Parliamentary questions

John Farquhar Munro

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

7 Mar 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the volume of regulation dealt with by farmers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We are working closely with representativefarming organisations to ensure that regulation focuses on real problems and thatit is fair and proportionate and realistic.

20 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on the A87 in the last year.

Answer · Tavish Scott: In the last full financialyear, 2005-2006, in excess of £1.4 million was spent on the A87 trunk road. Thisis in addition to substantial sums spent on winter maintenance, grass cuttingand other maintenance, which are not allocated to specific routes.

14 Feb 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect it considers its draft animal gatherings order will have on traditional agricultural shows.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There is evidence that biosecuritystandards within the livestock industry generally have declined in recent yearsand the draft order is intended to improve biosecurity at animal gatherings. Anyoccasion when animals are brought together from different sources …

3 Jan 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to cut waiting times for orthodontic treatment in the Highlands.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We have asked NHS Highland tosubmit a plan to show how it will reduce waits for orthodontics and achieve a maximumwaiting time of 26 weeks by 2007-08.In the meantime, we have providedan additional £250,000 in capital and £60,000 in revenue funding to h…

30 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further action it has taken to secure a derogation for the Highlands and Islands under Article 30(7) of EU Regulation 1/2005 on the welfare of farm animals during transport.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Article 30(7) of EU Regulation1/2005 states that “Member States may continue to apply the current national provisionsconcerning transport of animals within their outermost regions”. The Highlands andIslands is not one of the seven “outermost regions” recognis…

29 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to ensure that there is no delay in accessing free flu vaccine for those susceptible to the virus.

Answer · Andy Kerr: ‎While there has been somedelay in the delivery of this year’s flu vaccine, NHS boards are expected to receivetheir full vaccine orders. In Scotland we will be receiving 1.3 million doses offlu vaccine this year, 200,000 ‎more doses than last year…

17 Nov 2006 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when it will produce a Gaelic language plan, as provided for in the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Duncan McNeil: the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is pleased to announce that it hasreceived notice from Bòrd na Gàidhlig that is required to draw up a Gaeliclanguage plan in accordance with section 3 of the Gaelic Language (Scotland)Act 2005 no later than 1 October …

8 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of providing Gaelic road signs in the Highlands in each year since 2003.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The following table shows thecost of providing Gaelic road signs in the Highlands in each financial yearsince 2002-03:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=115 valign=top> Financial Year </td> <t…

1 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people eligible for the single person’s council tax discount currently receive it, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Tom McCabe: There is no information held centrally relating to the take-up rate of the single person’s council tax discountscheme. Information is however available relating to the current number of dwellings,as recorded on the valuation list, where the amount of council …

1 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it issues to local authorities on publicising the availability of council tax discounts.

Answer · George Lyon: The publication of informationon council tax discounts is a matter for local authorities themselves. The Executivealso provides a range of information at:http://www.scotland.gov.uk/counciltax.

6 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27855 by George Lyon on 28 August 2006, whether it will publish any evidence it has which demonstrates a link between the purchase of alcohol from a garage forecourt and drink driving.

Answer · George Lyon: The Scottish Executive does nothold any evidence which demonstrates where drink drivers obtain their alcohol.

6 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-27855 by George Lyon on 28 August 2006, what representations it has received regarding any link between the purchase of alcohol from a garage forecourt and drink driving.

Answer · George Lyon: The ability to purchase alcoholfrom a garage forecourt was one of the questions posed when the Scottish Executiveconducted a consultation on the proposals for the Licensing (Scotland) Act2005. Seventy-nine consultees provided some comment. The consultation do…

6 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to amend the Crofting Reform etc. Bill, in light of the Environment and Rural Development Committee’s Stage 1 report on the Bill.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Parliament willdebate the Environment and Rural Development Committee’s stage 1 report and the Scottish Executive’s response to the report at the stage 1 debate. The debate isto be held on 27 September 2006. Any proposals to amend the bill will b…

6 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a commitment to publish its response to the Environment and Rural Development Committee’s Stage 1 report on the Crofting Reform etc. Bill at least two weeks before the date of the Stage 1 debate on the Bill.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Ministers are currently consideringtheir response to the Environment and Rural Development Committee’s stage 1 reporton the Crofting Reform etc. Bill and will respond constructively before the stage1 debate on the bill.The Scottish Executive does notpu…

6 Sep 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is working to ensure that local authorities deliver care in the community.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The core local government financesettlement contains provision of £1.7 billion within GAE in the current year,to help fund older people’s and community care services in order to meetpeople’s assessed needs.The Social Work InspectionAgency examines auth…

