Parliamentary questions
Richard Lochhead
2,448 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many health service posts in each health trust are currently funded by charities and how many were in each of the last three years, expressed also as a percentage of the overall number of posts in each trust.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on positions funded by charities in each health trust is not held centrally but can be obtained by contacting local NHS management. Contact details for NHS management are available on:<P>www.show.scot.nhs.uk.
9 Apr 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23950 by Mr Jim Wallace on 3 April 2002, whether any direct representations have been made in Europe about the establishment of European Agencies in Scotland.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have nothing further to add to my previous answer given to question S1W-23950 on 3 April 2002.
28 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to offer any money to the Great Northern Social Inclusion Partnership for the purpose of housing regeneration.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive does not specify that core social inclusion partnership SIP allocations are to be used for any particular purpose, such as housing regeneration. Partnerships assess regeneration needs in their own areas of operation, develop strategies to deal w…
28 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much resources were, or are to be, allocated to each social inclusion partnership for housing regeneration in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03 expressed also as a percentage of the (i) overall allocation and (ii) per capita figures in each case.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive does not specify that core social inclusion partnership allocations are to be used for any particular purpose, such as housing regeneration. Partnerships assess regeneration needs in their own areas of operation, develop strategies to deal with …
28 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the most recent visit to the north east by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning and related meetings and whether it will detail any action planned as a result of such a visit and meetings.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: On 19 March, Wendy Alexander and I visited Kingswells Park & Ride site and met with representatives from NESTRANS, the north-east Scotland transport partnership. It was an extremely productive and useful meeting and will be followed up with meetings between o…
28 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the suggestion by M. Giscard d'Estaing, Chair of the Convention on the Future of Europe for a Youth Convention and how it expects Scottish young people to have an input into such a convention.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I am aware that this proposal has only recently been approved by the Praesidium of the European Convention and await further details.<P>The Scottish Executive believes it is important that the voice of the youth of Scotland is fed into the European Union proc…
28 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of the most recent visit to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary by the Minister for Health and Community Care and any related meetings and whether it will detail any action planned as a result of such a visit and meetings.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I visited Aberdeen on 22 March 2002 at the invitation of the NHS board and in order to learn more about the services being provided at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. I also listened to the board's views on current service and patient/public involvement issues and …
25 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Category A fishing licences, excluding Category A (Pelagic Purser), Category A (Pelagic Free'er) and Category A (Pelagic Trawler), have been (a) surrendered and (b) given to new vessels as referred to in paragraph 3 of the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001 …
Answer · Ross Finnie: As at 26 March, 25 Category A licences have been surrendered as part of the decommissioning process. Decommissioning scheme rules make no provision for the reissue of surrendered licences.
25 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to which third country those vessels which have had decommissioning plans accepted, and are scheduled to be reassigned to a third country, will be reassigned.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As at 27 March, no substantive proposals have been submitted by vessel owners for the reassignment of their vessels to Third Countries under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001.
25 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what purpose the vessels which have had decommissioning plans accepted, and are scheduled to be reassigned to a purpose other than fishing, will be reassigned.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As at 27 March, no substantive proposals have been submitted by vessel owners for the reassignment of their vessels to a purpose other than fishing under the Fishing Vessels (Decommissioning) (Scotland) Scheme 2001.
25 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what location the vessels which have had decommissioning plans accepted, and are scheduled to be scrapped, will be scrapped.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Vessels are currently being, or have been scrapped at the following locations:<P>Arbroath<P>Carradale<P>Dunbar<P>Esbjerg, Denmark<P>Grenna, Denmark<P>Kilkeel<P>Macduff<P>Newcastle<P>Orkney<P>Port Bannatyne<P>Portavogie<P>Sandhaven<P>Stornoway<P>Stranraer<P>Vi…
25 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-23629 by Ross Finnie on 15 March 2002, how many of the 70 fishing vessels whose owners have had decommissioning plans accepted will be (a) scrapped (b) permanently re-assigned for a purpose other than fishing and (c) permanently reassigned to a third …
Answer · Ross Finnie: All 70 vessels will be scrapped.
