Parliamentary questions

Nick Johnston

166 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

18 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what account it will take of the budget submission made by the All Party Group from Perth and Kinross Council and whether it will offer Perth and Kinross Council similar flexibility in bringing its budget back within guidelines as was shown to Aberdeenshire Council.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I expect Perth and Kinross Council to move significantly towards their guideline figure for 2000-01 and I have written to the Council welcoming the fact that they intend to do this.

10 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the public consultation exercise regarding the addition of fluoride to the public water supply.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to my answer to question S1W-3922 from Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con).

28 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3442 by Mr John Home Robertson on 24 January 2000, what were the total costs of the (Electricity) Fisheries Committee for each of the three years 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000, how are the members nominated to the Committee and whether they are rem…

Answer · John Home Robertson: Committee members do not receive remuneration, only reimbursement of eligible costs such as travel and subsistence. These totalled £4,500, £4,300 and £5,500 in the three years specified. Committee members are appointed in accordance with provision in the Elec…

19 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those organisations which it funds directly and are engaged in the promotion of sex education.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The organisations funded by the Scottish Executive and engaged in the delivery of health education, including sex education are as follows:The Health Education Board for ScotlandNational Aids TrustThe S…

7 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-855 by Susan Deacon on 16 December 1999, to detail the research into prostate cancer funded by the Scottish Executive.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Last year, the Scottish Executive funded 20 cancer-related research projects with a total value of nearly £2.2 million, and allocated some £4.7 million general funding to the NHS in Scotland in support of other cancer studies. Although this research may not b…

7 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2937 by Nicol Stephen on 2 December 1999, whether the meeting between Henry McLeish and the new head of Kvaerner Oil and Gas has taken place and, if so, what was the outcome, and whether the Minister intends to make a statement on the uncertainty fac…

Answer · Henry McLeish: My officials have been in close touch with Kvaerner, and I propose to meet the company in July when I hope to discuss the future of the Methil fabrication yard and Kvaerner's proposals for its offshore businesses based in Aberdeen. The future of the Methil ya…

7 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1169 by Henry McLeish on 9 September 1999, when it will bring forward further proposals for minimising the regulatory burdens on business.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I launched the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit (IRIS) on 24 November 1999. The IRIS unit will pursue business concerns about the burden of regulation and will work closely with small business representative groups to ensure that the particular need…

7 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-905 by Sarah Boyack on 12 October 1999, whether it intends to review the guidelines for delegated powers, and how it will ensure that delegation is uniform across local authorities in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no such plans.Local Authorities are distinct corporate bodies whose powers and duties are set out in statute and they are separate from the Scottish Executive. They are responsible for ensuring that they act lawfully in managing …

7 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-906 by Mr Frank McAveety on 25 August 1999, when it will issue the consultation paper on the Report of the Commission on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament, which will include a section on community councils.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Our paper Report of the Commission on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament: the Scottish Executive's Response was issued on 27 September 1999. The paper sought views on a number of issues raised by the Commission and we are considering the resp…

7 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1677 by Sarah Boyack on 29 November 1999, when it will bring forward proposals to "sharpen up the planning process".

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-2768.

17 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the functions of the Secretary of State's Advisory Group on Sustainable Development have been taken over by another body, and if so what is that body, what is its remit, who sits on it, when did it last meet and when will its report, if any, be published.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Secretary of State's Advisory Group on Sustainable Development submitted its final report to the Secretary of State on 5 March 1999 and thereby completed its remit. Its functions have not transferred to another body. I shall be making an announcement shor…

17 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the functions of the Secretary of State's Advisory Panel of Economic Consultants have been taken over by another body, and if so what is that body, what is its remit, who sits on it, when did it last meet and when will its report, if any, be published.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Panel, which last met in March 1998, has been wound up with effect from 8 March 2000. The Executive continues to value independent economic advice and the Chief Economic Adviser will be convening regular meetings of selected experts to address specific ec…

17 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the functions of the Secretary of State's (Electricity) Fisheries Committee have been taken over by another body and, if so, what is that body, what is its remit, who sits on it, when did it last meet and when will its report, if any, be published.

Answer · John Home Robertson: The Fisheries Committee continues to function but post devolution reports to the First Minister. A copy of its most recent annual report (to end March 1999) has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

16 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will update its web page on public appointments www.scotland.gov.uk/pubappt/publicbodies.asp.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive's web page which lists all appointments made by the Scottish Ministers to Executive and Advisory non-departmental public bodies, Nationalised Industries, Public Corporations and Scottish NHS bodies within the remit of the Commissioner f…

8 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what constraints, if any, are placed on health boards and NHS Trusts that prevent them establishing and running patient transport services.

