John Home Robertson

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what tonnage of waste from Edinburgh has been transferred from rail to road for delivery to the Oxwellmains landfill site in each of the last six months; how many lorry movements this has created, and when it will be possible to restore rail transport for such freight.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council. The information requested is not held centrally.

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many dentists have notified patients of the withdrawal of their services under the NHS in the last year; where the practices of such dentists are located, and whether it will take steps to establish new contracts to ensure access to NHS dental services for all.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The specific information is not available. However, the number of dentists whose patient registration status shows "withdrawn" in the last financial year and the NHS board area that these dentists are located, is shown in the following table. Patient registra…

19 May 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support a bid from the National Museums of Scotland for a Concorde aircraft to be added to the collection of the Museum of Flight at East Fortune.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Scottish ministers have written to the Chief Executive of British Airways supporting the bid by the National Museums of Scotland for a Concorde aircraft.

6 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many speed cameras have been maliciously damaged in the last six months; whether it will seek to have such cameras reinstated as soon as possible, and what action is being taken on claims made by the Motorists Against Detection group.

Answer · Jim Wallace: In the last six months, six camera sites in Scotland have been decommissioned for a period of time following malicious damage. Five of these have already been reinstated, and the sixth is awaiting repair.<P>Anyone found interfering with a safety camera can ex…

8 Jan 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will prioritise high levels of investment in public services.

Answer · Andy Kerr: By 2005-06, investment in public services will be over £4 billion higher than in 2002-03. This is a huge investment in every aspect of Scottish life. We will use this investment to deliver first class public services across the board. <P>We have set out clear…

1 Jan 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to encourage more tourist attractions to accept payment in the euro, US dollars and other foreign currencies.

Answer · Mike Watson: Many hotels in Scotland already accept the euro, while some hotels and restaurants routinely bill their customers in euros as well as in sterling. All of Historic Scotland's many visitor attractions also accept the euro. Decisions on whether to accept the cur…

18 Dec 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the gritting of the A1 trunk road on the morning of 17 December 2002 was in compliance with its contract with Amey Highways Ltd; what road traffic accidents occurred that morning, and what the causes and effects of those accidents were.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Yes. The gritting on the A1 trunk road undertaken by Amey Highways Ltd on the morning of the 17 December 2002 has been checked by the independent Performance Audit Group who have confirmed it to be in compliance with the trunk road maintenance contract. Lothi…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the value of the nuclear industry to the economy in terms of (a) employment and (b) finance.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It is estimated that the nuclear industry currently supports around 4,250 direct jobs within Scotland. <P>Information about indirect and induced employment and the monetary value of the industry to the economy is not available in relation to nuclear electrici…

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale is planned for the completion of the A1 dual carriageway link between the recently opened road at Bowerhouse and the end of the road that is under construction at Thistly Cross.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The current programme is to complete the Thistly Cross to Bowerhouse link by late 2004. Construction work will start as soon as the Thistly Cross roundabout, to which the new link will connect, has, itself, been constructed.

28 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards the redevelopment of hospital buildings and services in Haddington.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust, having consulted widely with the people of Haddington, is working towards the reprovision of services currently provided at Herdmanflat and Roodlands Hospitals on a single site, and the redevelopment of the Roodlands General Ho…

27 Nov 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to meet any need for investment in public services and infrastructure in areas where the population is increasing.

Answer · Andy Kerr: General funding allocations, for example to local authorities, reflect relative population levels. The three-year local government settlement allocations I announced yesterday use the most recent available information from the 2001 Census and population and s…

6 Nov 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in the NHS through the Centre for Change and Innovation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Centre for Change and Innovation was established on 1 November 2002.<P>It will support frontline staff and managers as they lead change and redesign services round the needs of patients.

23 Oct 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in promoting the use of public transport.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has made progress in promoting the use of public transport in a number of ways. The introduction on 30 September of free local bus travel for pensioners and disabled people outwith the morning peak makes public transport more accessible and affo…

2 Oct 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting schemes that reduce the risk of re-offending and anti-social behaviour in children.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive takes these issues very seriously.<P>Between 2000 and 2003-04, we invested £25.5 million in programmes to reduce offending and anti-social behaviour among children and young people. In June, we announced £15 million end-year funding to …

25 Sep 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is implementing the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 relating to the sei'ure of drug dealers' assets.