5 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the possible impact on the Scottish food supply of contamination of conventional maize seed lots with genetically modified seeds in Slovenia and, if so, what information it has on (a) from where these seeds were imported, (b) the levels of contaminati…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive hasnot made any specific assessment in relation to this reported contaminationsince the two maize varieties concerned are not relevant to UK agriculture,however, maize lines Mon810 and Bt11 are already authorised for import andprocessin…

1 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there are any circumstances in which it is necessary to exceed the national speed limit to ensure safe overtaking.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Highway Code across the UK, sets outthe rules for the use of roads. The code states that the speed limit for a roadis the absolute maximum, which must not be exceeded. It also makes it clear thatexceeding the speed limit is an offence. The code does not i…

25 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether funding from the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme will be ring fenced to crofters and, if not, for whom such funding will be available.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Funding for the Crofting CountiesAgricultural Grant Scheme (CCAGS) is not ring-fenced and there are no plans to introducering fencing. In recent years, resources for CCAGS have not been fully utiliseddue to the lack of demand from crofters and others currentl…

25 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme is being moved from Tier 2 to Tier 3 of the Land Management Contracts menu scheme.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Crofting Counties AgriculturalGrant Scheme (CCAGS) is not in either Tier of Land Management Contracts (LMC) schemeat present. Following the consultation exercise on the SRDP ministers are consideringwhether CCAGS should be included in LMCs and if so which…

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many petrol stations licensed to sell alcohol it estimates will stop selling petrol in (a) Scotland, (b) rural areas and (c) urban areas as a result of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · George Lyon: The decision as to whether apetrol station maintains its alcohol licence will be one for the locallicensing board and it is therefore not possible to ascertain how many willstop selling petrol at this time.

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it will publish for licensing boards when considering (a) petrol stations not covered by the section 115 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, (b) the evidence required to demonstrate that a garage is, or is likely to become, a principal source of either fuel or groceries an…

Answer · George Lyon: The Scottish Executive is presentlydrafting guidance for Licensing Boards on the Licensing (Scotland) Act2005 which will be published for public consultation in October. For petrol stationsany guidance will reflect the need for licensing board decisions to be…

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many petrol stations licensed to sell alcohol there are in (a) Scotland, (b) rural areas and (c) urban areas.

Answer · George Lyon: The available information isgiven in table number 4 of the statistical bulletin Liquor Licensing in Scotland, 2000-04published by the Scottish Executive in June 2005, a copy of which is available inthe Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 3678…

18 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many petrol stations licensed to sell alcohol will be granted “grandfather rights” during the transition phase of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · George Lyon: Petrol stations whose local licensingboards determine as fulfilling the exemption criteria provided in the Licensing(Scotland) Act 2005 of fulfilling a retailing need within the locality will receive“grandfather rights”.

17 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state its strategic development policy for land adjacent to the A87 on Skye.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The development plan for thearea (Highland Structure Plan and Skye and Lochalsh Local Plan) provides the landuse policy context within which proposed development is considered.Localauthority planning departments are required to consult the Scottish Exe…

17 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis it was involved in the consideration of Highland Council planning application 05/00543/SL and what the reasons were for its position on the application.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland is astatutory consultee on planning applications adjacent to trunk roads. Followingfull consideration of this planning application Transport Scotland issueda recommendation to refuse based on the unsafe nature of the access with the trunkro…

15 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it offers any grants to individuals or businesses for satellite broadband in areas that are unable to receive cable broadband or whether it has any plans to offer such grants.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We do not currently operate sucha scheme.The Executive is working withindependent technical consultants to examine the areas where individuals and businessesare out of reach of broadband, as well as the viability of potential technologicalsolutions, in…

15 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many bookings visitscotland.com has taken in 2006, also broken down by region.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The number of bookings that visitscotland.comhas taken between January and mid-August 2006 is shown in the following table, brokendown by VisitScotland local office area:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=234 valign=top…

3 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the administration costs were of the Single Farm Payment scheme and how much funding was issued under the scheme last year.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The cost of administering theSingle Farm Payment and Support Schemes in 2005-06 (including the start-up costsin the first year of the scheme) was £4.142 million with the value of payments todate totalling £427.7 million (which includes £19.586 million paid th…

3 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has monitored the costs to it and its agencies of handling requests for information made under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and, if so, what the costs have been and how they compare with the costs of handling requests estimated when the legislation was drafted…

Answer · Margaret Curran: Responding to requests for information has always been, and remains, part of the overall activities of all Executive staff. The resource implications of dealing with freedom of information requests has varied across the Executive but overall have not exceeded…

14 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any instructions to road maintenance contractors to (a) survey the extent of and (b) take action to control Japanese knotweed on road verges and visibility splays.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Trunk Road Operating Companiesare contractually obliged under their cyclic and routine maintenance duties to ensurethe identification and control of Japanese knotweed as well as other weeds deemedinjurious by the Weeds Act 1959 and the Wildlife and Countr…