Iain Smith

30 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average value is of the annual single farm payment received by those farmers who did not complete a 2004 Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) form.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I cannot provide you with the information you require, for the reasons I have outlined in my reply to you in question S2W-18834. This information will not be available until claims have been validated and payments made. The Single Farm Payment Scheme (SFPS) p…

30 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers who did not complete a 2004 Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) form are in receipt of a single farm payment.

Answer · Ross Finnie: A total of 2,277 businesses did not submit an IACS Area Aid Application (AAA) in 2004, but did submit an IACS Single Application Form (SAF) in 2005. This number includes new entrants, producers previously not required to submit an IACS form (such as small pro…

11 May 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the new standards for patients waiting for diagnostic tests and procedures will be published.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: New waiting times standards for key diagnostic tests, which will have the effect of reducing the longest waits substantially and speeding the patient’s pathway through the NHS, will be announced shortly.</p>

2 Mar 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met BEAR Scotland to discuss the Route Accident Reduction Plan for trunk roads in Fife.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive met withBEAR Scotland to discuss Route Accident Management Plans, which includeaccident reduction measures, for the A92 and A985/A977 trunk roads on 13 December 2004 and21 January 2005 respectively. The Scottish Executive also met with …

23 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to increase the proportion of Scottish-domiciled students studying medicine in Scottish universities.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Selection to medical schools is a matter for our universities. The Scottish Executive is discussing selection criteria with our medical schools within our ongoing discussions on Sir Kenneth Calman’s Review of Basic Medical Education in Scotland.</p>

23 Feb 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to improve road safety on the A92 between New Inn and the Tay Road Bridge.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Following completion of the A92 Route Action Management Plan in November 2004 a number of proposals to improve road safety on the A92 between New Inn and the Tay Road Bridge have been approved and will be implemented during 2005-06. These include: </p><ul typ…

24 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the reorganisation of VisitScotland and area tourist boards.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Our plans to deliver an integrated tourism network were announced in March, in support of our ambition to grow tourism revenues by 50% over the next decade. The restructuring of the tourism network is well underway. It will build on the strengths and expertis…

20 Oct 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Fife Council to discuss its school capital buildings project.

Answer · Peter Peacock: There are meetings at official level, as appropriate, to discuss the council’s schools PPP project and its School Estate Management Plan.</p>

28 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland on the process and timetable for the creation of multi-member wards for the local government elections by single transferable vote in 2007.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Directions have been given to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, and to councils, in relation to the initial period of consultation required under section 18(2)(a) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. No other guidance has been iss…

8 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the handover of the ScotRail franchise.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I met with the managing director of the new franchise holder yesterday. The date for handover is 17 October and good progress is being made.</p>

28 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the preferred bidder for the ScotRail franchise.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The evaluation of the bids isunderway at present, and a preferred bidder will be announced in due course.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

14 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Fife regarding accident and emergency services in Fife.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive Health Department meets regularly with NHS Fife to discuss a wide range of issues affecting service provision, including accident and emergency services. Officials from the department most recently met with NHS Fife on 6 September to co…

14 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure maximum public involvement in its consultations on Making Development Plans Deliver and Rights of Appeal in Planning.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: We are consulting widely. The initial distribution of the consultation papers sent copies to a wide range of interested organisations and individuals. The consultations have been well publicised and we are continuing to provide copiesof the papers to anyone w…

30 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide information on its performance against the targets published in Draft Budget 2004-05.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is today publishing an <i>Annual Evaluation Report</i> which replacesthe old <i>Annual Expenditure Report</i> and launches Stage 1 of the 2005-06budget process.</p><p>The Executive has changedthe name and format of its Stage 1 Budget do…

3 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce the remit and membership of the proposed independent inquiry into local government finance.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We areworking with COSLA on this and giving further consideration to the detailedscope, remit and timing of the review. I expect to announce more details in thenear future.</p>

26 Nov 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to assist in the improvement of golfing skills.

Answer · Frank McAveety: TheExecutive is investing in the Clubgolf initiative which was launched earlierthis year by the First Minister and ColinMontgomerie at Gleneagles.</p>

