Parliamentary questions

John Farquhar Munro

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

18 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that disabled people in (a) Scotland and (b) the highlands and islands have the necessary information and communication technology skills for the modern workplace.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6324 on 16 March 2004.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/web…

18 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to increase the use of the internet amongst disabled people.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Disability is just onefactor which puts people at risk of exclusion. We are taking a number ofmeasures to ensure that all those potentially at risk have access to thenecessary communication technology skills and opportunities.For example, as part of a …

18 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many disabled people have accessed the internet in Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: From the 2002 Scottish HouseholdSurvey, it is estimated that 17% of adults with a long-standing limitingillness, health problem or disability, access the internet for their personaluse (as opposed to their work-related use).Of those adults with along-s…

12 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a penalty imposed on a farmer or crofter during the reference period for the Single Farm Payment scheme is carried forward.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The reference amount isbased on the average number of determined livestock and hectares held duringthe three year reference period, multiplied by the amounts in Annex VII of theCouncil Regulation 1782/2003. We therefore understand the reference amount isnot b…

9 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any research has been undertaken into the population of animal ticks capable of spreading lyme disease.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any research relating to the population of animal tickscapable of spreading Lyme disease.

9 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that doctors are made aware of the symptoms of lyme disease so that early diagnosis can take place.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive isnot planning to take any specific action to raise awareness of lyme disease amongdoctors. There is already guidance available from the Scottish Centre forInfection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) on lyme disease which covers issuessu…

9 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will invite the new national parks authority to provide advice on the precautions to take to minimise the risks of infection by Lyme disease.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has no plansto do so. Representative groups, such as the Ramblers Association, provideinformation and advice to their members on the precautions they should take toavoid the risk of infection in the countryside. It is for the National Parks Auth…

9 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of Lyme disease have been recorded in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The numbers of cases of Lyme disease notified between 1994 and 2003, by NHS board, were <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=546> <thead> <tr> <td> </td> <td colspan=10> Years Ended 31 December: …

28 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider increasing state subsidies to dental practices in areas where there is no NHS dental service provision.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Scottish Dental AccessInitiative grants are available to those dentists willing to set up or expandNHS dental practices in areas of unmet demand or high oral health need. Grantsunder the Scottish Dental Access Initiative will double with effect from 1 April 2…

27 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the publication of the conclusions of Towards Better Oral Health in Children.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Our response to thisconsultation will be announced as soon as possible. An independent analysis of the views expressed during the consultative process will be published at thesame time.

27 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the conclusion of the review of NHS dentistry in 2004, it will give a commitment to guarantee access to an NHS dentist in every part of Scotland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The future of NHS dentalservices in Scotland will be shaped by the outcome of the consultation onModernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland. I have extended the closingdate for responses to the consultation to 2 April 2004.

27 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider providing state subsidised access to private dental practices in areas where there are no NHS dentists.

Answer · Tom McCabe: There are currently no plansfor the Executive to contribute to private dental costs.

27 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether equal access to NHS dentistry is a fundamental principal of the NHS.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is committed to the provision of NHS dental services for all those whowish to use them.

22 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has been made towards building a grade separated junction on the A9 at North Kessock.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There are plans to constructa grade separated junction as part of a proposed developer-led housing developmentat North Kessock. Although this is a developer-led project, the Scottish Executive and Highland Council are contributing towards the cost of the sche…

15 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what statistics it has on the number of disabled people in (a) rural Scotland and (b) Scotland.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The 2001 Census in Scotland collected statistics on the number of people with a long-term illness, health problem or disability that limits their daily activities or the work that they can do. Table 1 presents the results for all people living in households b…

14 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure the continuation of sustainable salmon farming.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer to the answer toS2W-5488 on 27 January 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http://www.…

14 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a commitment to a minimum accessibility target for NHS dentist provision in rural areas.

