Parliamentary questions
Jamie McGrigor
1,122 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where facilitiesfor recycling plastics from sources other thanplastic bags are located.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Information on recycling facilities across Scotland can be found on the “Sort-It” section of the Scottish Waste Awareness Group website at <a href="http://www.wascot.org.uk/">http://www.wascot.org.uk</a>.</p>
21 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have a policy for recycling plastics from sources other thanplastic bags.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Twenty-four local authorities provide facilities for the recycling of plastic bottles either through kerbside collections or through recycling points or centres. Information on recycling facilities across Scotland can be found on the “Sort-It” section of the …
21 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of plastic recycled in each of the last five years was from sources other than plastic bags.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We do not hold this precise information. However, around 10% of the municipal waste stream consists of plastics and around 0.3% of the municipal waste stream consists of plastic bags. We would expect, therefore, that most recycling of plastics from the munici…
21 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much plastic, other than from plastic bags, has been recycled in each of the lastfive years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Information on the amount of plastic recycled is available in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s Waste Data Digests. These can be found at:</p> <p><a href="http://www.sepa.org.uk/publications/wds/index.htm">http://www.sepa.org.uk/publications/wds/in…
21 Jun 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much plastic has been recycledin each of the lastfive years (a) in total and (b) broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Information on the recycling of plastic is available in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s Waste Data Digests, which can be found at:</p> <p><a href="http://www.sepa.org.uk/publications/wds/index.htm">http://www.sepa.org.uk/publications/wds/index.ht…
1 Jun 2005 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to address any issues arising from the review of agri-environment payments.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Following concerns about theimpact of the proposed changes to agri-environment scheme payment rates announcedon 9 May, I instructed that a further review of the rates should be undertaken inconsultation with stakeholders. The first meeting of the stakeholder …
27 Apr 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether out of undertaking peak sailings on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route between 1986 and 2003 were provided on a commercial basis.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd carried out an analysis of the costs of providing peak sailings on the Gourock-Dunoon route in the mid-1980s, indicating that these additional out of undertaking sailings could be provided on a commercial basis. In 1986, the Scottish …
27 Apr 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any investigations or monitored funding levels in respect of the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route to ensure that the deficit funding is proportionate to the provision of the foot passenger undertaking between it and Caledonian MacBrayne.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-16236 on 12 May 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
27 Apr 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14498 by Nicol Stephen on 16 March 2005, why foot passenger numbers on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route have only been gathered from December 2004 when the undertaking between it and Caledonian MacBrayne to provide lifeline ferry services on this ro…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The gathering of information on foot passengers using Caledonian MacBrayne’s Gourock to Dunoon service was begun in December 2004 to assist in providing full information to potential operators, should we continue efforts to identify an operator willing to run…
27 Apr 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Caledonian MacBrayne produces an annual statement which breaks down the deficit funding requirement on a route-by-route basis.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14498 on 16 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
27 Apr 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14496 by Nicol Stephen on 16 March 2005, what information it receives from Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) when assessing whether the routes within the undertaking between it and CalMac are loss-making.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answers to question S2W-16233 on 12 May 2005 and question S2W-14498 on 16 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="htt…
27 Apr 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-14496 by Nicol Stephen on 16 March 2005, whether all Caledonian MacBrayne services are loss-making.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Analysis of Caledonian MacBrayne’s services carried out by the Scottish Executive as part of work undertaken to support its discussions with the European Commission in relation to bringing the Clyde and Hebrides services into line with EU State aid rules esta…
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for funding under the Scottish Land Fund are awaiting consideration and what the value is of such applications.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Big Lottery Fund Scottish Land Fund is a reserved matter for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Information can be sought from Mr Dharmendra Kanani, Director Scotland of the Big Lottery Fund.</p>
25 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults involved the use of reproduction or original historical swords such as claymores or basket-hilted broadswords in each of the last five years.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The statistics available centrally on crimes of assault recorded by the police do not distinguish the circumstances of the assault, such as the type of any weapon involved.</p>
25 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults involved the use of combat or military-style knives in each of the last five years.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The statistics available centrally on crimes of assault recorded by the police do not distinguish the circumstances of the assault, such as the type of any weapon involved.</p>
