Parliamentary questions
Richard Lochhead
2,448 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to assess the impact of technical conservation measures on fish stocks and whether the results of any such assessment have been taken into account when negotiating fisheries management options in Europe.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Much of the work contained in the recently published Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department/Industry/Science Partnership Report was designed to assess the impact of the technical measures agreed upon under the cod recovery plan; other ass…
22 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to increase access to social housing for local people in (a) rural and (b) urban areas in the last three years.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Communities Scotland's housing investment programme has increased access to social housing for local people in urban and rural areas by providing new…
22 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to increase housing ownership opportunities for young local families in (a) rural and (b) urban areas in the last three years.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Home ownership has increased substantially in recent years, from 1,132,000 dwellings (52.4% of stock) in 1991 to 1,506,000 dwellings (64.2% of stock) in 2001. This creates more opportunities for new households and those moving into home ownership for the firs…
21 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in respect of what percentage of (a) reported incidences of and (b) total prosecutions for burglary prosecutions were successful in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) sheriffdom and (ii) police force area.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Information on crimes recorded by the police is not available by sheriffdom. The requested information on crimes recorded by police force area is published in Table 4A of the statistical bulletin <I>Recorded Crimes in Scotland</I>. Copies of the bulletins for…
21 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in respect of what percentage of (a) reported incidences of and (b) total prosecutions for assault prosecutions were successful in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) sheriffdom and (ii) police force area.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Information on crimes recorded by the police is not available by sheriffdom. The information on crimes recorded by police force area is given in the following table.<P>Number of Crimes of Serious and Simple Assault Recorded by the Police, by Police Force Area…
21 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in respect of what percentage of (a) reported incidences of and (b) total prosecutions for muggings prosecutions were successful in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) sheriffdom and (ii) police force area.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Muggings are included within the Scottish Executive Justice Department crime category for robbery but cannot be separately identified in the recorded crime and court proceedings statistics held centrally.<P>Information on crimes recorded by the police is not …
21 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in respect of what percentage of (a) reported incidences of and (b) total prosecutions for drug-related crime prosecutions were successful in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) sheriffdom and (ii) police force area.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information relates to the offences of the illegal importation, cultivation, supply or possession of drugs. Other offences may be drug-related, such as those committed to fund a drug habit, but these cannot be separately identified within the re…
21 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in respect of what percentage of (a) reported incidences of and (b) total prosecutions for vandalism prosecutions were successful in each year since 1997, broken down by (i) sheriffdom and (ii) police force area.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Information on crimes recorded by the police is not available by sheriffdom. The requested information on crimes recorded by police force area is published in Table 4A of the statistical bulletin <I>Recorded Crimes in Scotland</I>. Copies of the bulletins for…
21 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any specific individual member of staff based in its European office in Scotland House, Brussels, has responsibility for press and media activity and, if so, what that person's remit is.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to his question on 28 October 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
18 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many accreditations for the European Council meeting in Brussels on 24 and 25 October 2002 it has applied for.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive did not apply for any accreditations for the Brussels European Council.
17 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into the efficacy of each of its public information campaigns since 1999.
Answer · Andy Kerr: A number of research methods are used to measure the efficacy of Scottish Executive public information campaigns. These include:<UL><P><LI>Quantative research to provide baseline measurements</LI><P><LI>Quantative and qualitative research pre-campaign to obta…
17 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of each of its public information campaigns since 1999, broken down in each case by (a) internet and website design and hosting, (b) print media design and (c) broadcast media.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The figures requested are as follows.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=604><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=8><P>1999-2000 (£)</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Campaign</TD><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Press</TD><TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN=…
17 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an update on the progress made by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council since March 2002 in determining the effects on each college of the council's decision to alter the method of funding full-time college courses.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Further Education Funding Council commissioned the Scottish Further Education Unit to carry out a review of its "Activity Measurement Method", the recommendations of which were the subject of a consultation with the further education colleges. As…
17 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into alternative means of support for the delivery of further education in rural areas where the cost of delivery is increased by costs such as travel and working with small groups.
Answer · Iain Gray: This is a matter for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.
17 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of current means of support for the delivery of further education in rural areas where the cost of delivery is increased by costs such as travel and working with small groups.
Answer · Iain Gray: This is a matter for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.
