Parliamentary questions

Jamie McGrigor

1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

9 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation local authorities are required to undertake with local businesses and other stakeholders before granting permission to utility companies to undertake major works involving digging up streets that may lead to disruption and loss of amenity.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no statutory requirement on local authorities to consult with local businesses regarding planned road works. Before carrying out major works, it is normal practice for most utility companies to consult local businesses and other stakeholder…

3 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether responsibility for the administration of the Rural Empty Properties Grant scheme has been transferred from Communities Scotland to local authorities and, if so, (a) when it was transferred, (b) what action was taken to ensure that expertise and skills built up by employees at Comm…

Answer · Alex Neil: Responsibility for the administration of the Rural Empty Properties Grant scheme remains with Scottish Government Housing Investment Division and any enquiries are dealt with through the Regional network of former Communities Scotland offices and staff.

1 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many deaths by drowning there have been in the area of Loch Awe (a) north of Portsonachan and (b) between Portsonachan and Ford in the last 30 years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It is not possible to produce figures which cover the last 30 years as this information is not held centrally. The statistical database of the General Register Office for Scotland holds details of the place of death only in respect of those deaths which were …

23 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the independent review of the future of bull hire programmes in crofting areas will look at the desire of crofters for a ram hire scheme to be reintroduced.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The remit of the independent review group, published on 18 March 2009, relates solely to the keeping of quality cattle of high health status by crofters in remote rural Scotland. However, any recommendations from the review group to help increase crofting com…

23 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that more use could be made of the results of tests on patients, such as weight and body mass index, to identify those individuals most at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and, if so, what action it proposes to take.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is clear that being overweight, with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30kg/m2 means people are at much greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Measurements such as body weight and BMI therefore have an important role to play in the detec…

23 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16946 by Shona Robison on 5 November 2008, what progress is being made by the Scottish Public Health Network in considering early intervention to prevent the onset of diabetes.

Answer · Shona Robison: The needs assessment of Type 2 diabetes being undertaken by the Scottish Public Health Network is focussing on prevention and screening, including the optimal screening tool which should be used. It is also considering interventions to prevent or delay diabet…

23 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the Adopt a Highway anti-litter initiative that runs in countries such as the United States of America and Canada and whether it considers that such an approach would help address the problem of litter in Scotland and, if so, whether it plans to introduce su…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Litter clearance on the major roads in Scotland remains the responsibility of either Transport Scotland or local authorities. Transport Scotland, through its operating companies, is responsible for clearing litter on the motorway network and special roads, w…

16 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support it plans to give the Harris tweed sector to help it maintain and improve its international marketing strategies.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish ministers are committed to supporting a strong and vibrant Harris tweed sector and will work jointly with the Harris Tweed Industry Liaison Group to assist its sustainable development and growth, including its international marketing strategies. …

12 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent contact or discussions it has had with parent councils in Argyll and Bute concerning the possible closure of primary school kitchens.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0312-01.htm">http://www.scot…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will guarantee that Islay will continue to be served by two ferries after 2011 and the introduction of the new Caledonian MacBrayne Islay ferry.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is for CalMac Ferries Ltd to ensure that it maintains sufficient carrying capacity to meet its obligations under the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract. Similarly, that contract enables the Scottish Government to meet through subsidy payments CalMa…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will guarantee that the new Caledonian MacBrayne Islay ferry will be able to be accommodated at Kennacraig.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Subject to some modifications which will be carried out prior to delivery of the new vessel in 2011, it is expected that the new Islay ferry will be able to be accommodated at Kennacraig.

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it is making, or plans to make, to upgrade the linkspan and infrastructure at Port Ellen.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd expects to start soon on detailed ground investigation at Port Ellen and related design work. Parallel to this will be the progression of a Harbour Revision Order (HRO) to provide the necessary planning approvals. As w…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would cost to improve the linkspan and infrastructure at Port Ellen to allow it to accommodate larger vessels such as the new Caledonian MacBrayne Islay ferry.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd estimates that the minimum costs of upgrading Port Ellen to accommodate the new ferry vessel would be £10.9 million at current prices. If a new terminal building and land reclamation to provide improved vehicle marshalling and …

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the impact of the new Caledonian MacBrayne Islay ferry not being accommodated at Port Ellen will be on the economy of (a) Islay and (b) Port Ellen.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The new vessel will be larger and more manoeuvrable than the existing Islay vessels. This is expected to improve the reliability of the service to Port Askaig in bad weather. The second vessel that would be deployed would still be able to use the Port Ellen …

