Parliamentary questions
Alasdair Morgan
518 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much additional resources will be allocated in real terms to help reduce the backlog in roads maintenance in each year from 2006-07 to 2007-08, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: An additional £60 million per year has been allocated in 2006-07 and 2007-08 to help local authorities address the backlog of maintenance on the local road network. In real terms this represents £57 million and £55.5 million respectively, based on 2004-05 pri…
27 Oct 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any progress in relation to the six road improvement schemes planned for the A75.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Yes, proposals for three of the six planned schemes have now been published and are available for public comment.</p>
8 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-9394 and S2W-10611 by Tavish Scott on 9 and 28 September 2004 respectively, how the estimated cost of altering the NHS superannuation scheme in respect of widowers’ pensions to include pensionable service prior to 6 April 1988 and after March …
Answer · Tavish Scott: As the most recent valuation of the NHS Scheme in Scotland is still to be completed, the cost was based on the 1999 valuation of the NHS Pension Scheme in England and Wales.</p>
6 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the potential for radon to be present in any given area, similar to that available for England and Wales on pages 62 and 63 of the British Geological Survey’s publication, Britain Beneath Our Feet.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive has commissioned the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) to give advice on the radiological significance of levels of radon in Scotland. To do that the NRPB is completing its mapping of the levels of the naturally occurring radioactive…
28 Sep 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in negotiations between VisitScotland and local authorities on the setting up of an integrated tourism network.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Very positive progress is being made towards ensuring that the new integratedtourism network will be in place by April 2005. Discussions have taken place with COSLA and all the local authorities in Scotland on their role in the new network and I am pleased wi…
23 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics it maintains on waiting times for dental treatment.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Information Services Division collects waiting time information for dental treatment at consultant level only. Waiting times are recorded for a first outpatient appointment following general medical/dental practitioner referral and the waiting time recorded f…
23 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists it estimates the NHS in the Dumfries and Galloway area requires and how many are currently employed.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: There were 16 dentists employed in community and hospital dental services and 43 general dentists in NHS Dumfries and Galloway at 30 September 2003.</p><p>Responsibility for the overall provision of NHS dental services in an area rests with NHS boards. New ar…
14 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many widowers who are retired or active NHS workers would be eligible for NHS pension payments in respect of their pensionable service between March 1972 and April 1988 if entitlement to such payments were to be extended to them.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The information requested is not available. The records of active and retired members of the NHS Superannuation Scheme maintained by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency do not contain information about whether the individuals concerned are widowed.</p>
13 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost to it was of legal action taken against it by Wallets’ Marts of Castle Douglas when all factors have been accounted for.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Apart from some minimal staff costs, there will be no cost to the Scottish Executive arising from the defence of the action raised by Wallets Marts. All sums awarded by the court, legal costs etc. will be met by the Department of the Environment, Food and Ru…
10 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current policy of NHS Scotland is in respect of the use of acupuncture as a treatment and whether NHS Scotland has any plans to review this policy.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is open to NHS boards to provide acupuncture and other complementary medicine through the NHS in Scotland. Decisions on whether to provide any particular form of complementary medicine are for NHS boards to make, based on their assessment of local needs. T…
9 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had with the setting up of the UK Centre for Marine Renewable Energy.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Three members of the consortium behind this new initiative were co-authors of the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland’s sub-group on marine energy development. Much of the impetus for this valuable new centre arose from the work of this sub-gro…
8 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on establishing a process for the issuing of licences to cover the use of human sewage sludge to regenerate non-agricultural land.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-10391 on 13 September 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/busi…
8 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what account is taken of the proximity of agricultural or other sites of biological sensitivity when considering proposals to use human sewage sludge on non-agricultural land.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Sewage sludge is spread on non-agricultural land either in pursuance of a full licence under the Waste Management Licensing regulations 1994, as amended, or under a registered exemption under the terms of Paragraph 8 of Schedule 3 to those regulations. Where …
8 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether regular testing of human sewage sludge used on non-agricultural land is undertaken to determine levels of any toxic contaminants that may be present.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Sewage sludge is spread on non-agricultural land either in pursuance of a full licence under the Waste Management Licensing regulations 1994, as amended, or under a registered exemption under the terms of Paragraph 8 of Schedule 3 to those regulations. It is …
8 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it envisages any need for legislation to control the use of human sewage sludge to regenerate non-agricultural land.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-10391 on 13 September 2004. 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/bus…
