Parliamentary questions
Andrew Welsh
539 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether future Scotland Rural Development Programme mechanisms under the Common Agricultural Programme after 2013 will provide incentives for food producers who produce food for the local market, use native breeds and integrated farming systems
Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is too early to say what specific measures will be available in the next programming period for the Scotland Rural Development Programme for the period 2014-20. The European Commission has only just embarked on the process to determine the content of the n…
11 Nov 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how and when it will respond to the findings of the Inquiry into Future Support for Agriculture and Rural Development by Brian Pack.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The inquiry was asked to advise on how the Scottish Government''s vision for agriculture could be put into practice in a future farm support system. I would like to pay tribute to Brian Pack and his committee for their excellent work on the inquiry.</b></p> …
5 May 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits will be for employment as a result of the announcement of a £3.2 million new freight facilities grant to Montrose Port Authority.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Decisions on award of Freight Facilities Grant are based on evidence of the environmental benefits which will be generated and the additional costs which will be incurred when transferring freight from road to rail or water. Although this development will und…
21 Jan 2010 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects supporting the environment and rural economy of Angus there have been since 2007; how much was invested in them, and what the employment benefit has been.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Under the Scotland Rural Development Programme around 360 projects have been approved to date in the Tayside Region (which includes Angus) under the Rural Priorities and LEADER delivery mechanisms. It is not always possible to break this information down for …
19 Nov 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it considers the return of the east coast main line to public ownership will affect the Scottish economy.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There should be no effect on the Scottish economy as a result of this change. We have been assured by the Secretary of State for Transport that there will be no impact on passenger services operating within Scotland.</p>
8 Oct 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote alcohol awareness week.
Answer · Shona Robison: <i >This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1008-01.htm">http://www.scott…
21 May 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to its European counterparts in relation to the Scottish Government’s culture policy, particularly regarding Homecoming Scotland and the promotion of the Year of Homecoming across the European Union.
Answer · Michael Russell: I have regular bilateral contact with representatives of European nations. On 11 May 2009, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning hosted a successful cultural reception in Brussels which promoted the Year of Homecoming. On 12 May 2009, I le…
15 Apr 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to extend the teaching of Chinese culture, history and language.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop : <i> This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0423-01.htm">http://www.scott…
22 Jan 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to seek out innovative methods for reducing crime levels locally and nationally.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: Making Scotland safer and stronger will require us all to work together more effectively. The Scottish Government encourages innovation through our sponsorship of national bodies such as the Scottish Business Crime Centre and the Violence Reduction Unit. Thes…
14 Jan 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to the recommendations made in the First Annual Report of the Scottish Council of Economic Advisers: December 2008.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government''s response to the recommendations contained in the <i >First Annual Report of the Scottish Council of Economic Advisers</i> will be published today. Copies of the document have been lodged with Scottish Parliament Information Centre (…
15 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the latest actuarial valuations for the Scottish teachers and NHS pensions schemes.
Answer · John Swinney: Valuation reports prepared by the Government Actuarial Department (GAD) for the Scottish Teachers'' Superannuation Scheme for the period 2001 to 2005 and for the NHS Superannuation Scheme for Scotland for the period 1999 to 2004 have been laid before the Scot…
10 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for the next census.
Answer · John Swinney: We are publishing today a policy statement on our plans for the next census, which we propose will be held on 27 March 2011. Census information is widely used by central and local government and others, in planning future policy and service delivery, as well…
11 Sep 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it is providing for youth organisations to promote positive lifestyles and encourage personal growth and good citizenship among young people.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government provides approximately £3.5 million of funding annually to over 30 national youth work organisations. They provide a wide range of support to promote positive lifestyles and encourage personal growth and good citizenship among young pe…
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to children in Angus and Dundee suffering from dyslexia.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The information requestedis not held centrally.</p><p>However, support andassistance for children with dyslexia is primarily provided through the school educationsystem. The provision of education in Scotland is the responsibility of the appropriatelocal auth…
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for a child to be assessed by an educational psychologist following referral from the Centre for Child Health in Dundee.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Centre for ChildHealth does not normally refer children to educational psychology services. Theappropriate local authority education department is responsible for providing theseservices and referrals are normally from individual schools or parents.</p>
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many educational psychologists are employed in Dundee and Angus.
