Parliamentary questions
Phil Gallie
528 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10264 by Allan Wilson on 17 September 2004, whether it considers research carried out at the Hannah Institute on the control of cell fate by endocrine and local factors, the enzymology of liver and adipose metabolism, the interplay between insulin re…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Research Organisation Assessment Exercise was undertaken last year to assess the overall performance of all the Research Institutes funded by Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department. The visiting group carrying out the assessment of t…
6 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial allocation it has made for science and research this year; what allocation was made in each of the last three years; what the projected sums are for the next three years and how much has been allocated for agricultural and biological research in each year, and what informat…
Answer · Jim Wallace: The most recent comprehensive and comparable data on government funded science, engineering and technology expenditure is published by the DTI in <i>The Forward Look 2003</i> and relevant extracts are given below. Plans for the next three years will be availa…
6 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a Scottish body to carry out, administer or fund agricultural and biological research and what the objectives will be of any such body.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Consultation with a wide range of stakeholders on the draft strategy for Agricultural, Biological and Related Research closed on Friday 10 September. The draft strategy considers the future structure of the Department’s relationship with its main research pro…
6 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages the Hannah Institute having in the Executive’s “Smart, Successful Scotland” strategy.
Answer · Allan Wilson: <i>A Smart, Successful Scotland</i> recognises the importance of high quality research and development activities. The Scottish research community has a valuable role to play in producing high quality research and ensuring its commercial potential is exploite…
24 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out, and what information it has, on the cost differentials between overland and underground high voltage transmission lines for wind farm output.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has carried out no specific research into the cost differentials between overhead and underground high voltage electricity transmission lines. However, in December 2003 a report to the European Commission entitled <i>Undergrounding Elec…
24 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who will meet any capital and additional revenue costs of using underground cables for wind farm output transmission.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Capital costs associated with installing and maintaining the electricity transmission infrastructure fall to be met in the first instance by the electricity transmission companies. The activities of these monopoly companies are regulated and the Office for Ga…
24 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to use underground cables as transmission lines for wind farms.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We are not aware of any plans to use underground transmission lines, but it is for the transmission companies involved to decide how best to meet the needs of their customers.</p>
21 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the age is at which a child can have an abortion without the consent of her parents.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answergiven to S2W-9205 answered 13 July 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/s…
21 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive from what age it considers it is acceptable that children undergo an abortion procedure without the consent of their parents.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Section 2 (4) of the Age of LegalCapacity (Scotland) Act 1991 allows a person under the age of 16 years to consenton his or her own behalf to medical procedures or treatments provided that in theopinion of a qualified medical practitioner he or she is capable…
21 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive at what age it would be acceptable for voluntary organisations or public authority agencies to arrange prescription of the morning-after pill, or other forms of contraception, to children without advising or seeking consent from their parents.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Section 2 (4) of the Age of LegalCapacity (Scotland) Act 1991 allows a person under the age of 16 years to consenton his or her own behalf to medical procedures or treatments, provided that in theopinion of a qualified medical practitioner he or she is capabl…
14 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its role is in respect of the determination of future usage of the former National Engineering Laboratory at East Kilbride.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I also refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-8977 on 30 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which ca…
14 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the 50-tonne shaker table facility remains in service at East Kilbride.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-8977 on 30 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…
14 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what options are available to it and industry for the testing of structures and machinery to meet its renewable energy targets.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The testing of renewable energydevices developed by industry and academia is primarily a matter for those bodies.In order to assist the wave and tidal energy sector we have provided over £2 milliontowards the European Marine Energy Test Centre off Orkney. The…
14 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what options are available to it and industry for the testing of structures and machinery to meet current engineering standards and health and safety requirements.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Building standards are contained in the Technical Standards for compliance with the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations 1990 as amended. The relevant standard is Technical Standard B2.2 which requires that the materials, fittings and components used in …
14 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has in respect of when the last seismic and structural tests were carried out at the former National Engineering Laboratory at East Kilbride.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is a commercial matter for the previous occupier, TUV NEL, who vacated the building in December 2000. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
14 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the risks will be to the environment if the seismic and structural testing facility at the former National Engineering Laboratory at East Kilbride ceases to be operational.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The facility has not been operational since 2000. Alternative testing facilities are available elsewhere in the UK and Western Europe.</p>
14 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had to ensure that the seismic and structure testing facility at the former National Engineering Laboratory at East Kilbride is maintained and what information it has on whether such a facility is unique in western Europe.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-8977 on 30 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/we…
14 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has in respect of whether the seismic and structure testing facility at the former National Engineering Laboratory at East Kilbride is currently operational.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. The facility is owned by Scottish Enterprise, as part of its larger asset the Scottish Enterprise Technology Park. The facility has not been operational since 2000. Alternativetesting facilities are avail…
26 May 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether targets set in The Same as you? for the closure of residential units that provide residential care for those with profound learning difficulties remain in place and, where such targets have not been met, whether they will be withdrawn.
