Parliamentary questions

Jamie McGrigor

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

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the economic benefits for Argyll of the re-establishment of a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Executive recognises thepotential economic benefits which could flow from there-establishment of the ferry service. We have not yet had the opportunity to discussthe way forward for the Campbeltown to Ballycastle service with the reconstitutedNorthern Ire…

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in identifying a possible operator for a re-established ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-424 on 13 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…

30 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it endorses the Reaching Higher: Building on the Success of Sport 21 strategy and, if so, what plans it has to take the strategy forward.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The revised sport strategy, ReachingHigher, was developed in close partnership with the sporting sector and sets outan inclusive and pragmatic approach to developing the infrastructure of sport inScotland.The Executive is fully committedto implementing…

30 May 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the independent elderly care home sector about increasing care home places in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Shona Robison: It is the responsibility of eachlocal authority to determine what level of provision is required to meet the needsof its local population and to arrange an appropriate range of services.We of course recognise the importanceof providing authorities with…

24 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress Transport Scotland has made in developing a combined footpath and cycleway linking Torlundy and Fort William and whether this development will be in place in advance of the World Mountain Bike Championships in September 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Invitations to tender were issuedby Transport Scotland on 1 June 2007. Subject to agreements being concluded on the necessaryland acquisitions, the contract is expected to be awarded by the end of June witha view to completing the works prior to the start of …

22 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Executive supports the campaign to achieve World Heritage status for Loch Ness and the Great Glen.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Funding Councildoes not allocate funding by local authority. However, counting the numbers offull-time equivalent students domiciled in each of the relevant localauthorities and multiplying by the average funding per student in the relevantsector…

7 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it has issued to hospitals in relation to parking charges for patients who require regular treatment, such as cancer sufferers.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive guidancestates that “Sufficient car parking space and concessionary car parking rates shouldbe available to staff and consideration should be given to providing concessionsto certain categories of patient (e.g. patients attending regula…

7 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which hospitals offer dispensations from parking charges to patients suffering from conditions that require regular hospital treatment, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) nature of dispensation.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS boards offer dispensationsfor patients who regularly visit hospital as follows:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=236 valign=top> NHS Hospital </td> <td width=85 valign=top> <p align=cen…

7 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which hospitals impose parking charges, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Hospitals that currently chargefor parking are Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, Aberdeen MaternityHospital and Dr Gray’s Hospital, Elgin (NHS Grampian), GlasgowRoyal Infirmary (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde) Raigmore Hospital, Inv…

26 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has any plans to cull the red deer herd on Rum and what the reasons are for SNH’s position on the matter.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)has no plans for a reduction cull of the red deer herd on Rum during 2007, only a maintenancecull in line with established practice.SNH manages Rum in line withits objectives for the National Nature Reserve (NNR) as set …

6 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what evidence of destruction of marine flora and fauna it based its decision to close the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation to scallop dredgers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Habitats Directive placesa number of obligations on Scottish ministers including a requirement to take appropriatesteps to avoid in Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) the deterioration of naturalhabitats and the habitats of species for which the SAC has …

6 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider making compensatory ex-gratia payments to any members of the scallop fishing industry on the isle of Luing suffering significant loss of income as a consequence of the closure of the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation to scallop dredgers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There is no presumption thatcompensation would be payable as a result of the prohibition on scallop dredgingin the Firth of Lorn. My officials will shortly be meeting with the individualslikely to be most affected by the proposed prohibition and will discuss …

6 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on which legal principles its decision to close the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation to scallop dredging was founded.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The EU Habitats Directive placesa number of obligations on Scottish ministers including a requirement to take appropriatesteps to avoid in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) the deterioration of naturalhabitats and the habitats of species for which the SAC …

16 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to allow local authorities to levy a “bed tax” on local accomodation providers, as is being considered by Sir Michael Lyons as part of the UK Government’s inquiry into local government funding.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Local Government FinanceReview Committee has been asked to look at all aspects of local taxation, includingalternative taxation systems. They are due to publish their final report later thisyear and we will want to give their findings full consideration b…

24 May 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultations it is undertaking with tourism stakeholder groups on the performance of VisitScotland.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotlandconducts an annual stakeholder research study to gauge stakeholders’ views onits performance. The most recent study carried out, in March of this year, showedthat 95% of stakeholders agreed that the work of VisitScotland makes a positiveimpact on…