8 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what controls exist over the use of human sewage sludge to regenerate marginal non-agricultural land.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The use of human sewage sludge to regenerate marginal non-agricultural land requires a full licence under the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, as amended, except where an appropriate exemption is registered. The appropriate exemption is that in Pa…
28 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost would be of altering the NHS superannuation scheme so that pensionable service prior to 6 April 1988 and after March 1972 would count towards the provision of widowers' pensions.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The NHS scheme provides widowers’ benefits on the same basis as for widows in respect of service from 6 April 1988.</p><p>The capitalised cost of providing widowers cover, for the period from March 1972 to April 1988, is estimated at approximately £59 million…
16 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to make a commencement order in respect of section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive has no such plans. I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6727 on 18 March 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><a hr…
15 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations exist regarding the export of horses from Scotland for the purpose of slaughter outwith the UK and whether it has had any recent discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) about such regulations.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 and the Export of Horses (Minimum Value) Order 1956, as amended, require that horses are fit for transport and that they meet minimum values. These values are £715 for draft horses, £495 for vanners, mules or jenn…
15 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost to the NHS is of drugs prescribed for the treatment of asthma.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The table shows the gross ingredient cost of drugs used in the management of asthma for the financial years 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04. These data relate to prescribed items dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors and do not take into acco…
10 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects to advertise any senior posts within Historic Scotland in the foreseeable future.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Decisions on the approach to be taken to filling vacancies in Senior Civil Service posts within the Scottish Executive, including Executive agencies, are taken on a case-by-case basis.</p>
20 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place to monitor any levels of (a) listeria, (b) E.coli, (c) pesticides and (d) carcinogens in salads and vegetables offered for sale in modified atmospheric packaging in supermarkets.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Food safety is theresponsibility of the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Monitoring of the safety andquality of food is carried out routinely by local authorities in theircapacities as “Food Authorities” under the Food Safety Act 1990. Local authoritiesdetermine …
20 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7400 by Mr Frank McAveety on 4 May 2004, whether its statement that “it expects to develop a national language strategy” allows for the possibility that such a strategy will not be developed.
Answer · Frank McAveety: The Partnership for a BetterScotland, which sets out the policies and direction of the Scottish Executive for this Parliament, states that, “We will developa new focus for Scotland’s languages recognising both our heritageand our diversity. We will legislate …
20 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the members of the Cultural Commission, other than its Chair, will be appointed; what criteria will be used in choosing its members, and what role the Executive intends that the Parliament will have in making these appointments.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Scottish ministers have todayappointed the Commissioners to the Cultural Commission. James Boyle and I believethat these appointments will provide the breadth of experience required for thecommission to fulfil its remit, as outlined in the Cultural Policy Sta…
20 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget of the Cultural Commission will be.
Answer · Frank McAveety: I refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-8237 answered 11 June 2004.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/w…
20 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are sufficient numbers graduating from higher education institutions with qualifications in chemistry and other closely-related subjects.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is notaware of any data which would provide a reliable basis for assessing what numberof graduates in chemistry and closely-related subject might be regarded as sufficient,and is not confident that it is possible to produce such data. …
20 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to promote the take-up of the waterborne freight grant scheme and whether it considers that any ports in Scotland have particular potential in this regard.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Once the guidance and rules of the waterborne freight grant (WFG) scheme have been finalised it will be promotedby the Scottish Executive. We will ensure that all sectors of the freight industryincluding shipping companies, ports and logistics companies are a…
19 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make an announcement on any possible relocation of Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and Scottish Further Education Funding Council posts.
Answer · Jim Wallace: It is expected that an announcementwill be made on this issue by the end of 2004.</p>
10 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish progress reports on the status of the work to establish the fund for compensation of people with Hepatitis C who are infected with the disease as a result of the use of contaminated blood products through the NHS.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answersgiven to questions S2F-849 on 29 April 2004, and S2W-8010,S2W-8011 and S2W-8012 on 18 May 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be foun…
10 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in the establishment of the Skipton Fund for compensation for people with hepatitis C who are infected with the disease as a result of the use of contaminated blood products through the NHS.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answersgiven to questions S2F-849 on 29 April 2004, and S2W-8010,S2W-8011 and S2W-8012 on 18 May 2004. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found…