Jamie Stone

15 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what performance targets it has set for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency for 2002-03.

Answer · Ross Finnie: For the financial year 2002-03 I have set the following targets:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=416><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT=16><P>Aerial Surveillance</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="84%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=16><P>- per cent of hours flow…

29 Apr 2002 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive has any plans to abolish Standard Grade and Higher Gaelic in schools.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive has no plans to abolish National Qualifications in Gaelic.

20 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the information which is provided to courts in cases involving sex offending.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Following consultation on the report from the Expert Panel on Sex Offending entitled <I>Reducing the Risk: Improving the response to sex offending</I>, I am pleased to announce our decision to accept the four recommendations which will improve the information…

19 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any changes proposed to the structure of the Office of the Accountant in Bankruptcy.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Accountant in Bankruptcy will become an Executive Agency of the Scottish Executive on 2 April 2002. In many ways the office already operates along agency principles and there will be no change to the statutory functions of the Accountant in Bankruptcy or …

18 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to encourage and promote recycling and composting in remote areas.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Under the National Waste Strategy, Scotland has been divided into 11 waste strategy areas. Each area has an area waste planning group tasked with preparing a plan to determine the best practicable environmental option for dealing with waste over the long term…

14 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific funding it has made, or plans to make, available to Highland NHS Board for audiology services and for the recruitment and training of NHS staff for the diagnosis and fitting of digital hearing aids to patients in the area.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: At national level the health budget will rise from £5.9 billion this year to £6.9 billion in 2003-04, representing around one third of the total Scottish Executive budget. It is important that local NHS boards and trusts are able to take decisions about the a…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a commitment to maintaining (a) the Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness rail service, (b) the Wick and Thurso to Inverness rail service and (c) the sleeper services from Inverness from 2004 onwards.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: To safeguard services that are operated by ScotRail, in excess of those contracted under its Passenger Service Requirement agreement, the Scottish Executive announced on 7 March a £70 million deal, which re-profiled the current ScotRail franchise. This will e…

27 Feb 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill on fox control operations in the Highlands.

Answer · Ross Finnie: None. Those involved in pest control in the Highlands will need to ensure that their activities do not contravene this legislation. They have some time to make that assessment before the bill is enacted in the autumn.

7 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reports the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) has received from the North of Scotland Water Authority (NOSWA) and others on the accidental discharge of aluminium sulphate into the water treatment plant at Tomich by NOSWA on 5 February 2002 and what action SEPA plans to …

Answer · Ross Finnie: There was a treatment failure at North of Scotland Water Authority's Newmore water treatment works on 5 February. This resulted in an overflow from the wash water recovery tanks into the local watercourse. Wash water is liable to contain aluminium sulphate, w…

28 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-11479 and S1W-16461 by Henry McLeish on 6 December 2000 and 22 June 2001, what further information it can give regarding plans for celebrating the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's Accession to the Throne.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I welcome this opportunity on behalf of Scots everywhere to offer the warmest congratulations to The Queen on the 50th anniversary of her Accession, and to express gratitude for half a century of devoted service.<P>My predecessor announced on 23 November 2000…

18 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider making respiratory illness a national health priority.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <I>Our National Health: A plan for action, a plan for change</I> set out our commitment to giving greater priority to the needs of those with chronic conditions. That commitment will of course apply to the main respiratory illnesses. Malignant respiratory dis…

11 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20738 by Lewis Macdonald on 28 December 2001, how many monitoring assignments the Performance Audit Group undertook outside normal working hours between 20 December 2001 and 7 January 2002 in the Highland Council area.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The offices of the Performance Audit Group (PAG) were closed between 24 December and 2 January. However, in view of the weather conditions prevailing, staff from the PAG travelled routes in the north west and north east Operating Units to report on conditions…

12 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has assessed the impact for the year 2000 of the economic link measures introduced for the fisheries sector on 1 January 1999.

Answer · Ross Finnie: From 1 January 1999 all British registered fishing vessels over 10 metres in length and catching more than two tonnes of quota stocks have had to demonstrate an economic link with fisheries-dependent communities in the United Kingdom. This link can be demonst…

12 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to investigate the representations made by Helmsdale Community Council to Highland Primary Health Care NHS Trust regarding a lack of general practitioner services in the area and what action will be taken on this matter.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Questions as to the adequacy of the provision of general medical services in any area are for the Scottish Medical Practices Committee in conjunction with Islands NHS Boards and Primary Care Trusts. I understand that the vacancy created when the GP who provid…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many road inspectors the Performance Audit Group, which monitors performance in the trunk road maintenance contracts, employs on the ground to physically monitor road gritting and snow clearing performance on trunk roads in the Highland Council area (a) on week days and (b) at weeken…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Performance Audit Group employs eight field engineers for the whole trunk road network to monitor network conditions and maintenance activities including winter maintenance. Four field engineers, two in each of the North West and North East operating regi…

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what in-year adjustments it has made to the performance targets set for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency in 2001-02.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The performance targets for the agency were announced on 5 June 2001 but since then, the agency has redirected its resources to increase the level of verification of pelagic landings and to focus more effort on combating non-compliance of the landing declarat…

28 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote eco-tourism.

