Parliamentary questions
Richard Lochhead
2,448 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have undergone familial genetic testing and what the average waiting times have been for the results in each year since 2003, broken down by category of test.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Within Scotland,four molecular genetics laboratories work together as the Scottish MolecularGenetic Consortium (SMGC) to provide testing for a range of inheritedconditions, both relatively common disorders and rare genetic conditions forthe Scottish populatio…
19 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what levels of staffing and financial resources have been devoted to genetic services in the NHS in each year since 2003, broken down by (a) category of test and (b) geographical location.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The clinicalgenetics services, together with the routine cytogenetic laboratory servicesare commissioned at NHS board level, thus the Executive does not have centralinformation on the staffing and financial resources allocated to these elementsof NHS genetic …
19 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made available the criteria used to determine the allocation of NHS funding between NHS board and, if so, where the details may be obtained.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Funds are allocated to NHS boardson the basis of the formula set out in <i>Fair Shares for All</i> – the finalreport of the National Review of Resource Allocation for the NHS in Scotland(the Arbuthnott review) which was published on 7 September 2000. The repo…
19 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to change the formula used to allocate funding between NHS boards and, if so, whether it will provide the (a) details of, (b) reasons for and (c) timescale for any announcements in respect of such changes.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) was established in March2005 to improve and refine the Arbuthnott Formula. Members were chosenthrough the public appointment process and DrKaren Facey, a self-employed health policy consultant and non-execu…
19 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are taken to ensure that patients who have undertaken genetic testing are advised of progress on their results.
16 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has allocated for the promotion and development of renewable energy for each of the next three years and in each year since devolution, also showing year-on-year percentage increases.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Funds have been allocated specificallyfor the promotion and development of renewable energy in each of the last threecompleted financial years and expenditure is set out in the following table, togetherwith the current budget figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08:<…
16 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much VAT it paid in each of the last seven years and how much it claimed back for each year.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The VAT paid and reclaimed since1999-2000 is set out in the following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td nowrap rowspan=2 valign=top> <p>Year</p> </td> <td nowrap colspan=2 valign=bottom> <p align=center>VAT Pai…
16 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the funding awarded to local authorities for flooding related activity has been allocated for consultancy services, also broken down by local authority.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Since 1 April 2004, grantto local authorities has been awarded at 80% of the estimated grant eligible expenditureto be incurred by local authorities on confirmed flood prevention schemes. Priorto 1 April 2004, the grant rate was 50%. Final invoices for each o…
16 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has about any differences there will be between the flood maps being developed for Scotland by public agencies and those used by insurance companies.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Environment ProtectionAgency (SEPA) is developing a second generation flood risk map for the whole ofScotland which will support Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 7 - Planning and Flooding- and assist local authorities avoid inappropriate new develo…
16 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many flood warnings there have been in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority area and by areas benefiting from formal flood warning schemes.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matterfor the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). I have asked Dr CampbellGemmell, Chief Executive of SEPA, to respond to the question direct.</p>
16 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those areas that currently benefit from a formal flood warning scheme, broken down by local authority area and whether it will give details of how often this list is reviewed and the criteria used in doing so.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matterfor the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). I have asked Dr CampbellGemmell, Chief Executive of SEPA, to respond to the question direct.</p>
16 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what mechanisms exist to ensure that local authorities and other agencies co-operate on flooding related issue to ensure that experiences and expertise is shared across Scotland.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Flooding Issues AdvisoryCommittee (FIAC) provides a forum for a wide-range of stakeholders to share experiencesand expertise on flood related issues. The work of FIAC, its Sub-Committees andfull membership can be found at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.u…
16 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to develop and increase the level of academic and research expertise in relation to flooding.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Research related to floodingis contained within and publicised through the Environment Group Research Programme,full details are available on the Executive website at <ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/17824/10205">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/T…
16 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on (a) the number of calls made to Floodline from Scotland in each year since its establishment, also expressed as a percentage and (b) the annual cost of this line, and where the organisation is based.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matterfor the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). I have asked Dr CampbellGemmell, Chief Executive of SEPA, to respond to the question direct.</p>
16 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) homes and (b) businesses are at risk from flooding (i) in total and (ii) broken down by local authority, also expressed as a percentage of all such properties.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Information on the number ofproperties in Scotland at risk from flooding, and also broken down by localauthority area, can be found in table 4.3 of the Executive publication<i> ClimateChange: Flooding Occurrences Review</i> which is available at:</p><p><ahref…
