Parliamentary questions
Michael Russell
1,207 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
8 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-27272 by Aileen McLeod on 14 September 2015, when it will publish the (a) reports from the 11 control programmes, (b) result of the survey of biodiversity action partnership and (c) strategic plans for non-native species regional groups, and what fu…
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The 11 control programmes are led by the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland. They are evaluating those programmes and a draft of their evaluation is currently out for review. I have been advised that a report will be available toward the end of 2015. Th…
7 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on (a) older and (b) disabled people from an island being placed in residential care in a location that might require them or their families to undertake (i) expensive ferry travel and (ii) journey times of at least an hour to travel to.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and community care policy in Scotland. It is however, for local authorities to determine the level of services that are required to meet local care needs and to arrange an appropriate range of serv…
7 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the cost of travelling between the island and the mainland, what its position is on Argyll and Bute Council's reported failure to provide appropriate residential care for (a) older and (b) disabled people on Bute.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and community care policy in Scotland. It is however for local authorities to determine the level of services that are required to meet local care needs and to arrange an appropriate range of servi…
7 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its reported refusal to allow people to be referred to the Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital, whether it considers that NHS Highland is adhering to the principle of equal access to health treatment free at the point of need.
Answer · Maureen Watt: NHS Highland continues to make referrals to the Centre for Integrative Care to access a range of complementary and alternative therapies.
7 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it will provide to people wanting treatment at the Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital if their NHS board refuses to pay for it.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Some of the therapies delivered at the Centre for Integrative Care are also provided locally by some NHS boards. It is open to NHS boards in Scotland to make such services available based on an assessment of needs within their respective areas.
7 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that people from all NHS board areas have equal access to treatment at the Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Some of the therapies delivered at the Centre for Integrative Care are also provided locally by some NHS boards. It is open to NHS boards in Scotland to make such services available based on an assessment of needs within their respective areas.
7 Oct 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the cost of travelling between the island and the mainland, what support it gives to Argyll and Bute Council to help ensure that (a) older and (b) disabled people on Bute can receive their care on the island.
Answer · Jamie Hepburn: The Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and community care policy in Scotland. It is however for local authorities to determine the level of services that are required to meet local care needs and to arrange an appropriate range of servi…
22 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what guidance it provides to committee clerks regarding support for members of their committees who wish to access and use committee papers on electronic devices.
Answer · Liz Smith: In November 2013, the Conveners’ Group agreed that two committees would be involved in piloting the use of electronic committee packs and this pilot was subsequently extended to seven committees. Committee clerks provided support to members of the relevant co…
22 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what support it provides to members who wish to use electronic devices for accessing committee papers in order to stop using printed materials.
Answer · Liz Smith: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is very supportive of the moves towards increased digital working and in particular the Parliament’s Digital Parliament Programme whose aim is to improve the organisation’s capability to work digitally. As a result of…
22 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what its policy is regarding the use of electronic devices for accessing committee papers during committee meetings.
Answer · Liz Smith: The conduct and management of committee meetings (including the use of electronic devices) is a matter for the relevant committee convener. However, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is very supportive of the move towards increased digital working w…
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many cancellations there have been on Caledonian MacBrayne's (a) Kennacraig/Islay and (b) Oban/Colonsay route in 2015, broken down by reason for cancellation and compared with (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The following tables detail the number of sailings cancelled on CalMac Ferries Ltd’s (a) Kennacraig/Islay and (b) Oban/Colonsay routes so far in 2015, broken down by reason for cancellation and compared with the same period in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.…
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether either of the two new vessels being procured by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd would be able to dock at (a) Port Ellen and (b) Port Askaig.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The new vessels have not been designed to berth at the current facilities at Port Ellen or Port Askaig. In his announcement of 15 October 2014, the then Minister for Transport and Veterans, Keith Brown MSP, stated that the new ferries would be designed to pr…
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many outbreaks of food poisoning have been reported by staff on Caledonian MacBrayne vessels in the last three years and what actions were taken as a result.
Answer · Derek Mackay: In the last three years there has been one complaint made by a passenger who felt that they had caught food poisoning on board. An investigation by CalMac’s environmental advisor was conducted and it was not confirmed that the source of the food poisoning was…
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many outbreaks of the winter vomiting virus have been reported on Caledonian MacBrayne vessels in the last three years and how many vessels have been withdrawn from service for deep cleaning as a result.
Answer · Derek Mackay: In the past three years there have been five incidents where more than one passenger or member of CalMac crew have shown symptoms of the winter vomiting virus, also known as noro-virus. These incidents have resulted in one vessel, the MV Lord of the Isles, be…
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many crew members on each Caledonian MacBrayne vessel live in the postcode area (a) from which it departs or (b) where it arrives.
Answer · Derek Mackay: The Scottish Government does not hold this information. However, I refer you to the Fraser of Allander Institute Report on The Economic and Social Impact of CalMac Ferries Ltd on Scotland that was commissioned by CalMac Ferries Ltd and published in April 201…
7 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many sailings on the Kennacraig/Islay route have operated carrying less than the full vehicle capacity since 1 April 2015 and how many of these were notified as full to prospective travellers with vehicles at any time prior to the vessel leaving the departure port.
