Parliamentary questions
Jamie McGrigor
1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it cost to produce the Homecoming Scotland 2009 advertisement for television and cinema, broken down by funding source.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Homecoming advert cost just over £150,000 to produce. VisitScotland receives European Regional Development Fund funding to support its Homecoming Scotland 2009 marketing activity, and this source was used to cover some of the cost of the advert, with the …
4 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends the Homecoming Scotland 2009 advertisement for television and cinema to be broadcast outside Scotland and, if so, in what countries.
Answer · Jim Mather: The primary purpose of the advert is to engage the public in Scotland, encouraging them to invite friends and family home and to take part in events themselves. By encouraging them to participate actively in Homecoming, the intention is to help boost domestic…
3 Dec 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has given to Argyll and Bute Council for the provision of the Luing ferry service in each year since 1999, also expressed as a percentage of the overall cost of the service, and what funding it plans to provide in future years.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has not provided any specific funding to Argyll and Bute Council for the provision of the Luing ferry service. The service is operated by the council with its own funds. While the Scottish Government has no plans to provide funding in …
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to the recent amendments to EU Directive 91/414/EEC to aid the horticulture industry, which has expressed fears that it will be unable to use products to control downy and powdery mildew, leaf spot and apple scab.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18239 on 4 December 2008. 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/Apps…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16417 by Richard Lochhead on 1 October 2008, what action it will take in response to recent amendments to EU Directive 91/414/EEC to aid farmers and growers who are concerned about greater costs, more red tape, and a reduction in plant protection pro…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: No amendments to Directive 91/414/EEC have yet been formally adopted. Negotiations are continuing at a European level, and we are taking active steps to influence the negotiations, for example by working with Scottish MEPs and by promoting Scotland''s interes…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16419 by Richard Lochhead on 1 October 2008, what further consideration it has given to the recent amendments to EU Directive 91/414/EEC and their potential effects on food supply and food security issues in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The negotiations on the new Regulation to replace Directive 91/414/EEC have not yet been completed, and therefore no amendments have yet been formally adopted. In the course of the negotiations, a large number of possible amendments are being discussed. We ar…
26 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16416 by Richard Lochhead on 1 October 2008, whether it has had discussions with NFU Scotland, or other relevant organisations, concerning the review of EU Directive 91/414/EEC and the implications that it has for Scotland’s agriculture and horticult…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998, the Scottish ministers have an agency agreement with the Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD), who act on our behalf on certain pesticide matters. PSD have a formal structure of working groups in which they consult and…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns among individuals in the agricultural sector who have crofting interests but are not registered crofters and have received or receive support under the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme (CCAGS) that they will be disadvantaged in future if the CC…
Answer · Michael Russell: In the light of the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting''s recommendations, the Scottish Government announced on 1 October 2008 that it would take forward proposals to re-orient support under CCAGS towards registered crofters whilst extending the scheme to the w…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals in the agricultural sector who are not registered crofters have received support under the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme in each year since 1999, broken down by crofting county.
Answer · Michael Russell: The information requested is not held centrally. The Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme is administered on behalf of Scottish ministers by the Crofters Commission and I have asked the Chief Executive of the Crofters Commission to respond to you dire…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with crofting stakeholders on its plans to reform the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme (CCAGS) and, in particular, its proposal to give support under CCAGS in future only to registered crofters.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting consulted extensively with crofting stakeholders prior to making its recommendations in respect of the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme and other support measures.</p> <p >The Minister for Environment spoke t…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are to reform the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government, in accordance with its response to the final report of the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting, plans to retain the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme within the Scotland Rural Development Programme, to take forward proposals t…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much support has been given to the crofting sector under the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme (CCAGS) in each year since 1999 and what level of support it plans to make available under CCAGS in each year until 2011, broken down by crofting county.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme (CCAGS) is demand-led and it is not possible to break down future support by crofting county. The Budget (Scotland) Bill Supporting Document for the Year Ending 31 March 2009 (Bib. number 44458) made £3 million…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to concerns that the role of the Crofters Commission area assessors will be diminished in any crofting legislation reform and what action it will take to prevent any such diminution.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18026 on 4 December 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current system for selection and operation of Crofters Commission area assessors is operating effectively and supported by crofters.
Answer · Michael Russell: The Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 empowers the Crofters Commission to appoint suitable persons resident in the crofting counties as assessors to assist in the local exercise of its functions. The appointment process and functions of the assessors were agreed b…
20 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what value it places on the work and role of Crofters Commission area assessors.
Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18026 on 4 December 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/…
19 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts that people who develop type 2 diabetes are likely to have demonstrated raised insulin levels for some years before they demonstrate raised glucose levels.
Answer · Shona Robison: People with type 2 diabetes may demonstrate raised insulin levels prior to raised glucose levels, but, as indicated in the answers to questions S3W-17935 and S3W-17984 on 2 December 2008, elevated insulin levels are compatible with a range of normal physiolog…
19 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16946 by Shona Robison on 5 November 2008, whether it accepts that people who develop type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance and that, rather than as stated in the answer, this is defined by high insulin levels in the presence of initially normal gl…
Answer · Shona Robison: People with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance, but type 2 diabetes does not necessarily result from the presence of insulin resistance. Some people''s insulin production will increase, and will continue to be sufficient to overcome their insulin resista…
19 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16946 by Shona Robison on 5 November 2008, given that many countries across the world and many private laboratories in the United Kingdom routinely test for insulin levels as an indicator of pre-diabetes, whether it will review its position on testin…
Answer · Shona Robison: Measurement of insulin is neither sensitive nor specific enough for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Laboratories which measure insulin in the United Kingdom or abroad do so as part of an investigation to exclude excessive insulin secretion in the context of…
18 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17722 by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008, whether it is aware of concerns among owners of working dogs that urban vets comprise a majority of those involved in the UK study into tail injuries in dogs and whether it will take action to ensure tha…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Royal Veterinary College and the University of Bristol Veterinary School have recruited an additional 30 veterinary practices which has increased the GB rural based practices from 12 to 19.</p> <p >In Scotland the study will involve a total of 19 veterin…
18 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16946 by Shona Robison on 5 November 2008, what evidence it has to suggest that insulin levels cannot be relied on as early indication of diabetes.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17934 on 2 December 2008, which indicated raised insulin levels can be consistent with a number of normal physiological situations.</p> <p >The evidence on issues related to screening and early detection of ty…
18 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts that metabolic syndrome, a condition characterised by significantly elevated insulin levels, is the most common form of a pre-diabetic state and, if so, whether it considers that the measurement of insulin levels may be important in the early detection of diabetes.
Answer · Shona Robison: Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of risk factors related to a state of insulin resistance. It is important to bear in mind, however, that insulin resistance can also be demonstrated in a range of normal situations, including during pregnancy or adolesce…
18 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts that people with type 2 diabetes are likely to have demonstrated raised insulin levels for some years before they demonstrate raised glucose levels.
18 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16946 by Shona Robison on 5 November 2008, whether it accepts that people with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance and that, rather than as stated in the answer, this is defined by high insulin levels in the presence of initially normal glucose l…
18 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16946 by Shona Robison on 5 November 2008, given that many countries across the world and many private laboratories in the United Kingdom routinely test for insulin levels as an indicator of diabetes, whether it will review its position on testing fo…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with National Grid Electricity Transmission concerning connections from Scottish islands to the GB transmission system.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17911 on 21 November 2008. 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…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the power-generation industry concerning the feasibility of proposed infrastructure development to connect the Shetland Islands and other Scottish islands with significant renewable energy potential to the mainland grid system, in light of targets for cutt…
Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish ministers are committed to ensuring a diverse, sustainable and secure energy supply for Scotland''s energy needs, and to meet our targets for reducing carbon emissions and tackling the challenge of climate change. Both existing and new renewable ener…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for the construction of the proposed high voltage direct current sub sea cable for transmitting electricity from the Shetland Islands to the mainland.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17911 on 21 November 2008. 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…
14 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the proposed high voltage direct current sub sea cable for transmitting electricity from the Shetland Islands to the mainland to allow connection of future renewable developments on the islands.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17911 on 21 November 2008. 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…
11 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the paper entitled “A survey of gundog lameness and injuries in Great Britain in the shooting seasons 2005-06 and 2006-07”, which was published in issue 3, 2008 of Veterinary and Comparative Orthapaedics and Traumatology.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: This research paper by Mr Houlton records injuries sustained by working gun dogs over the two shooting seasons. A total of 337 dogs were injured (24.8% of the group) including 114 foot and lameness injuries and 41 tail injuries. The report demonstrates that t…
11 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with relevant stakeholders about any concerns about the impact of the ban on tail docking on tail injuries in undocked dogs.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government officials intend discussing the impact of the tail docking ban with stakeholders once the study into tail injuries in dogs presently being conducted by the Royal Veterinary College and the University of Bristol has concluded. This study is…