John Home Robertson

29 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been against retailers for selling knives to underage customers.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: In the period 1993-2002, the latest ten-year period for which data are available, two persons were proceeded against for an offence under section 141A of the Criminal Justice Act 1998. Both of these were in 2002.</p>

29 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12171 by Johann Lamont on 23 November 2004, in which local authority areas the seven houses which were subject to refusals of consent from landlords for the installation of central heating systems are located and whether it will give the identities o…

Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The local authority areas where landlords refused their consent to install central heating systems, under the Scottish Executive’s central…

10 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for the installation of central heating systems under its central heating programme have been unable to go ahead due to the refusal of consent from landlords and whether it will amend the terms of the programme to override any unreasonable obstruction to the installa…

Answer · Johann Lamont: Since the Programme began in September 2001, seven applications for central heating have been unable to proceed due to the refusal of consent from landlords. In order to override their objection to tenants receiving the central heatingprogramme, primary legis…

5 Nov 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what agreement has been made with the relevant trade package contractor for the replacement of defective glazing at Holyrood following the formal winding up of the Holyrood Progress Group on 9 October 2004.

Answer · George Reid: A technical fault has beenidentified with a number of the openable windows across the Parliament complex.The issue relates to the bonding of the silicon sealant to theglass, which occurred during the manufacturing process. None of these windowsare currently c…

8 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to promote environment-related tourism.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Yes - VisitScotland’s marketing already uses Scotland’s wonderful environment to attract more visitors to experience it for themselves. Exceeding the expectations of these visitors is crucial to the long-term growth of tourism, and our environment and its ric…

6 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) children and (b) adults are not registered with NHS dental practices.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The estimated number of children and adults not registered with an NHS dental practice in Scotland at 30 June 2004 was 375,000 (35% of the child population) and 2,062,000 (52% of the adult population) respectively.</p>

6 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practices provide services under the NHS; how many NHS patients are registered with these dentists, and how many dental practices are willing to take on further NHS patients.

Answer · Tom McCabe: At 30 June 2004 there were 992 dental practices providing NHS general dental services and 2,617,366 patients (710,647 children and 1,906,719 adults) registered with dentists working in these practices.</p><p>Information on the number of dental practices willi…

6 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which dental practices have stopped providing services under the NHS in the last four years and how many patients have lost access to NHS dental checks and treatment as a result of these changes.

Answer · Tom McCabe: This is a local matter and the individual NHS boards are in the best position to respond.</p>

24 Jun 2004 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Presiding Officer has received any communication from Lord Fraser of Carmyllie regarding the publication of the report of the Holyrood Inquiry and whether that communication will be made available in SPICe.

Answer · George Reid: Lord Fraser has written to me to request that his report be published under the authority of the Parliament (as was the case with the reports by Sir Anthony Campbell and Dr Raj Jandoo into the Chhokar case). One consequence of publication under the authority …

17 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) children and (b) adults in East Lothian are not registered with NHS dentists and whether it has any plans to ensure that NHS dental checks and treatment are available to these people.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Information on the number ofEast Lothian residents not registered with a dentist is not held centrally.</p><p>The Executive has introduceda number of measures aimed at recruiting and retaining NHS dentists. We are alsotaking a longer-term look at the future o…

17 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which dental practices in East Lothian provide services under the NHS; how many NHS patients are registered with each of these dentists, and which of these dentists are willing to take on additional NHS patients.

Answer · Tom McCabe: This is a local matter and NHSLothian is in the best position to respond.</p>

17 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which dental practices in East Lothian have stopped providing services under the NHS in the last four years and how many patients have lost access to NHS dental checks and treatment as a result of these changes.

Answer · Tom McCabe: This is a local matter and NHSLothian is in the best position to respond.</p>

6 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when National Museums of Scotland expects to complete arrangements for the public display of Scotland's Concorde and what temporary arrangements have been made to enable visitors to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune to view the restoration of the airliner.

Answer · Frank McAveety: This is an operational matterfor the National Museums of Scotland who will announce the precise timetable once a programme for all of the works has been finalised.</p><p>Concorde has already been madeavailable to the public at various times over the past few …

6 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many hours were spent on the collection of litter from the verges of trunk roads in 2003-04; what quantity of litter was collected; what the cost of this work was to public funds, and whether it has any plans for enforcement action to deter the practice of throwing litter from road ve…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Under the Environmental ProtectionAct 1990 the trunk road operating companies are required to clear litter from motorwaysand special roads. For the south east, south west and north east units 33,472 manhours were spent in 2003-04 collecting 32,998 refuse bags…

28 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will take account of local concerns regarding the provision of healthcare services in the Lothians.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In thefirst place, NHS Lothian itself is responsible for engaging, informing andconsulting the public about the provision of health care services in theLothians. If NHS Lothian proposes major changes in services, it must obtain myprior approval. To do so, the…

14 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any further plans to reduce the incidence of disease and death arising from smoking tobacco.