15 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it considers that smart meters can play in improving energy efficiency in homes and whether it has any plans to promote their introduction.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive supports,in principal, any measure that can help raise awareness of energy consumption andencourage behavioural changes amongst the public to reduce carbon emissions in homes.</p><p>The Scottish Executive is currentlyawaiting the outcom…
15 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in connection with a prioritisation scheme for applications for funding for flood alleviation schemes; when a draft scheme will be available; to what extent relevant parties have been, and will be, consulted on the scheme, and what criteria will be used for the…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: With increasing demands on resourcesin the future, there may be a need for prioritisation of grant funding to localauthorities for flood prevention schemes. This issue has been discussed at the FloodingIssues Advisory Committee (FIAC) Alleviation Sub-Committe…
14 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made to promote energy efficiency in the (a) domestic and (b) commercial sectors.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive continuesto promote energy efficiency in the domestic and commercial sectors by funding thework of the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust in Scotland. In2006-07, funding amounted to over £10 million. These organisations provide a …
14 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what energy costs were incurred by it and each public sector body in each of the last three years, showing year-on-year percentage changes and national totals.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Energy costs incurred by the Scottish Executive in years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06 and the percentage changesbetween years are as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=90 valign=bottom> <p align=center>Energy …
14 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what energy costs were incurred by each local authority in each of the last three years and what energy costs have been budgeted for by each local authority for the current year, showing year-on-year percentage changes and national totals.
Answer · George Lyon: Information on local authoritybudgeted expenditure for energy costs is not held centrally. However, local authorityexpenditure on operating expenses, which includes energy costs, is given intable 1 of the publication <i>Scottish Local Government Financial Sta…
14 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing the academic and research expertise in renewable and clean energy technologies.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is currentlyconsidering research and development (R&D) issues for the renewable energy sectorthrough the Forum for Renewable Energy Development in Scotland. A taskgroup with representatives from the Executive, industry and academia …
14 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time was for chiropody treatment in each NHS board area in each of the last three years.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested isnot available centrally.</p><p>The first nationalcollection of information on waiting times for services provided by AlliedHealth Professionals, including chiropody and podiatry, was undertaken on 14 September 2005. Theresults from…
14 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pre-school children are currently not registered with a dentist (a) in total and (b) broken down by (i) NHS board and (ii) local authority area and expressed as a percentage of children in the age group in each case.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
14 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to provide support to the fish processing industry, particularly in the white fish and pelagic sectors.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Nineteen awards totalling £2.7million have been made to the white fish sector under the Financial Instrument forFisheries Guidance (FIFG), Processing and Marketing Grant Scheme. This has supportedtotal new investment of almost £14 million. 35 awards totalling…
14 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in securing additional quota for white fish stocks.
Answer · Ross Finnie: International quota swaps area regular and important feature of the UK’s quota management arrangements. To date this year, some36 international swaps have been concluded, securing almost 13,000 tonnes of additionalquota, including around 4,400 tonnes of North…
14 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made to provide assistance to the fishing industry to help address rising fuel costs.
Answer · Ross Finnie: If, as seems possible, fuelprices are set to stay at current levels for a long time, the industry mustconsider how it can adjust. Short-term measures which do not address thelong-term issues facing the industry are unhelpful.</p><p>To help the industry in thi…
14 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on claims that the French Government has provided fuel subsidies to its fishing industry and what steps have been taken at EU level to raise this issue.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Commission’s investigationof the French scheme found that it did not meet state aid rules. I understand theCommission is pursuing the matter but corrective action is a matter for the particularmember state and the Commission.</p>
14 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to promote safety at sea for fishermen.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is promotingsafety at sea for fishermen by providing grant aid to fund fishermen’s safetytraining and to assist fishermen with the costs of purchasing safety equipment.Across the UK the issue of general marine safety is a reservedfunction delive…
8 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the work of the Flooding Issues Management Committee and list its membership.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: An update on the work beingtaken forward by the Flooding Issues Advisory Committee (FIAC) and itsSub-Committees, as well as a full list of members, can be found within the FIACpages of the Executive website at: </p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics…
8 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to introduce individual transferable quotas and, if so, what the reasons are for such proposals and what steps have been taken to consult the fishing industry and assess the likely economic and social impact of such a quota management system.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Changes to the arrangementsfor quota management in Scotland are being considered jointly with the other threefisheries administrations and with stakeholders under the Quota ManagementChange Programme, which commenced in April 2005. No decisions have yet beent…