Parliamentary questions
Iain Smith
226 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Fife Council to discuss the campaign to retain RAF Leuchars.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: I and my officials met with representatives of Fife Council and other partners, including Iain Smith MSP, on 22 December 2010, to discuss the campaign to retain RAF Leuchars in light of the potential threat posed to its future by the UK Government''s Strategi…
14 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Moray Task Force to discuss the campaign to retain the RAF bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss.
Answer · Jim Mather: The First Minister last met with members of the Moray Task Force by videoconference on 7 December 2010 to discuss the campaign to retain the RAF bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss in light of the potential threat posed to their future by the UK Government''s St…
14 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) financial and (b) other support it has given or offered to Fife Council to assist the campaign to retain RAF Leuchars.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government is working closely with Fife Council and partners to ensure that the strongest possible representations are made to the UK Government for retaining RAF Leuchars. Following my meeting with Fife Council, local MSPs and business leaders o…
14 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) financial and (b) other support it has given or offered to the Moray Task Force to assist the campaign to retain the RAF bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not provided direct financial support to the campaign to retain the Moray bases. Scottish Government ministers and officials have worked very closely with the task force and other public sector partners to ensure the best outcome f…
14 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the retention of the RAF bases at Lossiemouth and Kinloss in light of the impact of the possible closures on the local communities.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government views the retention of the RAF bases at Lossiemouth, Kinloss and Leuchars as an issue of national importance. We have been pressing the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for clarity on the future direction of the Strategic Defence and Security…
14 Dec 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the retention of RAF Leuchars in light of the impact of the proposed closure on the local community.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government views the retention of RAF Leuchars as an issue of national importance, and we are making the strongest possible representations to the UK Government for securing its future. The cross party submission to the UK Government in September…
1 Oct 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on the Forum for Environmental Volunteering Activity in each year since its establishment.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Although the Scottish Government does not fund the Forum for Environmental Volunteering Activity (FEVA), we have funded a number of initiatives for the benefit of member organisations across the FEVA network as summarised in the following table.</b></p> <p >…
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of how the one-off, additional allocation of £1 million in 2008-09 to Scottish Development International for the development of Scotland Houses was spent.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The additional allocation of £1 million was returned by SDI for use in supporting other Scottish Government priorities.</p>
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the commitment made in the 2007 SNP election manifesto that it could “get a far better return for public investment with support for Scotland Houses opened by Scottish business people internationally – similar to the one recently opened in Estonia” has been met, given that it prop…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This commitment was fully considered through research commissioned by SDI. This evaluated current pilot models and competitor best practice which concluded, based on current options, that there was no immediate added value in generating further overseas prese…
30 Apr 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many “Scotland Houses” have been created each year since May 2007
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There have been no publicly funded Scotland Houses created since May 2007.</p>
23 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has raised in the (a) Joint Ministerial Committee and (b) British Irish Council the proposals of the UK Government to terminate the reciprocal health agreement with the Isle of Man.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has not raised the UK Government''s decision to terminate the reciprocal health agreement with the Isle of Man with either the Joint Ministerial Committee or the British Irish Council.</p>
23 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reciprocal health agreements it has with the (a) Isle of Man and (b) Channel Islands and whether it plans to change such agreements.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has no reciprocal health arrangement with the Channel Islands. That arrangement came to an end on 31 March 2009, when the UK Government terminated its reciprocal health agreement with them.</p> <p >Our reciprocal health arrangement wi…
23 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with other devolved administrations on reciprocal health agreements with the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish Government officials have had detailed discussions with their counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland about the UK Government''s decisions to end the reciprocal health agreements with the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands and the limited impact …
23 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the governments of the (a) Isle of Man and (b) Channel Islands on reciprocal health agreements.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In April 2009 I was approached by Edward Teare, the Minister for Health and Social Security in the Manx Government, about the possibility of entering into a health agreement with the Isle of Man.</p> <p >At that time I said that I would be interested to lear…
23 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government on reciprocal health agreements with the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The end of the reciprocal health agreements with the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, which were entered into many years before devolution, is primarily a matter for the UK Government. </p> <p >Scottish Government officials have, however, had discussions…
23 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the details of its boiler scrappage scheme.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31666 on 9 March 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <u><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…
4 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish a formal consultation on the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-31514 on 25 February 2010. 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/App…
4 Feb 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the proposed review of the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 referred to in the letter dated 21 May 2009 from the Primary and Community Care Directorate to the Public Petitions Committee.
Answer · Shona Robison: We intend to publish a consultation document in March.</p>
7 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its decision on the proposed A92 Road Orders in relation to the A92 east of Newport-on-Tay, Fife.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Report of the Public Local Inquiry has been received by my officials and is currently being considered. A decision will be announced as soon as possible and the report of the Inquiry will be made available at that time.</p>
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether existing LEADER local action groups will have a role in administering European Fisheries Fund Axis IV measures.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28690 on 26 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottishparliam…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will move funding for the European Fisheries Fund Axis IV measures in Scotland to the LEADER programme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: It is not possible to move funding from the European Fisheries Fund to the LEADER measure within the Scottish Rural Development Programme. The two funding streams are distinct and separate entities.</p> <p >Our aspiration, however, is that existing LEADER lo…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will move broadband funding for land-based businesses to the LEADER programme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28688 on 26 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parlia…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure continued broadband funding for land-based businesses.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has delivered significant improvements in broadband access throughout Scotland though various initiatives, including successful completion of the Broadband Reach Project in May 2009. The project has made available an affordable service…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Measure 321 in the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is provided by the European Union.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The European Union''s contribution to the <i >Scotland</i><i > Rural Development Programme 2007-2013</i>, including Measure 321, is about 31.5%. We are currently awaiting approval from the European Commission to increase that percentage to 50% in 2010.</p>
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Measure 341 in the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is provided by the European Union.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The European Union''s contribution to the <i >Scotland</i><i > Rural Development Programme 2007-2013</i>, including Measure 341, is about 31.5%. We are currently awaiting approval from the European Commission to increase that percentage to 50% in 2010.</p>
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of LEADER programme funding will be available for staffing costs under the new arrangements announced in its press release of 25 September 2009.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28979 on 18 November 2009. 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/App…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the eligibility criteria for funding from the LEADER programme will be changed to reflect the loss of other funds under the new arrangements announced in its press release of 25 September 2009.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28979 on 18 November 2009. 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/App…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what different funds LEADER offices will administer under the new arrangements announced in its press release of 25 September 2009.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28979 on 18 November 2009. 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/App…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many different funds LEADER offices will administer under the new arrangements announced in its press release of 25 September 2009.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28979 on 18 November 2009. 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/App…
5 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discretion LEADER local action groups will have to vary the percentage of funding when match funding is in place under the new arrangements announced in its press release of 25 September 2009.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28979 on 18 November 2009. 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/App…