25 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to prohibit the private import of swords as part of its proposed ban on the sale of swords.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: A number of weapons, including sword sticks, push daggers, death stars and butterfly knives, are already banned by means of Offensive Weapons Orders made under the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The act makes it an offence to import, manufacture, sell or hire, ex…
25 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines a non-domestic knife.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Recorded crime statistics available centrally record the number of homicide victims killed by a sharp instrument. They do not identify the types of weapons used and, consequently, there are no central definitions of weapons types. </p><p>The First Minister re…
25 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults involved the use of non-domestic knives in each of the last five years.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The statistics available centrally on crimes of assault recorded by the police do not distinguish the circumstances of the assault, such as the type of any weapon involved.</p>
25 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines a sword.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Recorded crime statistics available centrally record the number of homicide victims killed by a sharp instrument. They do not identify the types of weapons used and, consequently, there are no central definitions of weapons types.</p><p>The First Minister rec…
25 Nov 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults involved the use of swords in each of the last five years.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The statistics available centrally on crimes of assault recorded by the police do not distinguish the circumstances of the assault, such as the type of any weapon involved.</p>
14 Oct 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to provide adequate dental care on the Isle of Lewis.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Responsibility for the overall provision of NHS dental services on the Isle of Lewis rests with NHS Western Isles and the board is considering a number of options for the provision of such services in the area.</p>
9 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent to date on recruitment and retention of cultural co-ordinators for schools by (a) it, (b) local authorities and (c) the Scottish Arts Council.
Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Arts Council administers and monitors the pilot Cultural Co-ordinators in Schools programme on behalf of the Scottish Executive. A total of £1,654,459, over the period 2002-03 and 2003-04, has been committed to the establishment of Cultural Co-or…
3 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to fund the roll-out of audio-description and subtitling capacity to all cinemas.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Scottish Screen is working to ensure that as many as possible of the films it supports are accessible to people with sensory deprivation. Future Lottery funding for film production will include provision for audio-description and subtitling. In addition, Scot…
2 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the losses made by Northlink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd have cost the Executive in addition to the normal level of subsidy.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has, to date, committed a further £14.75 million in support of the services.</p>
25 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote the future well-being of the Scots language, in light of its support for Gaelic culture and language.
Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive considersScots to be an important part of Scotland’s linguistic and cultural heritage. There is a rangeof groups supporting and promoting Scots in Scotland, some of which receivesupport from the Scottish Arts Council. The Executive has …
29 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will contribute to the North Atlantic Salmon Fund for the buy-out of the north east coast drift net fishery, in light of HM Treasury's contribution of #1.25 million to the fund, the level of expenditure on, and jobs supported by, tourism angling and the number of salmon taken i…
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has no current plans to contribute to the buy out of England’s NorthEast drift net fishery. As the buy-out of the north east drift net fishery is a matter of stock management, the responsibilityfor this lies with the Department for the …
27 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the position of resident GP in the practice of Dalmally will be advertised and whether the advertisement will appear on the NHS website.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The advertising of a vacancyfor a general practitioner is a matter for the local NHS board.</p>
24 Mar 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when further improvement of the A830 trunk road from Arisaig to Loch nan Uamh will commence, following the recent commemoration of the A830 trunk road from Arisaig to Kinsadel improvement.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Draft Road Orders for this section werepublished last week. When I visited Arisaig to make this announcement, Iconfirmed that work on the new section of road was expected to start in late2005.</p>
10 Mar 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to encourage Historic Scotland to focus on building partnerships with stakeholders and customers and be open to input from external bodies.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Following itsreview, Historic Scotland will continueto develop its relationships with stakeholders and customers and to welcomedialogue with external bodies. Recent examples of this policy in practice includeworking with the City Councils in Aberdeen, Dundee,…
10 Mar 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that people living in remote and rural areas are adequately served under the new GP contract.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The new GMScontract is supported by 33% increased investment in primary care over threeyears, allocated through a funding formula designed to respond to the needs ofremote and rural communities. The contract guarantees that patients across Scotland will conti…