Parliamentary questions
Kenny MacAskill
2,611 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of motor insurance was for (a) each police force, (b) each fire service, (c) the ambulance service and (d) the prison service in each year since 2001.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information on the cost of motorinsurance for police forces and the fire and rescue authorities is not held centrally.As an agency of the Scottish Executive Justice Department, the Scottish Prison Servicehas Crown immunity in respect of insurance of vehicles.…
13 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken to examine the extent of lead contamination in the public water supply, broken down into studies on the extent of such contamination in (a) the general supply and (b) homes.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Lead contamination ofdrinking water arises from old lead pipes. There are no lead pipes in thepublic water supply distribution network. Old lead pipes are still in use as servicepipes (connecting premises to the water main in the street) and as internalplumbi…
13 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has commissioned into the use of composite classes in primary schools and their effect on a child’s education; whom the Executive commissioned to carry out these studies; what their findings were, and whether, if no such studies were commissioned, they will now be commissi…
Answer · Peter Peacock: Composite classes have beena common feature in Scottish primary schools for many years. In 2002 the Scottish Executive commissioned the Scottish Council for Research in Education(SCRE) to undertake a literature review of the available research on compositecla…
12 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds on participation levels in curling.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: In 2004<b> sport</b>scotland published a research report on curling participation.The research was undertaken in 2003 by MORI, on behalf of <b>sport</b>scotland,following the success at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. This report can be accessedat:</p><p><ahre…
12 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many curling rinks there have been in each year since 1997.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: This information is not heldcentrally. However, I have asked the Chair of <b>sport</b>scotland to write to themember with the information that they have available.</p>
12 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it has provided to curling in Scotland in each year since 1997.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: This information is not heldcentrally. However, I have asked the Chair of <b>sport</b>scotland to write to themember with the information that they have available.</p>
12 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it provides to curling in Scotland.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: This information is not heldcentrally. However, I have asked the Chair of <b>sport</b>scotland to write to themember with the information that they have available.</p>
12 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many curling rinks there are in Scotland, listed by location and giving the number of sheets in each rink.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: This information is not heldcentrally. However, I have asked the Chair of <b>sport</b>scotland to write to themember with the information that they have available.</p>
12 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were injured by fireworks in the city of Edinburgh in November of each year since 2001.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Centrally held informationon fireworks injuries is based on attendances requiring treatment at accidentand emergency departments and burns/plastic surgery units. The table detailsthe number of cases of fireworks related injuries treated at hospitals withinthe…
12 Apr 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had, or plans to have, any discussions with VisitScotland and the City of Edinburgh Council regarding creating a distinct Edinburgh tourist board.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive has hadno discussions with VisitScotland and the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the creation of an Edinburgh tourist board and no such discussions are planned. VisitScotlandand its Edinburgh office currently markets the city as a w…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) rapes and (b) attempted rapes have been reported to police in the city of Edinburgh in each year since 2001 and how many convictions were secured following such reports.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information isshown in the following tables. However, the statistics dealing with recordedcrimes and those dealing with court proceedings are not directly comparable.The former counts the number of crimes and the latter the number of persons,and…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that Scotland's interests are represented in the work of Ofcom.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish interestsin Ofcom work are represented by reserved statutory mechanisms suchas the Ofcom office in Scotland,Ofcom’s Scottish advisory committee and members on Ofcom’s consumer panel and content board. The Executive works closelywith all parts of Ofco…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, given that the BBC has a memorandum of understanding with the Arts Council England, it will take steps to ensure that a similar memorandum is in place for the Scottish Arts Council.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The BBC is a key actor in thedelivery of public service broadcasting, which can play a significant role bothin developing the creative industries and in supporting cultural activity. Althoughbroadcasting is a reserved matter, the BBC is engaged in a regular d…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual administrative costs are to police forces of issuing fixed penalty fines, broken down by type of fine and constabulary area.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not heldcentrally. This is a matter for chief constables.</p>
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the recycling of household waste.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The National Waste Plan outlinesour aim to achieve 25% recycling and composting of municipal waste by 2006 and 55%by 2020 (35% recycling and 20% composting). A further target of 30% recycling andcomposting by 2008 was introduced in Spending Review 2004.</p>
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from City of Edinburgh Council regarding composite classes.
Answer · Peter Peacock: We have received no suchrepresentations.</p>
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding tax incentives to maintain and encourage creative artists in Scotland.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive is inregular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including taxation.Taxation is a matter reserved to UK Government.</p>
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has over the Civil Nuclear Constabulary’s operations in Scotland.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Nuclear security is a reservedmatter. Under Section 62 of the Energy Act 2004,theUK Civil Nuclear Constabulary is subject to voluntary inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary (HMIC). The act also allows the Secretary of State for Trade and Indu…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has over the British Transport Police’s operations in Scotland.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Scottish ministers have no collectivepower to direct Chief Constables on operational matters. The Lord Advocate has a statutory power to instruct thepolice in Scotland in relation to the investigation and reporting of allegedcriminal activity.</p>
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the number, extent and identity have been of fields and play areas lost in the City of Edinburgh since 1999.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of the Scottish Football Partnership.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Football Partnership(SFP) is now operational with James Clydesdale having taken up post as Chairmanon 21 February 2006. The majority of its funding is earmarked for the YouthFootball Action Plan and some is set asidefor the Community Youth Awards…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has made into the BBC Charter Review.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Broadcasting is a reserved matterand is the responsibility of the Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS).</p><p>The Scottish Executive has worked closely withDCMS throughout the BBC Charter Review process to make them aware of the outcomeswe want from…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives or legislative proposals it intends to bring forward to support or promote cycling proficiency in schools.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive willcontinue to fund Cycling Scotland and Road Safety Scotland to provide advice,courses and materials for cycle training in schools.</p><p>the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme (SCTS), formally known as cycling proficiency,is administered…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has collated relating to loss of urban green space since 1999.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Information on urban green spaceis not held centrally.</p>
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been to Lothian and Borders Police of policing events involving VIP or Royal visitors, Scottish Executive and Parliament events and UK Government and EU events since 2003.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not heldcentrally. It is a matter for the Chief Constable of Lothian and BordersPolice.</p>
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds have been made available (a) directly or (b) indirectly to the Craigmillar Partnership in each year since 2001.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Craigmillar Partnership receivedindirect Scottish Executive funding from the Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP)Fund from 2001-2 to 2004-5 and from the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) in 2005-6.</p><p>Communities Scotland has made funding available to th…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will be made available for wave energy research for each of the next five years.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are consulting on changesthat might be made to the Renewables Obligation Scotland (ROS) in order to providea source of long-term, increased funding to wave and tidal energy generators. Wewant Scotland to be the centre for marine energy research, developmen…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote transport links between Scotland and the Faroe Islands and whether it will categorise any plans it has by mode of transport.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive’s RouteDevelopment Fund (RDF) is to provide funding for a new air service between Sumburghand the Faroe Islands which will operate twice weekly from 23 June until 30 October 2006. Thiswill link with direct connections to the Scottish ma…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote air freight.
Answer · Tavish Scott: We are currently developing aNational Freight Strategy for Scotland. This strategy will consider how all transport modescan be used most effectively to assist the flow of goods in, out and within Scotlandand so help grow the Scottish economy in a sustainable …
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist the creative media industries in distribution and marketing.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Advice on distribution and marketingis included in generic business support provided by the Scottish Enterprise networkto individual companies within the digital media and creative industries. The mainchannels for delivery of this type of support are the Acco…