Fergus Ewing

4 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ferries used by NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd comply with all applicable safety regulations and, in particular, whether seating, televisions and gaming machines are securely fixed to prevent the risk of serious injury.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The ferries used by NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd comply with all applicable safety regulations. Television and gaming machines are securely fixed. Most seating, such as reclining chairs, is securely fixed. Chairs at dining tables are loose when i…

4 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what expenditure has been incurred by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) since 1997 in connection with the protection of (a) predator species, including pine martins, sparrow hawks, merlins and eagles, and (b) smaller prey species such as waders, winchats, wheaters, woodpeckers and finches; …

Answer · Allan Wilson: This is a matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. The information requested is not held centrally.

3 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will promote the Youth Advantage Initiative, developed by the Northern Constabulary and Grampian Police in conjunction with the army, throughout Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I understand that Operation Youth Advantage is one of several schemes by which Northern Constabulary and Grampian Police engage young people in their force areas. Other Scottish police forces do so in other ways. These are matters for individual forces.

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will require the Food Standards Agency to make available all information the agency has regarding scallops and amnesic shellfish poisoning, including research data, correspondence with representative bodies of the scallop industry and all other relevant documents.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Food Standards Agency Scotland advise me that they will adhere to their stated policies of openness and accessibility in dealing with material concerning scallops and amnesic shellfish poisoning. All information the agency has which can be released to interes…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the new tiered testing system for scallops will have on the scallop industry; when any economic appraisal of the impact of such a system will be completed, and when any such appraisal will be made available to (a) it and (b) the Parliament.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Food Standards Agency Scotland advise me that they are developing a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) designed to evaluate the impact of the proposed tiered system on all parties affected. The RIA includes costings provided by the scallop industry. Once comp…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what road safety measures it will implement for the communities of Duror and Kentallen on the A828.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In addition to the recently completed £233,700 footway in Duror, the final section of footway at the War Memorial is currently being discussed with Highland Council and once agreement is reached this section will be programmed for implementation.<P>The double…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is permissible for chief executives of local enterprise companies and politicians to co-sign letters to newspapers.

Answer · Iain Gray: All staff employed by the Enterprise Networks are required to adhere to a code of conduct which covers matters of political activity and conflicts of interest. These codes do not prohibit public statements being made, including statements which may appear in …

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many sailings have been missed between the mainland and the northern isles since Northlink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd took over the routes from P & O Scottish Ferries.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I understand that Northlink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd intends to publish detailed information on missed sailings and late arrivals on its website at <A HREF="http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk/">www.northlinkferries.co.uk</A>, and I refer the member to t…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider reforming the law so that public authorities are placed under a statutory obligation to inform the police when they have good grounds to believe that a crime has been committed, or is about to committed, by an employee or employees or anyone on their premises.

Answer · Jim Wallace: We have no current plans to do so. At present, employers generally have the option but not the legal obligation to ask the police to investigate suspected crimes on their premises. There are some limited statutory exceptions to this. For example, where employ…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many tied houses or other dwellings it owns, or otherwise provides, for the occupation of persons employed by (a) it and (b) other public sector bodies.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive currently provides nine residential properties for occupation by its employees. In addition, the Scottish Executive owns several estates which are leased to Scottish Agricultural and Biological Research Institutes, the Scottish Agricult…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in rural areas it estimates have no access to public transport and what assistance it provides to such people under any of its current programmes.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Household Survey (SHS) collects data from a sample of Scottish households on an annual basis. In the three years from 1999 to 2001, on average 7% of people living in rural areas said that they did not have a bus service.<P>The Executive supports …

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31034 by Dr Elaine Murray on 19 November 2002, whether it will list for each of the last five years those historic buildings for which new uses have been found.

Answer · Elaine Murray: I have asked Graeme Munro, Director and Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to reply. His response is as follows:<P>The term historic buildings<I> </I>can refer to both listed buildings and scheduled monuments, although the latter covers a much wider range o…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it has made in the scallop industry in each year since 1999-2000 and what steps it is taking to ensure the industry's survival.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Funds committed to scallop sector projects from the Scottish Executive and Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) grants schemes since 1999-2000 are as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=134><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP" HE…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to simplify the regulatory system applied to the agriculture industry.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive will continue to press the European Commission to allow further simplification of the subsidy schemes on such things as form filling, proportionality of penalties, inspection procedures and detailed scheme rules.

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost of medical negligence claims against the NHS has been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by the (a) amount of any compensation paid to the claimant and (b) total costs of handling any such claims, and whether it has assessed such costs against those of a "no fau…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table provides details of the cost of medical negligence claims over the last 10 years.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=396><TR><TD WIDTH="26%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Financial Year</TD><TD WIDTH="24%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Total Award</TD><TD…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether public private partnership projects for the building of new (a) schools and (b) hospitals will incorporate the same standards of bomb proofing as have been incorporated in the specification of works for the new Parliament building at Holyrood.