Answer · Susan Deacon: NHS Trusts are free to provide non-emergency patient transport services subject to upholding a common set of quality standards designed to safeguard the patient and general public, and giving the Scottish Ambulance Service the agreed period of notice for chan…

25 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had or plans to have with Kvaerner over the future of its yard at Methil in Fife.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: While the immediate future of the Methil yard is secure, it, like other UK fabrication yards, faces an uncertain outlook. Henry McLeish proposes to meet the new head of Kvaerner Oil & Gas in the near future to discuss the future of the Methil yard and the wid…

24 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be able to reply to my letter of 24 August 1999 to the Minister for Transport and the Environment.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I replied to Mr Johnston on 30 November.

24 Nov 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had or plans to have with Kvaerner over the future of its yard at Methil in Fife.

17 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal, financial, health and safety, planning and demolition liabilities do local authorities and public utilities have when they use telecommunication masts formerly used by commercial telecommunication companies.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to my answer to question S1W-1986.

17 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cumulative effect of estate revaluation on the finances of the NHS in the current financial year.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The NHS Estate Revaluation took effect from 1 April 1999. The valuation of Land & Buildings in the NHS in Scotland reported in the 1998-99 Annual Accounts was £2,730,992,000 as at 31 March 1999. The revaluation exercise has increased this figure to £2,746…

12 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific extra funding provision has been made to health boards to allow them to carry out mass flu immunisation.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The cost of flu vaccine is met by health boards from the overall resources made available to them to meet their responsibilities. The question of which groups should be immunised is addressed each year by the Chief Medical Officer. He identifies the groups at…

5 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider allowing NHS Trusts in Scotland to benefit from capital receipts resulting from the disposal of surplus assets.

Answer · Susan Deacon: A policy was introduced on 1 April 1998, whereby NHS Trusts in Scotland were given the opportunity to benefit directly from capital receipts resulting from the disposal of surplus assets.The policy introduced the general principle that NHS …

12 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what long-term legal and financial responsibilities and costs to the public purse are involved when public sector services, such as joint police boards, fire boards, education authorities and local authorities, are given ownership of private sector telecommunication masts.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: These are questions for the local authorities and public utilities concerned to address.

12 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the command structure of Scottish police forces and the way in which officers are deployed between office duties and street duties.

Answer · Jim Wallace: A wide ranging review of the structure of police forces in Scotland is currently being undertaken by a steering group which is expected to report to the Scottish Executive next March. At an operational level the deployment of police personnel is a matter for …

6 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many compensation claims in relation to actions of planning departments have been settled in each of the last five years, what was the total sum of the payments, which local authorities were involved, and what was the total sum of payment for each local authority.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: This information is not held by the Scottish Executive.

30 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether under agricultural legislation, the following animal classes are classified as working animals and whether the construction of any housing for them is subject to dimensions for a permitted development: (a) Hunting Horses (b) Clydesdale Horses (c) Shire Horses (d) Shetland Ponies (…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Whilst working animals are not defined in agricultural legislation, the welfare requirements of livestock are protected under a range of legislation, including the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912. This enables the Scottish Executive to set standards…

23 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that current planning procedures and decisions have an adverse impact on business development.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: National planning policy guidance provides a positive framework for business development by setting out policies that are intended to ensure an adequate quality and choice of locations, a presumption in favour of development and efficient decision making. Pla…

23 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers, given that 56% of complaints to the Commissioner for Local Administration relate to planning and building control departments, that current planning procedures are flawed and, if so, what steps are being taken to review planning procedures.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Commissioner for Local Administration's report for 1998-99 indicates that 22% of complaints received by him related to either planning or building control. The Commissioner's role in each case is to establish whether there has been maladministration in ho…

10 Sep 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what form of consultation the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has undertaken to date to ascertain the views of the staff of the Parliament regarding curtailing the recess, extending plenary sessions and increasing working hours, and what its estimate is of the additional associated s…

Answer · David Steel: Once the Procedures Committee has produced recommendations on the balance between meetings of the Parliament and meetings of Committees, and the time available for Parliamentary proceedings, an estimate will be made of any cost implications, to help inform an…

1 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications have been received for mobile telephone transmission masts in the whole of Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Such information is not held centrally.Planning applications are submitted to local authorities as planning authorities. Periodically planning authorities submit statistical information to the Scottish Executive about the number o…