Parliamentary questions
Brian Adam
1,580 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Merchant Navy Training Board, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and other interested parties about the provision of courses in nautical studies in Scotland.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Given that the ScottishExecutive has no direct role in determining the courses which are offered byindividual institutions, there have consequently been no discussions betweenthe Executive and the organisations referred to about the provision of coursesin nau…
12 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what courses in nautical studies are available from further education colleges or universities and at which institutions they are available.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Scotland’s leading institution in nautical studies is GlasgowCollege of Nautical Studies, which has an international reputation as a centreof excellence. Banff and Buchan College is also very highly regarded in the delivery ofcourses for seafarers. Courses wh…
12 Jul 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing legislation to enable local authority pension fund holders to consider non-fiduciary and ethical matters in deciding on investment policies.
Answer · George Lyon: The provisions of theexisting legislation are considered to be sufficient to require administeringauthorities to address non fiduciary and ethical matters and there are no plansat this time to introduce changes to the LocalGovernment Pension Scheme (Managemen…
29 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will discuss with NHS Grampian the proposal to reduce the numbers of general surgery beds at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the implications which this will have for waiting times.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-17686 answered on 12 August 2005.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.u…
29 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS Grampians proposal to reduce the number of general surgery beds at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary has any implications for the delivery of the Executives targets on cancer treatment time.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This is part of work by NHSGrampian to redistribute beds between specialties to match bed usage. The boardis clear that these changes will have no adverse effect on waiting times,including those for cancer treatments, and that will enhance overall serviceprov…
29 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of a proposal to reduce general surgery beds at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary from 75 to 48 and whether it has been consulted on the proposal.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This is a matter within theoperational responsibility of the board and therefore there is no need orrequirement to consult the Scottish Executive.</p><p>I understand from NHS Grampian that the changes are part ofwork to redistribute beds between specialties t…
23 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would consider a pilot scheme to set up a wireless network in north-east Scotland to increase access to broadband internet.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Our commitment is to ensureevery community across Scotland will have access to broadband by the end of thisyear. This has been taken forward via the Executive’s “Broadband for Scotland’srural and remote areas” open procurement which was technology neutral and…
23 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Scotland have no access to broadband because of their locations and what action it will take to increase broadband availability in rural areas.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Our commitment is to ensureevery community in Scotland will have access to broadband by the end of thisyear. This increased access is being delivered through the Executive’s “Broadbandfor Scotland’s rural and remote areas” procurement and contractaward to BT,…
23 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has examined the wireless network which provides broadband internet in Estonia.
Answer · Tavish Scott: We are aware of the wirelessnetwork in Estonia. The Executive has of course supported a number of wirelessnetwork projects in Scotland including “Connected Communities” which will bring broadbandcoverage to parts of the Western Isles. Furthermore, our recent …
23 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majestys Government on the proposal to close the Met Office in Aberdeen.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues.</p>
22 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions ministers have had with their counterparts in Wales regarding prescription charges.
Answer · Andy Kerr: There have been no discussions with Ministers of the Welsh Assembly Government on this subject.</p>
22 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prescriptions issued are not filled.
