Parliamentary questions

Jamie Stone

587 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

19 May 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote the jobs potential in the Highlands from Scotland's renewable energy sources.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: On 25 March, we announced that we were adopting a renewable energy generation target of 40% by 2020. We also published Securing a Renewable Future: Scotland's Renewable Energy, which contains a number of actions to promote jobs in the renewables sector…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give financial assistance to farmers who are required to carry out arterial drainage works as a result of an improvement order under the Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1958.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No financial assistance is currently available under the grant schemes administered by my department. The costs of such works included in improvement orders must be borne by the landowners or, if works are executed on behalf of ministers, costs are then recov…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will monitor the average level of public liability premiums in the year before and five years after the implementation of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 in order to investigate whether the act has had any effect on insurance premiums.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Occupiers' Liability Scotland Act 1960 provides that an occupier of land has a duty to take such care, as is reasonable, to ensure that any person entering on their land will not suffer injury or damage due to the state of the premises or anything done or…

17 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) about the implementation of a Scottish scheme for the disposal of fallen stock.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is currently working with DEFRA and the other devolved administrations to devise an acceptable UK collection scheme for fallen stock. Discussions are continuing.

13 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing peripatetic dentistry services in remote and rural areas.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Currently, NHS boards or trusts may purchase and operate mobile dental units for the use of salaried general dental service dentists and/or community dentists. These units are used to bring NHS dental services to various target groups, including people in rem…

26 Feb 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the British Medical Association's proposed overhaul of GP services will impact on patient care in rural areas.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The new General Medical Services contract is currently subject to a ballot of general practitioners, arranged for mid-March to early April.If the result of the ballot is favourable, all patients, regardless of their location, will continue to enjoy the ful…

25 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what planning criteria local authorities take into account when considering applications for wind farms and, in particular, what weight is given to proximity to housing, views of residents, views of non-residents, long-distance visibility and bio-diversity issues.

Answer · Des McNulty: The considerations that should be taken into account are set out in National Planning Policy Guideline 6: Renewable Energy Developments which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18113). Planning authorities will need t…

25 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the proposed overhaul of GP services will impact on patient care in rural areas.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The new General Medical Services contract is currently with GPs for consideration and will only go ahead if GPs vote yes in a ballot arranged for late March/early April.If the result of the ballot is favourable, then all patients, regardless of their locat…

6 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why agricultural planning application charges are, for applications in respect of areas of less than 465 square meters, a flat rate of #42 and, for applications in respect of larger areas, #220 for the first 465 square metres and a further #220 for every additional 75 square metres.

Answer · Des McNulty: The introduction of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development)(Scotland) Order 1992 in March 1992 removed permitted development rights from agricultural buildings in excess of 465 square metres or 12 metres in height. It was considered that…

4 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will install lighting at the A9/A99 junction at Latheron cemetery.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Funds for minor schemes for the current three-year programme (2002-05) are fully committed. Any new improvement schemes such as a lighting scheme at the A9/A99 junction at Latheron cemetery will be considered as part of a future programme.

4 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will construct a footpath at the A9/A99 junction at Latheron cemetery.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Funds for minor schemes for the current three-year programme (2002-05) are fully committed. Any new improvement schemes such as a footpath scheme at the A9/A99 junction at Latheron cemetery will be considered as part of a future programme.

4 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will construct a footpath on the Parkside to Lybster village centre section of the A99.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Funds for minor schemes for the current three-year programme (2002-05) are fully committed. Any new improvement schemes such as a footpath between Parkside and Lybster village will be considered as part of a future programme.

29 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the farm income figures for 2002.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is today publishing the Scottish farm income figures. The estimated figures show that Total Income from Farming (TIFF) rose by 15% in 2002, to £329 million. The rise in the Scottish figures reflects the recovery from foot-and-mouth dise…

29 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in negotiating with private dental practices in Caithness to support provision of NHS dental services.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: NHS Highland is currently in discussion with an independent dental practice in the Caithness area regarding possible provision of NHS dental services.

