Parliamentary questions
Richard Lochhead
2,448 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any assessment has been made of the impact which the proposed increases in water charges will have on the cost of living.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The level of, and proposed increase in, water and sewerage charges depend on the Council Tax banding of a household's property, and the water authority area within which the household is located. Water and sewerage charges are a relatively small element of ho…
17 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish the consultation documents referred to in the recent ministerial statement on water charges.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: My statement on 26 January identified two areas affecting the water industry where the Executive intends to consult.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The first is competition in the industry and how to ensure that it benefits customers, while public health, environmental an…
16 Feb 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what salaries and bonus schemes will be offered to the successful applicants for the chief executive posts currently being advertised by water authorities and to what extent, if any, these will be an increase on previous levels.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The exact remuneration packages for the Chief Executives will be a matter for negotiation between the Board of each authority and the successful candidates. The final packages agreed will be subject to Ministerial approval; I have indicated to the authorities…
9 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken or is taking to protect the continuation of Scotch beef labelling and similar Scottish labelling in the European Union and whether it perceives any adverse implications from EU legislation.
Answer · Ross Finnie: You will be aware that the European Commission has proposed a compulsory system of beef labelling that is projected to be in place on 1 September, 2000. The Scottish Executive's objective is to seek exemption from these compulsory regulations for beef co…
3 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why Aberdeen City Council was excluded from additional deprivation payments to local authorities announced by the Minister for Finance on 31 January 2000.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Special deprivation payments have been targeted at those councils experiencing higher levels of deprivation, as measured by above average Income Support recipients as a proportion of their total populations. Aberdeen City is not amongst these councils.<FONT F…
2 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of capital expenditure in the water industry will be over the next two years and what the gap is between this figure and the figure allowed under the industry's external finance limits.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Figures for the Scottish water authorities' proposed capital investment programme and indicative EFLs for the next two years are given in the following table.<FONT FACE="Arial, Helvetica" SIZE=2><P>£ million<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=595>…
2 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of water industry infrastructure it estimates will be privately owned by the end of the current session of the Parliament.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: It is very difficult to place a value on the extensive network of above and below ground assets held by the water authorities. In his advice on charges, the Water Industry Commissioner gives an estimate that the replacement value of the water authorities asse…
2 Feb 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much planned investment in the water industry, based on currently available investment projections and expressed in both percentage and monetary terms, will be financed through (a) the Private Finance Initiative and (b) traditional procurement.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: For the period of the strategic review, 2000-01 and 2001-02, water authorities plan to invest around £930 million in water and sewerage infrastructure. In addition to this the water authorities will procure some major sewerage services through partnership sch…
2 Feb 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to privatise the water industry.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No.
25 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what value it places on the role of Grampian Television in the maintenance of cultural diversity in Scotland.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Grampian Television makes a valuable contribution to the culture of Scotland, particularly of the North of Scotland. Its provision is required to comply with the licence conditions of the Independent Television Commission.
21 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the evidence by the Minister for Rural Affairs to the Rural Affairs Committee on 3 December 1999 that #2.5 million of European funding was lost to the Highlands and Islands agricultural programme between 1995 to 1999 due to currency fluctuations, whether it will provide detail…
Answer · Ross Finnie: I apologise for the delay in answering this question.<FONT FACE="Arial, Helvetica" SIZE=2><P>The aggregate sterling value of individual EU programmes is dependent on the euro/sterling exchange rate at the time that money is drawn down from the European Commis…
21 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Scottish Media Group on their plans to re-organise their television division and the impact this may have on regional broadcasting.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: SMG's television operations are a matter for the company itself, subject to its meeting its licence obligations to the Independent Television Commission.
21 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many violent assaults on staff took place for each of the last five years in each NHS trust.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The information requested is not held centrally, but will be held locally by each Trust.<FONT FACE="Arial, Helvetica" SIZE=2><P>As recommended in the Occupational Health and Safety Service <I>Strategy Towards a Safer Healthier Workplace</I>, a working group i…
21 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the number of (a) registered dentists and (b) registered NHS dentists, by health board area for each of the last ten years.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Information on the number of registered dentists and the number of dentists practising outwith the National Health Service in Scotland (NHSiS) is not available centrally. The number of general dental practitioners practising within the NHSiS by health board a…
14 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details on the methods, formulae, and criteria used to calculate funding awards for projects aimed at tackling social inclusion and whether it has any plans to make changes to ensure that all pockets of poverty are identified.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given in S1W-3748.
