Alex Fergusson

2 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what method will be employed to remove hedgehogs from Uist and Benbecula; what professional or consultant's advice has been sought, and from whom, and when, Scottish Natural Heritage has sought advice on the predation problems caused by hedgehogs.

Answer · Allan Wilson: No decision has been made on whether or how hedgehogs might be removed from the Uists and Benbecula, although action is required to address the serious threat to the internationally important population of ground nesting wading birds on these islands. Researc…

11 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines have been issued to local authority social work departments regarding provision for (a) housebound and (b) bedbound sufferers of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Local authorities are required to provide services to all individuals who need social work services in their areas and who may require community care services under the terms of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. That would include those who suffer from mya…

11 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that adequate postgraduate education on the diagnosis and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is available to the medical profession.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Postgraduate education for hospital doctors requiring additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of such conditions will be delivered through Continuous Professional Development programmes, which are organised and approved by the medical Royal College…

11 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent studies it has undertaken in order to estimate recovery rates from myalgic encephalomyelitis(ME)/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Executive does not itself carry out research studies, but may fund NHS and academic bodies to do so. No recent studies into recovery rates from ME/CFS have been funded.

11 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25608 by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 May 2002, how many children have been diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome in hospitals in each of the last five years.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The following table shows numbers of people under 18 seen as in-patients and day patients and discharged with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. Figures for those seen as out-patients are not available.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING…

11 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-11358 by Susan Deacon on 11 December 2000 and S1W-24580 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 April 2002, why #135,000 was allocated to the epidemiological study of unexplained motor symptoms, given the Executive's position on the value of epidemiological stud…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Question S1W-11358 was specifically about ME/CFS, for which there is at present no independently validated diagnostic test. The epidemiological study will determine the annual incidence of patients with unexplained motor symptoms presenting to a neurological …

11 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24579 by Malcolm Chisholm on 22 April 2002, whether myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome is included in the psychiatric research studies into "medically unexplained symptoms" and whether it will list all named medical conditions that ar…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The criteria for inclusion in the research are: unexplained motor symptoms, medically unexplained neurological symptoms, and frequent referral from primary to secondary care for medically unexplained symptoms. They are based on the absence of conventionally d…

4 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether joint applications are still permitted under the Farm Business Development (Scotland) Scheme and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish Statutory Instrument (Scotland) number (2001 No. 259), which sets the statutory rules for the Farm Business Development Scheme (FBDS), legislates for the submission of single project applications attracting a maximum grant of £25,000, or for collabor…

1 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) approval rate for each type of project grant, (b) amount of grant for each type of project as a percentage of the total amount paid out, (c) actual amount paid out for each type of project, and (d) number of approved applications which have been progressed to implementation …

Answer · Ross Finnie: The first Farm Business Development Scheme (FBDS) projects were approved in November 2001 and since that date 257 projects have been approved. The following table provides a detailed breakdown, by area, of those projects: <P>Table 1 - Numbers of FBDS Projects…

5 Jun 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce legislation similar to the TSE (England) Regulations 2002.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The TSE (Scotland) Regulations 2002, SSI No 2002/255, which implement Community legislation, were signed then laid before the Parliament on 29 May. These controls come into force on 19 June.

8 May 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authority education departments regarding school policy for supporting pupils with ME or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive issued the document <I>Guidance on Education of Children Absent from School Through Ill-Health </I>on 19 December 2001. The information and advice contained in the document is applicable to all children, including those children with ME…

1 May 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether timber is an asset to the rural economy.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Timber is indeed a significant asset to the rural economy and we look forward to it having an increasing impact. The forestry industry in Scotland currently employs over 10,000 people, most of whom live in rural areas. The industry will, however, develop as t…

19 Mar 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to relevant authorities in Northern Ireland about the environmental impact of the proposed opencast lignite mine and power station near Ballymoney, County Antrim.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with relevant officials in Northern Ireland on a variety of air quality issues. These contacts have included discussions about the opencast lignite mine and power station near Ballymoney, the proposals for which ar…

8 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the scientific findings by Professor Emeritus John Robinson of the Scottish Agricultural College, Aberdeen of 29 November 1991 that in typical weather conditions 10% of the national sheepflock could die over the lambing season as a result of the current ban on fishmeal …

Answer · Ross Finnie: While the findings of Professor Robinson are of some interest, there are alternative sources of protein commercially available to producers that would prevent losses of this nature.

