly patient in (a) a hospital and (b) a nursing home.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The information for the cost of providing geriatric continuing care services in 1998-99 is shown in the table below:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Geriatric continuing care services</TD>…

6 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans for local labelling of beef products.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 of 21 April 1997 allows operators, subject to approval from my department, to label beef voluntarily with information concerning its place of production.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">This regulation will be superseded by a Compulsory Be…

5 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the salary of #105,000 for the Chief Executive of the Scottish Water Authority was determined.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: In line with statute the appointment and terms and conditions of Chief Executives of the three Scottish water authorities were determined by the boards of the authorities and approved by Scottish Ministers.

5 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the new Secretary to the Crofters Commission has a background and experience in crofting.

Answer · Ross Finnie: While a crofting community background would obviously be desirable, it is more important that the successful candidate is selected on the basis of strong organisational, leadership and management skills to ensure he or she is able to lead the commission throu…

14 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be any economic benefits to the Highlands and Islands accruing from BP's recent announcement of its intention to abolish the Retail Zone Premium, and what representations it will make to Her Majesty's Government to reduce road fuel tax in the light of this announcement.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive welcomes BP's decision to abolish Retail Zone Premium, which is good news for the Highlands and Islands motorist. The Executive will continue to keep in contact with Treasury on road fuel tax as on other reserved issues which affect Scottish int…

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with, or representations it has received from, community and trade union representatives from Brora following the recent announcement that the Hunters of Brora woollen mill is to go into receivership.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: A local Hunters Response Team has been established and has been meeting weekly. The team comprises representatives of the Community Council, the General Municipal Boilermakers Allied Trades Union (GMB), the Highland Council, the Village Advisory Service, the …

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific steps it has taken and is taking to enhance job prospects in east Sutherland following the recent announcement that the Hunters of Brora woollen mill is to go into receivership.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: I would refer Dr Ewing to the answer which I have already given to her earlier question on this subject (S1W-7126).

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific assistance it is making available to ensure that a new operator is found for the Hunters of Brora woollen mill following the recent announcement that the mill is to go into receivership.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise have been working closely with the receiver to ensure that the business is maintained as a going concern, and to explore the expressions of interest which have been made by potential buy…

24 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding what assistance the Department of Trade and Industry can provide in offsetting job losses in East Sutherland following the recent announcement that the Hunters of Brora woollen mill is to go into receivership.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Scottish Executive has made no representations to Her Majesty's Government concerning assistance which the Department of Trade and Industry could provide in offsetting job losses in East Sutherland, because the measures being taken in response to actual a…

16 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1588 by Ross Finnie on 28 September 1999, whether it will report on the progress being made in developing the Scottish Pork Quality Mark.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Pork Mark is now established and is being successfully used to promote the quality of Scottish produced pig meat products.

15 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make funding available to Gingerbread Scotland in both the immediate short term and the long term.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: I refer to my earlier response of 17 March to Dr Richard Simpson (Ochil) on the issue of funding for Gingerbread Scotland.

15 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2856 by Mr Alasdair Morrison on 14 December 1999, whether it will detail its specific plans to tackle employment and economic difficulties on Unst.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Further to my answer on 14 December 1999 (S1W-2856) local agencies and partners have continued to address the problems caused by the downsizing of RAF Saxa Vord.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Unst Joint Response Team, formed immediately after the announcement of the …