Parliamentary questions
Jamie McGrigor
1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to implement the recommendations of the Rural Housing Inquiry conducted by the Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Environment Committee.
Answer · Alex Neil: I will be writing very shortly to the Convener of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, enclosing the Scottish Government''s formal response to the Committee''s recommendations. The response should subsequently be available on the Scottish Parliament w…
10 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of households in the Northbay area of Barra has a working internet connection provided by the Concom exchange.
Answer · Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which deals with all operational matters in relation to the Connected Communities project, has advised me that 5% of households in the Northbay area of Barra have a working internet connection provided by the Connected …
10 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when installing publicly funded wireless internet networks in places such as Barra whether it is practicable to consider the views of people who will be affected.
Answer · Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which deals with all operational matters in relation to the Connected Communities project, has advised that following award of contracts for this project, a number of community champions liaised with the project team on…
10 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that Highlands and Islands Enterprise is providing an internet service on Barra that is satisfactory to all inhabitants.
Answer · Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which deals with all operational matters in relation to the Connected Communities project, has advised that the project has been providing a satisfactory internet service in the areas of Barra served by the Castlebay an…
10 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that internet broadband connectivity in Northbay, Barra, could be improved by an exchange upgrade, considering that the standard BT connection covers all homes that use the Northbay exchange.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Connected Communities broadband service available in Northbay, Barra, is consistent with the Scottish Government''s current broadband commitment which aims to provide an affordable basic broadband service (512Kbps) to known demand.</p> <p >Highlands and …
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that all of the £45 million in consequentials from Her Majesty’s Government’s budget announcement on housing will be used on housing and whether it will set out how it plans to spend this money.
Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government will announce its decision as to how this funding will be allocated in due course.</p>
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to follow the example of the NHS in England and Wales, where people with persistent back pain may be treated by chiropractors, osteopaths and acupuncturists.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The planning and provision of NHS services is a matter for NHS boards. NHS boards are expected to take account of relevant evidence-based advice and guidance in the delivery of NHS services. The treatment of individual patients is a matter of professional jud…
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it a worthwhile use of NHS funds to offer complementary treatments such as physical therapy and massage to people with chronic back pain.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government recognises that complementary or alternative medicine may offer relief to some people suffering from a wide variety of conditions and leaves it open to NHS boards to provide these therapies based on their assessment of needs in their a…
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of suggestions by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) that acupuncture, structured exercise and chiropractic services should be offered as treatment for back pain.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is aware of the recent National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) publication of a National Clinical Guideline to improve the early management of persistent non-specific low back pain.</p> <p >NICE Clinical Guidelines…
26 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that the decision to designate 12 rivers as candidate special areas of conservation on the north and east coasts and only one on the west coast is not connected to any effects of sea lice, disease and genetic damage to wild fish stocks that may have been caused by …
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24235 on 4 June 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/Apps2/Bu…
26 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Fisheries Research Services’ report on restoration of west coast rivers will be published and what the Scottish Government expects the main recommendations of the report to be.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Draft guidance on the restoration of west coast rivers is in preparation by a consultant commissioned by the Tripartite Working Group, a voluntary partnership of Scottish Government, wild fishery and aquaculture interests. The Tripartite Working Group expects…
26 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to restore the two salmon and sea trout fisheries in Loch Maree and Loch Stack.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has funded, through the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS), local trusts to produce Fishery Management Plans which provide the background to the fisheries and identify management actions to promote sustainably managed fres…
26 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason there is only one special area of conservation (SAC) designated salmon river, the Little Gruinard, from more than 50 rivers between Cape Wrath and the Mull of Kintyre on the Scottish west coast mainland, when there are three SAC rivers on the north coast and nine SAC river…
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The suite of 17 special areas of conservation (SAC) designated for Atlantic salmon in Scotland was selected in accordance with the requirements of Article 4 of the EC Habitats Directive in order to provide good representation for the species in terms of its g…
21 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to farmers and crofters in the Highlands and Islands to help them deal with predation on livestock by (a) sea eagles, (b) golden eagles and (c) other birds of prey, broken down by geographical area and the support available.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Currently support for eagles and other birds of prey is available through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) Rural Priorities. There are options within SRDP which offer management support for golden eagles. These can be found at the following web…
21 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether fox numbers are rising in the Highlands and Islands and, if so, what action it will take to respond to this and to any concerns of crofters and farmers in relation to predation on livestock by foxes.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government does not hold information on fox numbers. It supports fox destruction clubs across Scotland, and has resisted calls to ban snaring, focussing instead on the improving of standards in the operation of snares.</p>
21 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to farmers and crofters in the Highlands and Islands to help them tackle predation on livestock by foxes.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: 50% funding is available to fox destruction clubs to control foxes during the spring lambing season.</p>
13 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21980 by Jim Mather on 27 March 2009, what the outcome was of the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism’s meeting with Harris tweed stakeholders in Stornoway and what action the Scottish Government plans to take as a result.
