Parliamentary questions
Bruce Crawford
999 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional resources to Stirling Council to improve the condition of local roads.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: An additional £60 million per year has been allocated in 2006-07 and 2007-08 to help local authorities address the backlog of maintenance on the local road network. Allocations to individual authorities will be announced in due course.</p>
9 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it will have with Stirling Council regarding the condition of local roads.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We have no current plans to meet Stirling Council to discuss local roads issues.</p>
9 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve the provision of dental services in the NHS Forth Valley area.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Responsibility for the overallprovision of NHS dental services in the area rests with NHS Forth Valley. NHSboards are encouraged to apply to Scottish ministers for approval for salaried dentistposts where they consider that there is a gap in provision, which …
9 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve the provision of dental services in Fife.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Responsibility for the overallprovision of NHS dental services in the area rests with NHS Fife. NHS boards areencouraged to apply to Scottish ministers for approval for salaried dentist postswhere they consider that there is a gap in provision, which cannot b…
26 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of UK Sport’s World Class Performance Management Programme funding has been spent in Scotland in the current financial year and will be spent in the next four financial years, broken down by (a) sport and (b) local authority area.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: UK Sport has no World Class Performance Management Programme but operates a World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) which is aimed at supporting UK-level athletes and UK National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to compete at the highest level in high performance spo…
20 Oct 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Fife Council to discuss the modernisation of schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: There are meetings at official level, as appropriate, to discuss the council’s schools PPP project and its School Estate Management Plan.</p>
27 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the location was of all the dental practices that were operating in (a) Fife and (b) Forth Valley during each financial year from 1999-2000 to 2003-04.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is a local matter and NHSFife and Forth Valley would be in the best position to respond for their respectiveareas.</p>
27 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the location is of all the dental practices in (a) Fife and (b) Forth Valley.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is a local matter and NHSFife and Forth Valley would have the most up-to-date information and thereforebe in the best position to respond for their respective areas.</p>
27 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific proposals it has to increase the number of dentists currently available in Fife.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Responsibility for the overallprovision of NHS dental services in an area rests with the NHS board. When an NHSboard considers that the existing general dental service provision is insufficientto meet the demands of the local population, and no independent ge…
27 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists were employed in the NHS Fife board area in each year from 1999-2000 to 2003-04.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The following table providesa breakdown at 30 September of each year of the number of dentists employed in boththe Community and Hospital Dental Services and the General Dental Services in NHSFife.</p><p>Dentists in the Fife NHS BoardArea (Headcount); at 30 S…
27 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists are currently employed in the NHS Fife board area and how many it is estimated are required to carry out a safe and effective level of service.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Information on the number ofdentists is collected via the annual census, on 30 September, the latest of whichis correct at 30 September 2003. On this date, there were 36 dentists employed in communityand hospital dental services and 131 general dentists in NH…
16 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions the First Minister has met Lord Fraser of Carmyllie since taking office and on what dates such meetings took place.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The First Minister met Lord Fraser on 23 June 2003 to discuss the terms of reference for the Holyrood Inquiry. The Auditor General for Scotland was present as was I. This is the only occasion on which I or the First Minister have discussed the Inquiry with Lo…
16 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many tonnes of rendered cattle remain to be disposed of as a result of BSE regulations and where such rendered cattle are stored.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As of 20 September 2004, there were 63,337 tonnes of meat and bonemeal (rendered cattle) remaining to be disposed of as a result of BSE Regulations, of which 59,919 tonnes are stored in England and 3,418 tonnes are stored in Northern Ireland. The stores in Sc…
16 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to BT regarding BT’s proposals to close public telephone boxes.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Proposals on public telephone boxes are a matter regulated by the UK-wide body, OFCOM. </p><p>A direction was published last year, accessible on the following link <ahref="http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/oftel/publications/eu_directives/2003/payp0703.p…
16 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding from capital grants and the revenue support grant is available to support new ferry routes from Rosyth to continental Europe.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-3444 on 11 November 2003. 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…
