Parliamentary questions
Stewart Stevenson
2,358 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will amend NHS policy whereby adult patients that have not visited their dentist for a period of more than 15 months can be removed from the dental register without prior notification so that such patients can remain NHS patients.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Executive has no current plans to amend the NHS (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 1996 to provide that a dentist must provide patients with notification that their continuing care arrangement is due to lapse where the patient has not attend…
13 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made regarding the inquiry into the proposed EU regulations on official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption (COM (2002)377 final).
Answer · Mary Mulligan: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33383 on 14 February 2003. 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.u…
13 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many GP referrals to consultants there have been in the Grampian NHS Board area in each of the last five years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The specific information requested is not yet available centrally. However, an approximation for the number of referrals from GPs can be obtained from centrally held data relating to first out-patient appointments. Figures are shown in the following table for…
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency has changed the system of payment for the sale of seed potato plantlets from payment on account to payment up front and what consultation was carried out with seed potato growers in advance of this change.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Robert Hay, Chief Executive of the agency, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The Scottish Agricultural Science Agency has not changed the system of payment for the sale of seed potato plantlets. The usual procedure is for payment to be…
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why its Environment and Rural Affairs Department has changed the system of payment for services rendered in the inspection of seed potatoes from payment on account to payment up front and what consultation was carried out with seed potato growers in advance of this change.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Agricultural Science Agency is responsible for the operation of the Seed Potato Classification Scheme in Scotland. I have asked Dr Robert Hay, Chief Executive of the agency, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The Scottish Agricultural Scie…
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will introduce to safeguard GP practices in rural areas on the introduction of the new GP contracts.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Negotiations on a new GP contract are on-going and at this stage it would be inappropriate for me to comment in detail on what measures might be introduced to safeguard GP practices in rural areas. However, the framework document for the new contract publishe…
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has carried out with rural GPs regarding any proposed withdrawal of the Chapter 10.5 payments scheme for GP practices in rural areas with low list si'es.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Future funding arrangements for GP practices in rural and urban areas are currently being considered as part of the on-going negotiations over a new contract for GPs. Negotiations are being taken forward on a UK basis by the NHS Confederation, representing th…
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33055 by Hugh Henry on 5 February 2003, whether it has ever established a working group on discrimination and whether it intends to set one up.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Executive does not have a single working group on discrimination. However, we have established a number of working groups which have considered aspects of discrimination for particular groups. For example, the Race Equality Advisory Forum considered issue…
6 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33055 by Hugh Henry on 5 February 2003, what submissions were made in the Scottish response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report specifically about links between homophobia and racism.
Answer · Hugh Henry: No submissions were made in the Scottish response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report specifically about links between homophobia and racism.
30 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-5698 by Mr Andy Kerr on 3 October 2002, whether the Minister for Finance and Public Services has now provided advice to the First Minister on any plans to reduce Executive advertising; whether the advertising budget will be reduced by 25%, and what t…
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31578 on 3 December 2002. 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…
28 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration its Environment and Rural Affairs Department gives to any trampling around outdoor feed rings by livestock when considering whether a farmer is liable to pay a penalty for overgra'ing a field.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Trampling around outdoor feed rings by livestock may constitute a breach of scheme conditions if it caused damage to a designated site, a site being managed in the interests of conservation under an agri-environment agreement, or to natural or semi-natural ve…
28 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had in the agreement between Her Majesty's Government and insurers to continue flood-risk insurance cover to households across the UK and what implications there are for householders in Scotland.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Through our contacts with the Association of British Insurers (ABI) the Executive was kept informed of the development of the new principles and guidance relating to continuing flood risk cover for domestic properties and small businesses. These new principle…
28 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce plans for prisoner access to night sanitation in HM Prison Peterhead and what discussions it has held with the Prison Officers' Association on this matter.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:<P>It has first been necessary to evaluate the proposal made by the Prison Officers' Association (POA) at the time of the estates review and…
22 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32809 by Ross Finnie on 13 January 2003, what the flaw was in the study commissioned into public attitudes towards wind farms.