17 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Audit Committee's 7th Report 2002: Report on Overview of Further Education Colleges in Scotland 2000/2001 which indicates that the committee will look for "positive evidence that one-off additional payments have increased the pace of recovery in the colleges involved",…
Answer · Iain Gray: Matters relating to the allocation of funds to individual colleges, including one-off payments to increase the pace of college recovery plans, are a matter for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council.
17 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28916 by Ross Finnie on 25 September 2002, whether the answer is consistent with its proposed crofting community right to buy in Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive believes its opposition to an absolute right to buy for tenants is entirely consistent with its support for the proposed crofting community right to buy in Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill. The crofting community right to buy is not an …
17 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28916 by Ross Finnie on 25 September 2002, whether the legal advice on right to buy for tenant farmers given in the answer was independent and what the source of the advice was.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As is usual practice in relation to issues that involve questions of law, I sought and obtained advice from the department's legal advisers before responding to the question referred to. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parl…
17 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28916 by Ross Finnie on 25 September 2002, why it is possible to legislate for an absolute right to buy for salmon fisheries under the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill but not for tenant farmers.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Neither the crofting community right to buy in general nor a crofting community body's right to buy salmon fishings is an absolute right to buy. Conditions apply regarding the eligibility of a crofting community body and an eligible crofting community body ca…
11 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Trade International website will be operational and what the reasons are for any delay in bringing it online.
Answer · Iain Gray: In October 2001 the Scottish Executive launched its Global Connections Strategy which led to the creation of Scottish Development International. Scottish Development International brings together the activities of the former Scottish Trade International and L…
10 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what new investment was made at HM Prison Aberdeen, and for what purpose, in each of the last five years and what investment is planned, and for what purpose, in future years.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The total value of estate development projects completed at HM Prison Aberdeen in the last five years is about £2 million. Options for upgradin…
10 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which meetings between it and European Union Commissioners have taken place in each of the last three years and what future meetings are planned.
Answer · Jim Wallace: On the meetings that have taken place in each of the last three years, I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30601 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which …
10 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its European Union Office has been involved in efforts to disperse any European agencies to Scotland and, if so, what representations the office has made and to whom.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive EU Office is involved in a wide range of EU matters including efforts to disperse any European agencies to Scotland. However, the UK position in relation to siting of EU agencies is a reserved matter and decisions on representation on t…
10 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in the dispersal of any European agencies to Scotland and what the timetable is for necessary decisions being taken.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The siting of EU agencies is reserved and a matter for the UK Government. The Executive is in regular contact with Her Majesty's Government Departments about a variety of EU issues including the siting of EU agencies. The decision on sites and the timetable f…
10 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts there are in its European Union Office in Brussels, giving a description of each post.
Answer · Jim Wallace: There are nine posts in the Scottish Executive EU Office (SEEUO). Details of the work of the SEEUO can be found in the Scottish Executive Business Directory, which is available to MSPs.
10 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many posts there are in its External Relations Division, giving a description of each post.
Answer · Jim Wallace: There are 23 posts in the External Relations Division. Details of the work of the division can be found in the Scottish Executive Business Directory, which is available to MSPs.
10 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average age of local authority owned house is in each local authority area.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The information requested is not held centrally.<P>Information is available on the numbers of local authority owned dwellings, in each local authority area, that are within the following five age bands: (a) pre-1919, (b) 1919-44, (c) 1945-64, (d) 1965-82 and …
10 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) actual and (b) cumulative percentage increase from the 1997/8 level in rent charged by each local authority was in each of the five years from 1997/8, and what the (i) average and (ii) cumulative national increase was.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The information requested is shown in the following tables:<P>Local Authority Rents - Actual Percentage Increase<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=604><TR><TD WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="TOP" ROWSPAN=2> </TD><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>1997-98 t…
10 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to expand the number of drug courts and, if so, what the timetable is.
Answer · Richard Simpson: Drugs courts are currently being piloted in Glasgow and Fife and are the subject of an independent evaluation. The findings of the evaluation will be available early in 2004 and will inform our consideration of the future of the drugs court. There are therefo…
10 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports establishing a link between the level of subsidy to, and the number of employees on, a farm.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As stated in <I>A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture</I>, we are in favour of rewarding farmers according to the wide range of benefits they provide in economic, social and environmental terms. This would not rule out use of employment-related criteria…