George Lyon

16 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many air ambulance call-outs to the Cowal area there have been in the last three years and how many times an air ambulance was unable to assist due to there being (a) bad weather and (b) no landing lights.

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an investigation is being carried out into any increase in numbers of perinatal deaths in the Argyll and Clyde area and, if so, who is carrying out the investigation and when the report of the investigation will be published.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: All perinatal deaths in Scotland are subject to analysis to detect any worrying trends. NHS Argyll and Clyde is currently undertaking a detailed review of perinatal deaths to mothers who live in Inverclyde. An independent view of these cases will be given by …

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many perinatal deaths occurred in each of the last three years in (a) Rothesay and (b) Dunoon hospital and how many there were in (c) Inverclyde and (d) the Royal Alexandria hospital of children of patients from Dunoon and Rothesay.

Answer · Tavish Scott: During the period 2002 to 2004 there were no perinatal deaths at Rothesay Victoria Hospital;one perinatal death, in 2003, at Dunoon and District General Hospital; no perinatal deaths at Inverclyde Royal Hospital to mothers from Dunoon or Rothesay, and two per…

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average response times were from Inverary and Arrochar ambulances to call-outs from the Cowal area in each of the last three years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The average response times, in minutes, for all emergency incidents attended in the Cowal area by ambulances from Inverary and Arrochar are shown in the table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Sta…

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average response times were for the Inverary and Arrochar ambulances to emergency call-outs in each of the last three years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The average response times, in minutes, for all emergency incidents attended by ambulances from Inverary and Arrochar are shown in the table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Station Name</p></td>…

26 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many ambulance call-outs from the Cowal area were diverted to Inverary and Arrochar ambulances in each of the last three years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The numbers of emergency incidents attended in the Cowal area by ambulances from Inverary and Arrochar are shown in the table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Station Attending</p></td> <td…

21 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take regarding NHS Argyll and Clyde following publication of the Audit Committee's report on the NHS Argyll and Clyde's accounts for 2003-04.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Having received the Audit Committee’s report on 16 March I need to study the report carefully and think through the implications of the report’s findings and recommendations before making any decisions on the future of NHS Argyll and Clyde.</p>

16 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the potential impact on rural development in Mull of the local authority's decision to impose new weight limits on the roads in Mull.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The imposition of weight limits on local roads on Mull is a matter for the Argyll and Bute Council as roads authority. Scottish ministers have no powers to intervene and no assessment has been carried out.</p>

16 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the funding for housing announced in the ministerial statement on Scottish Water on 9 February 2005 will help connect housing developments in rural areas to the water system.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Lewis Macdonald’s announcement on 9 February included a commitment to invest in the strategic water and sewerage infrastructure required for new housing development. He also said that £14 million a year will be made available to reflect the costs to the housi…

18 Jan 2005 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will consider any new arrangements to allow new and temporary staff greater freedom to move around the Parliament before their security clearance is obtained.

Answer · Andrew Welsh: The current system is in place in order to ensure a safe and secure environment for all who access the Parliament.  Allowing greater freedom of movement prior to obtaining security clearance could compromise security so the Corporate Body has no plans to put …

1 Dec 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering writing off NHS Argyll and Clyde’s debt.

Answer · Andy Kerr: It is, of course, unacceptable for NHS boards to over spend against their budgets.This is taxpayer’s money and the board need to account for it properly. </p><p>The Executive has not made any assurances that we will write off NHS Argyll and Clyde’s deficit. W…

29 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making towards ending the Over Thirty Months (OTM) Scheme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In July 2004, the Food Standards Agency advised Scottish ministers that it would be acceptable, on grounds of low risk to consumers and proportionality, to replace the OTM Rule with BSE testing for OTM cattle born on or after 1 August 1996 subject to putting …

24 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much extra funding Argyll and Bute Council will receive in respect of roads.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Overall grant allocations to individual authorities for the next three years will be announced shortly. Across Scotland an extra £60 million is being allocated to GAE for local roads.</p>

10 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Rothesay Academy is under consideration to be a designated School of Ambition.

