Parliamentary questions
Andrew Welsh
539 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much treated sewage sludge was applied to agricultural land last year and how much is expected to be applied this year.
Answer · Ross Finnie: About 12,500 tonnes of dry solids were applied last year and it is estimated that about 30,500 tonnes of dry solids will be applied this year.
10 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to ensure that no local authority roads have a level of skidding resistance lower than the investigatory level set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: It is entirely a matter for each council, as the local roads authority for its area, to take the appropriate action.
10 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is being provided to bring any areas of Scotland's road network which have a level of skidding resistance lower than the investigatory level set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges up to this standard.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: During 2000-01, £3.78 million was spent on applying skidding resistance treatments to the trunk road network. It is important to note that the fact that a section of road is below the investigatory level does not necessarily mean it is unsafe or requires imme…
10 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to identify any areas of Scotland's road network which have a level of skidding resistance lower than the investigatory level set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The skidding resistance of the whole of the trunk road network is measured every two years. The results of the survey are then compared against the investigatory levels set out in the <I>Design Manual for Roads and Bridges</I>. Those sections of trunk road wh…
10 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Scotland's road network has a level of skidding resistance lower than the investigatory level set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The percentage of Scotland's trunk road network which has a skidding resistance lower than the investigatory levels as set out in the <I>Design Manual for Roads and Bridges</I> is 13.7%.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Local roads are the responsibility of local authoritie…
6 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what response it will make to the report by Dr Andrew Walker of the Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, Hospital Acquired Infection - What is the cost in Scotland? and what further action it plans to take.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Measures are already in hand to tackle health care associated infection in Scotland. NHS Trusts must ensure that adequate infection control arrangements, based on Health Department guidance, are in place. At my request the Clinical Standards Board for Scotlan…
5 Sep 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to support the Angus economy.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish Enterprise Tayside are pursuing a wide range of activities to support the Angus economy, acting in partnership with Angus Council and other organisations and agencies. These activities include providing assistance to help the growth of local business…
4 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what current and future targets have been set for recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: There are no such targets. However, the proposed EC Directive currently under discussion on waste electrical and electronic equipment contains recycling targets of 50-80% within overall recovery targets of 7080%, depending on the nature of the waste product t…
4 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a producer responsibility for electrical and electronic products whereby producers bear the responsibility for the collection of end-of-life products and ensure that any waste is disposed of in an environmentally acceptable way.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive intends to introduce a system of producer responsibility when the terms of the proposed European Community Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment have been finalised. It is too early to say what the nature of this collection and …
4 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take following the report of its Central Research Unit, Determination of the Source, Nature, Amount and Disposal Routes of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Arising in Scotland.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive commissioned this research to inform its consideration of the proposed European Community Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment. When the terms of the directive have been finalised and a potentially suitable means of implementin…
25 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to encourage the recycling of farm plastics.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: In line with the <I>National Waste Strategy: Scotland</I>, adopted in 1999, it is the Executive's policy to promote reduction, re-use and recovery (including recycling) of waste where possible. The Executive supports two initiatives to create and develop mark…
25 Jun 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is being made available to the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution to allow it to continue its farm plastic recycling project.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is not at present providing funding to the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution for the recycling of farm plastics. However, there are possible sources of funding from the Executive and the institution has been made aware …
20 Jun 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in cutting NHS waiting lists.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have already announced that reducing waiting times is our key priority because waiting times are important to the public and less waiting can improve the quality of clinical care. <P>We have already set a maximum six month waiting time for in-patient and da…
20 Jun 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations have been made for the introduction of EC Regulation 2037/2000 concerning the recycling of refrigerators and free'ers.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The new requirement that ozone-depleting substances in the foam insulation of fridges have to be recovered during disposal is proving a complicated problem for the UK and other EC countries. The Executive has been working closely with other Government Departm…
20 Jun 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the extent of bullying of NHS staff.
Answer · Susan Deacon: New Dignity at Work guidance was issued to the service in January, which made clear that bullying in the NHS is not acceptable. Data on the number of incidents of aggression and harassment are due to be collected for the first time over the summer. The data s…
18 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to take forward case studies or pilot projects similar to those detailed in the report of the European Commission funded project on verifying and strengthening rural access to transport services (VIRGIL).
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive would welcome applications to the Rural Community Transport Initiative for projects that aimed to make innovative use of telematics such as those outlined in the VIRGIL report.<P>The Scottish Executive has commissioned research into the…
18 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to fund any pilot projects on the use of telematics in demand-responsive rural public transport services.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive provides funding to local authorities through the Rural Public Passenger Transport grant which authorities may use for demand-responsive public transport services if they wish. It would be for authorities to decide whether to use part o…
18 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any demand-responsive rural public transport schemes that have included the use of telematics, specifying in each case how telematics were used.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I am not aware of any demand-responsive public transport schemes in Scotland that have included the use of telematics. I am aware that a number of local authorities and community groups are considering using telematics for this purpose.
18 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any demand-responsive rural public transport schemes that it has funded.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive provides funding to local authorities through the Rural Public Passenger Transport grant which authorities may use for demand-responsive public transport services if they wish. I am aware that East Lothian Council has used part of its f…
18 May 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific communications it has had with the European Commission with regard to improving rural transport.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive, together with the UK Government, is in contact with the European Commission from time to time to discuss a broad range of transport issues including rural transport such as public service obligations on lifeline air and ferry routes.
18 Apr 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what sources of central government funding are available for any proposed new hospital in Angus.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Health Department will assess any Business Case received from NHS Tayside for the provision of a new local hospital in Angus.<P>All available funding routes should be fully explored at the capital planning stage.<P>But - as the Deputy Minister for Health …
6 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding will be made available for the development of any new hospital facility in Angus.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The level of funding which will be made available for the development of a new hospital facility in Angus will be determined by the business case which NHS Tayside will submit to the Health Department in due course.
4 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is funding, or plans to fund, any projects investigating the viability of hydrogen as a fuel for motor vehicles and, if so, whether it will provide details.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Research and development in this area is a reserved matter. The UK Government has allocated £9 million for the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions' new vehicle technology fund, and will be consulting later this year on its strategy to support…
4 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to encourage the use of hydrogen as a source of fuel for heating, power generation and transport.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Responsibility for policy and funding of research and development into new renewables technologies is a reserved matter. The development and demonstration of fuel cells as a source of heating, in power generation and in transport were included in DTI's most r…
4 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to encourage the use of solar energy.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Research and development with respect to renewable energy technologies is a reserved matter, and is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry. A DTI White Paper published earlier this year included a major initiative aimed at expanding the use of solar p…
30 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14131 by Susan Deacon on 29 March 2001, whether it will name the members of the sub-group of the Health Department's Advisory Group on Infection and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The members are:<P>Dr David Old (Chairman), Chairman, Advisory Group on Infection (recently retired Reader in Medical Microbiology and Consultant Microbiologist, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School)<P>Professor Sebastien Amyes, Head of Department, Medical M…
28 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the pilot projects providing free fruit and vegetables for pre-school and primary pupils will be assessed.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14557.
28 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many primary school children are covered by the pilot projects in which children are provided with free fruit and vegetables.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14557.
27 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost to provide free fruit for all primary school children.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: As part of their allocations from the £26 million Health Improvement Fund, health boards are tasked with supporting the provision of fruit to infants, and breakfast clubs and fruit/salad bars in schools according to local needs.<P>A reliable estimate of the c…
27 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the pilot projects in which primary school children are provided with free fruit and vegetables are costing.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-14557.