John Swinney

27 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what deficiencies in the business plan of Scottish Water identified by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland contributed to the resignation of the Chair of Scottish Water.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Professor Alan Alexanderresigned as Chair of Scottish Water because he disagreed with the views thatthe Scottish Executive and Scottish Water’s regulators had formed of ScottishWater’s 2006-10 delivery plan. The Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotlandco…

27 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what deficiencies in the business plan of Scottish Water identified by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland contributed to the resignation of the Chair of Scottish Water.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Professor Alan Alexanderresigned as Chair of Scottish Water because he disagreed with the views thatthe Scottish Executive and Scottish Water’s regulators had formed of Scottish Water’s2006-10 delivery plan. The Water Industry Commission for Scotlandconsidere…

27 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what deficiencies in the business plan of Scottish Water identified by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency contributed to the resignation of the Chair of Scottish Water.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Professor Alan Alexanderresigned as Chair of Scottish Water because he disagreed with the views that the Scottish Executive and Scottish Water’s regulators had formed of Scottish Water’s2006-10 delivery plan. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency conside…

24 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S2W-22538, S2W-22539, S2W-22540, S2W-22541 and S2W-22542 by Rhona Brankin on 26 January 2006, when the detailed information requested will be supplied by Scottish Water.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: As the previous answers made clear, these were operational matters for Scottish Water, and I understand that they have now supplied you with the information requested in your earlier questions.</p>

23 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid directly to farmers through subsidies in each year since 1999, not including administrative costs.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The total subsidy to farmers in Scotland, net of administrative costs, between 1999 and 2004 is shown in table 1.</p> <p>Table 1</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Year</p></td> <td> <p align=cente…

23 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what total public expenditure on school meals was in each year since 1999.

Answer · Peter Peacock: School meals are provided byindividual local authorities. The total gross expenditure by local authorities onthe provision of school meals in the years since 1999 is shown in the table below.This information is reported in the annual Local Government Finance …

2 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission regarding the Rule of 85 in the Local Government Pension Scheme during the period since the Commission made it clear that the actions proposed by the Executive on the rule were not as a result of decisions of the European Union.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has beenin touch with the Commission through UK authorities to make clear its view, basedon legal advice, that the Rule of 85 is not compatible with the age provisions of the Equal Treatment directive. The Scottish Executive is not awar…

20 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the utilisation of the Coupar Angus wastewater treatment works is domestic.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive to reply to you directly.</p>

20 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the utilisation of the Coupar Angus wastewater treatment works is industrial.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive to reply to you directly.</p>

20 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the unutilised capacity of the Coupar Angus wastewater treatment works is accounted for by unused or derelict properties.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive to reply to you directly.</p>

20 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what capacity of the Coupar Angus wastewater treatment works is not utilised.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive to reply to you directly.</p>

20 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the capacity is of the Coupar Angus wastewater treatment works.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive to reply to you directly.</p>

17 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether further guidance will be issued to NHS boards in respect of arrangements for preventing tuberculosis, in light of the withdrawal of the schools BCG immunisation programme.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There are no plans to issue further guidance at this stage. To support NHS Boards in adapting to the changes in the schools BCG immunisation programme, Health Protection Scotland convened a short life working group which included Health Scotland, clinicians, …

17 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been put in place to check for tuberculosis since the withdrawal of the schools BCG immunisation programme.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Measures to identify and reach children who are at risk of TB are outlined in the report produced by the short life working group convened by Health Protection Scotland available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 38681). These measure…

17 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what risk assessment was carried out before the withdrawal of the schools BCG immunisation programme.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The decision to withdraw the schools BCG immunisation programme was recommended by the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). This advice was based on the latest scientific and epidemiological data.</p> <p>Evidence indicates that those at …

17 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in improving support to, and services for, young carers since the current Deputy Minister for Education and Young People and Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care were appointed.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-22371 on 30 January 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the parliament website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

17 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in improving support to, and services for, young carers since the parliamentary debate on 27 October 2004.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We have made good progress in various ways since October 2004. The introduction of the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 and the involvement of carer organisations in the associated guidance has helped to improve support to young…

17 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Law Society of Scotland in respect of implementing sections 25 to 29 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Law Society of Scotland is a member of the Scottish Executive’s Research Working Group on the Legal Services Market in Scotland and has been fully involved in the group’s discussions of this issue. The minutes of the Research Working Group’s meetings are …

17 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government in respect of implementing sections 25 to 29 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990.

Answer · Hugh Henry: We have from time to time consulted the Department of Constitutional Affairs on their experience of implementing the equivalent rights of audience in England and Wales. In addition, the Office of Fair Trading was represented on the Scottish Executive’s Resear…

17 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans now are for implementing sections 25 to 29 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990.

Answer · Hugh Henry: We shall consider the case for commencement of sections 25 to 29 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 on receipt of the report of the Research Working Group on the Legal Services Market in Scotland.</p>

17 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to implementing sections 25 to 29 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 since 1999.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Executive decided to review this matter in 2003 and referred it to the Research Working Group on the Legal Services Market in Scotland which was established in March 2004. It would not be appropriate to comment on the reasons for  non-implementation by pr…

16 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the report, Care 21: Exploring the Future of Unpaid Care in Scotland.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We are currently carefully considering the report and its recommendations. I will respond formally to the report in the spring, as I indicated I would do at the time of publication. As part of our consideration we are engaging with key stakeholders in order t…

30 Nov 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce proposals for the improvement of the Bankfoot junction on the A9.

Answer · Tavish Scott: As promised, I wrote to you on 30 November 2005 confirming that the preferred option at Bankfoot is to construct a junction improvement and climbing lane which will accommodate upgrading this section of road to dual carriageway in future years should that be …

21 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers are entitled to single farm payments based on ownership or use of land between 0.3 and 0.4 hectares.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Twenty-four farm business have submitted claims or sought to establish their rights to payment entitlements under the single farm payment scheme based on total eligible land of between 0.3 and 0.4 hectares.</p>

21 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications from farmers for single farm payments are still awaiting determination.

Answer · Ross Finnie: As at 29 November, of the 21,924 claims submitted 11,125 (51%) are in the process of being determined or validated. For 10,799 (49%) validation is complete.</p>

21 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers are entitled to single farm payments.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In November 2004, the Environment and Rural Development Department calculated that 22,169 farm business had earned single farm payment entitlements from their activities in the reference period 2000 to 2002. Of these, 21,924 businesses have submitted claims, …

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage change in (a) central government funding for local government and (b) council tax bills has been for each year since 1997, broken down by local authority.

Answer · George Lyon: Tables showing the percentage changes in (a) central government funding for local government and (b) average Band D council tax for the period requested are shown in the following tables.</p> <p>Percentage Change in Central Government Funding for Local Govern…

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the actual cost of collecting council tax has been in each year since 1997, expressed also as a percentage of total council tax revenue raised and broken down by local authority.

Answer · George Lyon: A table covering the period requested is shown as follows. However, caution should be exercised when using the figures to express percentages because a negative net cost is reported in some years (for example, where a council has received cumulative income fr…

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average charge for residential customers has been for (a) water supply and (b) waste water services in each year since 1997 under (i) each of the previous water authorities and (ii) Scottish Water.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20795 on  29 November 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…

17 Nov 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average charge for business customers has been for (a) water supply and (b) waste water services in each year since 1997 under (i) each of the previous water authorities and (ii) Scottish Water.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. Therefore I have asked the Chief Executive of Scottish Water to write to you with the information that you have requested.</p>