27 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 27 and 28 January 2003.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I attended the January Agriculture and Fisheries Council, together with Margaret Beckett, Elliot Morley, Lord Whitty, Ian Pearson, and Mike German. I was present on 27 January but returned from Brussels before the meeting concluded in order to handle the anno…

17 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will give a response to the report by the Agriculture and Environment Working Group, Custodians of Change.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have today written to members of the Agriculture and Environment Working Group advising of developments and work in progress. I have also copied this letter to the Convenor of the Rural Development Committee. Copies of my response have been placed in the Pa…

14 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to index-link the mental illness specific grant for 2003-04 and future financial years.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: We increased mental illness specific grant in April 2001 to £19 million a year, and are further increasing it to £20 million in April. There are no plans to index link the grant, but its size will be considered, along with all other Scottish Executive expendi…

8 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the present council tax and water charges discount regimes in respect of properties lived in by elderly people.

Answer · Peter Peacock: We have no such plans.

7 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32289 by Allan Wilson on 18 December 2002, what action it plans to take following the European Commission's decision in respect of minimum import prices for farmed salmon.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The UK Government has, at last week's meeting of the European Commission's Anti Dumping Committee (ADC), secured an extension of time for the Community Industry and member states to assess the findings and implications of the Commission's report. The ADC will…

7 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the charging policy in respect of planning applications for agricultural buildings.

Answer · Des McNulty: There are no current plans to review the charging policy for agricultural buildings. Fee levels for all planning applications are, however, kept under constant review.

18 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its draft budget for 2003-04 is still based on the current rate of basic income tax.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive has no plans to use the tax-varying power for the term of this Parliament.

17 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the achievements of the Highland and Islands Sheep Strategy have been to date in relation to the (a) number of lambs recorded under the strategy and (b) overall genetic improvement in respect of ewes and rams.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32717 today. 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/searc…

17 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many recorded rams and ram lambs (a) were retained for in-flock improvement by Highlands and Islands Sheep Strategy (HISS) members in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002, (b) were sold by HISS members in each year and (c) will be available for in-flock improvement in 2003.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive assisted with the first phase of the strategy through Highlands and Islands Agricultural Programme funding and the economic benefits were evaluated at the end of 2001, when Phase 1 results showed improvements worth 62p/lamb.The detai…

6 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure that older people in need of chiropody services have access to such services.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is for local NHS systems to determine the range and level of services to be provided in accordance with the health needs of the population and national and local priorities for NHSScotland.

6 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether access to NHS chiropody services for older people has been reduced in the last three years or is to be reduced in 2003.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32377 today. 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/searc…

6 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of older people received chiropody services in each of the last three years for which records are available.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Routine footcare may be provided by a range of health care practitioners including footcare assistants, health care assistants and nursing staff as well as state registered podiatrists. Information on hospital-based chiropody services is not collected cent…

6 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines are issued to NHS boards on the provision of chiropody services to older people.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The group responsible for implementing the report of the Chief Medical Officer's Expert Group on Older People Adding Life to Years, is considering the most effective way of taking forward the recommendation that older people should have access to appro…

4 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make any representations to Her Majesty's Government in favour of compulsory registration of oil tankers that use the Minch.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Arrangements for vessel routing and reporting are reserved. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of maritime issues, including the ship reporting scheme for oil tankers that use the Minch.

4 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the effect on the salmon farming industry if the agreement between the EU and Norway on minimum import prices for salmon is not renewed and strengthened in 2003.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The UK Government will assess and reach a view on the findings and recommendations of the Commission's review of the EU/Norway salmon trade agreement, when these are made known to member states.

4 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government about the EU review of the agreement between Norway and the EU on minimum import prices for salmon.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Throughout the lifetime of the present agreement the Executive has maintained a regular dialogue with the Department of Trade and Industry (which has the UK lead responsibility for anti-dumping measures) and the European Commission about the operation and rev…