Parliamentary questions

Jamie Stone

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

4 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 27, 28 and 29 November 2002.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on 27 and 28 November 2002 together with Margaret Beckett, Elliot Morley and Michael German. On agriculture, the Council agenda covered two main areas, food safety and the Mid-term Review of the …

3 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many crofters from the Lairg Environment and Rural Affairs Department area office area can apply for the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme multiplier because they are keeping cattle.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The additional payments within the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme for keeping cattle are designed to encourage a better balance between cattle and sheep across Scotland's Less Favoured Area. Any producer whose cattle constitute 10% or more of the total liv…

3 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many crofters receiving Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme payments in the parishes of Edderchalis, Durness, Tongue, Farr and Bettyhill in the Lairg Environment and Rural Affairs Department area office area are benefiting because they keep cattle as their sole stock.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) rules claimants receive an uplift in their payment if 10% or more of their total livestock units consists of cattle livestock units, and a further uplift if the cattle percentage is 50% or greater. In the Pa…

3 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many crofters receiving Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme payments in the Parishes of Edderchalis, Durness, Tongue, Farr and Bettyhill in the Lairg Environment and Rural Affairs Department area office area are receiving (a) more and (b) less funding than they received in 2001 and how…

Answer · Ross Finnie: Our projections show that 62 crofts in the Parishes of Eddrachillis, Durness, Tongue, Farr and Bettyhill will receive more in 2003 than they did in 2001, and that 143 crofts will receive less than they did in 2001. Comparing projected payments against the yea…

3 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage more crofters and farmers to become involved in phase 2 of the Highlands and Islands sheep strategy.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive featured the Highlands and Islands Sheep Strategy in A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture to encourage greater involvement by crofters and farmers in that area. Further funding has also been provided by Highlands and Islands Enterp…

3 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the achievements of the Highlands and Islands sheep strategy have been in the last two years and what targets have been set for the next two years.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The first phase of the Highlands and Islands Sheep Strategy ended in December 2001, when the achievements were evaluated and a report produced. The evaluation concluded that there were considerable benefits through physical and genetic improvements in flocks.…

3 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to continue to support the Highlands and Islands sheep strategy.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive funded the first stage of this strategy, which proved to be highly successful. This initiative was featured as a case study in A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture and public funding for the next phase is being made available throu…

26 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS is ready to handle seasonal increases in illness over the coming winter.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Scotland has prepared extensively and is better placed than ever before to deal with winter pressures. Problems associated with winter cannot be ruled out but those involved in this year';s planning process have endeavoured to ensure that a high level of …

26 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme payments have been made in the current year to the Lairg area, broken down by land grade and area per square hectare.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Since 1 January 2002, the Scottish Executive has paid a net total of £1,201,679.26 to 488 claimants covered by the Lairg Area Office under the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme. The following table breaks this figure down by Land and Payment type and gives de…

25 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate sleep deprivation amongst staff of the Scottish Ambulance Service who are on call.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The hours worked by staff, including while on call, is the subject of continuous monitoring by the Scottish Ambulance Service. This is essential to the welfare of staff and to providing safe and effective patient care.

23 Oct 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reviewed plans made by BEAR Scotland Ltd for winter road maintenance in the Highlands.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Yes. Bear's Winter Maintenance Plans have been reviewed by the Performance Audit Group and agreed by the Scottish Executive.

1 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will be prosecuting the UK Atomic Energy Authority for any recent discharge of radioactive particles from Dounreay.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. I understand that SEPA is not aware of any recent discharge of particles.

25 Sep 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to promote the new concessionary travel scheme.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Iain Gray launched the introduction of free local off-peak bus travel for elderly and disabled people on 30 September. The enhanced arrangements have also been publicised by a nationwide advertising campaign including posters at bus shelters, and on and in…

9 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any investigations into revenues raised by farmers from growing barley for (a) malting and (b) feed; if so, what the outcome was and, if it has not, whether it will consider undertaking such investigations.

Answer · Ross Finnie: As part of the annual process of compiling the Aggregate Account for Agriculture to calculate the total income from farming, data on cereal crops are collated from a variety of sources. The estimated gross output of Scottish barley for the calendar year 2001 …

29 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish the report of the Throughcare and Aftercare Working Group.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We have published this report today. Copies have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 23375). The Executive welcomes the report and will consult on its recommendations.

