Parliamentary questions
Richard Lochhead
2,448 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish students at Scottish higher education institutions currently have to pay upfront tuition fees.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The following table gives details of the number of Scots domiciled students at Scottish higher education institutions who receive no financial support with tuition fees from any external source.</p><p>Scots Domiciled Students at Scottish Higher Education Inst…
21 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances a Scottish student at a Scottish higher education institute would have to pay upfront tuition fees.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Tuitionfees have been abolished for Scottish domiciled and EU undergraduate studentsstudying full-time higher education courses in Scotland. This support is available to all eligible full-timestudents to undertake study up to degree level or equivalent, provi…
20 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will complete its research organisation assessment exercise on agricultural research funding; whether it will publish all options considered as part of, and papers relevant to, the exercise, and what information it has on the extent to which there has been consultation with staff,…
Answer · Allan Wilson: The research organisation assessmentexercise was an assessment of performance of research carried out at the researchorganisations and has now been completed.</p><p>The individual reports of the Institutes of the assessment exercise are confidential although …
19 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any current reviews taking place of funding formulae that influence the level of funding distributed to local and regional authorities for the delivery of public services and when such reviews will be completed and implemented.
Answer · Andy Kerr: A working group comprisingrepresentatives of the Executive, COSLA and the Association of Chief PoliceOfficers in Scotland (ACPOS) is working to develop a robust needs-based formulafor allocating police grant aided expenditure between their forces. Their final…
19 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated for addressing drug misuse in each of the last three years, broken down by NHS board, expressed also on a per capita basis and showing year-on-year percentage changes.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The following tables detailthe resources allocated to NHS boards for drug treatment services since 2000-01,also expressed on a per capita basis and showing year-on-year percentagechanges.</p><p>NHS boards are also free toutilise resources for drug-specific in…
19 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated for public transport in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) region and expressed also on a per capita basis.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Funding for public transport purposes in Scotland is not allocated on a regional basis. The following table shows the total funding committed by the Scottish Executive for 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03 to each local authority under the Public Transport Fund (i…
19 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to each local authority in each of the last three years, expressed also on a per capita basis and showing year-on-year percentage changes.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Funding allocated to eachlocal authority in each of the last three years, expressed on a per capitalbasis and showing year‑on‑year percentage changes is shown in the followingtable.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <…
19 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much lottery funding was allocated in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) parliamentary constituency and expressed also on a per capita basis.
Answer · Frank McAveety: The distribution of NationalLottery funds is a matter for the Lottery Distribution Bodies: Scottish ArtsCouncil, Scottish Screen, <b>sport</b>scotland, New Opportunities Fund,Community Fund, Heritage Lottery Fund and Millennium Commission. Theinformation requ…
19 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated to each police force in each of the last three years, expressed also on a per capita basis.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested isshown in the following table.</p><p>Police Funding Allocations</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Force Area</p> </td> <td colspan="2"> <p align=center>2001-02</p> </td> <td colspa…
19 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated to each NHS board in each of the last three years, expressed also on a per capita basis.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Details are as follows:</p><p> </p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Health Board</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>2001-02</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>2001-02</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>2002-03</p>…
19 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much enterprise network funding was allocated through Scottish Enterprise to each of its constituent bodies in each of the last three years, expressed also on a per capita basis.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise.</p>
19 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with Her Majesty's Government in respect of revenue raised from road traffic fines in Scotland remaining in Scotland.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The income from Fixed Penalty Notices generated by speed and red light cameras operated within the Scottish Safety Camera Programme may be applied within Scotland forapproved programme purposes, by agreement with HM Treasury. The Executive isalso in discussio…
14 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many indigenous species are considered to be endangered.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Under the internationallyaccepted categories and criteria developed by the International Union forConservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) in 2001, there are 101indigenous species in Scotland which are regarded as “endangered” or “criticallyendange…
14 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many endangered species are held in (a) 'oos, (b) wildlife parks and (c) private collections.
