Parliamentary questions
Mr Duncan Hamilton
494 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2027 by Ross Finnie on 28 October 1999, why the priority areas for funding as announced on 1 October 1999 have been decided prior to the consultation process described in that answer.
Answer · Ross Finnie: There was no question of the priority areas for funding being decided on 1 October. The purpose of the consultation announced on that day was to seek views on the priorities to be used. We are now considered the views expressed and announced on 16 November th…
2 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1010 by Susan Deacon on 6 October 1999, whether it will list any sites which are currently being considered as trial sites for genetically modified crops and where they are situated.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to the answer given to question S1W-2303.
2 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1010 by Susan Deacon on 6 October 1999, whether the location of each new trial site for genetically modified crops will be brought to the attention of the Parliament before any final decision is taken.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is for Scottish Ministers to decide whether or not to grant consents for Scottish trial sites of genetically modified (GM) crops.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Site locations related to applications are publicly available, as are locations of sites with consent. In ad…
2 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Ministerial statement by Susan Deacon on 27 October1999, whether the funding for the meningitis C vaccination programme is intended to be targeted exclusively on a programme of vaccination and, if not, whether it will itemise the full remit of that funding by health board …
Answer · Susan Deacon: The cost of vaccine will be met centrally. Additional funding will be provided to health boards towards the cost of delivering immunisation to students and school pupils. General practitioners who immunise babies and young children, or students, will receive …
2 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what budgets were set for the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme in each of the last five years and what allocation of grants was made under the scheme in each of those years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: There is no separate budget for the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) which forms part of the Highlands and Islands Agricultural Programme (HIAP). The HIAP budget for the period 1994-1999 is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 W…
2 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any ongoing research into the potential of the new meningitis C vaccine for removing the possibility of those vaccinated becoming carriers of meningitis group C.
Answer · Susan Deacon: A study involving 50,000 school pupils in seven centres in the UK, including Glasgow is planned to commence shortly. It will examine the carriage of meningococcal bacteria before and after the introduction of the Men C vaccine over a period of three years. Th…
2 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-561 by Sarah Boyack on 19 August, why the report on the future of Caledonian MacBrayne ferries on the Firth of Clyde has not yet been published and when it will be.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: A consultation paper on CalMac's Gourock-Dunoon service is being prepared and will be published shortly.
1 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to access the European Union Contingency Reserve Fund to meet in full the applications made under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme for the current year.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The European Commission have advised us that they do not have a fund of that name.
1 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the total number of applications for the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme this year were made prior to 1 August 1999.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The total number of grant applications made under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme in the period since 1 January 1999 has been 4,816. Of those, 886 were received before 1 August 1999.
1 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to ensure that those who suffer from post-meningitis illnesses receive adequate healthcare.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The consequences of meningitis are varied. Those patients who have suffered from meningitis and have continuing health care needs are treated by the most appropriate part of the NHS in Scotland
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-1044 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 14 October 1999, whether it will ask the Department of Media, Culture and Sport to ensure that analogue transmissions will not be switched off until blanket digital coverage within the Highlands & Islands is achieved.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive will maintain close contact with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport over the arrangements to be made for the switch-over to digital television, including the issue of coverage.
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1558 by Donald Dewar on 15 September 1999, what consultation with councils, community councils and local communities has been or will be carried out on the subject of civil servant job dispersal and what steps will be taken to ensure transparency of …
Answer · Donald Dewar: Councils and other bodies are in touch regularly with the Executive about the advantages of their areas as locations for public service jobs. I expect that this will continue to happen. Where necessary, the Executive will request further information from rele…
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1558 by Donald Dewar on 15 September 1999, what stage investigations into the dispersal of civil service jobs are at; what departments are investigating civil service job dispersal; how many jobs are being considered for dispersal, by department and …
Answer · Donald Dewar: The Executive is gathering relevant information about public service jobs, including numbers and existing locations. Information is also being gathered about potential locations. As I have explained already (Written Answer S1W-1739) our policy encompasses al…
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1558 by Donald Dewar on 15 September 1999, what criteria will be used to determine the relative weight given to the objectives of efficiency and closeness to the community each time the dispersal of civil service jobs is being considered.
Answer · Donald Dewar: As I explained in my answer on 15 September, the Executive believes that the location of public service jobs should promote efficiency and effectiveness. Subject to this, the Executive will seek opportunities to locate jobs as close as possible to the communi…
19 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any circumstances under which local authorities have an obligation to provide core funding to voluntary groups which are providing a service not supplied by the local authority itself.