Answer · Jim Mather: My meeting in Stornoway on 16 April with a wide range of Harris Tweed stakeholders was very fruitful in discussing the way forward for the sector. I welcome the determination and commitment of the industry to come together to share ideas, aspirations and solu…
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it envisages that the financial implications will be for the Highland dress and tartan industry of the recent vote by MEPs to prevent the manufacture and sale of sealskin products.
Answer · Jim Mather: We have indication that the industry will consider alternatives, such as using bovine hides, pony skins, rabbit furs or synthetic materials for the manufacture of sporrans. Our important export markets for sporrans in the United States will not be affected, a…
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it plans to have with stakeholders from the Highland dress and tartan industry about the implications of the recent vote by MEPs to prevent the manufacture and sale of sealskin products.
Answer · Jim Mather: Indications from the industry are that sporran makers can adapt if the use of sealskin is banned. Scottish ministers have not received any request for discussions on this matter.</p>
8 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the concerns of the Highland dress and tartan sectors about the implications of the recent vote by MEPs to prevent the manufacture and sale of sealskin products.
Answer · Jim Mather: The proposal to ban trade in seal products across the EU is a reserved matter. There will not be a total ban on sealskins in sporrans under the proposals. Inuit products from seals, sourced using traditional methods could still be traded. Also, non-commercial…
23 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether residents of the Western Isles who are linked to the Connected Communities initiative, such as people on the island of Barra, have access to a choice of broadband service provider.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Connected Communities network is a wholesale network which is open to any broadband provider who wishes to offer its services, however currently, only one such provider has taken advantage of this opportunity. Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which deals…
23 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many residents of the island of Barra have had access to reliable broadband internet under the Connected Communities initiative.
Answer · Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which deals with all operational matters around the design, delivery and management of Connected Communities, has confirmed that 23 Barra residents currently have access to a reliable broadband service through Connected…
23 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to local concerns about whether Concom, which supplies parts of the Western Isles with broadband internet access, is on an equal footing in terms of quality and reliability with BT Broadband, which is used by the rest of the United Kingdom.
Answer · Jim Mather: Customer satisfaction of Connected Communities'' broadband service is a matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which deals with all operational matters around the design, delivery and management of the Connected Communities network.</p>
23 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the people on the island of Barra were consulted about the internet package that they were to receive, as set up by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and whether the Scottish Government is aware of subsequent concerns that have been expressed about the reliability of this package.
Answer · Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which deals with all operational matters around the design, delivery and management of Connected Communities, has stated that it is not aware of any broadband provider which has consulted communities before delivering a servi…
23 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns that the Connected Communities initiative offering broadband internet connection to the people on the island of Barra may not be suited to the hilly terrain of the island and that this may have affected the reliability of the service.
Answer · Jim Mather: I am advised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which deals with all operational matters around the design, delivery and management of Connected Communities, that the terrain in Barra is no different to all the other areas across the Western Isles being ser…
23 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the people on the island of Barra are satisfied with their internet service provided by the Connected Communities initiative.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is aware of a local campaign, predominantly in Northbay, from existing and potential users who would prefer a BT solution.</p>
23 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would be possible to transfer the Connected Communities network, established by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, to a different broadband service on the island of Barra and whether any other service might provide wider internet coverage.
Answer · Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which deals with all operational matters around the design, delivery and management of Connected Communities, has advised me that there is no alternative broadband service covering the whole of Barra, to which to transfer the…
23 Apr 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will give to NHS Highland and other key agencies in the Highlands and Islands to help them respond to the needs of a predicted increasingly ageing population.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : <i> This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0430-01.htm">http://www.scott…
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the concerns of local businesses, especially in towns that depend on income from summer tourism, that utility companies are given permission to undertake major works that involve digging up streets during the summer months.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: While it is appreciated that road improvements and road works by utility companies can be an inconvenience, they are a necessary fact of life, both to improve the road network and to supply consumers with the services they require. Although the vast majority …
9 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to local authorities on the most appropriate time of year for giving planning permission to utility companies for works that involve digging up streets such as infrastructure upgrades.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No specific guidance is issued to local authorities. In most circumstances the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992, as amended, grants a general planning permission that allows many utility companies and other statu…