Parliamentary questions
Jamie McGrigor
1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Connected Communities will not be able to give residents in the Northbay, Barra, community 100% broadband coverage while an upgraded BT exchange could.
Answer · Jim Mather: It is not possible to state firmly that an upgraded BT exchange in Northbay would give 100% coverage. This is because ADSL technology generally has a reach issue whereby those living some distance from the exchange cannot access ADSL services. HIE have indica…
17 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to local concerns that exist in the community of Northbay, Barra, about the decision of Highlands and Islands Enterprise to pursue broadband connection through a Connected Communities initiative rather than an upgrade of the Northbay telephone exchange and specific co…
Answer · Jim Mather: Connected Communities is led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) who are responsible for all operational matters around its design and delivery. We are aware of some local opposition in Northbay to Connected Communities, but support HIE’s decision to co…
17 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase participation in rowing among young people to build on the success of those who are currently excelling in the sport.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing participation in sport across the whole population and recognises the importance of young people being able to access a range of sports activities to develop and improve the skills required that will enable t…
17 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available from central government, sportscotland and other relevant agencies for young people involved in rowing.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government through sportscotland invested £71,463 in Scottish Amateur Rowing Association in 2007-08 to increase participation and improve performance in the sport. A participation manager was appointed in 2006 to ensure young people across Scotla…
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that there is a potential for hundreds of loch-fed mini hydro electric schemes, especially in the Highlands and Islands, if transmission issues can be overcome.
Answer · Jim Mather: We believe there is significant potential for further hydro development in Scotland. The Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) has commissioned a Scottish Hydro Resource Study which is examining the scale and location of this potential. T…
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts that a loch-fed mini hydro electric scheme of less than one megawatt is approximately half as costly to build and run as a wind farm per unit of annual production.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is committed to developing a diverse clean energy mix, one which includes both hydropower and wind.</p> <p >We do not hold commercial information relating to the cost of developing loch-fed mini hydro schemes. However, the proposals f…
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the particular concerns of small-scale renewable energy scheme developers on islands such as Jura, Islay and Colonsay about difficulty in being able to connect to the mainland national grid.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government recognises that grid reinforcements will be necessary if we are to capitalise on Scotland’s renewables potential, especially in more remote areas such as the Highlands and Islands, where the resource is often strongest.</p> <p >We als…
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to development of hydropower plants of less than one megawatt and what action it is taking to ensure that such plants can gain connection to local and national electricity grid systems as quickly as possible.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government believes that the current grid queue is a constraint to renewables development in Scotland. We will continue to engage with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), National Grid and other stakeholders and …
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that, in determining connections to the national electricity grid system, factors such as local load and efficiency should be prioritised so that small baseload generations can gain quicker connection.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has made clear our view that the current system of processing grid connection offers needs to change. While responsibility for connections to the transmission network is a matter primarily for the UK government, we are in continuous di…
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns about the lengthy delays facing developers of small-scale renewable energy schemes in connecting to the local and national electricity grid system; what discussions it has had with power companies, Ofgem, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulat…
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is sympathetic to the concerns of small-scale renewable energy scheme developers over delays in connecting to the electricity grid. We consider that delays in gaining connections to the grid system place a significant barrier in recogn…
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the development of a new ferry service between Lagg on Jura and Keilmore on mainland Argyll.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The development of a new ferry service between Lagg on Jura and Keilmore on the mainland is a matter for Argyll and Bute Council to consider as planning authority. As Scottish ministers may become involved in any future planning application it would not be ap…
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Argyll and Bute Council and representatives of the Jura community over disruption to the ferry serving Jura as a result of problems with vessels berthing at Port Askaig on Islay and efforts to prevent such disruption in future.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No discussions have taken place with representatives of the Argyll and Bute Council or Jura Community Council on this matter. It is the council’s responsibility to resolve any conflict between the works it has commissioned at Port Askaig and the operation of …
2 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it estimates will be helped by the Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) in 2008-09.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has allocated funding to assist over 1,500 households into home ownership through the Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) during 2008-09. The actual number of households helped will depend upon demand and progress in takin…
