Parliamentary questions
Richard Lochhead
2,448 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what existing contracts it has, and what future contracts it expects to sign, with call centres, giving details of the location and nature of each centre.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive’s Scottish ProcurementDirectorate (SPD) has awarded three contracts which are still in operation for callcentre services; the telephone helpline service contract based in Glasgow, thesmoke free compliance line based in Irvine and the contract fo…
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether there are any plans for a UK national water grid and, if there are such plans, what involvement Scottish ministers have had in developing them and what the timescale is, and processes are, for development of such a grid.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Executive holds no informationon plans for a UK national water grid and has not been involved in anydiscussion on this issue.</p>
5 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the recommendations issued by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman to public bodies are monitored and enforced and whether any new measures are planned in this regard.
Answer · George Lyon: The Scottish Public ServicesOmbudsman (SPSO) is independent of Scottish ministers. Responsibility for the monitoringand enforcement of SPSO recommendations rests with that office-holder,exercising as necessary the powers provided for in the Scottish Public Se…
1 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce any further measures in relation to the marine environment and what measures have already been taken since 1999.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executivepublished its strategy for the longer term sustainability of Scotland’smarine and coastal environment, <i>Seas the Opportunity</i>, in September 2005.That strategy is being taken forward by an Advisory Group which is consideringwhether a…
1 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the introduction of a levy on plastic bags.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive recently submittedfurther written evidence to the Environment and Rural Development Committee on theMember’s Bill to introduce a levy on plastic bags. This written evidence can befound at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business…
29 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many child injuries recorded by each accident and emergency department in each of the last three years related to play equipment such as trampolines, also showing year-on-year changes.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested isnot available centrally.</p><p>NHS treatment for unintentionalinjuries may be provided in a number of health settings including general practice,accident and emergency departments and as an inpatient in a hospital. Data held centra…
29 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many calls have been made to emergency dental treatment helplines in each NHS board area in each of the last five years, also showing year-on-year percentage changes.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
29 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all senior appointments that have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland’s Code of Practice in each of the last three years, also showing the remuneration and time commitment for each post.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Details of all regulated publicappointments (including terms of appointment and remuneration) are published onthe Executive’s Public Bodies website at:</p><p><ahref="http://194.247.95.101/Topics/Government/public-bodies/public-appointments">http://194.247.95.…
29 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the recycling rates for (a) domestic and (b) municipal waste were in each local authority area in each of the last five years, also showing year-on-year increases and national averages compared with national targets in each case.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Information on recycling ratesfor household waste and municipal waste is available from both the Scottish Executive’sKey Scottish Environmental Statistics 2006website <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/08/15095714/30">http://www.scotland.go…
28 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the Minister for Transport’s visit to Elgin to receive a briefing on local traffic issues and the case for road improvements and whether he will outline his response to the views expressed to him by community representatives.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I was impressed by the thoroughassessment of transport facts and figures which were presented during my visit toElgin. I am keen for Transport Scotland to work closely with Moray Council on the analyses oftheir work to help inform future decisions on road imp…
25 Aug 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers who could be classified as new entrants have entered the agricultural industry in each of the last five years, expressed as a percentrage of all farmers.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I regret that the Environmentand Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) does not capture information on the statusof those entering agriculture in any detail that would allow a complete answer tothe question. Nevertheless, following the convention that where proxy…
19 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking against local authorities that have not yet reported their progress under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 to Communities Scotland.
Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond.</p><p>Her response is as follows:</p><p>All local authorities have eithersubmitted their progress report or have provided a date by which their report willbe submitted.</p><p>Co…
19 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are at its disposal to compel local authorities that have not yet reported their progress under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 to Communities Scotland to do so.
Answer · Johann Lamont: Under the terms of the Home EnergyConservation Act 1995, local authorities are provided with a timetable to prepare,publish and send to the Scottish Executive their progress report, which must becomplied with as a matter of law. Ultimately this could be enfor…
19 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when each local authority submitted its report on progress under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 to Communities Scotland and whether any reasons were given for late reporting by local authorities and, if so, what the reasons were.
Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond.</p><p>Her response is as follows:</p><p>The information requested isshown in the following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td nowrap vali…
19 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the deadline was for local authorities to report their progress under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 to Communities Scotland.
Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond.</p><p>Her response is as follows:</p><p>Local authorities were requestedto submit their progress reports by 31 March 2006.</p>
19 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the fourth Home Energy Conservation Act Progress Report for Scotland will be published.
Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster,Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond.</p><p>Her response is as follows:</p><p>The fourth <i>Home Energy ConservationAct Report for Scotland</i> will be published during the first quarter of 2007.</p>
17 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that traditionally prepared Scottish mince is not banned by EU legislation.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is essentially a matterfor the Food Standards Agency. The Executive has written to the Agencyemphasising the possible difficulties for meat plants and wholesalers caused bythe requirement that mince can only be made from chilled beef within six daysof sl…
17 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to the UK or European parliaments in respect of concerns about imports of Brazilian beef, particularly in relation to foot and mouth disease.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is liaising withthe Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on this issue. We have madeno representations to the UK or European parliaments. We are aware of concerns aboutimports from Brazil but are currently content that EU import ru…
12 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of illegal tree felling have been prosecuted by procurators fiscal in the last five years, broken down by forestry district, year and sentence imposed.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The number of cases ofillegal tree felling which were prosecuted over the past five years is shown inthe following table.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td width=616 colspan=6 valign=top> <h4>FORESTRY COMMISSION SCOTLAND CONSERVANCY</…
12 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of illegal tree felling Forest Enterprise has passed to procurators fiscal in the last five years, broken down by forestry district and year.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The number of cases ofalleged illegal tree felling which Forestry Commission Scotland have passed tothe Procurator Fiscal over the past five years is shown in the following table.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td width=616 colspan=7 v…
11 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has taken on whether, under section 58 of the Scotland Act 1998, the relevant Secretary of State could consider a decision to withhold consent for new nuclear power stations in Scotland as being incompatible with international obligations relating to the security of supply …
Answer · Allan Wilson: No such advice has beensought on this matter. </p><p>In accordance with ministers’duties under the Electricity Act 1989 any application to construct a newnuclear power station would require to be fully considered on its individualmerits.</p>
11 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has taken on whether, under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998, UK ministers could ask Her Majesty by Order in Council to include the subject matter of the Electricity Act 1989 or the Scotland Act 1998 (Transfer of Functions to the Scottish Ministers etc.) (No.2) Order 200…
Answer · Allan Wilson: No such advice has beensought on this matter. </p><p>On 11 July 2006, AlistairDarling, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, announced the conclusionsof the UK Energy Review. The review made clear that the consenting of newnuclear power stations is a mat…
22 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been taken to support the recreational sea angling sector.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotland is representedon, and contributes funding to, the Angling Development Tourism Group, which hasbeen instrumental in the development of the FishScotland website. VisitScotlandalso has a section on its own website dedicated to sea angling, along wi…
22 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in respect of raising the current limit on the value of claims that can be made under the small claims court procedure; with whom agreement on a new limit must be reached, and whether it will give reasons for any delay in making the necessary changes.
Answer · Hugh Henry: We have had a number ofdiscussions with a wide range of interested stakeholders in considering therelated questions of the appropriate level of the small claims limit, thesummary cause limit and the privative limit of the Sheriff Court,above which actions can…
22 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its most recent estimate is of the cost of constructing the Fochabers to Mosstodloch by-pass.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Construction of theFochabers to Mosstodloch Bypass is estimated to cost £18 million to £21 millionexclusive of value added tax.</p><p>Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for moreinformation if required.</p>
22 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why recreational sea anglers have not been offered representation on the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The role of the ScottishInshore Fisheries Advisory Group (SIFAG) has been to advise on commercialfisheries in Scotland’s inshore waters. This is reflected in the Group’smembership. As part of the continuing implementation of the Strategic Frameworkfor Inshore…
21 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers in each local authority will have completed their probationary year in 2005-06 and how many positions for which they may apply are available (a) nationally and (b) in each local authority.
Answer · Robert Brown: The following table providesthe number of probationers by local authority on the 2005-06 teacher induction schemeas at 31 May 2006. The vast majority of these will complete their probationaryyear satisfactorily at the end of term.</p><p>Apart from the snapsho…
20 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take steps to reduce waiting times for genetic test results, in light of the delays highlighted in the Breakthrough Breast Cancer report, Testing Times: Waiting for Genetic Test Results.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish GeneticsService continues to look at ways to develop and improve the service –including waiting time performance where appropriate. The recent review of <i>Genetics in Relation toHealthcare Scotland</i> considered ways in which NHS genetics servi…
20 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to inform people who have had a genetic test about the progress of that test and about when they can expect to receive the result.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The ScottishMolecular Genetics Consortium Clinical Users Group is working with the patients' representative group - the Genetics Interest Group -to develop good practice guidelines to ensure patients are kept fully informedabout genetic testing and genetic te…
19 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23640 by Mr Andy Kerr on 8 March 2006, whether it will provide an update on when it expects to publish the review of NHS genetic services.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The report isstill under consideration.</p>