Parliamentary questions

George Lyon

214 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

22 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Health Plan addresses the needs of Argyll and Clyde Trust Board, especially with regard to local accountability in the NHS in rural areas.

Answer · Susan Deacon: <I><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2>Our National Health: a plan for action; a plan for change</I> sets out a range of measures to improve accountability and increase patient involvement in NHSScotland. As stated in the plan, detailed change plans will be published i…

14 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time members of staff were employed by each tourist board in each year since 1990.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Due to the reorganisation of the ATB network in 1996, the requested data is only available from 1996 to 2000. The information is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">No. of full time staff by each Area Tourist Board , 1996-2000<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING…

14 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time members of staff were employed by its agencies or non-departmental public bodies in each local authority area in each year since 1996.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The numbers of full-time staff employed in the Scottish Executive agencies is shown in the following table. Comparisons between years is not straightforward, due to the creation of agencies during the period.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=578…

14 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many tourist information offices there were in each tourist board area for each year since 1990.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Due to the reorganisation of the ATB network in 1996, the requested data is only available for the years 1996 to 2000. The information is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">No. of TICs in each Area Tourist Board area, 1996-2000<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDI…

14 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its departmental jobs were based in each local authority area for each year since 1996.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The numbers of jobs in the core departments are shown in the table. Comparisons between years is not straightforward, due to the creation of agencies during the period and structural changes post-devolution.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=578>…

15 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any funding difficulties facing rural CCTV trusts.

Answer · Iain Gray: No particular problems have been brought to our attention but if they are we will address them at that time.

7 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scotland is to receive a share of the #51 million announced by Her Majesty's Government to help with flooding.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Scotland will benefit from additional resources consequential to the flood prevention package announced by John Prescott following the recent severe flooding in England and Wales.

1 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the results of the consultation on Delivering Lifeline Ferry Services.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I welcome the wide response to the consultation document, <I>Delivering</I> <I>Lifeline</I> <I>Ferry</I> <I>Services</I> - over 100 responses were received. The issues are complex and we will announce decisions on the way forward as soon as possible, taking i…

25 Oct 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to protect and extend GP services in remote and rural areas.

Answer · Susan Deacon: In general, GPs serving rural communities receive the same fees and allowances as their urban counterparts. They can also receive support through additional payments and schemes that have been introduced over the years in recognition of the particular circums…

20 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any money from the Rural Transport Fund has been used to maintain service levels on existing transport services.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The grants which are paid to local authorities for rural public passenger transport services are for supporting additional services which did not exist before the introduction of the Rural Transport Fund. I am aware that one authority used some of its grant t…

20 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many bus services which have received support through the Rural Transport Fund since its inception have subsequently been withdrawn.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: During the course of 1999-2000, 33 of the new or improved rural public passenger transport services receiving support through the Rural Transport Fund were withdrawn due to poor patronage or the introduction of commercial journeys. At the end of March 2000 ov…

20 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions exist within the Rural Transport Fund to maintain the quality of new and improved transport services which have received funding in the past and now face a funding shortfall.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: In this current year the amount of grant awarded to local authorities for rural public passenger transport services was increased by 6% above the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 grant levels to allow for increased costs in maintaining the new or improved services whi…

22 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from community councils that they should become precepting authorities.

Answer · Frank McAveety: We are not aware of having received any such representations from community councils.

22 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce local government legislation which will allow community councils the right to receive additional funding and funding which is on a consistent basis across Scotland.

Answer · Frank McAveety: No. It is for individual local authorities to determine the level of funding for community councils operating within their schemes.

15 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what total revenue was raised from (a) passenger fares and (b) vehicle fares by Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services in real terms for each year between 1989 and 1999 on all services excluding Kyle to Kyleakin.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The information requested, expressed in 1999-2000 prices, is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="26%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year</TD><TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Passenger fare revenue<P ALIGN="CENTER">(£ …

15 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average age of vessels operated by Caledonian MacBrayne was in each year between 1989 and 1999.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The information requested is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year</TD><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Average Age (years)</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>1989</TD><…

15 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new vessels Caledonian MacBrayne has put in service in each year between 1989 and 1999.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The information requested is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year</TD><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Number of vessels put into service</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP…

15 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total capital value of the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet was in each year between 1989 and 1999.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The values requested are as follows, at original cost prices, excluding the value of vessels under construction:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year</TD><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Val…

15 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many vessels Caledonian MacBrayne retired from service in each year between 1989 and 1999 on routes excluding Kyle to Kyleakin.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The information requested is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year</TD><TD WIDTH="50%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Number of vessels retired<P ALIGN="CENTER">(excluding Kyle/Kyleakin)</TD></…

11 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding is available for the improvement of sea defences to protect coastal towns which are vulnerable to flooding and, if not, whether it has any plans to implement such a scheme.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive makes funding available to local authorities on a case by case basis for approved coast protection schemes and confirmed flood prevention schemes. Schemes constructed by councils under the Coast Protection Act 1949 or the Flood Preventi…

20 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding paid to the Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen is available to tendering by other marine laboratories.

Answer · John Home Robertson: The primary function of Fisheries Research Services (FRS) is to provide information and scientific advice to the Scottish Executive in support of the latter's national and international responsibilities for fisheries. Approximately 75% of the funding paid to …

20 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is the total amount of funding paid direct to the Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen.

Answer · John Home Robertson: Fisheries Research Services is an executive agency of the Scottish Executive. Its external funding limit (the total which it may spend regardless of the source of funding) has been set at £14.3 million for the current financial year.

20 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representation Scotland has on the National Environmental Research Council, who the representatives are and how they are appointed.

Answer · John Home Robertson: The UK Research Councils are reserved under the Scotland Act 1998 and appointments are a matter for the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

28 Jun 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding will be made available to create a "ghost island" on the A83 opposite the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive do not intend to fund the provision of a "ghost island" on the A83 opposite the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar.

14 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the University of the Highlands and Islands to be designated as an institution eligible for funding by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

Answer · Henry McLeish: An application for designation of a new institution, called UHI, was received in December 1998. A public consultation exercise identified a number of issues to be addressed before Ministers can reach a decision. It remains with UHI to address these issues, an…