Parliamentary questions
Bruce Crawford
999 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements there are for universities to maintain records of the length and type of course studied by their students.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-428 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_…
27 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements there are for universities to maintain records of a student's date of graduation and type of degree or diploma awarded and for how long any such records are required to be held.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S2W-428 on 9 June 2003 and S2W-429 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…
27 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what minimum length of time universities are required to hold student records.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I am not aware of any formal provision regarding the length of time that higher education institutions are required to hold student records.
27 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements there are for universities to maintain student records.
Answer · Jim Wallace: There are no general requirements on higher education institutions (HEIs) to maintain student records. However, HEIs are required to hold a variety of records for a variety of purposes. For example, under the Universities (Scotland) Acts 1858-1966, the Univer…
20 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why black game is treated differently from capercaillie with regard to the level of protection each species receives.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Until 2001, both the capercaillie and black grouse species were partially protected by a close season and by controls on hunting methods. However, in 2001, in response to the decline in the capercaillie population to fewer than 1,000 birds in Scotland, caperc…
20 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under what legislation black game is classified as a game bird and whether it has any plans to amend such legislation.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The black grouse is covered by the Game Acts, which fix a close season between 11 December and 19 August. There are currently no plans to change this legislation.
20 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of (a) the falling numbers of black game and (b) the impact of (i) shooting and (ii) changes in habitat on the numbers of black game.
Answer · Allan Wilson: A great deal of research on black grouse has been carried out by conservation organisations, informing the recommendations for protection of black grouse in the species action plan.<P>I understand that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) propose to undertake an a…
20 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on the mating and living habits of black game and what plans it has to protect the bird in future.
Answer · Allan Wilson: A substantial amount of research has been done on black grouse, much of it reported in scientific journals. I have asked Scottish Natural Heritage to forward a detailed list of references, to the member.<P>As regards protection measures, I refer the member to…
20 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in the light of black game being listed in the UK Biodiversity species action plan as a bird in need of protection.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Black Grouse Species Action Plan Group was formed to implement the actions given in the Biodiversity Action Plan for this species.<P>A wide range of measures are being applied to protect black grouse.<P>These include the appointment of project officers, c…
20 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to undertake a study into the numbers of black game and how best to protect the birds in future.
Answer · Allan Wilson: A great deal of research on black grouse has been carried out by conservation organisations, informing the recommendations for protection of black grouse in the Species Action Plan.<P>Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), in partnership with other conservation bod…
20 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make black game a protected species as part of the legislation on nature conservation referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The draft Nature Conservation Bill outlines proposals to protect lek sites, crucial to the breeding success of capercaillie and black game (grouse). There is currently no intention to give black game (grouse) further protection as part of the legislation refe…
19 May 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet Scottish Water.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I have nothing in my diary at present, but my officials meet Scottish Water on a regular basis.
14 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what efficiency targets have been set for Scottish Water for (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06 and what the projection is of how its performance will compare with these targets.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish ministers have asked Scottish Water to aim to meet the Water Industry Commissioner's targets as set out in his <I>Strategic Review of Charges 2002 - 2006</I>, without putting at risk environmental compliance or public health. It is for Scottish Water…
14 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many gallons of water per annum are estimated to be lost through leakage as a result of Scottish Water drinking water pipes not being in a satisfactory state of repair.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Scottish Water is currently implementing a programme to develop a better understanding of the impact and…
14 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many miles of Scottish Water drinking water pipes are in need of replacement or repair and when this work will be completed.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Information about the conditions of assets and the scheduling of repair work is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Based on Scottish Water's assess…
14 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what efficiency targets were set for Scottish Water for 2002-03 and how its performance compared with these targets.
Answer · Ross Finnie: For 2002-03, Scottish Water were set an operating efficiency target within a range that extended from the level of performance achieved by the former water authorities to the target advised in the Water Industry Commissioner's <I>Strategic Review of Charges 2…
14 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of net new borrowings Scottish Water will incur in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The level of net new borrowings available to Scottish Water will not exceed the levels published in table 9.02 in <I>The Scottish Executive: Draft Budget 2003-04</I>, which may be found on the Scottish Executive's website at: <P><A HREF="http://www.scotland.g…
14 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the #200 million set aside for Scottish Water to help with redundancy payments has been utilised specifically for meeting redundancy payments; how much has been allocated to other budget headings, and what the purpose of any such budget heading is.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The information sought will be contained in the 2002-03 accounts for Scottish Water. Ministers will lay these before Parliament, together with any report sent to them by the Auditor General for Scotland, once audited. A budget of £200 million was set aside ov…
14 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected average salary of Scottish Water staff is for (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05 and (c) 2005-06.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish Water's pay remit year on year is controlled within the public sector pay guidelines applied to all public bodies. The total wage bill for each year will depend upon the rate at which planned reductions in the workforce through the voluntary severanc…
14 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average salary of staff of (a) West of Scotland Water, (b) North of Scotland Water and (c) East of Scotland Water was in each of the last three financial years of its operation.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This information is available from the audited accounts of the three former Water Authorities. Copies of their accounts as laid before the Scottish Parliament are held in the Parliament's Reference Centre. Bib. Numbers are as follows: <TABLE BORDER CELLSPACIN…
14 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average salary of Scottish Water staff was in 2002-03.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish Water's audited accounts for 2002-03 are not yet available.
12 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to restrict public access to Sandside Beach in Reay in view of any increase in the number of radioactive particles found at the beach during 2003.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The monitoring of Sandside beach is a matter for the independent regulator, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). Based on the activity of the particle finds to date, SEPA does not consider that it is necessary to restrict public access to Sand…
12 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out a comprehensive study of the extent of radioactive contamination of Sandside Beach in Reay.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The monitoring of Sandside Beach is a matter for the independent regulator, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). <P>SEPA receives advice from the Dounreay Particles Advisory Group (DPAG), which has recently published its Second Interim Report re…
12 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what chemical and radioactive materials or compounds the UK Atomic Energy Authority establishment at Dounreay has been licensed to discharge.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This information is not held centrally. It is available from the independent regulator, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, on its public registers.
12 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what chemical and radioactive compounds were contained in each radioactive particle found at Sandside Beach in Reay since monitoring of the beach commenced in 1984.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The monitoring of Sandside beach is a matter for the independent regulator, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). Analysis shows that the particles contain the isotopes caesium 137, niobium 94 and cobalt 60, along with the elements uranium, alumi…
12 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of radioactivity was present in radioactive particles found at Sandside Beach in Reay since monitoring of the beach commenced in 1984.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The table shows the activity of caesium 137 (Cs137), cobalt 60 (Co60) and niobium 94 (Nb94) in the particles found on Sandside Beach since 1984.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 BORDERCOLOR="#000000" CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=340><TR><TD WIDTH="31%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Parti…
12 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates radioactive particles have been found at Sandside Beach in Reay since monitoring of the beach commenced in 1984.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The dates on which particles were found on Sandside Beach, since 1984, are shown in the table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 BORDERCOLOR="#000000" CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=189><TR><TD WIDTH="55%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Particle Number</TD><TD WIDTH="45%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Dat…
12 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the current levels of water charges are having on the finances of the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Answer · Hugh Henry: No such assessment has been made by the Executive.
12 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with COSLA about the impact that any closure of Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals animal rescue centres would have on local authority services and budgets.
Answer · Hugh Henry: No such discussions have been held.
12 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make funding available to the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to address its current financial situation.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The society has not applied to the Executive for support of any kind.