Answer · Peter Peacock: We are establishing a panel to oversee the programme and consider the first participants and expect to announce the first schools on the Programme in the New Year.</p>

10 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action Scottish Water has taken to ensure that waste treatment systems in Campbeltown and Inveraray are working and whether it has carried out a review of new waste water treatment proposals in Argyll to ensure that any past mistakes are not repeated.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: These are operational matters for Scottish Water and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. I understand Scottish Water will shortly meet with you to discuss their capital investment process in Argyll and Bute directly.</p>

28 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether land management contracts can be adjusted to reflect the needs of west Highland farmers and crofters.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We have been considering the responses to the LMC Menu Scheme consultation and have also been involved in discussion with stakeholders to establish a range ofmeasures which reflect the diversity of farming and the environment within Scotland – including the n…

14 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints of creels being towed away by trawler fishermen have been made to the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency by creelers in Loch Fyne in the last two years.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The approximate number of complaints received by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency office in Campbeltown about gear conflict in Loch Fyne is:</p><p>2002: 10 </p><p>2003: 7 </p><p>2004: 6</p><p>It is difficult to attach an exact figure to the number of …

24 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of its discussions with the European Commission on the implications of the European Court of Justice Altmark ruling for the tendering of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The decision of the EuropeanCourt of Justice in the Altmark case raised speculation by commentators about thepossible implications for the tendering of the Clyde and Hebrides ferryservices. I met recently with the Commission to discuss the possible effects of…

14 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is prepared to reallocate the funding that it has made available to Argyll and Bute Council for building slipways on the Luing ferry route for building a bridge.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The conditions of award for the slipway project could be varied, provided Argyll and Bute Council presented an appropriate business case for a bridge. The council has however given no indication that it intends to request this.</p>

14 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address rural affordable housing shortages.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: TheExecutive has committed £65 million in 2004-05 to fund over 1,400 affordablehouses in rural areas. We are also conducting a review of requirements foraffordable housing in Scotland as a whole, and possible policyresponses.</p>

8 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much central funding has been allocated to Argyll and Bute Council in each of the last three years and how much will be allocated for 2004-05.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The main central funding allocated to Argyll and Bute Council is shown in the table.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=463> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>(£ Million)</p> </td> <td> <p>2001-02</p> </td> <td> <p>2002-03</p> </td> …

24 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how small tourism providers will engage with the new tourist hubs.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Each of the14 tourism hubs will sit at the centre of tourism activity in their areas, asthe area tourism boards (ATBs) do at the moment. They will seek to maintain andbuild on the strong links which the ATBs already have with tourism businessesin their areas,…

10 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission regarding the tendering of Caledonian MacBrayne routes.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive has maintained regular contact with the European Commission to enable us to prepare for tendering the Caledonian MacBrayne services.<p>I intend to meet the Commission shortly to discuss the implications of the Altmark judgement and the new Commi…

3 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are applied when decisions are made by the police about the installation of speed cameras on trunk roads.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Thecriteria require safety cameras to be installed at casualty hotspots wherethere has been a history of speed-related collisions resulting in death orserious injury. Installation decisions are made by safety camera partnershipsfor each force area. Partnershi…

18 Feb 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be taken on the relocation of jobs to Tiree.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer themember to the answer given to question S2W-5714 on 5 February 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…

28 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue to fund the Business Broadband Incentive scheme next year.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Under our broadbandstrategy, we are currently considering which interventions would be mostappropriate in 2004-05 including a possible successor to the Business BroadbandIncentive scheme. The scheme has been very successful this year, with around5,000 applica…

21 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new 2004 European Community guidelines on state aid to maritime transport mean that the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry routes will still have to go out to tender.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We areconsidering the revised guidelines, and the related Communication which theCommission issued on 23 December. I intend to discuss, with the Commission, theimplications of the new guidelines for the tendering of the CalMac network.</p>

14 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to help support a sustainable future for the island of Tiree.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is committed to ensuring a sustainablefuture for all of our communities – including rural and island communities likeTiree. Our statement, <i>Rural Scotland: A New Approach</i>, published in May2000, set out our vision for the type of r…

7 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Argyll and Clyde and Highland NHS Boards over the future of the west Highland hospitals.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Health departmentofficials have regular contact with all NHS boards to discuss a wide range ofmatters, including service delivery. But I look to Argyll and Clyde and Highland NHS boards to consider how best todeliver high quality and safe hospital services th…

6 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of its grant funding allocated to Argyll and Bute Council in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99, (d) 1999-2000, (e) 2000-01, (f) 2001-02 and (g) 2002-03.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The main grant fundingallocated to Argyll and Bute Council are shown in the following table.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p>(£ million)</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>1996-97</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>1997-98</p> </…