Answer · Jack McConnell: I am not aware of any legal obligations of this sort. It is a matter for local authorities themselves to decide on local funding priorities and whether or not to fund voluntary groups.
19 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants it employs, in part or in full in a research capacity, broken down by department.
Answer · Jack McConnell: On the basis of the number of staff employed by the Scottish Executive as members of the Research Group, the numbers are as set out below. There are other members of staff, for example, within the scientific group, who undertake some research but these have n…
18 Oct 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer how many people are employed by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body for the purpose of conducting research on behalf of individual MSPs and Parliamentary committees; of these, how many are employed exclusively for this purpose and what proportion of each researcher's time is allocat…
Answer · David Steel: Nine researchers are employed in the Information Centre. Their primary purpose is to provide timely, appropriate and non-partisan research support to the Parliament. Research is provided to three main client groups: committees, MSPs in general and individual …
18 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the civil servants which it employs in a research capacity provide services to Westminster MPs in relation to devolved policy areas and, if so, how many, broken down by policy area.
Answer · Donald Dewar: No Scottish Executive research staff provide services to Westminster MPs. For a breakdown of research of research staff by department, I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-2058.
18 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value of applications received under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme was in the current year and the two previous years and how much funding was available, from all sources, to meet this demand in each of these years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The total value of grant applications received in 1997 and 1998 under the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) were £3.6 million and £2.6 million respectively. These were subsequently approved.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">During 1999, the number an…
18 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy in relation to the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme is the same as that outlined by The Scottish Office in February 1999.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Various changes to the Agricultural Business Improvement Scheme (ABIS) were introduced in March 1999, following suggestions from farming and crofting organisations. These changes came into effect on 31 March 1999.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Since then, …
15 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the cost to date and the expected annual cost of the Public Defence Solicitors' office in Edinburgh and if it will publish the total number of cases concluded to date.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The cost of the Public Defence Solicitors' Office (PDSO), to 30 September 1999, was £643,000. This figure includes set up costs. <FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>The expected annual cost of the PDSO cannot be predicted with any accuracy because costs are determin…
15 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish figures showing the total number of sunbed and tanning studios in Scotland, broken down by each local authority area and also indicate which of those facilities are manned or unmanned.
Answer · Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally.
15 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what medical advice has been received regarding the positive and negative health implications of sunbed and tanning studios and whether it will publish that advice.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Expert advice on the hazards associated with the use of sunbeds has been provided most recently by the National Radiological Protection Board in its report <I>Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on Human Health</I> (Stationery Office, 1995). The report recommend…
15 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been received from CoSLA seeking additional powers for local authorities to regulate the operation of sunbed and tanning studios.
Answer · Susan Deacon: CoSLA has suggested that this matter could be considered by the Scottish Executive. This might appropriately be undertaken in the context of any future review of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.
15 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action, if any, it intends to take regarding recent public concern on the potential health implications of sunbed use.
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to my answer to Question S1W-2024.
15 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the appointment of Justices of the Peace to be open and transparent.
Answer · Donald Dewar: Information on the process for appointing Justices of the Peace is openly available. Details of candidates and the advisory committees' deliberations are exempt from disclosure.
15 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the names of the nominees for the position of Justices of the Peace on the Island of Barra, and whether it will publish the names of their proposers and seconders.
Answer · Donald Dewar: No. This information is part of a judicial appointments process and is therefore exempt from disclosure.
15 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the process involved in the appointment of Justices of the Peace in Scotland and what opportunities exist for local consultation prior to appointments being made.
Answer · Donald Dewar: A Justice of the Peace Advisory Committee operates in each Commission Area to identify and recommend suitable candidates to Scottish Ministers. These advisory committees must assess candidates carefully against a set of criteria to establish their suitability…
7 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to ensure that current examination of potential monopoly practice in the dairy industry will consider Scotland as a distinct market and therefore investigate potential monopoly practice specifically in Scotland.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We understand that there are no examinations of potential monopoly practices in the dairy industry currently being investigated by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Office of Fair Trading or the Competition Commission. However, the Secretary of State …
7 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many respite care facilities are available for (a) young people under sixteen years old and (b) people over sixteen years old with learning difficulties by local authority.
Answer · Iain Gray: <B><FONT FACE="Arial">(a)</B> Respite places in residential homes for children are not readily identifiable. The following table shows the number of homes and places available which provided respite care for children with learning disabilities at some point d…