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for the announcement by Caledonian MacBrayne that the new Islay ferry cannot be accommodated at Port Ellen.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As the owners of the Port Ellen pier, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd is committed to keeping all interested parties informed about the future use of the Port Ellen pier and, in particular, its ability to accommodate the new vessel that is due to be introduced…

6 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns of local people on Islay and in particular in Port Ellen that the new Caledonian MacBrayne Islay ferry cannot be accommodated at Port Ellen.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The new vessel to serve Islay is due for delivery in spring 2011 and is being financed by a £24.5 million loan from the Scottish Government to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. This new vessel was designed to serve Islay''s needs for many years into the future…

3 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commit funds to a feasibility study on the reopening of the Ballachulish slate quarry.

Answer · Michael Russell: Historic Scotland, acting on behalf of Scottish ministers, is aware of the need to obtain a wide range of appropriate traditional building materials for repairs to existing buildings and matching new work. There are a range of potential sources for slate prod…

3 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost would be of reopening the Ballachulish slate quarry.

Answer · Michael Russell: The supply of traditional roofing materials is an area of policy concern for Officials at Historic Scotland, and while they do not have the remit or the resources to make financial judgments of a commercial activity such as quarrying, they remain keen to ass…

3 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, and with whom, regarding the possible reopening of the slate quarry at Ballachulish.

Answer · Michael Russell: Historic Scotland, who act on behalf of Scottish ministers on these matters, have been looking at potential sources of slate across Scotland starting with a national overview taken in 2000. The Scottish Stone Liaison Group (SSLG) which is funded by Historic S…

3 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Historic Scotland in relation to including reference to alternatives to indigenous slate when advising on the repair or refurbishment of listed buildings.

Answer · Michael Russell: Historic Scotland, who act on behalf of Scottish ministers on these matters, are currently reviewing and reissuing their guidance on the treatment of roofs of listed buildings, to be published in the next financial year. Their guidance does, and will continue…

3 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Historic Scotland on the use of alternatives to indigenous slate when repairing or refurbishing its properties.

Answer · Michael Russell: Slating issues at Historic Scotland''s Properties in Care are limited in extent, as the majority of Properties in Care are monuments, with no roof structure. Where slate roofs exist, the approach is to minimise the requirement for replacement material by care…

19 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, or will make, to Her Majesty’s Government in relation to any concerns that the current system of determining cold weather payments, based on postcode areas, does not ensure that all elderly people receive payments when affected by low temperatures.

Answer · Alex Neil: I have written to Joan Ruddock asking about arrangements for the next meeting of the UK “ wide Ministerial Group on Fuel Poverty and suggesting this issue as a useful topic for discussion at that meeting. We have also asked the Scottish Fuel Poverty …

16 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what extra efforts it and local authorities are making to ensure that the problem of litter on streets and in the countryside is addressed, given that 2009 is the Year of Homecoming and the anticipated increase in numbers of tourists coming to Scotland.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There is little doubt that litter remains a blight on many communities across Scotland. It is an issue that the Scottish Government is committed to tackling. To raise awareness and tackle the problem Scottish Government provides core funding to the e…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it would define responsible fishing activities within a marine special area of conservation.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Within a marine Special Area of Conservation fishing activities that abide by fisheries regulations and which do not impact on the favourable condition of the feature of interest are considered to be responsible fishing activities.

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has the power to grant absolute rights for the continuation of existing activities within a marine special area of conservation at the point of introduction.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: It would not be appropriate to grant any absolute rights in this way. European law does not allow member states to state that all existing activities would be allowed to continue at the point of introduction of a marine special area of conservation. However, …

12 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to housing associations in the west Highlands.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0212-01.htm">http://www.scot…

10 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the adequacy of inflammatory bowel disease services.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: We understand that the results of the 2008 audit of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) services will be published by the British Society of Gastroenterologists later this month, enabling gastroenterological services in Scotland to benchmark themselves against t…

10 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people suffer from inflammatory bowel disease.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally. We are aware, however, that the National Association for Colitis and Crohn''s Disease suggests there may be 20-25,000 people in Scotland with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

10 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what community-based services exist to support individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is a range of community-based services for people with long term conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including those services offered by GP practices, community pharmacists, and healthcare staff such as district nurses who provide advic…

10 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what policy and guidance exists to ensure adequate standards of services for inflammatory bowel disease across NHS boards.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) will benefit from our general policies on long-term conditions management. The focus in Better Health, Better Care is on providing services which are fully responsive to the totality of people''s needs, in …