Answer · Allan Wilson: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
14 Jan 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what new steps are planned to tackle alcohol misuse.
Answer · Tom McCabe: A greatdeal has been achieved since the Plan for Action on alcohol problems waspublished in 2002. Current action includes a national responsible drinkingcampaign targeting 18- to 25-year olds and we will shortly be announcingadditional resources for alcohol s…
9 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the recent publicity concerning the reported level of pollutants found in farmed salmon following studies by North American scientists; what its position is in respect of the quality of Scottish farmed salmon; how it will publicise the Food Standards Agency's relev…
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive continues to have full confidence in the quality of Scottish farmedsalmon products. This confidence is underpinned by advice from the FoodStandards Agency (FSA), a body independent from government.</p><p>The FSA has published itsadvice …
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-occupied local authority-owned houses there are in each local authority area, expressed also as a ratio to the total number of local authority-owned houses in each area.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The data on local authority-owneddwellings and dwellings vacant as at 31 March 2003for each local authority are published in the Scottish Executive StatisticalBulletin (Housing Series)<i> Housing Trends in </i><i>Scotland</i><i>: Quarter ending </i><i>31 Marc…
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many babies have been born with a drug addiction in each NHS board area in each of the last five years, expressed also on a per capita basis and as a ratio to all babies born in each area.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Drug misuse information isnot recorded at birth, but when the baby is discharged from hospital. Theavailable information on babies discharged from neonatal units with a diagnosisinvolving drug misuse is shown in Tables 1a and 1b.</p><p> </p><p>Table 1a:All Bi…
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide up-to-date figures for the 2003 fisheries aid package detailing funding paid out under the (a) Transitional Aid scheme, (b) decommissioning scheme and (c) rates relief package and whether each scheme is open for further application.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Transitional support grantstotalling £4.8 million have been paid to the owners of over 150 Scottishfishing vessels. Further payments of £0.6 million are currently being processedfor payment to cover the September 2003 aid period. Further payments in respectof…
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether foreign vessels will be able to fish without restrictions in areas where Scottish vessels are subject to restrictions agreed at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels in December 2003.
Answer · Ross Finnie: For a proportion of itshaddock quota, the UK will be subject to additional constraints notapplied to other member states (a special permit system and limited access to acod sensitive area). This reflects the fact that the haddock fishery in thiscod sensitive …
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposed the boundaries adopted at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels in December 2003 in respect of cod recovery 'ones for the North Sea and what the reasons were for each boundary adopted.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Commission proposed thespecific boundaries of the cod recovery zone, which are set out in Annex V tothe TAC and Quota regulation. In the North Sea, the boundaries have been extendedto ensure that the cod recovery measures apply in all areas where cod isca…
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been, or will be, taken to assess the impact of the outcome of December's fisheries negotiations on the Scottish (a) economy and (b) fishing industry.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Our initial analysis is thatthe pelagic sector can expect stable economic returns, and that the nephropsand whitefish sectors should be able to secure significantly increased returnsbased on a 66% increase in the North Sea haddock quota and a 28% increase int…
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Environment and Rural Development last met the European Commission to discuss the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels in December 2003; when he will next meet the commission, and what issues will be discussed.
Answer · Ross Finnie: No such meeting has takenplace and none is currently planned.</p>
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the oil and gas industry in 2004 and future years.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Through PILOT, we arecontinuing to work with the UK Government and the industry to develop, sustainand diversify the UK oil and gas industry.</p>
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to make representations to the Department of Trade and Industry in respect of measures to encourage an increase in North Sea offshore drilling and, if so, when it will do so.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is incontact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including offshoredrilling in the North Sea. Through PILOT, the government and industrytaskforce for the oil and gas industry of which I am Vice-Chair, we are continuingto w…
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to assess the impact of North Sea offshore drilling activity on the economics of (a) the north east and (b) Scotland.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Activity within the offshoredrilling sector has a significant bearing upon future oil and gas productionand the Executive, in conjunction with the UK Government and ScottishEnterprise, monitors such activity on an ongoing basis.</p>
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any evidence that drug treatment programmes entered into on a voluntary basis rather than through compulsion are more successful in rehabilitating drug misusers.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Since we do not operatecompulsory treatment programmes in Scotland, such a comparison is impossible to make. Those communitydisposals, including drug treatment and testing orders, containing a treatmentcomponent require the offender to indicate a willingness …
6 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether drug treatment programmes delivered in prison may only be entered into by inmates on a voluntary basis or whether there are any powers to make such programmes compulsory for drug misusers.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron,Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is asfollows:</p><p>Thereare no powers to make programmes compulsory for drug misusers.</p>
5 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been, and will be, taken to provide aid to Iran to help address the aftermath of the recent earthquake.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The recent earthquake in Iran was atragic event, causing tremendous loss of life and suffering. Our sympathy goesto the people of Bam.</p><p>International aid is theresponsibility of the United Kingdom Government. They responded immediately bysupplying search…
12 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been (a) charged and (b) prosecuted for terrorist activities in each of the last five years and so far this year.
Answer · Colin Boyd: The statistical informationnecessary to answer this question is not readily available. The term “terroristactivities” could cover a variety of crimes – both common law and statutory.</p><p>The following table showsthe number of persons proceeded against in Sc…