Answer · Jim Wallace: A major implementation programme is well under way, involving relevant officials and agencies across the UK. Scottish Executive and Crown Office officials are represented on the Home Office Implementation Group, and a separate Scottish implementation group ha…

19 Jul 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding provision is being made for the payment of nursing home fees for 2003.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive is, in partnership with local authorities, currently negotiating with the independent care home sector on the level of fees to be paid to homes from 1 April 2003. The Executive and COSLA have put to the sector an offer, which honours ou…

5 Jun 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the Edinburgh CrossRail project.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Iain Gray formally opened the £11 million Edinburgh CrossRail project on 4 June 2002. This project will deliver significant benefits to commuters from East of Edinburgh, including the opportunity to park and ride from Newcraighall.

21 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any steps can be taken to ensure that judgements are based on the evidence available to the court in light of the case at Haddington Sheriff Court involving Mr William Bayley.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Judiciary are independent of Ministers and it is not open to the Scottish Executive to intervene in the conduct of cases.

16 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support has been made available to local authorities for the continuing professional development of teachers as part of the implementation of A Teaching Agreement for the 21st Century.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The recognition that teachers, like other professionals, need to have access to high quality, relevant continuing professional development (CPD) that allows them to continue to develop and refresh their skills throughout their careers is a cornerstone of the …

1 May 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to develop health care services in rural communities.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has introduced a new formula for allocating funding to NHS boards to ensure that full account is taken of the additional costs of providing services in remote and rural areas. <P>We have also introduced a range of measures to support health serv…

19 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has received for the support of post offices in deprived urban areas in 2002-03 and how such funding will be utilised.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Ministers are currently considering this and I hope to be able to advise you further in due course.

17 Apr 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to address pressures currently facing the social care system.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Local authorities have been funded to a record level of over £1.3 billion in the current year and we are taking forward a range of measures to secure real and measurable improvements to social services.

27 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the additional targets set for the police service as notified by the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice in May 2001.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Additional targets, covering serious violent crime and vehicle crime, have been arrived at following detailed consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Convenors of police authorities. These new targets are being set for t…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are being developed to assure the reliability and integrity of official statistics.

Answer · Andy Kerr: A new Code of Practice on official statistics has now been released for consultation across the UK. We have been developing this in collaboration with the UK Government and other devolved administrations. I am today laying a copy of this code before Parliamen…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22829 by Lewis Macdonald on 6 March 2002, whether it will place the records by Amey Highways Ltd concerning snow clearance on the A1 on 30 December 2001 and any related information from the Performance Audit Group in the Scottish Parliament Informati…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I have undertaken to publish a report by the Performance Audit Group on the first year of operation of the new trunk road contracts in line with the recommendation of the Auditor General. A copy of the report will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centr…

7 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking in order to ensure that the A1 trunk road is kept clear during winter weather conditions and whether it is satisfied that Amey Highways Ltd fulfilled its contractual obligations in recent months.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive and the Performance Audit Group have reviewed and accepted the Winter Maintenance Plan prepared by Amey Highways Ltd. A copy of this plan, which demonstrates compliance with the terms of the trunk road contract, has been placed in the P…

7 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will erect a stop sign in order to control traffic joining the A1 trunk road from Torness Power Station.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Stop signs and markings are only considered where visibility at a junction is severely restricted. The Scottish Executive has no plans to erect a sign at this location, as it does not satisfy this requirement. An Accident Investigation and Prevention study ca…

7 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there were for litter and fly-tipping offences in each of the last four years.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The available information is given in the following table. Data for 2001 is not yet available. <P>Persons proceeded against in Scottish Courts where the main offence was a litter offence, 1997-2000:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=189><TR><TD W…

7 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost to public funds is of collecting and disposing of litter and fly-tipped rubbish.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The information requested is not held centrally. Local authorities report expenditure to the Executive on various services within their cleansing budget. These are waste management, waste disposal, street cleaning and recycling. expenditure on litter and flyt…

7 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the (a) volume and (b) weight of litter and fly-tipped rubbish that is deposited on public land annually and what proportion of such material is removed by public authorities.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This information is not held centrally, but the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is in the process of collecting similar information from local authorities as part of its new waste data survey. The information should be available from SEPA toward…