Parliamentary questions
Alex Fergusson
366 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental vocational training places in Dumfries and Galloway were taken up by Scottish graduates this year.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Three vocational dental practitioners are in post in Dumfries and Galloway forthe training year 2004-05 - one in Dumfries, one in Newton Stewart, and one in Stranraer. These training places have been filled by dentists who graduated outside Scotland.</p><p>In…
17 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental vocational training places were filled this year and, of those places, how many were funded.
Answer · Tom McCabe: From 1 August 2004, 114 new vocational dental practitioners were recruited to join schemes in Scotland. Adding the eight individuals who started in 2003, and who are undertaking vocational training over two years, there are 122 trainees in post.</p><p>All pla…
29 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to monitor the displacement effect on inshore fishing in the south west of Scotland following the proposed extension of the Isle of Man's exclusion 'one to 12 miles.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Isle of Man government’s proposals for revised fisheries management arrangements in the Isle of Man territorial sea will be presented to UK government and devolved administrations on July 29,for further discussion between fishery departments.</p><p>Scotti…
29 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to monitor the effect and effectiveness of the exclusion 'ones covering Luce and Wigtown bays to be introduced under the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing and Fishing Methods) (Scotland) Order 2004 (SSI 2004/276).
Answer · Ross Finnie: A length limit on vessels fishing with creels came into force on 5 July in Luce Bay and Wigtown Bay. The purpose of the restriction was to support thoselocal fishing communities who are dependent on the stocks in the area. The Galloway Static Gear Fishermen’s…
22 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are subject to child protection orders in each region.
Answer · Euan Robson: This information is not centrally held. However, the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration have provided the following information for the month of May 2004. Child Protection Orders can last up to eight days and the number of children subject to an orde…
12 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff working in the NHS are funded through (a) lottery funding and (b) charitable donations.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p>
21 Apr 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to a national envelope for the specialist beef sector within common agricultural policy reform.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive announced its intention to make use of a national envelope for the beefsector in February. We are currently working with stakeholders to design a schemethat addresses both market and environmental issues.</p>
11 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to assess and monitor the number of viable populations and sites of Coenonympha tullia (large heath butterfly), Metrioptera brachyptera (bog bush-cricket), Enteucha acetosae (sorrel pygmy moth), either as a specific project or as part of a wider programme of bio…
Answer · Allan Wilson: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
11 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers (a) it, (b) Scottish Natural Heritage, (c) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and (d) Dumfries and Galloway Council have to intervene if monitoring shows that measures aimed at preserving populations of Coenonympha tullia (large heath butterfly), Metrioptera brachypter…
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive is not awareof any powers relating to those species held by the bodies mentioned.</p>
11 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions Scottish Natural Heritage has surveyed the raised bog at Aucheninnes Moss; what the nature and purpose of each site survey was; whether any survey contained a quantitative assessment of the extent of active bog vegetation, and whether such surveys contained a detaile…
Answer · Allan Wilson: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
11 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5872 by Tavish Scott on 10 February 2004, how many local authorities exercise their right under section 43 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to require anyone carrying on the trade of, or being employed as, a window cleaner in their area to…
Answer · Tavish Scott: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
10 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of reports that the greatest threat to the native red squirrel is the American grey squirrel.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Research has shown thatcompetition from grey squirrels is considered to be the primary threat to Scotland’s redsquirrel population. Other factors such as changes in woodland habitats, thespread of disease and predation by other species also contribute to the …
10 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the relevant authorities in England and Wales in respect of the preservation of the red squirrel.
Answer · Allan Wilson: My officials are in regularcontact with staff in defra andthe Welsh Assembly Government on a number of species related matters, includingred squirrels. Defra officials arefully aware of last month’s launch of the “Scottish Strategy for Red SquirrelConservatio…
10 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to limit the activities of the American grey squirrel.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is looking to the “Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation”, publishedon 18 February 2004 and jointly chaired by Scottish Natural Heritage andthe Forestry Commission, to address the impact of grey squirrels on the redsquirrel po…
10 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to protect the red squirrel.