Answer · Andy Kerr: In designing a building, security considerations are the same regardless of whether it will be built using public private partnerships or conventional procurement. These decisions are of course made by the bodies procuring the building, taking appropriate pro…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1F-2269 by Mr Jack McConnell on 21 November 2002, what financial assumptions were used to compute the total provision for implementation of free personal care for the elderly in the Highland Council area; which assumptions formed the basis of its conclu…

Answer · Frank McAveety: Highland Council's free personal and nursing care total allocation in 2002-03 was £4.106 million. Of this, £2.092 million was based on the most recent information available on the number of<B> </B>residents funding their own care in residential and nursing ho…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31074 by Ross Finnie on 20 November 2002, why it will not state which of its representatives spoke at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 14-15 October 2002; why it regards such information as confidential, and whether it will now provid…

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive's participation in the EU policy-making process is subject to the Concordat on the co-ordination of EU policy issues, which includes explicit provisions on the confidentiality of discussions.

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes will begin on the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen from now to 2010; whether each such scheme is projected or confirmed, and what the planned or estimated start date of each scheme is.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32095 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/sear…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes will begin on the A95 between Grantown on Spey and Inverness from now to 2010; whether each such scheme is projected or confirmed, and what the planned or estimated start date of each scheme is.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The A95 runs from the A9 north of Aviemore through Grantown on Spey to the A96 at Keith. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32095 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search f…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes will begin on the A9 between Perth and Inverness from now to 2010; whether each such scheme is projected or confirmed, and what the planned or estimated start date of each scheme is.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32095 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/sear…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes will begin on the A82 between Glasgow and Inverness from now to 2010; whether each such scheme is projected or confirmed, and what the planned or estimated start date of each scheme is.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Details of improvement schemes due to be delivered in the current trunk roads programme up to 2006 are set out in the following table. Maintenance and improvement of the trunk road network is an on-going process and new schemes will be identified covering the…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage local authorities to provide free milk to primary school children; what information it has with regard to the extent to which milk is available free to such children; whether it will publish a table indicating the policy applicable in each local author…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive does acknowledge the importance of milk as part of a balanced diet. An adequate calcium intake is essential for the formation of healthy bones, particularly in childhood, and dairy products, including milk, are a good source of calcium …

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to whether bats pose a risk to humans in the transmission of rabies and whether any guidance or advice has been, or will be, issued to the medical profession in respect of patients that may have suffered a bite or an abrasion from a bat.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Medical Officer issued guidance to health professionals on 19 November 2002, which included advice on the care of patients who may have suffered a bite or an abrasion from a bat. It also confirmed that bats do not pose a serious risk to the general …

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Environment and Rural Development has met any MSP in connection with the future of the fishing industry, the impending negotiations with the EU and the future of the Common Fisheries Policy and, if so, whom he has met and on what dates.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have had recent meetings with, or involving, MSPs as follows:<DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR><DIR><P>11 November: Nora Radcliffe, Nicol Stephen, Richard Lochhead and Stewart Stevenson;<P>14 November: Iain Smith and Euan Robson;<P>26 November: Lewis Macdonald and Elaine…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) plays in assisting the police in the detection of wildlife offences.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The RSPB sometimes assist in wildlife crime investigations but it is the responsibility of the police to lead enquires and it is for the police to judge whether or not the specialised assistance of the RSPB is required. The Association of Chief Police Officer…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to whether sentences imposed for convictions in respect of offences under sections (a) 1 or (b) 3A of the Road Traffic Act 1991 are less severe than sentences imposed for convictions in respect of such offences in courts in England.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Although the number of cases prosecuted under these sections in England and Wales is much greater, there is no significant difference in the pattern of sentences imposed.

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what criteria offences under sections (a) 1 and (b) 3A of the Road Traffic Act 1991 are heard in (i) the High Court of Justiciary or (ii) a sheriff court.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: Decisions on forum for proceedings in such offences are a matter for Crown Counsel to make after consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case. We will review our court marking policies in the context of Lord Bonomy's Review of the High Court and o…

27 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31273 by Ross Finnie on 18 November 2002, whether it will place in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre the responses received to the consultation document, Registration of Sellers and Buyers of First Sale Fish.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Consultation meetings with industry interests throughout the UK are still taking place. Against that background we have advised industry that we shall accept written comments until the end of the year. Copies of responses received will be made available (exce…

27 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a need for a form of pavement or footpath along the A82 from the locks at South Laggan to connect with the existing footpath from the Seven Heads store to the housing scheme at the swing bridge; whether provision of such a footpath is important in order to protect the saf…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Improvement works, such as the provision of footpaths, are identified and carried out on a needs basis taking into account safety and operational issues and setting these within the budgetary restraints and competing priorities across the entire trunk road ne…