Answer · Tom McCabe: TheExecutive is keen to ensure access to NHS general dental services for all thosewho wish them and for this reason I announced on 20 November 2003 a wide-ranging review of dental services in Scotland. Responses to the consultationdocument Modernising NHS …

9 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which section 36 applications under the Electricity Act 1989, which were not objected to by the relevant local authority, have subsequently been approved by Scottish Ministers or have been referred by ministers to public inquiry since 1989.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The following projects, allof which were not objected to by the relevant local authority, were consentedby ministers without a public local inquiry:Flue gas desulphurisation atLongannet; Peterhead power station - repowering project; extension to Lerwic…

6 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to the consultation paper on children's oral health, Towards Better Oral Health in Children, and whether it will indicate its position on compulsory water fluoridation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The outcome of thisconsultation, which covers a number of issues bearing on children’s oralhealth, including fluoridation of the public water supply, will be announced assoon as possible.

31 Dec 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Highland Council and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Several ministershave met with Highland Council representatives during the past six months todiscuss a wide range of issues. There have also been a number of meetingsbetween Scottish Executive officialsand officers of the council on various matters.

8 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has appointed any advisers to assist with the negotiations in ending the toll regime on the Skye Bridge and, if so, who such advisers are.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: JMP Consultants Ltd providetechnical advice relating to the Skye Bridge. In addition, Commerzbank AG has been appointedto identify and analyse options to assist ministers when they are consideringdecisions in the future for ending the toll regime at the bridg…

8 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding the provision of an adequate electricity distribution grid to allow renewable energy resources of the Highlands and Islands to be fully utilised.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We are in regular contactwith the UK Government, the regulator and the industry about the upgrades thatwill be necessary to the electricity network to ensure that the renewableresource in the Highlands and Islands is fully realised.

5 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is assessing the risk to trees from sudden oak death, Phytophtora ramorum, and whether any action can be taken to reduce the risk.

Answer · Allan Wilson: To date Phytophthoraramorum has been found in the south of England in four species oftree; Southern red oak, Holm oak, beech and Horse chestnut. Research on whichspecies of tree found in the UK were susceptible to the disease was started inAugust 2001.…

26 Nov 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are on the waiting list for an organ transplant and what the average waiting time is for such an operation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There are466 people on the active waiting list for an organ transplant at Scottish units,435 of them waiting for a kidney transplant. The national UK median waiting time for a kidney is 700 days, for a heart132 days and for a liver 70 days. The main factor af…

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what total annual loan repayments were made to the Crofters etc. Building Grants and Loan Scheme in each of the last five years and whether all repayments were used to finance loans and grants under this scheme.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The total annual amounts of repaymentsreceived over the last five years under the Crofters Building Grants and Loans Scheme(CBGLS) were as follows:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td valign=top> Year <…

29 Oct 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that everyone in the Highlands and Islands has access to NHS dental services.

Answer · Tom McCabe: TheExecutive recognises that there are increasing problems with access to NHSdental services in the Highlands and Islands and other parts of Scotland and hasin place a number of measures aimed at improving access. Enhanced measures, e.g.allowances for vocatio…

22 Oct 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the availability of affordable housing across the Highlands.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Since 1998-99 we have doubled to £19.28 million the spendthat Communities Scotland provides in the Highlands and Islands for the provision of affordablehousing.Inaddition, I was particularly pleased to be able to announce at the Conventionof the Highla…

8 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the consultation on council tax for second homes and its response to the consultation will be published.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We are giving carefulconsideration to the responses received to the consultation on council tax forsecond and long-term empty homes.

6 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of any delays to the salvaging of the cargo from the wreck of the Jambo, whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to ensure the salvage operation is completed before winter.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The member will be awarefrom media reports on 16 and 17 October that the Jambo has completelycapsized. I am advised that its cargo is now lying on the seabed under thevessel and in its immediate vicinity and that it is no longer practicable tocontinue …

12 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers Scottish Natural Heritage has to object formally to applications under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: ScottishNatural Heritage advises ministers on matters relating to Scotland's natural heritage. This extendsto providing advice on Electricity Act applications. The final decision on theseapplications, however, rests with ministers.