Parliamentary questions

Mr David Davidson

1,095 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

29 Aug 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer when a report will be published on the current visit by representatives of the Holyrood Progress Group to Barcelona and whether that report will enable more specific cost projections and a firm date for completion of the Parliament complex to be given.

Answer · David Steel: I understand that the delegation attending the meetings in Barcelona will report on their visit in the next edition of the Holyrood Progress Group's regular newsletter. These newsletters routinely include a section on both cost and programme.

29 Aug 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether current provision for the treatment of anorexia nervosa within the NHS is uniformly accessible and appropriate to demand.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Our National Health confirmed continued support for further development of extended mental health services. Expanded guidance for agencies will be published shortly on the best local approaches to joint, seamless care and support for those with or survivi…

16 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what process the new Finance and Central Services department will follow in dealing with proposals by Ministers for additional budgetary resources.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The process will depend on the circumstances and, for example, whether the proposal is made in a regular spending review or as an emergency request for funding from the reserve. In all case, however, changes to spending plans presented by the Executive will b…

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contact it has had with the Scottish Gamekeepers' Association regarding the role that the association plays in preserving the skills of the sector.

Answer · Ross Finnie: None.

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the funding arrangements for the Scottish Association of Citi'ens Advice Bureaux and how it will ensure that this organisation continues its work.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Consumer protection is a matter reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux receives funding from the Department of Trade and Industry and enquiries about funding arrangements should be directed to that department. The S…

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will offer support for local events of interest to tourists such as the Montrose Vehicle Extravagan'a.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: It is a matter for the discretion of local agencies and authorities whether they offer support for local tourism events such as the Montrose Vehicle Extravaganza.

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the performance of local authorities in funding tourism-related activities from the resources allocated to them is adequate.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The level of local authority expenditure on tourism-related activities and other services is a matter for each authority.

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a survey of the funding requirements for each area tourist board and how it will ensure that adequate resources are made available to each one.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Decisions about the level of core funding for area tourist boards are a matter for councils and for visitscotland.

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the difficulties facing the G-DOCS scheme in Grampian and what action it will take to ensure that there is an adequate out-of-hours GP service available in that area.

Answer · Susan Deacon: An Out-of-Hours Development Fund (£5.742 million for 2001-02) is allocated to health boards to support improvements in out-of-hours services, including the development of out-of-hours co-operatives. G-DOCS and NHS Grampian are working closely together to ensu…

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish economy is moving towards recession as technically defined.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive does not publish forecasts of GDP growth. The official data on Scottish GDP show that there was an increase of 1.0% in the fourth quarter of 2000. This followed an increase of 0.3% in the third quarter. GDP data for the first quarter of 2001 wil…

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will offer to enable the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival in Portsoy to continue on an annual basis.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Since inception in 1993, the Executive, through its agencies Scottish Enterprise Grampian (SEG) and Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board (AGTB), has offered a wide range of marketing and public relations assistance to the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival at …

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has played in the appointment of new directors for the Scottish Tourist Board.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: None.

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the second foot-and-mouth disease economic impact survey due to be published in August 2001, it will conduct another such survey in the autumn after the tourist season.

Answer · Ross Finnie: A third survey will be conducted in the autumn to update the impact assessment picture. The precise details of the survey will be taken forward by the Economic Impact Assessment Group.

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has applied to Her Majesty's Government in the current financial year for further funding for any area within its responsibility.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The Executive has not applied to Westminster for additional funding in the current financial year, but has received formula consequentials of English reserve claims.

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive from which budget the #40 million for tackling cancer, announced by the Minister for Health and Community Care on 2 July 2001, has come.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The £40 million is part of the additional resources flowing to the health programme from this year's UK Budget consequentials.

6 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take following the recent meeting between the Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture and the Dundee Heritage Trust.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I have invited the Dundee Heritage Trust to work up a detailed forward plan in consultation with its partners, and to keep me informed of developments. In due course I will discuss the plan with the trustees in the light of the outcome of the National Audit i…

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15827 by Ross Finnie on 31 May 2001, whether expressions of interest in the Rural Stewardship Scheme will only be considered for the first year of the scheme if they were registered before 31 May 2001.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Yes. Expressions of interest received after 31 May 2001 will be considered for the second year of the scheme after closure of the application round on 31 March 2002.

20 Jun 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to support the roles and functions of community hospitals.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Executive believes that community hospitals have an important role to play in the spectrum of care provision to local communities.We are working closely with the Scottish Association of Community Hospitals to ensure that that role is supported a…

23 May 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all Scots have equal access to the national health service.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Health Plan re-iterates our commitment to the founding principle of the NHS - that access to care should be based on need, not on ability to pay.But inequalities in access can occur for many reasons, such as social exclusion and variati…

18 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what expenses were paid to the First Minister and to each Minister and junior Scottish Minister in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Ministers are re-imbursed for expenditure incurred in the course of their official duties. Reimbursement is made in accordance with standard Civil Service procedures. These costs are set out in the following table. Other costs such as travel, both within the …

18 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive where ministerial cars are based overnight.

Answer · Angus MacKay: Ministerial cars are housed overnight in secure garages at Elizafield Industrial Estate, Edinburgh and in Meridian Court, Glasgow, unless a particular ministerial journey requires otherwise.

18 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive applications under the Rural Stewardship Scheme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In advance of the regulations for the scheme coming into operation, any applications received by SERAD Area Offices are being held as an expression of interest in joining the scheme. Once the Regulations come into force, those who have submitted an expression…

18 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has issued to NHS Trusts regarding the disposal of assets pending the implementation of resource account budgeting and the flat rate charge which will apply to all assets held.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The implementation of resource accounting and budgeting by central government has not had any effect on NHS Trusts disposal of assets. Therefore it has not been necessary to issue any specific advice to Trusts on this matter.