Answer · Tom McCabe: There is noaim in <i>The same as you?</i> for the closure of residential units or carehomes as described in the question. The target in <i>The same as you?</i> isfor the closure of long-stay hospital provision for people with learningdifficulties by the end o…
12 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many airline passengers began or finished their rail journey at Glasgow Prestwick International Airport in the last year.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Around 350,000 airline passengersarrived at or departed from Glasgow Prestwick International Airport by rail in the year to 31 March 2004.</p>
12 May 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-2239 by Nicol Stephen on 6 May 2004, how many passengers used Strathclyde Passenger Transport-supported rail services in each year since 1995.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Informationfor the years 1995-96 to 2002-03 is given on page 5 of the recently published <i>SPTStatistics and Trends 2003</i>, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib number. 32703). Passenger numbers in theyear to March 2004 we…
11 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what capital contribution it, or any public authority, has made to the provision of the railway station at Glasgow Prestwick International Airport.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The station opened in 1994at a cost of around £2.2 million. The Scottish Executive did not contribute but the station’spublic authority funders included Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive, AyrshireEnterprise, and Kyle and Carrick Council. Details of in…
11 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial contribution it, Strathclyde Passenger Transport or Scotrail make to costs associated with the operation and maintenance of the railway station at Glasgow Prestwick International Airport.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: In 2003-04, Glasgow Prestwick International Airport (GPIA) received almost £400,000 from the ticket revenue sharing agreement that it has with the rail industry, mainly from SPT and ScotRail.</p><p>In addition, the loss of revenue arising from the discounted …
4 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7447 by Allan Wilson on 21 April 2004, what the names and backgrounds are of the members of the working group on large animal veterinary services.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The working group’s composition differs at its five meetings across Great Britain, each focussing on a specific area of concern. Whilst there is a core membership of organisations across each of the meetings, individual attendance varies.</p><p>The Edinburgh…
4 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7447 by Allan Wilson on 21 April 2004, what the terms of reference are of the working group on large animal veterinary services.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Working Group on Vets andVeterinary Services is required to produce a report that highlights the challengesand opportunities facing the provision of large animal veterinary services in Great Britain.It will identify the problems and propose solutions to m…
28 Apr 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why rail passenger numbers are falling in the Strathclyde Passenger Transport area, given the Executive's policy of transferring road travellers to rail.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Passengernumbers in the Strathclyde Passenger Transport area have increased by 9.4% overthe last year.</p>
23 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under one had adoption certificates issued for them in each year from 1999 to 2003.
Answer · Euan Robson: Adoption certificates areissued, on request, by the General Register Office for Scotland. Itis not possible to identify the number of certificates issued in any given yearfor children under the age of one.</p><p>Statistics on the number ofadoption application…
20 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has in respect of the plant margin of electricity generation in relation to estimated peak demand for electricity, in light of its renewable energy targets.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Installed capacity for electricitygeneration in Scotland currently amounts to around 10 Gigawatts (GW). Peak electricitydemand in Scotland is currently estimated at around 6 GW.</p>
20 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of its renewable energy targets, Scotland is a net exporter of electricity.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Approximately 13.7% of electricitygenerated in Scotland in 2002 was exported.</p>
15 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time is for an adoption order to be issued from the time of placement of a child with prospective adoptive parents.
Answer · Euan Robson: This information is not currentlyheld centrally. The Scottish Executive has been working with partners in the voluntarysector and local authorities to improve the information held on children needingnew permanent homes. A new statistical return is being pilot…