30 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22868 by Tavish Scott on 21 February 2006, how much was spent on providing bilingual road signs in 2005.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The total spent on bilingualsigning during financial year 2005-06 was £191,500.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

16 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which bodies are responsible for the marking of underwater hazards such as rocks, reefs and crannogs in lochs Lomond, Ness and Awe and other freshwater lochs.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Formal responsibility for themarking of underwater hazards rests with a navigation authority with the appropriatelegal powers. The position is different in freshwater than coastal waters, wherethe Northern Lighthouse Board has statutory responsibility for the…

15 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Argyll and Bute Council following the publication of the Accounts Commission¿s report, Argyll and Bute Council: The Audit of Best Value and Community Planning.

Answer · George Lyon: The Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform wrote to the Council Leader, Allan Macaskill on 14 February following publication of the Best Value Audit of Argyll and Bute Council, encouraging him to work closely with the Improvement Service in addressing…

1 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to the NHS has been of children consulting doctors or specialists on matters involving being overweight in each of the last five years.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No information is available centrally that would identify expenditure incurred by the NHS as a result of patients consulting health professionals on matters involving being overweight.

1 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have consulted doctors or specialists on matters involving being overweight in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) local authority area, (b) age and (c) gender.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Information about patient consultations with specialists relating to being overweight is not available. The exact number of children under 16 consulting their general practice for matters involving being overweight in Scotland is not available centrall…

1 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average weight of children has been in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) local authority area, (b) age and (c) gender.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Information on average weight of children in each of the last five years is not available centrally for all local authority areas, and is only available for specific age groups. Available information is presented in two tables which are available in the Scott…

1 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what average number of hours per week schoolchildren have participated in organised physical activity in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) local authority area, (b) age and (c) gender.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Information on the total amount of physical activity undertaken by school children in and around the school day is not held centrally. However, in May 2005 the Scottish Executive Education Department asked schools to provide the average curriculum time…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all bodies and stakeholder groups that it consulted before drafting the tender document for ferry services to the Northern Isles were given the opportunity to present reports outlining their concerns prior to publication of the tender document.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive conducted a full and well publicised consultation exercise beginning in May 2004 on the draft service specification for the next Northern Isles Ferry Services contract. In addition, meetings were held in Orkney and Shetland to allow for detailed…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which bodies and stakeholder groups it consulted before drafting the latest tender document for ferry services to the Northern Isles.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive published a consultation paper on the draft service specification for the Northern Isles lifeline ferry service on 27 May 2004 on the Scottish Executive website. In addition, copies of the consultation paper were sent to the foll…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration was given to the inclusion in the latest tender document for ferry services to the Northern Isles of provisions for a dedicated livestock/freight vessel to provide year-round transport of livestock from Orkney to markets on the mainland.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive considered this issue during the consultation on the draft service specification issued in May 2004. The draft service specification proposed the incorporation of livestock and freight in the contract, and the Executive was able to consider the …

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions were made in the latest tender document for ferry services to the Northern Isles for a dedicated livestock/freight vessel to provide year-round transport of livestock from Orkney to markets on the mainland.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the next Northern Isles Ferry Services contract includes a requirement covering the carriage of livestock on the routes supported from Orkney to the mainland. The detailed requirements, including the arrangements for vessels…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a limit on the number of English, mathematics or physics secondary school teachers trained each year and, if so, whether this limit is due to financial constraints.

Answer · Peter Peacock: There is no limit.

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were trained as (a) English, (b) mathematics and (c) physics teachers in each year since 1999.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The following table shows the number of Postgraduate Certificate in Education student teacher entrants with the main subject of (a) English, (b) mathematics and (c) physics in each year since 1999: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> …

21 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what markets exist (a) within Scotland, (b) within the United Kingdom and (c) internationally for plastics recycled in Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There are a range of markets for recycled plastics. Within Scotland, there are markets for agricultural film and fish farm plastic. Within the UK, markets exist for plastic bottles. There is also demand for plastic bottles elsewhere in the EU and from the far…

21 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many plastic milk cartons have been distributed in each of the lastfive years.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Precise figures are not available. However, we estimate that around 200 million plastic milk bottles are distributed a year in Scotland.