Parliamentary questions

Alex Neil

3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

7 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) neurosurgeons and (b) neurologists have been employed in each NHS board area each year since 1990.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requestedhas been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number39857).

7 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with autism, with or without mental health problems in addition to their autism, have been confined in mental health institutions in each of the last five years and what the (a) average and (b) longest length of confinement was for patients with autism in mental health fac…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The informationrequested is not available centrally.

7 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with autism have been refused referral, consultation or treatment by (a) a gastroenterologist, (b) an immunologist or (c) a toxicologist in each of the last five years.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is not heldcentrally.

5 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the findings have been of any investigations, undertaken by it, the police or any Executive agency or supported agency, or in which these bodies have co-operated, into the process known as extraordinary rendition.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: It is for the police tomount an investigation if information comes to light which they regard ascredible and reliable and indicating that criminal offences may have beencommitted. To date they have not mounted any such investigation: hence thereare no finding…

5 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there have been for rape in each of the last 20 years.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information isgiven in the following table.Persons with a Charge Provedfor Rape1 in Scottish Courts, 1985-86 to 2004-05<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td nowrap valign=bottom> <p align=center…

2 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has monitored traffic flow on the A80 at the upgraded Auchenkilns intersection to assess any improvement since the roundabout was replaced by a grade-separated junction and, in particular, whether issues have arisen as a result of tailbacks on the M73 at its junction with the A…

Answer · Tavish Scott: Traffic patterns on the A80 havebeen monitored since completion of the Auchenkilns Improvement scheme. The surveydata indicates significant travel time savings and that these savings are attractingtrips off the secondary road network. The scheme is therefore …

2 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the sector skills councils operating in Scotland, also indicating those with headquarters in Scotland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: All Sector Skills Councils (SSCs)operate in Scotland as they have a UK wide remit to help reduce skills gaps and shortages,improve productivity and performance, increase opportunities in the workforceand improve learning supply. A full list of all 25 Sector S…

2 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the Skills for Business review being undertaken by the Executive and the Sector Skills Development Agency.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We wrote to all ScottishStakeholders, the Chief Executives of the Sector Skills Councils and theirScottish Representatives in October 2005 to inform them of our intention tocarry out an Evaluation of the Skills for Business Network jointly with theSector Skil…

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24768 by Cathy Jamieson on 20 April 2006 and given that the way in which statements by politicians are reported is a matter for the media, whether it considers that the Sunday Mail coverage on 26 February 2006 of the Minister for Justice’s statement …

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have nothing to add to my answerto question S2W-24768 on 20 April 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24679 by Cathy Jamieson on 24 April 2006, why it has not stated whether or not it believes it to be in the public interest that a definitive view should be established in respect of the legality of the process of “extraordinary rendition” in both Sco…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: There is nothing I can usefullyadd to my answer to question S2W-24679 on 24 April 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliame…

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24680 by Cathy Jamieson on 20 April 2006, whether it received all its communications in relation to “extraordinary rendition” subsequent to 21 November 2005.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-26464 on 19 June 2006. All answersto written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.s…

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24680 by Cathy Jamieson on 20 April 2006, how many communications, other than those in the form of written parliamentary questions, it has received on the subject of “extraordinary rendition”; who initiated each communication, and what the Executive'…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to theresponses made by the Scottish Executive to recent requests under freedom ofinformation legislation, which will be available as from 19 June on theExecutive’s website. The material published there includes all relevantcommunications t…

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24647 by Cathy Jamieson on 4 April 2006, why it has not passed to the police any allegations brought to its attention regarding the possibility that US agencies have used Scottish airports as refuelling stops for flights engaged in the process of “ex…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: It is the responsibility ofthose making allegations, and believing themselves in possession of relevantinformation, to refer the matter to the police. The Executive has repeatedlyadvised anyone with relevant information to pass it to the police.