Answer · Ross Finnie: An inaccurate grid reference was used in respect of one of the wind farms. This meant that of the total number of people surveyed, fewer than had been thought lived within the close proximity zone of 5 km from the development.
21 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice the Scottish Environment Protection Agency gives local authorities on the classification of land used for industrial purposes.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency does not provide advice to local authorities on the land use classification of industrial sites. This is a matter for the planning authority.
17 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33257 by Mr Andy Kerr on 17 January 2003, whether HM Prison Kilmarnock is not an asset held by it or any body controlled by it and on whose balance sheet the prison is recorded as an asset.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The contract to design, construct, manage, and finance a prison at Kilmarnock was awarded by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) under the Private Finance Initiative. The 25-year contract period commenced in March 1999 and so its accounting treatment was assess…
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25393 by Ross Finnie on 17 May 2002, what its position is on banning enriched battery cages and whether it has any plans to consult on any such ban in Scotland as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has in England.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The use of enriched battery cages is permitted under the Welfare of Farmed Animal (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002, which came into force on 4 July 2002. The regulations implement the requirements of Directive 99/74/EC on the Welfare of Laying Hens in fu…
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive after what date no further representations will be accepted on the next draft of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, defined in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33233 on 23 January 2003. 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…
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the next draft of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, defined in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33233 on 23 January 2003. 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…
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how any organisations that wish to influence the drawing up of the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, defined in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill, may do so.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33233 on 23 January 2003. 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…
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what account will be taken of the views of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association in drawing up the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, defined in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33233 on 23 January 2003. 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…
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work is currently being undertaken to develop the proposed Scottish Outdoor Access Code, defined in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill; which organisations are participating in any such work, and whether any such organisations are doing so directly or through Scottish Natural Heritage.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33233 on 23 January 2003. 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…
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to lay before the Parliament the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, defined in the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Part 1 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill would place a duty on Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to draw up the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and issue it. The process of drawing up and issuing the code is a matter for SNH. I understand, however, that SNH inten…
14 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who provided the funds to develop the Traveline Scotland website and who will provide the funds to maintain the site.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The development of the Traveline Scotland website was funded by Journeyplan Ltd, who are also meeting the cost of maintaining the site.
13 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) successful hits, (b) page impressions and (c) visits or user sessions the Care in Scotland website has had in each month since the site went live.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Successful hits, page views and visit numbers are set out in the following table: <P>Summary of Activity by Time Increment<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=4 WIDTH=519><TR><TD WIDTH="44%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Time Interval</TD><TD WIDTH="13%" VALIGN="TOP"><P…
13 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the running costs incurred in respect of the Care in Scotland website are met from (a) the existing departmental budget and, if so, from what part of the budget, (b) new money allocated by it or (c) a central advertising budget.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The running costs for the Care in Scotland website are met from the existing departmental programme spend.
13 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected annual running costs are of the Care in Scotland website and for how many years the website is forecast to operate.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Development and maintenance costs to date are <STRONG>£34,762</STRONG> inclusive of VAT. Hosting and search engine submission costs are respectively, £300 and £1,200 per year, exclusive of VAT. It is anticipated that the website will operate well beyond the i…
13 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to date has been of (a) developing and (b) maintaining the Care in Scotland website, inclusive of VAT.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Development and maintenance costs are <STRONG>£34,762</STRONG> inclusive of VAT.
10 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recommendations have been made by the working group on discrimination in reaction to the report The Experience of Violence and Harassment of Gay Men in the City of Edinburgh and what specific action has been taken in response.
Answer · Hugh Henry: There is no official Scottish Executive working group on discrimination, although the Steering Group established to co-ordinate the Scottish response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report did deal with discrimination. <I>The Experience of Violence and Harass…
10 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the running costs incurred in respect of the Healthy Living Scotland website were met from (a) the existing departmental budget and, if so, from which part of that budget, (b) new money allocated to the department or (c) a central advertising budget.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The running costs of the Healthy Living website are being met from the existing departmental budget.