Parliamentary questions
Jamie Stone
587 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what direction it has given to Scottish Water regarding its policy for providing grant assistance to (a) individuals and (b) developers towards the cost of water pumps in rural areas.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has not issued any directions to Scottish Water on these matters.</p>
14 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to examine options in respect of the financial viability of the salmon farming industry.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has maintained close contact, and is actively engaged in dialogue, withall sectors of the salmon farming industry. The Executive is exploring a numberof initiatives and options, in partnership with industry, which seek to securethe indu…
8 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would be to the NHS should home-based respite services no longer be provided in north and west Sutherland.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive recognisesthat many unpaid carers need a regular break from caring in order to supportthe caring relationship. Our Partnership Agreement reflects our firm commitmentto develop respite provision across Scotland. Over the last three years £22 mill…
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to promote trade between Scotland and the European Union and EU candidate countries and what further action it is planning to take.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Scottish DevelopmentInternational (SDI) promotes the internationalisation of Scottish companies inline with the Scottish Executive’s Global Connections strategy. The EU is a keymarket for Scotland and SDI provides a wide range of support measures tocompanies …
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what barriers to trade with the European Union currently exist.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The regulation ofinternational trade is a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Executive continues to be in regular contact with DTI, UK Trade andInvestment and other government departments on trade issues, including thoserelating to the European single mar…
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made a projection of the potential value of expansion in trade to new European Union members after enlargement.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Bradley Dunbar Associatesproduced a context paper for Scottish Enterprise in August 2003 entitled <i>Opportunitiesand Challenges of EU enlargement </i>which is available at <ahref="http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/euenlargement">www.scottish-enterprise.com/…
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of trade is with European Union candidate countries, broken down by country.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Scottish export statistics for 2002 will be made available by the Scottish Executive early in 2004. Where possible, these will detail the value of exports across all sectors of the Scottish economy to principal markets located in the European Union and the re…
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide up-to-date figures for the 2003 fisheries aid package detailing funding paid out under the (a) Transitional Aid scheme, (b) decommissioning scheme and (c) rates relief package and whether each scheme is open for further application.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Scottish export statisticsfor 2002 will be made available by the Scottish Executive early in 2004. Wherepossible, these will detail the value of exports across all sectors of the Scottish economy to principal markets located in the European Union and therest …
31 Dec 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet trunk road operating companies and local authorities to discuss the action taken to address severe winter conditions on roads.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive held a winter maintenance seminar inJune 2003 at which all local authorities and trunkroad operating companies were invited to discuss winter operations. The trunk roadoperating companies have consulted with local authorities as part of…
4 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to encourage banks to install and retain cash machines (ATMs) in rural towns and villages.
Answer · Margaret Curran: From 1 April 2003 the Scottish Executive has exempted from non-domestic rates thesites of ATMs in areas designated as being rural, to encourage banks to installand retain ATMs in these areas.</p><p>The Executive also hasregular meetings with the Committee of …
3 Dec 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address the lack of a replacement consultant at the Caithness General Hospital maternity unit.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The responsibility for the provision of maternity servicesin Wick lies with Highland NHS Board.</p><p>HighlandNHS Board should take account of national guidance on the provision ofmaternity services and involve the local population in decision-taking at anear…
1 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to a water charge relief system for small businesses in rural areas.
Answer · Ross Finnie: No consideration has beengiven. In the interest of all customers, it is important that Scottish Waterfocuses on the delivery of efficiencies which will keep future charges to the minimumrequired.</p>
26 Nov 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address any difficulties faced by the Highland education service regarding the recruitment of qualified secondary teachers for posts in remote areas such as Kinlochbervie.