Answer · Mike Watson: VisitScotland intends to take a product-based approach to marketing Scotland. Eco-tourism, which has considerable potential for growth, will be part of a portfolio of outdoor activities. The agency is also developing a Wildlife Tourism Strategy, which it will…

22 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating systems have been installed by EAGA Partnerships (Scotland) since it was awarded the contract.

Answer · Iain Gray: Eaga have installed over 150 central heating systems in the private sector since its appointment on 29 August. Over 3,500 heating systems will be installed by Eaga by March 2002.

20 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to accelerate the delivery of its Central Heating Programme.

Answer · Iain Gray: We announced on 20 September that the Central Heating Programme would be accelerated so that all eligible local authority tenants will receive central heating by April 2004 and that all tenants of housing associations will receive central heating during 2004.

12 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the results of any monitoring of BEAR Scotland Ltd's compliance with its contract for trunk roads in the Highlands between 7 and 10 November 2001.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive routinely commission detailed reports to aid management of BEAR's contract. These reports may well have contractual or commercial implications. Consequently publication is not appropriate. However, a report on the first year of operatio…

12 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who has responsibility for monitoring compliance by BEAR Scotland Ltd with the requirements of its trunk road contract.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: BEAR Scotland Ltd's performance is reviewed and monitored continuously by the Performance Audit Group (PAG), an independent body, appointed by the Scottish Executive. PAG monitors technical and financial competence by audits and inspections and reports to the…

12 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what penalties are contained in the BEAR Scotland Ltd trunk road contract for failure to clear snow and ice.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: BEAR's performance is reviewed and monitored continuously by the Performance Audit Group who report to the Scottish Executive. If the contractor fails to perform there are a range of sanctions that the Scottish Executive could take.<P>The Scottish Executive c…

12 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the snow-and-ice clearing specifications within the BEAR Scotland Ltd trunk road contract.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A copy of the BEAR's Winter Maintenance Plan has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre for reference purposes together with an electronic version of Volumes 3 and 4 of the Operating Companies contract which detail the management requirements and sp…

24 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to maintain the safety and reliability of the trunk road network in the Highlands this coming winter.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Winter Maintenance Plans for the trunk road network have been drawn up by the Operating Company (BEAR Scotland Ltd) and approved by the Scottish Executive. Following a successful Winter Maintenance Conference held on 25 September 2001, the Executive will be h…

5 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the issues considered at the recent Health Council attended by the Minister for Health and Community Care.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I represented the UK at the Health Council in Luxembourg on 5 June. It was a productive meeting. There follows a summary of the main items considered.<P>Council reached political agreement to adopt unanimously a common position on the six-year framework progr…

29 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in extending the appeals process to cover farmers involved in agri-environment and afforestation schemes who incur penalties in their CAP subsidy claims and farmers who wish to appeal against Suckler Cow and Sheep Annual Premium quota arrangements.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I made a statement to Parliament on 4 October 2000 setting out the new three-stage appeals procedures for farmers penalised in relation to their European Union subsidy claims and to payments made under certain other schemes.<P>Amending legislation extending c…

27 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Ormlie housing estate in Thurso is currently receiving any Social Inclusion Partnership funding and what the reasons are for its position in this matter.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Highland &amp; Islands Social Inclusion Partnership is a thematic Social Inclusion Partnership addressing social exclusion amongst young people in designated priority areas. Ormlie in Thurso is one of these designated priority areas.

26 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Aluminium Sulphate Concentrations (nmg/l) in the potable water supply from the Tomich water treatment plant in Invergordon exceeded the limit allowed in potable water at any time during June 2001; if so, by how much, what the maximum concentration was of any discharge and how …

Answer · Ross Finnie: The maximum recorded level of aluminium in samples taken from the Tain regional water supply zone in June was 249 micrograms per litre. This is a breach of the standard set in Scottish drinking water regulations which is 200 micrograms per litre, but is highl…

26 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering adopting the simplified payment scheme approved by the European Council on agriculture on 19 June 2001 in order to reduce "red tape" for small farmers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: My department is carefully considering whether the Small Farmers Scheme will be implemented in Scotland. The detailed rules of the scheme - which determine the complexity of the arrangements required to operate any scheme - are currently being considered by t…

26 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the foot-and-mouth disease situation.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The foot-and-mouth disease situation in Scotland continues to improve. There have been no new cases of the disease in Scotland since 30 May, when the number of confirmed cases was 187. To prevent any further cases from occurring, I urge farmers and people who…