Bruce Crawford

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23329 regarding ship-to-ship oil transfers by Rhona Brankin on 27 February 2006, what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government in respect of concerns expressed by, and opposition received from, local authorities whose boundaries border th…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23650 on 13 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23329 regarding ship-to-ship oil transfers by Rhona Brankin on 27 February 2006, what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government with regard to the government’s identification of the Forth Estuary as a marine environment high risk area.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23650 on 13 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23329 regarding ship-to-ship oil transfers by Rhona Brankin on 27 February 2006, what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government with regard to the Firth of Forth being a Special Protection Area.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is inregular contact with Her Majesty’s Government on a number of issues, including theproposals for the ship-to-ship transfer of oil in the Firth of Forth. These discussionshave included the Special Protection Areas, the concerns expre…

24 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been undertaken into the origins of traffic crossing the Forth Road Bridge from Fife and where such studies have been published.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Information on the origins oftraffic crossing the Forth Road Bridge from Fife is contained in the Tolled Bridges Review reports. ThePhase One and Phase Two reports are available on the Scottish Executive website.There are other recent external studies that we…

24 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19357 by Lewis Macdonald on 3 October 2005, what patient involvement there will be in the tendering process for providing an assessment of needs for ME services.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In taking forward the tenderingprocess, we shall consider how people with ME/CFS, and those representing theirinterests, can most effectively contribute.</p>

24 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19357 by Lewis Macdonald on 3 October 2005, whether it will list the companies or organisations that will be invited to tender to provide an assessment of needs for ME services.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive will follow theprocedures laid down for tendering exercises, and will be happy to make public thenames of those organisations which submit a bid to undertake the assessment.</p>

24 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19357 by Lewis Macdonald on 3 October 2005, when it expects to put the contract for providing an assessment of needs for ME services out to tender; when the tender process will be complete, and how much it will cost.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive is committedto carrying out an assessment of the service needs of those with CFS/ME and thefinancial resources for the assessment have been identified. We are stillconsidering the best options for obtaining an independent assessment, and ensurin…

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government with regard to proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfers to take place in the Firth of Forth.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Her Majesty's Government on a number of issues, including the proposals for ship-to-ship transfers of oil as cargo in the Firth of Forth.</p>

21 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review Fife NHS Board’s “Right for Fife” reconfiguration proposals.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There are no plans to do so. Following approval by the Minister for Health in 2002, it is for NHS Fife to take forward the proposed development of healthcare services set out in <i>Right for Fife</i>. In doing so, I would expect the board to take account of a…

15 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it has received to the consultation on the proposed Beauly to Denny transmission line and, of these, how many have been in support of, and how many against, the line.

Answer · Allan Wilson: As of 9 January 2006 the Executive had recorded 36 responses of support and 9,047 objections to the proposed overhead transmission line from Beauly to Denny. A considerable number of further responses, estimated to be in the region of 9,000,  have still to be…

6 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by which date it expects to have acquired the amount of anti-viral drugs it considers will be required to deal with a flu pandemic.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19843 on 7 November 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/webap…

6 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a priority list of categories of people who will receive anti-viral drugs in the event of a flu pandemic.

Answer · Andy Kerr: A stockpile of anti-viral drugs is currently being established. When complete the stockpile will be sufficient to treat 25% of the population. Until the stockpile is complete the priority list is as set out in the document entitled <i>Scottish Executive Healt…

6 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the population will be able to receive anti-viral drugs in the event of an outbreak of a flu pandemic.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is given in the document entitled <i>Scottish Executive Health Department – UK Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan – October 2005</i>. A copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib number 38353).</p>

6 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimates are of the (a) minimum and (b) maximum number of deaths that could result from a flu pandemic.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is given in the document entitled <i>Scottish Executive Health Department – </i><i>UK</i><i> Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan – October 2005</i>. A copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. num…

6 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what length of time it estimates that it will take to develop a vaccine to deal with a flu pandemic from the date of the first offically recognised diagnosis by the World Health Organisation.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is given in the document entitled <i>Scottish Executive Health Department – </i><i>UK</i><i> Influenza Pandemic Contingency Plan – October 2005</i>. A copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. num…