Answer · Adam Ingram: This information for2006 is published on the Scottish Government website at the following address: <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/27085753/98">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/27085753/98</a>.</p>
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what educational assistance is available in Angus and Dundee for children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The information requestedis not held centrally.</p><p>The provision of educationin Scotland is the responsibility of the appropriate localauthority and Angus Council and Dundee City Council, like all local authorities,are under a statutory duty to ensure that…
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what medical assistance is available in Angus and Dundee for children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Within the frameworkof national guidance, NHS Tayside is responsible for assessing local service needsand for providing services to meet these needs. I understand that children who havebeen diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and are on me…
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether age is taken into consideration in prioritising appointments at the Centre for Child Health in Dundee.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The health care professionalsinvolved in referring children to the Centre and those receiving referrals willtake into account a number of factors, including age, in determining priority inindividual cases. However, clinical need and the degree of risk is the …
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the waiting list priorities are at the Centre for Child Health in Dundee.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Clinical need as assessedby the appropriate health care professionals involved is the main factor that determinespriorities. Children or young people at the highest clinical risk will have thehighest clinical priority. The centre will also take account of oth…
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what follow-up system there is for children following assessment at the Centre for Child Health in Dundee.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Tayside and thehealth care professionals providing services at the centre are responsible for determiningand arranging any follow-up action required on the basis of an assessment of individualpatients’ specific needs for care and treatment. Action will de…
7 Dec 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is from GP referral to formal assessment for children at the Centre for Child Health in Dundee.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Waiting times in individualcases depend on the degree of urgency based on the clinical judgement of the healthcare professionals involved. Children whose needs are urgent will be seen quicklyand before those whose needs are more routine.</p><p>The management …
19 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is with regard to the (a) angling and (b) netting industries.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executives policy is that where there is a harvestablesurplus, all who have the legal right to fish or written permission from a personhaving such right should continue to be allowed to fish.</p>
19 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to salmon netting rights that are the subject of private heritable title, why no compensation has been offered to those owners for measures that have had a substantial impact on the profitability of such operations.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive understands that what is being referredto is compensation in respect of the Salmon (Weekly Close Time) (Scotland) Regulations1988. In such case, no compensation has been offered because the Executive considersthat no right to compensati…
19 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the extension of the weekly close time for salmon fishing in 1988 applied only to netting interests and not to angling interests.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: At that time nets were taking 75-80% of the total catch of salmonand grilse. Extending the weekly close time for nets would effect a greater reductionin exploitation than extending the weekly close time for salmon fishing by rod andline. The government of the…
19 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the extension of the weekly close time for salmon fishing in 1988, how the Executive defines the term “general conservation grounds” and what scientific evidence existed at that time to support the case for extension.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: As there is no definition of thisterm in the relevant legislation, the words must take their normal meaning. the Scottish Office in 1988 considered that general conservation grounds in relationto salmon were that there were declining numbers of salmon returni…
19 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many commercial salmon netting stations were in operation when records began.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: These data are not collected as partof the annual survey of salmon and sea trout catches, as an operator of more thanone fishery may combine catches in a single return. However, the number of returnsmade in respect of netting stations (excluding nil returns) …
19 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many commercial salmon netting stations are in operation, also expressed as a proportion of the number in operation when records began.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: These data are not collected as partof the annual survey of salmon and sea trout catches, as an operator of more thanone fishery may combine catches in a single return. However, the number of returnsmade in respect of netting stations (excluding nil returns) …
19 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many commercial salmon netting stations are in operation and, of these, how many are in private ownership.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: These data are not collected as partof the annual survey of salmon and sea trout catches, as an operator of more thanone fishery may combine catches in a single return. However, the number of returnsmade in respect of netting stations (excluding nil returns) …
8 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what extra funding it plans to allocate to Angus Council for the provision of sites for Travelling People.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: In April 2006 Angus Council wasawarded a grant of £98,000 in 2006-07 and £564,000 in 2007-08 for the redevelopmentof its Gypsy/Travellers site at Tayock. There are no plans to allocate any additionalfunding.</p>