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24473 by Cathy Jamieson on 13 April 2006, how it reconciles the statement that no credible or reliable information exists regarding the facilitation of “extraordinary rendition” flights through Scottish airports by US agencies with its statement, in …

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: In my answer to questionS2W-24473, I explained that no enquiry could be undertaken in response tounsubstantiated allegations. It is not for me to say whether allegations can besubstantiated; but to date no law enforcement agency in Scotland,having examined th…

1 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24478 by Cathy Jamieson on 13 April 2006, what the nature has been of “other enquiries”, rather than parliamentary questions, in respect of “extraordinary rendition”.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Such other enquiries as we havereceived have mainly taken the form of official or ministerial correspondence orenquiries from the media, whose handling has naturally involved some internal discussion.There have also been two enquiries under freedom of informa…

31 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of the First Minister's commitment to establish an environmental justice fund for Greengairs.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In Choosing Our Future,the Scottish Sustainable Development Strategy published in December 2005, the Executivenoted that complex funding streams caused problems for those seeking to promotelocal environmental regeneration projects. The Executive is rev…

31 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been notified of a change of ownership of the site in the Greengairs area which is the subject of a planning application by Eden Waste Recycling Ltd for a landfill site.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The Executive is aware of reportsthat Eden Waste Recycling Ltd has sold its recycling business and associated assetsto Shanks, and is currently seeking further information from the parent Company,Murray International Holdings Ltd, about the status of the Dalm…

31 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of the planning application by Eden Waste Recycling Ltd for a landfill site in the Greengairs area.

Answer · Johann Lamont: A formal decision has not yetbeen issued. A completed Section 75 legal agreement was submitted to Scottish ministersfor consideration, but as there were a number of issues of concern regarding thedocument’s content and enforceability it has been returned to N…

31 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of its expenditure and that of its agencies in the Greengairs area of Lanarkshire in the current year and in each of the last three financial years.

Answer · Tom McCabe: This information is not collectedcentrally.

30 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-25741 by Lewis Macdonald on 22 May 2006, what the series of questions are that a health professional must ask before administering the MMR vaccine and to whom these questions must be posed.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Health professionals will aska number of questions before administering any vaccine.In the case of MMR the child’sparent or guardian will be asked a number of questions which will include the following:Is the child well today and doeshe or she h…

30 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it now expects to make an announcement in respect of the report of the local inquiry into the proposed online upgrade of the A80 and what the reasons are for any delay in this announcement and in making the report publicly available.

Answer · Tavish Scott: It is extremely important thatScottish ministers give careful consideration to the report of the public localinquiry prior to reaching their decision.This process is at an advancedstage and it is anticipated that a decision will be issued soon. The rep…

25 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who has responsibility for monitoring adverse reactions to drugs and vaccines.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Medicines and Healthcareproducts Regulatory Agency and the Commission on Human Medicines run the UK’s adversedrug (including vaccines) reaction reporting scheme, the Yellow Card Scheme.Guidance on the reporting ofsuspected adverse drug reactions is…

25 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it regularly seeks information from Her Majesty’s Government in respect of the quantity of oil, condensate and gas produced from the sector of the North Sea under Scottish jurisdiction.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Oil and gas production is a matterreserved to the UK government.The Scottish Executive receivesinformation about oil and gas production from a range of sources, including throughthe DTI’s quarterly Energy Trends publication. This contains data a…

23 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the law officers have attended a political party fundraising event in an official capacity since January 2000 and, if so, in which year, for which political party and for what purpose.

Answer · Colin Boyd: Neither the current SolicitorGeneral nor I have attended such an event since taking up our current positions.No records are held by the Executive on attendance by previous incumbents.

22 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much land has been designated, or has had planning permission granted, for future housing development, broken down by local authority area, and how much of this land is designated as part of a green belt.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The Scottish Executive doesnot hold this information centrally. It would be for individual planningauthorities to record land allocated for housing in their development plans.