Parliamentary questions
Alex Salmond
122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has given to health boards and health trusts regarding the treatment of osteoporosis.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Health boards and NHS Trusts devise strategies for the care of patients with a wide variety of conditions, including osteoporosis. They are best suited to determine the services which are required to meet the needs of their local population, within available …
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what has been the number of cases of E.coli 0157 in Scotland in each of the last five years.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The numbers of confirmed cases of E.coli 0157 reported by laboratories to the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health were: -<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=139><TR><TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">1995</TD><TD WI…
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it gave local authorities following the investigation into the E.coli 0157 outbreak at MacDuff Primary School, Banffshire in 1999.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Executive produced a food safety leaflet for distribution to voluntary groups, churches, schools and nurseries. Copies were sent to all local authorities in December and January for local distribution.
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it held with local authorities following the E.coli 0157 outbreak at Macduff Primary School, Banffshire in 1999.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Food Standards Agency confirmed that no discussions were held with local authorities since legal action was under consideration. A short life working group to consider food poisoning outbreaks, food incidents and product recalls in Scotland associated wit…
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement the Food Standards Agency has in the recent outbreak of E.coli 0157 in north-east Scotland.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Grampian Health Board set up and chaired an Outbreak Control Team to manage the outbreak of <I>E. coli</I> O157 at New Deer. This Outbreak Control Team kept the Food Safety Unit of SERAD Division A fully informed of the status of the outbreak as the Scientifi…
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with the Food Standards Agency in connection with the recent outbreak of E.coli 0157 in north-east Scotland.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Food Safety Unit of SERAD Division A kept the Food Standards Agency Scotland fully informed of the progress of the <I>E. coli </I>outbreak at New Deer. They forwarded information on a daily basis during the outbreak to Dr George Paterson, Director, FSA Sc…
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has made available in each of the last five financial years for research into E.coli 0157.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The table below lists the funding given by both the Health Department Chief Scientist Office and the Rural Affairs Department in the last five financial years.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=444><TR><TD WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Financial Ye…
9 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what priority it attaches to research into the causes of E.coli 0157 and the recent instances in Scotland and, in particular, north-east Scotland.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Research into E.coli 0157 remains a priority for the Executive. The Food Standards Agency, which was established in April, has an important role to play in minimising the risk of E.coli 0157 infection. That is why the Scottish arm of the Agency has recently e…
8 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken in response to the recent outbreak of E.coli 0157 in north-east Scotland.
Answer · Susan Deacon: In accordance with their respective responsibilities, Grampian Health Board and Aberdeenshire Council have been investigating the outbreak of infection among young people who attended the Cub and Scout Camp at the New Deer Agricultural Showground over 26 …
5 Jun 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to reply to question S1W-5968 lodged on 4 April 2000.
Answer · John Home Robertson: PQ S1W-5968 was answered on 6 June.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Rural Affairs will reply to my letter dated 18 April 2000 regarding my constituent Mr Noden.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The reply to which you refer was sent on 31 May 2000.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs will reply to my letter regarding my constituent Peter Strachan.
Answer · John Home Robertson: I replied to Mr Salmond's letters of 22 March and 1 May on 4 April and 5 June respectively.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Lord Advocate will reply to my letters of 13 March and 20 April 2000.
Answer · Colin Boyd: I replied to your two letters on Monday 5 June 2000.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from fire brigades on the policy of water authorities in rural areas to reduce pressure in water mains, and thereby the flow, in order to reduce losses through leakage and what assessment has been made of the effects which this could have on the abilit…
Answer · Angus MacKay: I have received no representations from fire brigades on this matter, either directly or through the Scottish Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council.