25 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total expenditure on transport improvements listed in the regional leaflets associated with its transport delivery report, Scotland's Transport: Delivering Improvements, (a) was in each of the past three years and (b) is projected to be in future years, (i) expressed per capita …
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The leaflets detail the Scottish Executive's expenditure on transport improvements through to 31 March 2004, across nine regional areas. They cover schemes that have already been delivered, or will be delivered, from funding already in place but they do not i…
25 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to gauge the economic and conservation impact of all recent technical and conservation measures implemented by the catching sector of the fishing industry and what this impact has been.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The European Commission are committed to undertake a review of the measures implemented under the cod recovery programme by the autumn. The review will take account of the experience gathered during 2002, as well as new scientific information and advice and o…
25 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which mollusc processing plants have been authorised as "approved establishments" within the terms of section 2(b) of Article 1 of the European Commission's decision on 15 March 2002 in regard to Directive 91/492/EEC.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the consultation on the regulatory provisions required to provide for the approval of establishments is not expected to commence until early May. Any premises able to comply with the special conditions set out in…
25 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria a mollusc processing plant will have to meet in order to be authorised as an "approved establishment" within the terms of section 2(b) of Article 1 of the European Commission's decision on 15 March 2002 in regard to Directive 91/492/EEC.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the authorisation criteria required by shellfish processing plants will be set out in the legislation and guidance that introduces the options to permit marketing of king scallops with above the present statutory…
25 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision has been made to enable the fishing industry to comply with the provisions of section 2 of Article 1 of the European Commission's decision on 15 March 2002 in regard to Directive 91/492/EEC.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Food Standards Agency advise me that they are currently preparing legislation to cover the provisions of section 2 of article 1 of the EU amnesic shellfish poisoning decision of 15 March. All stakeholders, including the fishing industry, will be consulted…
25 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the EU Commission decision of 15 March 2002 establishing special health checks for the harvesting and processing of certain bivalve molluscs with a level of amnesic shellfish poison exceeding the limit laid down by EC Directive 91/492/EEC will have on the fishing industry.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that the decision permits gatherers to continue to be able to harvest king scallops with toxin levels of up to 250 micrograms of toxins per gram of flesh compared to the current closure level of 20 micrograms. Whilst …
21 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any off-the-record briefing of journalists about the outcome of the Prison Estates Review took place prior to 17 March 2002, and if not, whether it will undertake an investigation of the Scottish Prison Service to determine whether any member or members of staff leaked details of …
Answer · Jim Wallace: As I said to Parliament on 21 March, I authorised no briefing to anyone prior to that date. In fact I issued specific instructions to the contrary.<P>I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond to the second part…
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the priorities of Communities Scotland are in respect of rural areas.
Answer · Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Communities Scotland is guided by the rural policies and priorities of Scottish ministers, with a view to improving the quality of life for those res…
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any incentives are being introduced in order to encourage the establishment of more retail outlets in rural areas.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is committed to working to improve the quality of life in rural Scotland by promoting the provision of rural services. The Scottish National Rural Partnership's report <I>Services in Rural Scotland </I>(January 2001), which was commissioned by m…
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how its priorities for growing businesses as set out in A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks are being applied in rural areas.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The vision statement <I>Rural Scotland: A New Approach</I>, outlined the Executive's commitment to supporting rural economic development by building on existing strengths and promoting opportunities. <I>The Way Forward: The Framework for Economic Development …
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed in the administration of the Farm Business Development (Scotland) Scheme 2001 in each area office of its Environment and Rural Affairs Department.
Answer · Andy Kerr: No staff are being employed solely and directly to administer the Farm Business Development (Scotland) Scheme 2001 in the non-Highlands and Islands area offices.
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its staff have been seconded to UKRep; which departments have any such staff been seconded from, and how long any such secondment has lasted.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Mobility between Government Departments is defined as a loan rather than a secondment. The number of Scottish Executive staff who have been on loan to UKRep since 1987 is 13. The duration of each loan and the Scottish Executive Departments such staff have bee…
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has given, or plans to give, to the recent draft PricewaterhouseCoopers report which suggests reductions of over #4 million in health spending by Grampian NHS board.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is a matter for NHS Grampian. However, I understand that the recommendations in the report are intended to provide non-clinical support services more effectively and to increase spending on direct patient care.
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what awards have been given under the (a) SMART (b) SPUR and (c) SPURPlus grant schemes, broken down by enterprise company, in each of the last five years.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The information requested is set out in the following three tables:<P>(a) Awards given under the SMART:SCOTLAND grant scheme in each of the Local Enterprise Company (LEC) Areas in each of the last five years.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=615…
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which business support schemes offered through the enterprise network are not available in the Grampian area because the region does not have assisted area status.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: There are two main schemes which companies in Grampian cannot apply for due to the fact that Grampian is not an assisted area. These are Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) and Invest for Growth. Both these schemes are however operated by the Scottish Executi…
13 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the proposed changes to Regional Selective Assistance, what steps will be taken to ensure that there is no increased risk to the Grampian area as a result of incentives for inward investors to choose other locations and assistance to businesses to relocate and to locate proje…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: There is no increased risk, as there is never any question of Regional Selective Assistance being used simply to relocate a business.
11 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many drug misusers have been registered in each NHS board area (a) so far this year and (b) in each of the last five years and, in each case, what percentage of such misusers are prescribed (i) methadone and (ii) other drug substitutes.
Answer · Richard Simpson: There is no longer an index of registered drug addicts. However, the following table shows the number of <U>new</U> individual patients/clients by NHS board of residence, reported to the Scottish Drug Misuse Database during the five years ending 31 March 2001…
11 Mar 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for (a) methadone (b) other drug substitutes have been issued (i) so far this year and (ii) in each of the last five years in each NHS board area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In the following tables, the number of prescriptions issued for methadone in each of the last five years in each health board area is shown in table 1, and table 2 sets out the number of dispensings carried out in accordance with prescriber's instructions. Cu…