Answer · Derek Mackay: Since 1 April 2015, there have been 216 sailings that have exceeded a capacity figure of 90%, which are effectively classed as full sailings by CalMac. The operated sailings since 1 April 2015 total 1,286, therefore 16.8% can be classed as full and 83.2% as l…
1 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will instruct Scottish Natural Heritage to review the action that has been taken to control or eliminate giant hogweed.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are currently working to prioritise non-native species for action through the Scottish Biodiversity Committee’s Non-Native Species Action Group. Giant hogweed is being assessed, alongside a number of…
1 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment Scottish Natural Heritage has made of the efforts of (a) local authorities, (b) the Scottish Ministers and (c) private landowners to control or eliminate giant hogweed.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Rivers and Fisheries Trust of Scotland (RAFTS) Invasive Species and Biosecurity Programme began in 2008 with funding from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Restoration Fund. Biosecurity Plans have been p…
1 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what enforcement action has been taken by (a) Scottish Natural Heritage and (b) other bodies in the last 12 months regarding the (i) existence and (ii) spread of giant hogweed.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: Scottish Natural Heritage has intervened to support coordinated action to control giant hogweed on three occasions in the last 12 months. All of these instances have been dealt with on a voluntary basis, with a Species Control Agreement being put in place in …
1 Sep 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding how many people have been injured because of exposure to the sap of giant hogweed in each of the last five years.
Answer · Aileen McLeod: The Scottish Government does not hold information on the number of people injured as a result of exposure to giant hogweed. Data coding for patients who suffer such an injury does not specify the type of plant or environmental hazard which has caused it. Case…
25 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26769 by Michael Matheson on 17 August 2015, whether it considers that the expense incurred by people having to travel to other islands or the mainland to get affidavit administration because they cannot access this on the island where they live is …
Answer · Michael Matheson: As I said in response to S4W-26769, given the relatively low volume of affidavit administration business, the Scottish Government currently has no plans to make arrangements for affidavit administration on islands where there are no resident justices of the p…
14 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many low birthweight babies were born in (a) 1999, (b) 2007 and (c) 2014, also expressed as a percentage of all live births.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The following table shows the number of low birthweight live babies (<2500g), all live births and low birthweight live babies (<2500g) expressed as a percentage of all live births for the financial years ending 31 March 1999, 2007 and 2013, the latest informa…
14 Aug 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the infant mortality rate was in (a) 1999 and (b) 2014; what information it has how this compares with (i) 1953 and (ii) 1979, and how this compares with international statistics.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The majority of the information that was requested is published annually by National Records of Scotland in its vital events reference tables. The infant death rates for Scotland for 1979, 1999 and 2014, and the annual average for the five years 1951-55 (whi…
17 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26180 by Michael Matheson on 15 July 2015, whether if it will make arrangements for affidavit administration on islands where there are no resident justices of the peace (JP), no resident notaries public and no JP court.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Given the relatively low volume of affidavit administration business, the Scottish Government currently has no plans to make arrangements for affidavit administration on islands where there are no resident justices of the peace, no resident notaries public an…
17 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-26180 by Michael Matheson on 15 July 2015, whether it has taken into account that there is no justice of the peace (JP) court on any of the Argyllshire islands and that there are no resident JPs and notaries public on, for example, Islay.
Answer · Michael Matheson: Appointments of JPs take into account the level of JP court business in the sheriffdom, including business to which signing functions relate. In relation to notaries public, I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-26180 on 15 July 2015. All answers …
15 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with (a) Argyll and Bute Council, (b) Hebridean Airways, (c) Highlands and Islands Airports Limited and (d) others regarding increasing the number of routes served from Oban Airport.
Answer · Derek Mackay: On 6 February 2015 Transport Scotland officials attended a meeting with Argyll and Bute Council and Glasgow Airport to discuss proposals for an Oban to Glasgow air service.
15 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce Twin Otter aircraft for new routes, including between (a) Oban and Barra and (b) Glasgow and Barra via Oban.
Answer · Derek Mackay: We have significantly improved the specification on the Glasgow to Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra air services. The Twin Otter aircraft owned by Highlands and Islands Airports will be fully utilised on these services and will not be available for new routes.
15 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action Marine Scotland is taking to develop a creel management plan for areas in which there (a) has been, or might be, disputes between the users of static and mobile fishing gear and (b) is an expectation of increased pressure on stocks because of an increase use of static gear.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government works closely with creel fishermen, fishing associations and inshore fisheries groups to develop local solutions for effective management. A national consultation on a range of creel management and control measures was held in 2012 wit…
15 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what scientific information it has on the status of stocks of velvet crab, and how many landings of the species have been recorded in each of the last five years.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland science assesses velvet crab stocks using official landings data, size composition data collected as part of its market sampling programme and other biological parameters. Using these data it is possible to estimate stock status in terms of fi…
15 Jul 2015 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many incidents were reported to Marine Scotland in each of the last five years because of disputes between the users of static and mobile fishing gear, and how many led to (a) legal action, broken down by the number of times the complaints upheld and (b) prosecution, broken down by t…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Deliberate gear conflict is a common law offence, better understood as vandalism or theft, and is therefore a matter for Police Scotland to investigate. Marine Scotland compliance has no enforcement remit where fishing gear has been damaged or towed away. It …