Answer · Peter Peacock: TheExecutive puts considerable effort into ensuring that the right number ofteachers are trained, but is not involved in recruiting teachers. Recruitmentis a matter for local authorities.</p><p>HighlandCouncil, working in partnership with Aberdeen University,…
25 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to underpin and augment financial support for home-based respite care in north and west Sutherland.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4225 on 3 December 2003.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/we…
25 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the demand for improved services from Wick Airport.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish ministers own Highlands andIslands Airports Ltd (HIAL) which is responsible for helping to develop newbusiness opportunities from its airports. Regular discussions are held withairlines about the commencement of new routes but it is for airlines …
25 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage the reintroduction of flights from Wick to Shetland.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The reintroduction offlights from Wick to Shetland is a matter for airlines in conjunction with Highlands andIslands Airports Ltd, which operates Wick Airport. The commencement or reintroduction of anycommercial air service would be in response to market dema…
18 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to underpin and augment financial support for home-based respite care in north and west Sutherland.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The resources allocated bythe Executive to local authorities to support carers, including resources todevelop respite services, have risen from £5 million in 1999-2000 to £21 millionin 2003-04. Thelocal government allocations for the next three years maintain…
5 Nov 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it marked Armistice Day.
Answer · Andy Kerr: As he didlast year, the First Minister launched Scotland’s poppy appeal, and took part in the Royal British Legion RemembranceSunday parade and service at St Giles Cathedral. He laid a wreath to rememberthose men and women of Scotland who gave their lives.</p…
3 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement about the appointment of a new Chair of Scottish Enterprise.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Scottish Enterpriseplays a key role in enabling and supporting economic development and ministersrecognise that the board and its chair are central to its success. Theappointment of a new chair was advertised in the national press on 20 June. the Executive re…
29 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it will give to the quality of service provided to the public when it awards the franchise for rail travel in Scotland.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The specification for thenext ScotRail franchise issued on 28 July 2003included targets for punctuality, reliability and customer care. The bids forthe franchise were received by the Strategic Rail Authority on 27 October. Duringthe assessment of these bids, …
19 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for engagement with the financial services sector.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The First Minister is today announcingthe formation of a senior level group, which I will chair, and which will bringtogether public and private sector participants to develop a strategy to supportthe financial services sector in Scotland. I will write to the…
17 Sep 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote languages in schools so that the business sector will be better able to compete in a multi-lingual market.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Since 2001 the Scottish Executive has provided education authorities with £10.5 million to support the implementationof the recommendations made in the Action Group on Languages’ report <i>Citizensof a Multilingual World</i>. This report emphasised the import…
4 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to address any problems of access to dental provision encountered by people living in remote areas.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has introduced a number of initiatives aimed at improving NHS generaldental services, including the remote area allowance and a recruitment andretention package. The recruitment and retention package has enhancedincentives for dentists …
3 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with NHS Highland regarding any downgrading of maternity services in Wick.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: My department has recently completedits annual review of performance with NHS Highland and a summary of thatdiscussion has been made public. It is, of course, for NHS Highland todetermine the pattern of maternity services in Wick. I expect the board to takeac…
3 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the Wick ambulance services to 24 hours coverage and eliminate on-call working arrangements.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The conversion of ambulancestations from part-time to full-time working is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service. Factors which will inform the service’s decisioninclude information about patient care benefits, expected performanceimproveme…
29 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the establishment of new fit-for-purpose slaughterhouses in rural areas.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The establishment ofslaughterhouses in rural or other areas is a commercial decision forindependent operators. Grants are available from the Executive under theAgricultural Processing and Marketing Grants schemes towards the costs of newslaughterhouses if the…
29 Aug 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure the re-opening and continued viability of the Wick slaughterhouse.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I understand that the abattoirhas recently been acquired by a local businessman, initially for a three-month trialperiod but with a view to longer term operation. The plant recommenced slaughteringon 2 September. While the Executive cannot ensure continued vi…
31 Jul 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the #8 million for audiology services announced on 5 February 2003 will be spent on the introduction of digital hearing aids and whether this money will be ring-fenced.
Answer · Tom McCabe: NHS boards are currently developing action plans for hearing aid services modernisation, which will include provision of digital hearing aids when this is the more clinically effective option. It is not possible to confirm how the £8 million, announced for mo…
24 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek the views of stakeholders during the review of the structure and functions of Historic Scotland.
Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive has today written to a broad range of organisations and individuals working in areas relevant to the historic environment in Scotland seeking views on the structure and functions of Historic Scotland. <P>Copies of the letter and the con…
24 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to address any lack of disabled access at railway stations on the north Highland line.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Under part III of the Disability Discrimination Act, from October 2004 it will be the responsibility of the service providers to take reasonable steps to remove, alter or provide means of avoiding physical features that make it impossible or unreasonably diff…