29 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the cost to harbours of bacteria-related corrosion and what action it is taking to address this issue.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has been aware of the growing concerns about bacteria-related corrosion (also referred to as Accelerated Low Water Corrosion) for some time and has been working with harbour authorities to address these concerns. The Scottish Executive …

23 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the UK strategy for radioactive discharges will be published.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The strategy was published on 23 July 2002 by the Scottish Executive, UK Government and the devolved administrations for Wales and Northern Ireland and is available on the Scottish Executive website:www.scotland.gov.uk/publications.The strategy demonstr…

23 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support any plans in 2002-03 to convert the Scottish Ambulance Service station in Wick from on-call to full-time operation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has provided the Scottish Ambulance Service with an allocation of £108.783 million for 2002-03, an increase of 7.4% on last year. This allocation supports the service's priorities for investment which include improving its operations ro…

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist former students who did not complete tertiary education to return to such education at a later stage in their lives.

Answer · Iain Gray: All students returning to higher education to undertake a second properly designated full-time course are entitled to living cost support in the form of a student loan and non-repayable supplementary grants, regardless of study previously undertaken. Tuition …

22 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist single parents living in remote areas to enter suitable tertiary education.

Answer · Iain Gray: In addition to the standard maintenance support provided through the student loan, students who are lone parents are entitled to receive the Lone Parents' Grant of £1,100 and up to a further £1,025 towards the cost of formal childcare. They are also entitled …

19 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the consultation paper Managing Radioactive Waste Safely published jointly in September 2001 by Her Majesty's Government and the devolved administrations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The consultation ended on 12 March and today we are publishing a summary of the 330 responses received by the UK Government and the devolved administrations. We have considered the many comments made on the specific issues on which Managing Radioactive Waste …

19 Jul 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to fund and carry out research into multiple sclerosis.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), within the Scottish Executive Health Department, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. CSO is largely a response mode funder of research and this role is wel…

3 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, following the statement by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at Westminster on 28 November 2001, when the White Paper on arrangements for managing public sector civil nuclear liabilities will be published.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The White Paper Managing the Nuclear Legacy - A Strategy for Action is being published on 4 July 2002 by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Copies will be available from the Parliament's Reference Centre.The White Paper sets out plan…

25 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the review of the Common Agricultural Policy Scheme Administration.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The review has now been completed and copies of the final report are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. The report is also available on the Scottish Executive website.The remit for the work was to review the management and administration in Sc…

25 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish its plan for reform of crofting legislation.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I shall be publishing a white paper setting out our proposals for reform of crofting legislation on 4 July. Copies of the white paper will be made available in the Parliament's Information Centre, (Bib. number 22193) and published on the Scottish Executive we…

19 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it has made for publication of the report of the Agriculture and Environment Working Group.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The report will be published today at my morning press briefing at the Royal Highland Show. Copies have been sent to the Rural Development Committee of the Parliament and are available from the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 22035) The report has …

11 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why full funding for the long term care of the elderly was not brought forward from April 2003 to April 2002 to address the issue of bed blocking in hospital wards for the elderly.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Our Delayed Discharge Action Plan puts a requirement upon local authority and NHS board partnerships to put in place a wide range of measures to allow for the transfer of people from hospital into more appropriate care settings. We are clear that care homes a…

7 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Ambulance Service's joint working party will announce its plans regarding changing ambulance stations from part-time to full-time on-call working.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Ambulance Service announced its current plans for the conversion of some on-call stations to full-time working earlier this year. In coming to its decision, the service took the joint working party's views into account. Ambulance stations at Fras…

5 Jun 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what new proposals it has to address the number of GPs resigning in the Highlands.

Answer · Frank McAveety: NHS Highland is working proactively to support practices in their area. This includes the development of Personal Medical Services schemes which can be tailored to meet the needs of remote and rural practice. Also, as part of the current negotiations on a new…

5 Jun 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to tackle head lice amongst schoolchildren.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The responsibility for the management and control of headlice infection lies with local NHS boards and each has agreed a policy with local education authorities and primary care health professionals. The Scottish Executive is reviewing these policies to assis…