16 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Forth Ports plc on developing a new ferry link from Rosyth to Scandinavia or Germany.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: There are on-going discussions between the Scottish Executive and Forth Ports plc on a range of matters, including the commitment to improve Scottish ferry links to Europe which was set out in <i>A Partnership for a Better Scotland</i>.</p>
15 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an assessment of the impact of on-going roadworks on the A977 on businesses in Kincardine.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: An economic activity and location impact analysis is not normally undertaken for the type of minor works recently completed on the A977.</p>
15 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will put in place new signposts giving car drivers in the vicinity of Kincardine clear and specific directions on how to access the village centre, following completion of the roadworks on the A977.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The signing scheme to Kincardine will be reviewed as part of the monitoring of the performance of the now-completed new road.</p>
15 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review, and seek to improve, its consultation procedures prior to the commencement of roadworks, in light of any recent difficulties experienced by local business as in Kincardine.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive continuously reviews the effectiveness of its consultations for major road works. If particular difficulties are experienced I would always be anxious to be informed, so that improvements can be considered.</p>
15 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it carried out with local businesses in Kincardine prior to roadworks being carried out on the A977 that have affected access for car drivers and buses to the village centre.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Access to every part of Kincardine was maintained throughout the short duration of the works. Draft temporary traffic orders to enable traffic management measures to facilitate the works on the A977 were published. Local residents were informed by maildrop as…
1 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8835 by Mr Andy Kerr on 23 June 2004, in which of its departments, agencies and associated departments the 121 full-time posts in Fife are located.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The 121 full-time equivalentposts in Fife are located in the following agencies and associateddepartments:</p><p>Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service</p><p>Historic Scotland</p><p>Scottish Courts Service</p><p>Scottish Fisheries ProtectionAgency.</p>
1 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual maintenance costs of the Forth Rail Bridge have been in each year since 1998-99 and what the projected maintenance costs are for (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The cost of maintaining the bridge is an operational matter for Network Rail.</p>
1 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replace the Forth Rail Bridge.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: There are currently no plans for the replacement of the Forth Rail Bridge.</p>
1 Jul 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Network Rail regarding the future maintenance of the Forth Rail Bridge.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Network Rail on a wide range of issues, including the Forth Rail Bridge. The cost of maintaining the bridge is currently an operational matter for Network Rail.</p>
30 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of teachers' applications was processed by Disclosure Scotland within the 14-day target period from (a) 1 January to 31 March and (b) 1 April to 30 June 2004.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The management informationprovided by Disclosure Scotland does not provide an analysis of performance forparticular professions or occupational groups.</p>
24 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been made available, either directly or indirectly, by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department, the Forestry Commission, the Deer Commission for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage to subsidise the erection of deer fencing in each of the last 10 years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The information is not available in the form requested.</p><p>The Environment and Rural Affairs Department funds deer fencing through Agri-environment schemes in order to protect habitats being managed in the interests of conservation. The amount for deer fen…
21 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the #2.3 million allocated for the opening of “well man” clinics has been allocated to NHS Forth Valley to allow it to open and operate such clinics in its catchment area.
Answer · Tom McCabe: As Forth Valley were alreadyoperating “Well Man Clinics” they were not invited to bid along with other healthboard partnerships. Instead Forth Valley Health Board and partners were invitedto submit a proposal for resources to continue development and roll out…
17 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been introduced into the operating practices of Disclosure Scotland in the last three months to improve the time taken to secure clearance for teachers transferring employment between local authorities.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: No measures specific to teachers have been introduced. We have, however, authorised the recruitment of additional staff in recent months to help clear a backlog of applications, and a new IT system has been introduced to automate a number of application handl…
17 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken by Disclosure Scotland to give clearance for teachers transferring employment between local authorities was in the last (a) three and (b) six months.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Disclosure Scotland does not give clearance as such for teachers or for any other profession. It issues certificates which will help employers to decide on the suitability of the person concerned for a particular post.</p><p>Disclosure Scotland’s average proc…
17 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets have been set for Disclosure Scotland for the clearance of teachers transferring employment between local authorities.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Disclosure Scotland does not have a target specific to teachers. Their general target is to process 90% of applications within 14 calendar days.</p>