29 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it estimates will be helped by the Local Improvement Finance Trust in 2008-09.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The NHS LIFT initiative operates in England only.</p> <p >The Scottish Government announced on 20 May 2008 that the hub initiative would be implemented as part of the development of the Scottish Futures Trust. The hub initiative is a more flexible approach t…
27 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects a Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service to be re-established.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13547 on 9 June 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/webapp/wa…
27 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on efforts to re-establish a Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive have appointed MVA Consultancy to undertake a STAG Appraisal of the route. The STAG Appraisal will consider all of the options available for delivering a ferry service on this route, and will allow us…
21 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it costs to build an affordable home.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The average cost of building an affordable home for rent in 2007-08 was £129,736.</p> <p >The average cost of building an affordable home for low cost home ownership in 2007-08 was £139,297.</p> <p >These figures relate to homes funded by the Scottish Gover…
21 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines an affordable home.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The consultative draft <i >Scottish Planning Policy 3 for Housing (SPP3)</i>, published in January 2007, and available at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/07141036/0">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/07141036/0</a> defin…
21 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines a sustainable community.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no straightforward definition of a sustainable community. <i >Scottish Planning Policy 1 – The Planning System (SPP 1)</i> states that planning should encourage sustainable development by:</p> <p >· promoting regeneration and the full and appropria…
20 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to re-introduce a tup hire scheme in crofting counties.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In considering future support for crofting, the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting recommended that support for bull hire should only be considered where market failure exists. The previous ram purchase schemes closed in 2004 and we have no plans to introduce a…
20 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to expand the road equivalent tariff pilot to include more island communities.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are currently no plans to expand the road equivalent tariff (RET) pilot to include more island communities. However, the pilot will be monitored continuously and the coverage of the pilot routes kept under review.</p>
20 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from residents in islands such as Colonsay about their exclusion from the road equivalent tariff pilot and what its response is to any concerns that have been raised.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has received a number of representations from residents on islands such as Colonsay about their exclusion from the road equivalent tariff (RET) pilot. In responding to these representations we have made clear that -</p> <p >We sympat…
20 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase awareness of dry age-related macular degeneration.
Answer · Shona Robison: A review of eye care services in Scotland has been published to ensure patients receive a good quality and efficient service, in a convenient setting without undue wait. The final report of the review was launched in the Parliament on 14 December 2006 and fu…
20 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that treatment costs for dry age-related macular degeneration will reduce as the number of people receiving treatment rises.
Answer · Shona Robison: NHS boards are expected to manage costs for the treatment of particular conditions from their overall NHS board funding allocation. Information about individual treatment costs is not held centrally.</p>
20 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle dry age-related macular degeneration.
Answer · Shona Robison: The planning and provision of NHS services is a matter for NHS Boards. The decisions of clinicians in relation to the care of individual conditions are a matter of professional judgement.</p> <p >A review of eye care services in Scotland has been published t…
6 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether funded research is taking place into the reasons for the significant losses of honey bees suffered by Scottish beekeepers, particularly in the last 12 months.
Answer · Michael Russell: No research is being carried out at present.</p> <p >Where beekeepers have suffered larger than normal post winter losses, in the vast majority of cases the loss was due to poor husbandry or varroa management or other bee diseases or pathogens.</p> <p >In…
24 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many under-18-year-olds have been (a) charged and (b) prosecuted for attempting to buy alcohol from retailers in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) police force and (ii) local authority area.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following tables. Information on the number of charges is not held centrally. The following tables show the number of such crimes recorded by the police and the number of persons proceeded against in Scottish courts. …
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have received the special islands needs allowance in each year since 1999.
Answer · John Swinney: The three Island authorities (Eilean Siar, Orkney and Shetland) have received special islands needs allowance (SINA) in each year since 1999. With effect from 2001-02 and following a review, a further three councils with island communities, Argyll and Bute, H…
31 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of government schemes that exist in France and Spain to support their fishing industries to cope with the impact of high marine fuel prices.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I met with Commissioner Borg in mid-March and discussed fuel issues with him. I am clear that there must be a level playing field across Europe “ a point I made in our meeting and will continue to make in Brussels.</p> <p >The Commissioner said that he was …
31 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to concerns in the fishing industry about the impact, especially in remote areas, of the rise in marine fuel prices.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: My officials and I are engaged in on-going discussions with the Scottish industry and the commission regarding our concerns about the impact of the high price of fuel on the fishing industry.</p> <p >I have commissioned a report on the trends in fuel prices…