Parliamentary questions

Alasdair Morgan

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

18 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of demand for MRI scans from NHS patients, with particular reference to the availability of (a) MRI scanning equipment, (b) specialist radiology staff trained in MRI scanning and (c) consultants capable of interpreting the results from MRI scans.

Answer · Andy Kerr: On the availability of MRI scanning equipment, I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16671 on 1 June 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: …

12 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual monetary value will be to First ScotRail of reduced discounts, which are given to season ticket holders as a result of failure by ScotRail to meet its punctuality targets, following the introduction of the planned two-minute addition to journey times of Fife to …

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Discounts to First ScotRail passengers in Fife, which are paid under the Passengers Charter, will only reduce when punctuality levels of 87% are reached across the relevant group of services. In order to achieve this saving, First ScotRail will need to…

12 May 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used to determine whether a pedestrian crossing should be installed at any particular location on a trunk road.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: A site being considered for pedestrian crossing facilities is assessed and designed using the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) Volume 8 Section 5 Part 1 (TA 68/96), Local Transport Note 1/95 The Assessment of Pedestrian Crossings and Local Tr…

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking regarding the international reputation of Scottish forensic services in response to adverse comments relating to the performance of Scottish Criminal Records Office fingerprint experts by Michael Jackson's defence attorney.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to S2W-16177 on 10 May 2005. All answers to written 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/webapp/wa.search"…

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its reaction is to the reference by Michael Jackson"s defence attorney to the Shirley McKie case and its implications for fingerprinting worldwide and his statement that false positives in fingerprint identification have become a matter of concern following "a botched 1999 murder inv…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: It would not be appropriate for Scottish ministers to comment on the arguments that have been made by Mr Robert Sanger in his defence of Michael Jackson.

17 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to (a) bring into force or (b) repeal section 24 of the Environment Act 1995.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 and the forthcoming Controlled Activities Regulations contain provisions that will supersede section 24 of the Environment Act 1995. The Executive therefore intends to lay an Order before Parliament…

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs have been of storing the material referred to as "Political Papers of David McLetchie MSP" in the National Library of Scotland and what the additional costs have been of splitting them into two categories, personal files and party files.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I have asked Martyn Wade, National Librarian of the National Libraries of Scotland, to respond. His response is as follows:The cost of storing the material is £60 per annum. No costs have, as yet, been incurred in splitting the papers into two categori…

25 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how, in its relationship with the UK Government, it interprets the definition of "national security" in section B8 of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The interpretation of legislation, such as this provision of the Scotland Act, in its application to particular cases or contexts depends very much on the facts and circumstances of the case or context in question.

11 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which provisions of Acts of the Scottish Parliament that have received Royal Assent prior to 31 December 2003 have not yet been brought into force and when it expects these provisions will be brought into force.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Often acts will require to becommenced in stages (for particular provisions or particular purposes) for policyor practical reasons. Decisions about such matters are the responsibility of theminister in charge of the act and so the information requested is not…

11 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many annual reports of the Environment Agency have been received by Scottish ministers since 1999 to date, pursuant to clause 10(1) of the Scotland Act 1998 (Border Rivers) Order 1999, and how many of these have been laid before the Parliament, pursuant to clause 10(2) of that order.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: None. Copies of the relevantreports will be laid before the Parliament as soon as possible.

11 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which provisions of Acts of Parliament that received Royal Assent between 3 May 1979 and 31 December 2003 and that deal with issues devolved to the Scottish Parliament have not yet been brought into force and on what dates it expects these provisions will be brought into force.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The information requested isnot held in this form. However, full details of the commencement dates of provisionsin Acts of Parliament passed between 1 January 1979and 31 December 2003, together with provisions not yet in force as at 17 February 2004, canbe fo…

4 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total reduction in rateable values was as a result of wholly and partly successful appeals by businesses against their assessed rateable value following the last revaluation of rateable values, broken down by local authority area, expressed also as a percentage of the total ratea…

Answer · Tom McCabe: The total rateable value lost to revaluation appeals following the 2000 Revaluation is shown in the table, at both Scotland and local authority level. The losses are also expressed as a percentage of the total rateable value at 1 April 2000.<table border=…

4 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses appealed against their assessed rateable value following the last revaluation of rateable values and, of these, how many were (a) wholly and (b) partly successful.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Appeals against the 2000 Revaluation rateable value were submitted for a total of 76,238 subjects. No information is held centrally on how many individual appeals were wholly or partly successful.

2 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Dumfries and Galloway regarding the provision of dental services in the area.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Officials have had discussions with NHS Dumfries and Galloway about the provision of access to NHS general dental services including the appointment of additional salaried dentists and the development of improved dental facilities.