19 Nov 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers last visited schools in Fife.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Euan Robsonvisited Madras College in St Andrew’s and Anstruther primary school on Tuesday11 November where he saw, respectively, the challenges in successfullyoperating a split site High School and the provision of a new state of the artprimary school deliver…

1 Oct 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to enable pupils to walk or cycle safely to school.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive is enabling morepupils to walk and cycle to school by providing guidance to local authorities andfinancial support, through safer routes to schools and 20 mph zone funding.</p>

10 Sep 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Office of the Rail Regulator, the Strategic Rail Authority and Network Rail regarding track maintenance and improvements.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Office of the Rail Regulator, theStrategic Rail Authority and Network Rail on a wide range of issues includingtrack maintenance and improvements.</p>

16 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any warnings from health bodies that terrestrial trunked radio and communications masts or equipment can interfere with medical equipment such as defibrillators.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Guidance on the use of mobile telecommunications equipment in Scottish hospitals and close to electromedical devices was provided in a letter on Mobile Phones - Possible Interference with Medical Devices (HDL(2001)21) issued by the Scottish Executive Health D…

11 Jun 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Strategic Rail Authority and ScotRail about the future of rural railways.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with both the Strategic Rail Authority and ScotRail on a wide range of issues, including the future of rural railways.

9 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any police force or emergency service has withdrawn, or suspended, the use of terrestrial trunked radio communications equipment because of concerns about health risks to personnel or the public.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Terrestrial trunked radio communications equipment is not yet used by police or other emergency services in Scotland. I am not aware of any police force or emergency service elsewhere in the United Kingdom having withdrawn or suspended the use of such equipme…

9 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any reports of ill health affecting any police or emergency service personnel using terrestrial trunked radio communications equipment.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I understand that there is an on-going legal action by three members of Lancashire Constabulary against their Chief Constable over alleged hearing damage caused by "spiking" (a phenomenon where the equipment emits a very loud blast of sound). I am not, howeve…

19 May 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Fife NHS Board and what matters were discussed.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Officials of the Scottish Executive Health Department meet all Scottish NHS boards regularly. The most recent meeting with Fife NHS Board was on Monday 19 May 2003.<P>A variety of issues were discussed, including taking forward implementation of policies set …

8 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations it has carried out into any potential health risks associated with radio masts being supplied by Airwave MM02 Ltd for the new police forces communications service.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The new police communications system being supplied by Airwave MM02 uses the Terrestrial Trunked Radio standard (TETRA). The issue of possible health effects caused by signals from TETRA base stations was addressed in a report by the National Radiological Pro…

8 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will grant further powers to local authorities to enable them to increase the number of 20 mph 'ones outside schools.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Local authorities have considerable powers and flexibility with regard to the introduction of 20 mph speed limits at suitable locations, including outside schools. They have power to introduce mandatory 20 mph zones, in which engineering measures are a standa…

8 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on the business case for a new hospital and health centre in St Andrews.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Fife Primary Care NHS Trust is currently working on the Outline Business Case (OBC) for the St Andrews Community Hospital and Primary Care Resource Centre. It is anticipated that the OBC will be submitted within the next two months. A response will normally b…

8 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from Fife Council regarding a case for a new secondary school to serve north Fife.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: None. It is a matter for Fife Council to decide on the priorities for provision of new schools in their area, within the resources available to them.

12 Feb 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage greater voter participation in the elections in May 2003.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Electoral Commission, which is independent, has responsibility for running the public awareness campaign for the Scottish Parliament elections. The Scottish Executive has this responsibility with regard to local elections as these fall outside the remit o…

28 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-6288 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 23 January 2003, when the review of the current provision of chronic pain services will be commissioned; what its terms of reference will be, and when it will be expected to report.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: I am glad to say that Professor James McEwen, formerly Professor of Public Health Medicine at Glasgow University, has accepted the Executive's invitation to carry out the review. Details of the remit and timescale will be announced in due course.