Parliamentary questions

Robin Harper

759 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

27 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the delivery of the electronic health record.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The eHealth Programme is currently being advised by the Clinical Change Leadership Group (CCLG) to prioritise which types of electronic information is most important to clinicians in NHS Scotland. The advice from CCLG will be used to inform a clinical portal …

27 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of IT for the eHealth programme, including infrastructure.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In the 2006-07 financial year NHS Scotland instituted its first national survey of Information Management and Technology (IM&T) expenditure. The survey highlighted that IM&T expenditure in Scotland was just under £227 million in 2006-07. The …

27 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected cost is of the eHealth programme.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The eHealth budget is set out below. This incorporates support for key elements of the existing IT infrastructure of NHSScotland, such as national products like SCI Store and the Emergency Care Summary and significant contributions to the investment in connec…

23 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to use the opportunity provided by the 2014 Commonwealth Games to encourage children and young people to become fitter and healthier.

Answer · Shona Robison: The government have stated that they want health to be at the heart of the 2014 Commonwealth Games legacy. Central to this will be the development of an ambitious CommonHealth Programme which will seek to motivate people of all ages and abilities to…

23 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to use the opportunity provided by the 2014 Commonwealth Games to enable children and young people to engage in informal, active and spontaneous free play.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government commissioned Young Scot to engage children and young people in the legacy planning of the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Through a national survey, peer led investigation teams and a national discussion day children and young people were abl…

23 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what play facilities and opportunities for children’s play will remain on-site after the end of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23186 on 7 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Bus…

23 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what play facilities and opportunities will be created as part of the new infrastructure for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Shona Robison: The 2014 Commonwealth Games will result in the provision of a range of new facilities in addition to the seventy per cent of venues that are already in place. Four new permanent venues are scheduled to be built: the National Indoor Sports Arena, the…

23 Apr 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of research from Chile, Canada, America and Norway showing that emamectin benzoate (SLICE) treatments to control sea lice on salmon are decreasingly effective, what actions it will take and what guidance is being considered.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0430-01.htm">http://www.scott…

14 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps Marine Scotland and other relevant authorities are taking to tackle the problem of marine debris.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The prevention and control of marine pollution is an issue reserved to the UK under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. The Scottish Government supports a range of initiatives to help tackle the general problem of litter, including the KIMO Fishing for L…

14 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce legislation similar to the US Marine Debris Research, Prevention and Reduction Act 2006 to deal with marine and coastal debris.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: No. There is already European legislation which deals with action on marine litter. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive will require us to introduce measures to ensure that marine litter does not cause harm to the marine and coastal environment, along wit…

14 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement a marine and coastal litter strategy led by Marine Scotland or another appropriate agency, as advocated by the Marine Conservation Society.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland will lead the Scottish Government''s input to EU work on achieving Good Environmental Status under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive including the marine litter aspects. The Scottish Government is supporting a range of initiativ…

2 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of any confusion and lack of consistency among local authorities regarding the interpretation of guidance on ordinary residence, whether it will consider reviewing this guidance.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is currently revising the guidance on Ordinary Residence. Draft guidance was published on 22 October 2008 as part of a public consultation which ran until 19 January 2009. The consultation, including the draft revised guidance, can be…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will follow the Welsh Assembly Government in implementing the precautionary principle by seeking to establish the most effective legislation on GM crops that is compatible with EU and UK legislation.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: It is the Scottish Government''s view that the precautionary principle precludes the cultivation of GM crops.

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring forward a public consultation on the coexistence of GM crops, in line with the intention of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: No. The Scottish Government policy is that there should be no cultivation of GM crops in Scotland.

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to complete the transposition of EU Directive 2004/35/EC on environmental liability.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We propose to lay regulations before the Scottish Parliament very shortly. The regulations will come into force the day after they are made. Since they are being made by affirmative procedure, this date will depend on the Parliament''s considerations…

12 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its priorities are in relation to supporting the visual arts, in particular painting and sculpture.

Answer · Michael Russell: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0312-01.htm">http://www.scot…

11 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further steps have been taken to ensure that the deployment, training and recruitment of health visitors are at the centre of the early years strategy.

