Jamie Stone

27 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its central heating for pensioners programme is on target to commence in April 2001.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Yes. As things currently stand, we are on target to meet the scheme's start date of April 2001.

22 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The then Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning formally met the full board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise in February this year, and a wide range of subjects, including the Enterprise Networks Review, Assisted Areas, the University of the Highlan…

15 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consult the Scottish Environment Protection Agency regarding the impact of groundwater charges on farmers and crofters.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive consults frequently with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency about matters in relation to which the agency has responsibilities, including the charging scheme for authorisations under the Groundwater Regulations 1998.

6 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to the interim report on the Review of Police and Fire Structures.

Answer · Jim Wallace: An interim report was received in June from the Steering Group set up to take forward the Review of Police and Fire Structures. Ministers' consideration of that report has been informed by the report of the inspection by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Const…

31 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reach a decision on introduction of a byelaw to prevent drinking on Invergordon High Street.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Highland Council have now made revised byelaws which have been advertised as required. When these byelaws are submitted for confirmation we will process them as soon as practicable.

2 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is in relation to the availability of funding for the planting of farm woodlands.

Answer · John Home Robertson: Funding for the planting of farm woodlands is available under the Woodland Grant Scheme as before. Approvals under the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme were restarted from 21 August and funding of annual payments, at the same rates as before, is currently availab…

6 Sep 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the consultation process before any further special areas of conservation are declared.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: There are no plans to change current consultation procedures. Scottish Natural Heritage undertake full consultation on behalf of Scottish Ministers with owners, occupiers and other interested parties for all sites proposed as Special Areas of Conservation.

30 Aug 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it held over the Parliament's summer recess with representatives of the National Farmers Union of Scotland and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I met representatives of the National Farmers' Union of Scotland on 10 occasions in various locations throughout the country over the summer recess. The main topics discussed were support for Less Favoured Areas and the development of an agricultural strategy.

14 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what security arrangements are required to be in place in Scotland's Acute Trust Hospitals.

Answer · Susan Deacon: It is the prime responsibility of individual health boards and NHS Trusts to ensure that property owned by the NHSiS is safe and secure. Security arrangements in the NHSiS should comply with current health planning guidance.

14 Jun 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a cull ewe scheme in the Highlands and Islands.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have no plans to put forward a scheme this year. The clear advice from the European Commission to the proposed cull ewe scheme, which the Scottish Executive put forward last year, was that gaining approval for the scheme would prove very difficult indeed.

12 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to allocate additional funding to the Scottish Ambulance Service in order to reduce on-call working.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Scottish Ambulance Service has established a Joint Working Party comprising managers and staff representatives from UNISON and T&G Scotland to consider the implications for the Service of the EU Working Time Directive on relief working and on-call arr…

7 Jun 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policies are on the promotion of road safety.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive and the UK Government recently announced targets for road accident casualty reductions in the period to 2010. The targets, together with a strategy for achieving them, were published on 1 March in the document <I>Tomorrow's Roads - Safe…

31 May 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement of 30 May 2000 regarding the resurfacing of the main runway at Wick Airport, what plans it has to improve the condition of the cross runway.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), which operates Wick Airport, will consider the case to rehabilitate the cross runway at Wick Airport against the competing expenditure priorities at all the company's 10 airports.

10 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce the successful bidder for the Northern Isles ferry services.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Costed bids for the Northern Isles ferry contract were invited on 28 April, and are expected in the last week of May. The Executive plans to award preferred bidder status as soon as possible thereafter and hopes to announce the successful bidder in June.<P AL…

5 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards establishing a new hospital at Invergordon.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Highland Primary Care Trust submitted an outline business case, which was approved, in February 2000 to create a Primary Care Centre for Easter Ross at Invergordon. A full business case is now being prepared by the Trust.

5 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by the Digital Scotland Task Force towards establishing a Scottish equivalent of the "Computers within Reach" scheme.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The task force was asked to consider whether offering refurbished personal computers to selected low-income households in Scotland would be an effective means of achieving our aim of giving wider access to the web. I know that members of the task force have b…

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much health trusts charge the NHS to carry out cardiac bypass operations compared to what they charge individuals privately.

Answer · Susan Deacon: For the costs to the NHS of bypass surgery, I refer the member to my answer to S1W-5047. As NHS Trusts are part of the NHS they do not charge the NHS <I>per se</I> for carrying out bypass surgery.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The cost of a bypass operation for private …

7 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much revenue the three health trusts which carry out cardiac bypass operations derive from treating private as opposed to NHS patients.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Two of the three trusts which undertake bypass surgery for NHS patients also provide surgery for private patients. The revenue received from undertaking private procedures for these trusts in the year 1999-2000 is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPA…

6 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to suspend the recovery of all agricultural support measure payments such as HCLA, IACS, and the Sheep Premium Scheme until an independent appeal mechanism is in place.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The EU regulations governing these schemes would not permit us to suspend recovery of agricultural payments found to have been made outwith their terms. There is an existing appeals procedure for farmers to use which is explained in the scheme guidance litera…

5 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering reviewing the legislation which permits local authorities to reduce the council tax payable on second homes.

Answer · Jack McConnell: We do not propose any changes at this time to the current council tax arrangements for second homes.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish Notes on Sections of the Scotland Act 1998.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive continues to work on the preparation of Notes on Sections to the Scotland Act 1998. These will be published as soon as possible, having regard to work demands in other high priority areas. The Notes on Sections will provide an update to…

30 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to tackle the rising number of seals in Scottish waters.

Answer · John Home Robertson: This matter is covered by the Conservation of Seals Act 1970. This allows for controls to be exercised by anyone possessing an appropriately licensed firearm except during the close seasons when special provisions apply. This approach recognises that control …

30 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to advance the Croft Entrant Scheme beyond the current pilot phase and whether it will be extended to all crofting parishes.

Answer · Ross Finnie: None of the Croft Entrant Schemes operated by individual Local Enterprise Companies are in a pilot phase: all are fully operational. Any changes to these schemes would be a matter for the individual Local Enterprise Companies within the overall scheme framewo…

29 Mar 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure the future of Wick Airport by bringing the runway up to the required standard.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), which operates Wick Airport, is giving its highest priority to making preparations for the resurfacing of the main runway at the airport.

22 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to introduce the Computers Within Reach Scheme which will provide computers to low income families.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer to the answer I have given to question S1W-5511.

6 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what charges an NHS Trust makes to the NHS for a triple heart bypass operation.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Three NHS Trusts in Scotland undertake bypass surgery. The cost to the NHS of a bypass operation is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="75%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust</TD>…

2 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to improve the external safety signage on buses and in particular on school buses.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Road traffic law, including vehicle safety standards, is a reserved matter under the Scotland Act. In particular, the UK Parliament is responsible for changes to the legislation governing the use of the signs required to be displayed by school buses when tran…

1 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the average waiting times for triple by-pass operations broken down by health board.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The information requested is set out in the table.<P>We are currently working with the NHS in Scotland to establish national maximum waiting times, to be delivered from March 2001, in the clinical priorities of heart disease, cancer and mental health.<P>Media…

9 Feb 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any proposals to encourage the greater involvement of elderly people in Scotland's democratic process.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is fully committed to promoting civic participation across all ages of society. The Policy Unit is undertaking a study exploring issues affecting older people and the scope for developing a more co-ordinated approach across the Executiv…

25 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage local enterprise companies to offer continuing advice to small businesses after they have received grant or loan assistance.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive has regular contact with both Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise on the local delivery of business support and other issues. While decisions on support for specific businesses are for the enterprise network, we are…