Answer · Andy Kerr: This information is not available. The number of items dispensed is known. However, information about NHS prescriptions issued to patients is recorded by prescribers in patients’ notes and the number is not held centrally.</p>
21 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to Her Majestys Government to ensure that the government utilises the new EU linguistic regime, agreed at the General Affairs Council meeting of 13 June 2005, in respect of languages that fall outwith the scope of Council Regulation 1/1958 but have recogn…
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the question S2W-17493 answered on 14 July 2005. 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/w…
21 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make use of the new EU linguistic regime, agreed at the General Affairs Council meeting of 13 June 2005, in respect of languages that fall outwith the scope of Council Regulation 1/1958 but have recognition within the constitutional order of a member state, with part…
Answer · Robert Brown: The Scottish Executive has no plans to establish official translation facilities between English and Scots for the purpose of communicating with EU institutions.</p> <p>In relation to Gaelic I refer the member to the question S2W-17412 answered on 29 June 200…
21 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for infrastructure improvements at the Scottish Agricultural and Biological Research Institutes.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the question S2W-17486 answered on 14 July 2005. 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/w…
21 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for the development of the Scottish Agricultural and Biological Research Institutes.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Plans for the development of the Scottish Agricultural and Biological Research Institutes, including infrastructure improvements, are a matter primarily for the institutes themselves. However, the Scottish Executive will consider institutes’ development propo…
21 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will have on the infrastructure costs of, and potential for, commercial and industrial development at Dyce Drive in Aberdeen.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Aberdeen WesternPeripheral Route (AWPR) will provide existing commercial and industrialdevelopment at Dyce Drive with improved access to the trunk road network andconsequently safer and more reliable routes to local and national customers andmarkets. The …
20 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider supporting US-style yellow school buses as part of its anti-congestion measures.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Executive supports moves to reduce traffic congestion. Use of buses, including dedicated school buses, is one of a number of options which the Executive would be prepared to consider to encourage safer, healthier and more sustainable travel to school. How…
20 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to reduce deaths and serious injuries to school pupils on their way to and from school.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is providingadditional resources to local authorities for a range of initiatives whichcontribute to making journeys to and from school safer for school pupils. Theseinclude the introduction of 20 mph speed limits around schools; safer r…
20 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths and serious injuries there have been to school pupils on their way to and from school in each of the last three years.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Data about injury roadaccidents are collected by the Police and reported to the Scottish Executiveusing the "Stats 19" statistical report format. For the purpose of thesereturns, a casualty is only identified as being a "school pupil" ifhe…
20 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to reduce traffic congestion caused by the school run.
Answer · Tavish Scott: We are tackling congestioncaused by the school run by encouraging walking and cycling to school andpromoting road safety initiatives, including funding to local authorities for schooltravel co-ordinators and for 20 mph zones and other safety-related schemesar…
17 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any information held by VisitScotland on final destinations of people flying into Scottish airports is made available to these airports.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-17426 on 28 June 2005. All answers to written Parliament Information Centre are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/we…
17 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether VisitScotland holds data on the final destinations of people flying into Scottish airports.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotland does not currently hold data on the final destinations of people flying into Scottish airports. However, VisitScotland is involved in research currently being carried out in conjunction with a number of Scottish airports. This research will incl…
17 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for the provision of future route development funding.
Answer · Tavish Scott: In the recent spending review, additional funds were allocated to the continuation of the Route Development Fund which will allow new routes commencing in the next two to three years to be supported.</p>
17 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide route development funding for routes that operate three days per week.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The minimum frequency thresholds for support from the Route Development Fund (RDF) have been reduced in the case of international routes from Aberdeen and Dundee, in recognition of their relatively limited catchment sizes, relative lack of international servi…
17 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it applies when awarding route development funding to new routes.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Route Development Fund (RDF) channels its support to routes which deliver a net economic benefit for Scotland. These will be to routes which are likely to enhance business connectivity or which have the potential to bring appreciable numbers of inbound to…
17 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new air routes were supported by route development funding in each of the last three years, broken down by airport.
Answer · Tavish Scott: A total of 29 routes have been supported since the inception in November 2002 of the Executive’s Route Development Fund as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Airport</p></td> <td> <p …
17 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the provision of destination marketing support in respect of new air routes.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Route Development Fund does not currently provide marketing support for new air routes.</p> <p>The promotion of accessibility will, however, continue to be a major strategic aim for VisitScotland; which will continue to operate on the basis of its route p…
17 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses when awarding destination marketing support for new air routes.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Route Development Fund does not currently provide marketing support for new air routes. The criteria used by VisitScotland for route prioritisation and marketing investment are, however, as follows:</p> <p>Importance of the market – current size of the ma…
17 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of destination marketing support it granted for new air routes in each of the last three years.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Route Development Fund does not currently provide marketing support for new air routes. Part of VisitScotland’s international marketing budget was spent, however, on campaigns which promoted direct access routes. This amounted to £3 million in 2003-04 and…