John Swinney

2 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the total number of students in higher education in Scotland dealt with by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland and list (a) how many of those students will pay a contribution towards their tuition fees in the academic year 1999-2000 and (b) how many of those studen…

Answer · Henry McLeish: As at 7 November the number of cases received and calculated by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland is 97,429 of which: - <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">(a)&#9; 20, 944 relate to SAAS students who make a contribution towards their tuition fees.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">(b) &…

2 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the number and percentage of students making a contribution towards their tuition fees who will pay more than (i) #994; (ii) #989; (iii) #949; (iv) #899; (v) #849; (vi) #799; (vii) #749; (viii) #699; (viiii) #649; (x) #599; (xi) #549 and (xii) #499.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The information requested is shown in the table below. Figures quoted are for 1998-99 the last full year for which data is available. <TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"><B><P ALIGN="CENTER"><P ALIGN="CENTER">£…

21 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to approve the construction of grade-separated junctions at the Glamis and Kirriemuir junctions of the A90 to Forfar bypass.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: We expect to publish draft enabling orders for this work early in the New Year.

20 Oct 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to approve the construction of grade-separated junctions at the Glamis and Kirriemuir junctions of the A90 to Forfar bypass.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: We expect to publish draft enabling orders for this work early in the New Year.

6 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1711 by the First Minister on 30 September 1999, whether it is yet in a position to publish a list of the contracts operated by Beattie Media on behalf of (i) the Scottish Executive; (ii) local authorities; (iii) local enterprise companies; (iv) heal…

Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-1870.

6 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1711 by the First Minister on 30 September 1999, whether it is yet in a position to specify the value of any contracts operated by Beattie Media on behalf of (i) the Scottish Executive; (ii) local authorities; (iii) local enterprise companies; (iv) h…

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive published a report today on contacts and contracts between Scottish public bodies for which it has responsibility and professional public relations organisations. This report contains relevant information which is not commercially confi…

16 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information is required to be collected on the quality and country of origin of bacon imported into Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Imports of bacon require to meet health and hygiene production standards laid down in EU Directives. At the UK level, Customs and Excise collect data on the quantities of imported bacon by country of origin. Separate figures for Scotland are not available.

16 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to introduce an effective labelling scheme for the pig industry that provides accurate information on country of origin.

Answer · Ross Finnie: My Department has been working closely with Scottish pig industry representatives in developing the Scottish Pork Quality Mark. This provides consumers with assurance as to the origin and quality of home produced product given the EU Labelling Directive does …

16 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the animal welfare regime for pigs in other European countries as compared with the position in Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No assessments have yet been made. However, it would be our intention to consider systems in other Member States in due course in the context of the review of the EU Directive, 91/630, on pig welfare.

16 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide support to the pig industry to meet the cost of new animal welfare requirements.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The 1991 ban on the use of stall and tether systems in the UK allowed 8&nbsp;years for producers to implement the changes under their normal business arrangements.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Pressure shall continue to be applied to the European Commission to…

16 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to take to improve the competitive position of the pig industry in Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer to the answer to question S1O-398, which was given in response to Mr Swinney at the Oral Question session today.

26 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been raised by bequest and public donations to Stracathro Hospital, Angus and how this money has been distributed in each financial year since 1980.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I understand from Tayside Health Board that the information which is available on income and expenditure from Stracathro Hospital Endowment Funds is as follows:<P ALIGN="RIGHT"><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="29%" VALIGN="TO…

26 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what will be the cost of implementing the changes at Stracathro Hospital as announced by Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust on 24 August 1999.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust is still considering the detail of the proposals and, therefore, cannot say what the financial implications of implementation would be at this stage. I will ask the Trust to convey this information to Mr Swinney when it …

26 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-754 by Susan Deacon on 17 August, what is the operational status and operational history of the MRI scanners located at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There are currently 2 MRI scanners at Ninewells Hospital. As part of the initiative to reduce waiting lists, I understand both MRI scanners operated five days per week between January and March 1999. This was made possible mainly by existing radiology staff w…

9 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many haemophilia sufferers have been infected with the hepatitis C virus after receiving contaminated blood products: (a) manufactured in Scotland, and (b) imported from abroad.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to S1W-839.

9 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether blood products carrying the risk of hepatitis C virus transmission were still in use in Scotland in 1987, when the use of such products was discontinued in England and Wales in 1985.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to S1W-839.

9 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what clinical indicators among Scottish haemophilia sufferers led to the introduction of work on heat treatment of blood products with a view to sterilising the hepatitis C virus.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer the member to the answer given to S1W-839.

9 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when heat treatment procedures were introduced in Scotland to eliminate the hepatitis C virus in blood products.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The question is among a number of points which I have asked my Department to look at in relation to the safety of blood products from Hepatitis C. I also met with the Haemophilia Society to hear their concerns at first hand.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>I have…

30 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) facilities are available to patients in the Tayside area, the location of the facilities, how long the facilities have been in place, and how the current provision compares to the provision of MRI facilities in the periods 1996-1997 and 1997-1998.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for patients from across Tayside is provided by 2 MRI scanners at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee: one machine was installed in November 1998; and the other was redeployed in January 1999 as part of the transfer of services from …

27 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the proportion of the Scottish Consolidated Fund that has been allocated to the Secretary of State for Scotland to perform his duties.

Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to Lord James Douglas-Hamilton's question S1W-745.

16 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to authorise the construction of grade separated junctions on the A90 Forfar bypass.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Design preparation of grade separated junctions at Kirriemuir and Glamis is in hand, and material is being prepared for the publication of draft enabling orders later in the year. Once the statutory procedures have been completed consideration can be given to…

3 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for the provision of acute hospital services at Stracathro Hospital, Angus.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer Mr Swinney to my reply of 15 June to Mr Ben Wallace.