6 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the ordering process will be for any future vaccine to deal with a flu pandemic.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answers to questions S2W-20320 on 14 November 2005 and S2W-20687 on 28 November 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p><a …

6 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide figures in respect of people awaiting discharge from hospital to residential or care homes, broken down by NHS board area on 1 December (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The total number of patients who are awaiting discharge from hospital to a care home for each NHS board area is shown in the table for the October 2003,  October 2004 and October 2005 censuses.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <t…

21 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in respect of developing the Fife bus and train interchange at Markinch.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Fife Council has invited tenders to design and build Markinch interchange, with a closing date of 9 December 2005. The council intends that construction will begin in April 2006, with the project completed by summer 2007.</p>

21 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in respect of introducing high passenger volume cross-Forth ferry services.

Answer · Tavish Scott: A report into options for a cross Forth passenger ferry service was completed in October 2004. I understand that the Forth Estuary Transport Authority, City of Edinburgh Council, Fife Council and Forth Ports Authority are commissioning more detailed work on t…

21 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when an announcement will be made in respect of Fife Council Partnership’s application for a Bus Route Development Grant for the Dunfermline to High Valleyfield route.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Further to consideration of a revised Bus Route Development Grant proposal for the Dunfermline to High Valleyfield service, I announced on 29 November that this proposal would be funded.</p>

21 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when an announcement will be made in respect of Fife Council Partnership’s application for a Bus Route Development Grant for the St Andrews to Dundee route.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Further to consideration of a revised Bus Route Development Grant proposal for the St Andrews to Dundee service, I announced on 29 November that this proposal would be funded.</p>

21 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when an announcement will be made in respect of Fife Council Partnership’s application for a Bus Route Development Grant for the Inverkeithing to Edinburgh Airport route.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Further to consideration of a revised Bus Route Development Grant proposal for the Inverkeithing to Edinburgh Airport service, I announced on 29 November that this proposal would be funded.</p>

10 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on any policy or decision as referred to in paragraph 14 of Concordat between the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Scottish Executive, 2003.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is in frequent contact with the office of the Deputy Prime Minister on a wide range of issues of the kind referred to in paragraph 14 of the Concordat.</p>

10 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific discussions it has held with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on proposed negotiating lines for EC and international instruments, as referred to in Concordat between the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Scottish Executive, 2003.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive is in regular contact with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on a wide range of issues, including the proposed negotiating lines for EC and international instruments.</p>

10 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available the overarching concordats setting out the framework for co-operation on EU policy issues, international matters, statistics and financial assistance to industry, as referred to in paragraph 3 of Concordat between the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and …

Answer · Margaret Curran: The four over-arching multilateral concordats on: the Co-ordination of European Union Policy Issues, Financial Assistance to Industry, International Relations and Statistics, are supplementary agreements to the Memorandum of Understanding, between UK Governme…

27 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13449 by Mr Andy Kerr on 21 January 2005, when, following the completion of the public consultation phase of the Executive’s review of NHS prescription charge exemption policies, it will announce specific policy changes.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Any changes to policy will only be announced after the responses to the consultation have been received and fully considered by the Executive. At present it is not possible to predict the length of that consideration process.</p>

27 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13449 by Mr Andy Kerr on 21 January 2005, when the public consultation phase of the Executive's review of NHS prescription charge exemption policies will be completed and how this will be published.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The literature review has been completed and consideration is now being given to the form the consultation should take. We are now working to a launch date in early 2006. As previously stated, the process will be fully inclusive and allow all interested parti…

11 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or Scottish Water regarding the disposal of human-derived sewage sludge and what the purpose was of these discussions.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is in frequent contact with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Water about a wide range of matters related to those bodies’ responsibilities, of which the disposal of sewage sludge is one.</p>

11 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice or guidance it has provided to Scottish Water on the disposal of human-derived sewage sludge.

Answer · Ross Finnie: It is the duty of Scottish Water to recover or dispose of the human derived sewage sludge arising from its treatment processes in accordance with the provisions of the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, the Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 19…

11 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice or guidance it has provided to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on the disposal of human-derived sewage sludge.

Answer · Ross Finnie: None. It is an operational matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to conduct its regulatory function in relation to the recovery or disposal of sewage sludge and other waste in terms of the applicable legislation. This includes the Waste Manage…