14 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current method for calculating funding awards to tackle deprivation takes account of areas suffering from poverty that may be part of larger communities that are deemed to be affluent and, if not, what plans it has to ensure that such funding awards are made available to these…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: I shall answer this and Mr Lochhead's subsequent question (S1W-3749) together.<FONT FACE="Arial, Helvetica" SIZE=2><P>In the reply of 13 January to a similar question from Mr Lewis Macdonald (No. S1O-902) we be explained that there is no single method of allo…
12 Jan 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take in response to concerns expressed by farmers at their recent rally in Edinburgh and through the Scottish National Farmers' Union's Petitions for Action.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I have already discussed the Petitions with the National Farmers' Union of Scotland. They are aware that it is difficult to resolve some of the matters highlighted, but I have undertaken to look seriously at the issues and, where appropriate, also to raise th…
11 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed the future of RAF Buchan with Her Majesty's Government and, if so, what were the outcomes of these discussions and when does it expect to be informed of a decision.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including the future of RAF Buchan. The Ministry of Defence is expected to make a decision in the spring.
11 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the process, detailing each stage, that written parliamentary questions go through after it receives them and whether it will publish any guidance notes issued to civil servants in relation to the drafting of answers to written and oral parliamentary questions.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The basic process which is followed is set out below:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Question and template for answer received by Parliamentary Clerk, Scottish Executive from the Chamber Office. Parliamentary Clerk allocates to appropriate Executive Department and issues …
11 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to commission or request any study into the impact of rising water charges on low income families.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: In my statement on 26 January, I announced the results of the strategic review of water charges for the period April 2000 to March 2002. I also announced that I have asked my officials to consider whether we can improve on the protection already given to many…
11 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of income for each of Scotland's three water authorities is derived from (a) revenue from customer charges, (b) external borrowing; (c) public/private partnerships,and (d) EU structural funds for the current year and each year since their creation, where possible giving pr…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Public/private partnership deals undertaken by the water authorities do not generate income for them but result in the authorities paying a tariff to the private consortia concerned for providing value for money services. The following tables show annually fo…
11 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to withdraw or relax any control regulations in the light of the introduction of satellite monitoring of fishing vessels and, if so, which regulations.
Answer · John Home Robertson: Satellite monitoring arrangements apply to fishing vessels over 24 metres in overall length and are intended to supplement existing control measures.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">As yet experience has to be gained of the practical operation of satellite monitoring. Howe…
11 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the outline timetable is for formulating Scotland's position and aims in connection with the review of the Common Fisheries Policy.
Answer · John Home Robertson: The review of the Common Fisheries Policy is due to be completed by 2002. The first round of consultations between the European Commission, member states and the fishing industry was completed last year. We expect to see the Commission's response to this exer…
11 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the progress is of current research into seal populations including population dynamics and their impact on fish stocks and what its policy is on controlling the seal population.
Answer · John Home Robertson: Under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970, the Natural Environment Research Council is required to provide Scottish Ministers with scientific advice on matters related to the management of seal populations. In practice this advice is provided on an annual basi…
7 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3200 on 24 December 1999 by Ross Finnie, whether it plans to introduce any measures in connection with the labelling of meat and meat products with the country of origin and, if so, what form these measures will take.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As explained in my answer of 24 December 1999 to a related question from Irene McGugan, the Scottish Executive issued a consultation paper seeking views from interested parties on this matter. Responses to the consultation exercise are being considered with a…
7 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of its response to the European Union proposal to delay implementation of the beef labelling system established under EC Regulation 820/97.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I attended the EU council meeting in December at which the proposals for a compulsory beef labelling scheme were deferred by the EU until 1 September 2000. I support the introduction of a mandatory beef labelling scheme that would provide clear information to…
7 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage the Automobile Association to include the promotion of Scottish tourist attractions in its Benefits Guide which is distributed to its nine million members.
Answer · Henry McLeish: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Tourist Board but they are currently in discussion with the Automobile Association.
5 Jan 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister next intends to visit the City of Aberdeen and with whom he intends to meet.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I have no fixed plans to visit Aberdeen but expect my Ministerial duties to take me there in the near future.
17 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Her Majesty's Government informed the First Minister or the Scottish Rural Affairs Minister at any point prior to 14 December 1999, of the French Government's views on an exemption of Scottish beef from the current ban on UK beef imports to France.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The French Prime Minister's comments on a UK herd-based export scheme, which might have included Scottish herds, were never translated into a formal offer and were in any event unrealistic because they were at odds with the negotiated arrangements for lifting…
17 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what direct discussions and communications it has had with the French Government to persuade it to lift the current ban on beef exports to France.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish Executive officials were present at all the technical discussions with the French on the Date Based Export Scheme and aimed at encouraging the French to comply with their obligations in respect of this Scheme under EU legislation.