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to underwrite local authority costs in relation to coastal clean up operations in view of the high costs associated with the MV Braer and MV Sea Empress.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Several arrangements are already in place to support local authorities confronted by the financial consequences of responding to oil pollution incidents of the magnitude of the <I>Braer</I> and <I>Sea Empress.</I> The Executive will liaise closely with any lo…
30 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking, following the publication of the National Contingency Plan for marine pollution from shipping and offshore installations, to introduce statutory responsibility with allocated funding for local authorities such as Aberdeenshire to test pollution response contingen…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) is responsible for maintaining the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations. The Merchant Shipping A…
25 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is available to people with disabilities for the purpose of starting a company in the field of e-commerce.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The disabled have full access to all the assistance schemes available, and will be given every help to start up a business. There is no extra financial assistance generally available to people with disabilities for the purpose of starting a company in the fie…
10 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5046 by Ross Finnie on 31 March 2000, whether it will detail how many applications under the Countryside Premium Scheme from each Rural Affairs Department Area Office were successful in the years 1997, 1998 and 1999.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The numbers of successful Countryside Premium Scheme applications for each Rural Affairs Department Area Office in 1997, 1998 and 1999 are shown below:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="34%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="2…
4 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the relationship between the trading of fish quotas and the legal concept of ownership and whether there are any legal implications that may arise from quota trading.
Answer · John Home Robertson: We are in the process of consulting the fishing industry to ascertain their views on the development of trade in fish quotas and the need for guidance on legal entitlement to quotas and licences under present legislation.<P>The first meeting of a working grou…
4 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its proposed Housing Bill will contain provisions on the statutory right to participate and whether it will give details.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive has commissioned the Tenants Information Service to undertake a feasibility study into whether and how a statutory right to participate might be introduced in Scotland. The Tenants Information Service has been asked to consult with both tenant a…
4 Apr 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when improvement work will commence on the A90 at Hatton.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The detailed design work for the improvement scheme at A90 Hatton Bends will be completed by the end of this year. It is anticipated that, subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory procedures, work will commence on site in 2001-02.
28 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Finance will reply to the letter of 2 February 2000 from the member for Banff and Buchan regarding his constituent Mr A Davie.
Answer · Jack McConnell: I replied to the member for Banff and Buchan on 31 March.
28 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Health and Community Care will reply to the letter from the member for Banff and Buchan dated 12 November 1999 regarding Mr Robertson.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I am giving careful consideration to the issues raised in your letter of 12 November, particularly in relation to the new butcher's licensing arrangements announced recently, and will respond shortly.
22 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce an early retirement package for farmers as set out in EC Regulation 1750/1999 as introduced by the Agenda 2000 Common Agricultural Policy.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Early retirement schemes are not mandatory on member states, and I have no plans to implement a scheme in Scotland.
13 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs will reply to my letter of 29 October 1999 concerning Whitehills harbour, Banffshire.
Answer · John Home Robertson: I responded to Mr Salmond's letter of 29 October 1999 on 15 March 2000. In my reply I apologised for the length of time it had taken to deal with this correspondence. And I take this opportunity to re-iterate that apology. Procedures for the handling of MSPs …
6 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a breakdown of the distribution of applications received under the Countryside Premium Scheme or equivalent, by Rural Affairs Department region, in each of the last three years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The numbers of Countryside Premium Scheme applications received by the Rural Affairs Department's Area Offices in each of the last three years is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="32%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER"…
3 Mar 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take in response to the representations received from Aberdeenshire Council regarding the INTERREG III Programme and the need to address any potential difficulties which local authorities may encounter in attempting to take advantage of this scheme.
Answer · Donald Dewar: The precise arrangements for INTERREG III Programmes have yet to be finalised with the European Commission. However, in the light of the general principle that European Structural Funds grants are additional to local beneficiaries, there seems no reason why A…
7 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations local authorities have to provide an assessment of needs for school pupils with learning difficulties and at what frequency such assessments should be undergone.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Education authorities have a duty under section 1 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to secure the adequate and efficient provision of school education for their area, including special educational needs. In order to fulfil these duties, authorities must es…
13 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the total amount of funding committed by the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department to the Countryside Premium Scheme in the current financial year and how this compares with the previous five years in this or equivalent schemes.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The funding committed to the Countryside Premium Scheme (CPS) in 1999-2000 is £7.169 million; £6.029 is to ongoing commitments and £1.140 to new commitments. This is in addition to an ongoing commitment of £0.441 million to participants remaining in previous …
13 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Rural Affairs will make a statement on the continuation of the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme and the Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme after 31 December 1999.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive announced on 3 December that it would continue to accept and process applications for both schemes. There will however be a delay in granting approvals until the Scottish Rural Development Plan is approved by the European Commission. Th…