Parliamentary questions

Stewart Stevenson

2,358 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

1 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its water services bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We expect to make an announcement about this in the near future.

1 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15862 by Angus Mackay on 5 June 2001, how much of its material was sent for recycling in (a) 2000-01 and (b) 2001-02 and what future targets for recycling its material it has set.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive ismaking good progress in the proportion of office waste it sends for recycling.We have a target to reducethe amount of office waste going to landfill by recycling 60% of total wasteproduced by March 2004. We are currently recycl…

1 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-468 by Cathy Jamieson on 10 June 2003, how many prosecutions have taken place under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in each year since 1997 and how much was levied in fines.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table. The data for 2002 are not expected to be available until November 2003.Persons Proceeded Against and Fines Imposed for Offences Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (as Main Offence), Scotla…

30 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the administration costs of (a) Scottish Homes and (b) Communities Scotland have been in each year since 1998-99.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her reply is as follows:The administration costs of Scottish Homes and Communities Scotland in the years 1998-99 to 2002-03 were:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLP…

30 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much private investment (a) housing associations or co-operatives for rented housing, (b) housing associations or co-operatives for low-cost home ownership and (c) other housing providers grant-funded by Communities Scotland attracted in real terms in each year from 1992-93 to 2002-03.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:The amount of private investment in real terms, using current (2003) prices, attracted by housing associations or co-operatives for rented …

30 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much Communities Scotland invested in (a) urban and (b) rural housing in each year from 1996-97 to 2002-03 in real terms and what its planned investment is in (i) 2003-04 and (ii) 2004-05.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:The amount of investment in real terms, using current (2003) prices, by Communities Scotland in urban and rural housing from 1996-97 to 200…

22 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Environment and Rural Development will reply to my letter of 12 June 2003 regarding my constituent, Mr G Stephen of Fraserburgh.

Answer · Ross Finnie: A reply to this letter was issued on Wednesday 30 July 2003.

21 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take prior to the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in December 2003 to ensure that the share of North Sea herring allocated to Divisions IVc and VIId is reduced to align with the distribution guide proportion recommended by the International Council for the Explorat…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive will ensure that this matter is fully considered when the Commission's proposals for the 2004 Total Allowable Catches and Quotas regulation are put to the Council.

10 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what grant aid is available to assist with business diversification and non-fishing-related new business start ups in fishing industry-dependent areas.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Within the ScottishEnterprise area the business gateway provides a single brand forbusinesses allowing easier access to a consistent range of services gearedtowards potential business start-ups and growing businesses. There arestandard/core programmes …

3 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research is currently being undertaken into ways of reducing the numbers of, or eliminating, midges that bite humans.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is not currently funding any research into ways of reducing or eliminating midges that bite humans.During my visit to the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies last year, I was given a demonstration by Dr Blackwell of the recentl…

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which new drugs have been licensed for use over the last 12 months and which NHS boards have included these drugs in their formulary.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The licensing of medicines is a reserved matter and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Information about the agency and its work can be found at <A HREF="http://www.mhra.gov.uk/">www.mhra.gov.uk</A>.The…

23 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current level of recruitment of modern languages teachers is adequate in light of the forecast levels of teachers taking retirement over the next 10 years

Answer · Peter Peacock: Yes. The aim of the teacher workforce planning exercise is to produce new teachers when they will be required in the workforce.

19 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to ensure that businesses receive more notice to changes to their non-domestic rates bills.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We have frozen the business rate poundage for 2003-04 at the 2002-03 level and made a commitment to limit increases to no more than inflation for the following two years. Changes in the rateable value of a business occur only at the time of a general revaluat…

12 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the provision of digital hearing aids to patients in the Grampian, Highland and Glasgow NHS board areas.

Answer · Tom McCabe: This is a matter for the NHS boards concerned.I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-511 on 10 June 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found a…

10 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address any shortage of new modern languages teachers and, in particular, there being no probationers in modern languages allocated to the Aberdeenshire Council area for the 2003-04 academic year.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive carries out an annual teacher workforce planning exercise. As part of that exercise a twice yearly survey of the vacancies in education authorities is carried out. The results of the 2002 survey do not indicate a particular shortage of …

3 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is to register with an NHS dentist in the Banff and Buchan area.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The information requested is not held centrally.

3 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are on a waiting list to register with an NHS dentist in the Banff and Buchan area.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The information requested is not held centrally. Individual general dental practitioners, who are independent contractors, may hold lists of patients wishing to be treated in their practice.

7 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is available to small trust harbours.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Piers and harbours grants are available for the provision or development of facilities supporting marine transport in the Highlands and Islands. In practice, the demand for such support means that priority has to be given to projects intended to support lifel…

7 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review the basis of valuation of premises for the purposes of the business rate levy.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We have no such plans.

7 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to regenerate town and village centres.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is working with a wide range of public and private sector organisations to make both town and village centres more attractive and accessible, which in turn will enhance their potential for commercial and business development. Funding is…

7 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in allowing prisoners night access to toilet facilities at HM Prison Peterhead.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The SPS is currently considering whether such access can be safely and cost-effectively provided.