Answer · Shona Robison : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0312-01.htm">http://www.scott…

27 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis the First Minister stated in a letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 25 February 2008 that the proposed acquisition by Edinburgh Zoo of giant pandas was “primarily a commercial transaction which the Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed to unde…

Answer · Michael Russell: The First Minister''s statement in his letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 25 February 2008, that the proposed acquisition by Edinburgh Zoo of giant pandas was primarily a commercial transaction which the Royal Bank of Sco…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the UK Government about providing access to the UK bus network for pensioners who are entitled to use the national concessionary travel scheme and, if not, whether it will make representations to the UK Government on this matter.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Discussions between the devolved administrations and the Department for Transport were held in 2006 about the possibility of mutual recognition of bus passes across the UK. There are no plans at present to introduce reciprocal concessionary travel arrangement…

12 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the important part that health visitors can play in delivering the early years strategy and what steps it will be taking to improve the recruitment, training and employment of health visitors.

Answer · Shona Robison: Health visiting skills, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, are important in the support and care of young children and in achieving the aims of the early years framework. Working with others, NHS Education for Scotland are running a number of education ini…

30 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the fruit provided under the Free Fruit in Schools initiative is (a) grown in Scotland and (b) fairtrade certified.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally. However, under the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007, local authorities have a duty to have regard to guidance issued by Scottish Ministers on the application of the principles of sustainable …

30 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18191 by Linda Fabiani on 9 December 2008, what recommendations it has received from the Secretary of State for International Development, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Minister for Europe at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Eur…

Answer · Michael Russell: The Secretary of State for International Development replied on 22 January. In his reply, the Secretary of State comments that the public procurement process should encourage mainstreaming of fair and ethical trade standards but recognises that this must be c…

30 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the 2014 Commonwealth Games contribute to its ambition for Scotland to be a Fair Trade nation.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to promoting fair trade and Scotland''s Fair Trade Nation campaign not only within Scotland but also abroad. Glasgow City Council has achieved Fair Trade City status and the Scottish Government, along with our partners, in…

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to amend the legislation that requires local and national government to publish government notices in local and national newspapers.

Answer · John Swinney: Local Government supported by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities are developing a portal to advertise Public Information Notices online. The pilot authorities are City of Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow City, Inverclyde and South Lanarkshire. The project …

11 Dec 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional health and wellbeing measures it is considering, as alternatives to GDP, to establish the performance of its economic policies.

Answer · John Swinney: Through our Government Economic Strategy, we have set a number of strategic targets to focus activity on delivering our overarching Purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth. These include a specific target to increase healthy life expectancy in Scotl…

24 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in drawing up its proposals under the forthcoming Marine Bill for amending the Conservation of Seals Act 1970, whether it has taken advice on animal welfare issues with regard to killing of seals by shooting.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The improvements to seals legislation that were included in the recent Scottish Government consultation on proposals for a Scottish Marine Bill were developed with the participation of the Sustainable Seas Task Force and the Scottish Seals Forum. The Scottish…

24 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken or commissioned, or plans to undertake or commission, to establish the numbers of seals killed by shooting every year given concerns about the falling population of common seals.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government receives advice from the Special Committee on Seals on estimates of the common seal population and also holds information on the number of seals killed under licences issued for control of seals under the Conservation of Seals Act. The…

12 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many written submissions to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route public local inquiry were rejected because they were deemed outwith the scope of the inquiry; how many of these were from (a) individuals and (b) organisations, and whether it will list these organisations.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals have not rejected any written representations made in respect of the proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. The eeporters, who have been appointed by Scottish ministers, will only consider written …

5 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scottish Water would be acting in the spirit of the law if it reverted to applying water charges when a charity changes premises, rather than continuing the present charitable organisations’ exemption.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The conditions for exemption are set down under the Water and Sewerage Charges (Exemption) (Scotland) Regulations 2002. Ministers expect that Scottish Water and its retail subsidiary will apply the exemption if Scottish Water determines that these conditions …

24 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has been given on the extent and health of Scotland’s ancient woodland and what steps it is taking and intends to take to protect this environmental resource and the biodiversity it contains.

Answer · Michael Russell: Scottish Natural Heritage identified 148,000 hectares of ancient woodlands in Scotland, in their Scottish Ancient Woodlands Inventory, published in 1987. Of these woodlands, 60% were still semi-natural woods and 40% were composed of plantations that had repla…