8 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to have the current ban on fishmeal in ruminant feedstuff lifted.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17515 on 22 August 2001.<P>Once such a test is developed and fully validated, the Executive will seek to have the current EU prohibition on the use of fishmeal in ruminant feedstuffs lifted at the earlies…

30 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to revise the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive announced in November 2000 that it would be reviewing the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme and the Woodland Grant Scheme. The review is focusing on changes necessary to deliver priorities identified in the Scottish Forestry Strategy as well…

29 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what protection is offered to privately operated rifle ranges and clay pigeon shoots and their surrounding danger areas within the access provisions of the draft Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Under section 6(f)(ii) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill access rights would not be exercisable over land which has been developed or set out for a particular recreational purpose while in use for that purpose.

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many search warrants were issued to Dumfries and Galloway Police in each month from 1 January 2000 to 30 November 2001.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The following table gives details of search warrants issued to Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary during the period July 2000 to November 2001. Figures prior to July 2000 are not available as they were not held centrally.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDIN…

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value of sei'ures made by the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency in Dumfries and Galloway was at 30 November 2001.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Operations undertaken by the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency in the Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary area have resulted in the seizure of controlled drugs with an estimated street value of just over £860,000.

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations have been undertaken in Dumfries and Galloway by the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency to date.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Since the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency was formally launched on 1 June 2000, it has been involved in five joint operations relating to serious crime with Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary.

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police hours have been spent on secondment from the Dumfries and Galloway Police to the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency to date.

Answer · Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally.

14 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for match funding have been made by Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board to it, Scottish Enterprise and other agencies; how many applications were successful; how many applications were unsuccessful, and whether it will detail the reasons why applications were unsucc…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board (DGTB) have, to date, put forward five applications for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the South of Scotland Objective 2 2000-06 Programme.<P>Of the five applications, three were submitted to the first roun…

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has made available to (a) Dumfries and Galloway and (b) Borders Council to offset any increase in registration fees for residential care homes and whether such funding has been ring-fenced.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The new Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care will take over responsibility for registering and inspecting care homes from 1 April 2002. In calculating the transfer of resources from the local government settlement to the new commission, account was …

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what comparisons exist between the exam results achieved by primary schools of less than 150 pupils and those with more than 150 pupils and what any such comparative results show for each local authority area.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: <P>In June of each year, the Scottish Executive conducts a survey to collect information on the highest 5-14 attainment level achieved by publicly funded primary and secondary pupils in reading, writing and mathematics. This survey provides a &quot;snapshot&q…

17 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it assesses the distinct educational needs of children in remote and rural areas to ensure that an appropriate quality of services is provided.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000 requires that local authorities provide education directed to achieving the fullest potential of the child or young person. The distribution of resources from the Executive to support local authorities takes a…

26 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is in its discussions with CoSLA on the procedures for the closure of rural schools.

Answer · Jack McConnell: CoSLA has been giving consideration to preparing a code of practice on school closures in response to a recommendation by the Parliament's Education, Culture and Sport Committee. This has been a matter for CoSLA, and the Executive has not been engaged in disc…

12 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to compensate farmers whose cattle went over 30 months of age during the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and were consequently prevented from entering the food chain.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I appreciate the impact which the necessary foot-and-mouth disease restrictions have had on farming business and that, despite the efforts made to avoid feeding cattle being retained until they were over 30 months, this has been unavoidable in some instances.…

5 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it envisages any changes in the financial assistance available to small businesses following its recent impact study of the effect of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has already announced a number of measures and has made available significant resources to help alleviate the immediate hardship and distress being experienced by individuals and businesses as a result of the foot-and-mouth disease outb…

15 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) regarding the payment, as a matter of urgency, of sums owed by DEFRA to auctioneers, valuers and others who were involved in the valuation and cull of livestock during the foot-and-mouth dise…

Answer · Ross Finnie: We are in the process of making payments to valuers in Scotland on behalf of DEFRA. In other cases which are disputed we are in discussion with DEFRA about representations we have received, but final decisions are a matter for DEFRA.

26 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what response it made at the European Union Agriculture Council meeting on 19 June 2001 in relation to the proposal of the Netherlands delegation on the transportation of livestock.

Answer · Ross Finnie: At the Scottish Executive's request, the UK delegation did not support the Netherlands proposal at the Agriculture Council on 19 June 2001. Further work is now being carried out on the proposal.