Answer · Tom McCabe: In January the Scottish Executive published <i>A Breath of Fresh Air for Scotland</i>, the first ever tobacco control action plan designed specifically for Scotland. The action plan sets out 20 action points covering a wide range of measures to help reduce th…

25 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board is satisfied that Monaghan Middlebrook (Mushrooms) Ltd, Kernans Mushroom Ltd and any other associated company or companies are complying with the terms of the current wages board regulations in the employment of both local and foreign workers …

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Agricultural WagesBoard is empowered to make orders which set minimum rates of pay and other conditionsof service for agricultural workers in Scotland, but the Scottish Executive is responsible for enforcing these orders.</p><p>Executive official…

26 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any particular restrictions have been imposed on Scottish fishing vessels working in the area between the boundary for Scottish and English waters set by the Civil Jurisdiction (Offshore Activities) Order 1987 and that set by the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 and …

Answer · Allan Wilson: There have been noparticular restrictions placed on Scottish fishing vessels operating in thewaters between the boundaries of Scottish and English waters as set by theCivil Jurisdiction (Offshore Activities) Order 1987 and the Scottish AdjacentWaters Boundari…

18 Feb 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in reforming the criminal justice system.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: A number of measures are currently under way which willradically reform the criminal justice system.</p><p>The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill will reform the High Courtfollowing the recommendations in a report by the Hon Lord Bonomy. The Stage…

5 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations there are to control the marketing of potentially lethal swords and knives and whether it has any plans to introduce any further restrictions on the display and sale of such weapons in retail premises.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Knives Act 1997 makes ita criminal offence both to market a knife and to publish material in connectionwith the marketing of a knife in a way which indicates that the knife is suitablefor combat or in a way which is likely to encourage violent behaviour i…

4 Feb 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the City of Edinburgh Council's consultation process on congestion charging is adequate.

Answer · Tavish Scott: TheTransport (Scotland) Act 2001 and associated regulationsprovide a statutory framework for consultation that a charging authority mustfollow.</p><p>The actalso provides that a charging scheme will not come into force until the ordermaking it has been submit…

28 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement the signage strategy that has been agreed by East Lothian Council and the local tourist board for the new A1 expressway between Haddington and Dunbar.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The signage strategy for theexpressway was agreed with East Lothian Council and other interested parties priorto the start of works. It was included in the works contract and will beimplemented. As subsequent changes to the signs have been requested by the co…

28 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it is making for the transportation of a Concorde aircraft to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune.

Answer · Frank McAveety: This is an operationalmatter for the National Museums of Scotland who will make an announcement in due course once thearrangements have been agreed. The aircraft is expected to be ready for viewingby the public this summer.</p><p>As previously announced, the …

26 Nov 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the new strategy for the provision of mental health services for the Lothian area to be announced.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Lothian NHSBoard is aiming to achieve agreement on the overall strategic direction and keyprinciples for reshaping the mental health services, by the end of January2004. A full public consultation, from May to September 2004, will follow.</p>

24 Sep 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the value of the horse racing industry is to the Scottish economy.

Answer · Frank McAveety: A scoping study commissionedby Scottish Racing and published in 2002 highlighted that horse racing in Scotlandcontributes 1,700 full-time equivalent jobs and up to £125 million to the Scottisheconomy.</p>

10 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-32 by Mr Frank McAveety on 27 May 2003, what progress has been made on the discussions between the National Museum of Scotland and British Airways on bringing a Concorde aircraft to the Museum of Flight at East Fortune.

Answer · Frank McAveety: National Museums of Scotland areinvolved in on-going discussions with British Airways over the bid by the NationalMuseums to secure a Concorde aircraft for East Fortune. British Airways have notyet announced a decision on the allocation of the retiring aircra…

3 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to answer to question S1W-32138 by Lewis Macdonald on 12 December 2002, when it now expects the new A1 dual carriageway link between Haddington and Thistly Cross to be completed.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I expect the new road to be openedto traffic in the spring of next year.</p>

3 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale has been set for tendering and construction of the dual carriageway on the A1 between Thistly Cross and Bowerhouse.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The tender process for this schemehas already started. The Prior Indicative Notice for prospective tenderers was publishedin the Official Journal on 14 July 2003. Construction is expected to start in spring 2004, followingthe completion of the A1 Expressway. …

3 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers exist to control the collection of lugworms for fishing bait from beaches and whether it will use any such powers to regulate the commercial collection of live bait from beaches in East Lothian.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The powers available tocontrol this type of activity would depend on the rationale for wishing tocontrol it. The Scottish Executive has no current plans to regulate the commercialcollection of live bait from beaches in East Lothian.</p><p>Where the area of ac…

18 Jun 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage tourism.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Tourism is one of Scotland's biggest business sectors bringing in over £4 billion to the Scottish economy and employing nearly 200,000 people. The key public bodies supporting tourism, including VisitScotland, the enterprise networks, local authorities, Histo…