Answer · Allan Wilson: In partnership with other organisations, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Forestry Commission launchedthe “Scottish Strategy for Red Squirrel Conservation” on 18 February 2004. This identifies specific actions to address threats such as the effect of grey sq…
30 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to explore with companies such as Calor Gas Ltd the possibilities of operating a scheme such as the Staywarm scheme run by Powergen so that rural householders who are unable to access natural gas can benefit from similar easy payment schemes.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: We have no plans to work with energy companies to provide tariffs.The introduction of any such tariff or scheme would be a matter for private companies.</p>
29 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what statutory obligations local authorities have in respect of licensing window cleaners and what discretion they have in exercising such obligations.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Under section 43 of theCivic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 local authorities have an optional powerto require anyone carrying on the trade of, or being employed as, a windowcleaner in their area to obtain a licence. If opting to license windowcleaners, the 1…
28 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of relocating the Accountant in Bankruptcy's office to Ayrshire in 2005, including any estimated redundancy costs.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The cost of relocating the agency to Ayrshire will depend on the exact site chosen and whether it is to be a new or adapted building. The agency has commissioned work to identify options. Since the agency’s staff are employed by the Scottish Executive and are…
28 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that Fosamax, Didronel and Actonel will continue to be available under the NHS for all patients diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Fosmax, Didronel and Actonelare available on NHS prescription. Their use depends on the clinical judgementof the doctor concerned.</p><p>The National Institute forClinical Excellence (NICE) has recently undertaken a consultation on the firstdraft of a technol…
20 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of Caseous Lymphadenitis (CLA) have been recorded in Scotland in each of the last five years and what action it takes when CLA is identified within a sheep flock.
Answer · Allan Wilson: This is not a notifiable disease requiring incidents to be reported; consequently no records are heldcentrally.</p>
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of adoption placements were terminated within the first year with the child returning to temporary foster care in each local authority area in the last year for which figures are available.
Answer · Euan Robson: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken to complete an adoption placement was in each local authority area in the last year for which figures are available.
Answer · Euan Robson: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many adoption placements have been completed in each of the last five years in each local authority area.
Answer · Euan Robson: Figures on adoption placements are not available centrally. The following below gives the number of applications made to court for adoption orders in each of the last five years in each local authority area.</p><table class=MsoTableGrid border=1 cellspacing=0…
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive steps are being taken to reduce administrative delays in the adoption system.
Answer · Euan Robson: The first phase of theExecutive’s adoption policy review published its report in June 2002 and made anumber of recommendations aimed at reducing delay and drift within agencies.These include improving information sharing between agencies, making plans forperm…
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are currently awaiting adoption in each local authority area.
Answer · Euan Robson: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many approved parents are currently awaiting an adoption placement in each local authority area.
Answer · Euan Robson: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
25 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to explore the potential of “combi fuel”.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Our policy is to encourage awide fuel mix in order to meet future energy needs.</p><p>Grant assistance iscurrently available for growing short rotation coppice under the woodland grantscheme and the new Scottish forestry grants scheme. Both schemes are manage…
20 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce top-up grants to encourage the growing of energy crops.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Forestry GrantsScheme (SFGS) currently grant aids short rotation coppice at £600 per hectarefor non set-aside land and £400 per hectare for set-aside land. The scheme isunder constant review and specific elements of the SFGS including the grantsa…
19 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into incidences of bovine tuberculosis in the badger population and whether further research is planned.
Answer · Ross Finnie: No such research has beenundertaken, or is planned in Scotland. The State Veterinary Service in Scotlandmonitors the tuberculosis situation closely. There is no evidence to date ofunexplained local spread or recrudescence of disease, which we would expect tos…
18 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides to enable blood donors to also register as potential bone marrow donors.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The British Bone Marrow Registry(BBMR) is run by the National Blood Service in England on behalf of the English,Scottish and Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Services. </p><p>The Scottish National Blood TransfusionService provide tissue typing in support of…