Questions · Andrew Welsh

13 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to appoint an official to promote equine matters within the rural economy.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The equine industry can play an important role in improving the rural economy. The Scottish Executive is working with VisitScotland and the Enterprise Networks to support the development of the rural economy. These activities cannot realistically be the respo…

13 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to fill nursing vacancies in Tayside.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Responsibility for recruitment lies with NHS trusts as employers. The Facing the Future group, established in 2001 and chaired by me, supports trusts in this role and has introduced a range of initiatives to aid recruitment and retention of nurses and midwive…

12 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether businesses in Arbroath that are dependent on the white fish sector will benefit from the temporary rates relief measures announced on 11 March 2003.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The measures announced on 11 March will apply to any business which can demonstrate reliance on a port where more than 20% of the value of the landings is represented by whitefish. Ports which have vessels eligible for the transitional support available to th…

12 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will decide what action, if any, should be taken regarding the statutory arrangements for controlling entry to NHS pharmaceutical lists.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34455 on 13 March. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

28 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution the equine industry makes to the rural economy.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Information on the contribution of the equine industry to the rural economy is not currently available.

19 Feb 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to promote the equine industry in (a) Angus and (b) Scotland.

Answer · Mike Watson: The Executive, through its various agencies, stands ready to assist where it can the development of any industry.

7 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of emergency category A responses has been within eight minutes in each NHS board area since the introduction of priority-based dispatch.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The priority-based dispatch system is scheduled to be rolled out across Scotland by 2004. The system was introduced into the south east of Scotland on 1 August 2002, and into the Tayside area on 30 September. Officials from the Scottish Executive's Health Dep…

7 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest response times are for ambulances responding to emergency calls in Carnoustie and the rest of the Angus area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer to the answer given to S1W-33912 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.sco…

4 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether housing and regeneration budgets will be affected by industrial action by fire service personnel.

Answer · Andy Kerr: No.

4 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of industrial action by fire service personnel has been to date and from which budget this cost has been met.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Provision was made in the Spring Revision to the Budget Bill laid before Parliament on 30 January for £18.5 million. This is the estimated cost of providing emergency cover for the fire dispute based on this being necessary to the end of the financial year. P…

29 Jan 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact recent proposals from the European Commission on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will have on farming.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Any assessment of the impact of the recent proposals to reform the CAP is dependent upon the detail of the provisions. Much of this is only becoming available in on-going working group discussions in Brussels.<P>My main concern is that decoupling, which break…

13 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to reconfigure coronary care services at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There are no plans at the moment to reconfigure coronary care services at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

13 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31889 by Malcolm Chisholm on 5 December 2002, at what peak times the cardiac response unit (CRU) operates.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The peak times during which the CRU operates have been identified through the analysis of relevant clinical data, and are continually monitored to ensure the CRU can meet the predicted demand. The CRU currently operates between the hours of 8am and 8pm, Monda…

13 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the allocations to local authorities for the storage, transportation and disposal of disused fridges and free'ers in the light of the demand for service.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive has made two allocations of specific grant and in each case consulted local authorities beforehand as to their potential costs. We are satisfied that the allocations are fair in all the circumstances and have no plans to carry out a third review.

13 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been (a) awarded to and (b) spent by each local authority for the storage, transportation and disposal of disused fridges and free'ers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-23475 on 7 March 2002 and S1W-32103 on 2 December 2002, (All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="…

17 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any recycling compliance schemes did not meet waste packaging targets in each year since 1999 and, if so, what action was taken in respect of such schemes.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Between 1999 and 2001, one scheme registered with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) failed to discharge the collective recovery obligation of its membership. That was Wastepack, in respect of 2001. <P>The SEPA subsequently considered whether t…

17 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent recycling compliance schemes have been successful in meeting waste packaging targets.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Between 1999 and 2001, there has only been one occasion on which a scheme registered with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) failed to discharge the collective recovery obligation of its membership.

6 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how successful the credit union action plan has been to date.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The aim of the action plan is to remove barriers to credit union growth and ensure credit unions have access to support and development services. To date, the Executive's funding is providing support through compliance training, health checks and business pla…

4 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefits of credit unions are in helping to tackle poverty.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Credit unions help to tackle poverty and financial exclusion by providing accessible savings, low cost loans and other financial services, such as home insurance.

4 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are members of a credit union.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Financial Services Authority has indicated that in 2001 there were approximately 143,000 members of Scottish credit unions.

4 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many credit unions have been created since the launch of the credit union action plan.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Information from the Financial Services Authority indicates that five credit unions have been registered in Scotland between March 2001 and December 2002.

4 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the #1.5 million for implementation of the credit union action plan has now been allocated.

Answer · Margaret Curran: £1.1 million has now been allocated of the £1.5 million for the implementation of the credit union action plan <I>Unlocking the Potential</I> over the financial years 2001-02 and 2004-05.