Parliamentary questions
Stewart Stevenson
2,358 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any intention of entering into any contracts with the private sector for a period in excess of 10 years in the light of its announcements on the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Yes. Twenty to 30 years for new prison facilities is the norm.
9 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it takes to ensure that curators ad litem appointed in court cases in respect of custody of, and access to, children following the break up of a marriage assess the suitability of each parent without regard to any assumptions about the relative suitability of men and women to b…
Answer · Jim Wallace: A curator ad litem is appointed as an officer of the court to represent the interests of the child in the litigation. The court is responsible for the appointment of the curator and the supervision of his or her work. The Scottish Executive has no part to pla…
9 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans exist for the construction of a stacking lane at Rathen near Fraserburgh on the A92.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There are no current plans for improvement works at the Rathen junction on the A90 (formerly the A92). However, in view of local concerns, BEAR Scotland Ltd has been asked to carry out a review of road safety at this location.
3 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available towards the establishment and development of (a) local and (b) national tourist trails.
Answer · Mike Watson: The establishment of tourist trails is an operational matter for the local authorities.
25 Sep 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reduce the amount it spends on advertising.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The First Minister has said that he believes that there is scope to reduce expenditure on advertising by up to 25% within the next 12 months. This is currently being reviewed by myself and I will be providing advice to the First Minister shortly.
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28419 by Mr Andy Kerr on 11 September 2002, whether it will publish evidence and/or statistics on the effectiveness of any one advertising campaign that any of its departments have carried out since 1999; whether it will place a copy of such evidence…
Answer · Andy Kerr: I have placed a copy of the research report (Bib. number 24369) and questionnaire (Bib. number 24368) on the Scottish Executive's road safety campaign Foolsspeed in the Parliament's Reference Centre. The report is titled <I>Changing speeding behaviour in Scot…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards are in place to protect farmers who are in a quality assurance scheme from any impact on their certification of the actions of persons that walk across their land with dogs that have not been adequately treated against diseases.
Answer · Ross Finnie: On-farm quality assurance schemes are industry-led and the Scottish Executive has no direct control over standards and certification procedures. There are no specific provisions to protect farmers who are in quality assurance schemes which would wholly protec…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidelines to double gla'ing companies regarding the appropriate types of windows to install in conservation areas in order to prevent householders that have not complied with relevant regulations becoming subject to enforcement action and the subsequent additional c…
Answer · Elaine Murray: Government advice on window replacement is given in the <I>Memorandum of Guidance on Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas</I>. The latest edition of the memorandum was published by Historic Scotland in 1998 and is the document to which all planning authori…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what payments and other assistance it gives to people living in conservation areas to meet the cost of major repairs and window replacements and whether these payments offer any special assistance to householders on below average incomes.
Answer · Elaine Murray: Historic Scotland, an agency within the Scottish Executive, can provide grants for the repair of properties within conservation areas that have been classified as outstanding for the purposes of grant. This provision includes grants for the repair, renewal or…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what sources of grant funding are available for small business start-ups, and specifically cafes, in rural Aberdeenshire.
Answer · Iain Gray: The provision of advice and support for business start-ups in Scotland is primarily a matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Individuals wishing to start a business in rural Aberdeenshire should, in the first instance, contact th…
9 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29052 by Mr Andy Kerr on 9 September 2002, whether the figures include the costs of any staff and/or officials who may have accompanied ministers and, if not, what the costs of any such staff and/or officials were and how many staff and/or officials …
Answer · Andy Kerr: The figures do not include the costs of staff and/or officials who accompanied ministers. This information and the numbers of staff and/or officials who accompanied ministers could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
29 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance will be offered to fishermen who have invested in vessels for deep water fishing but may not have sufficient track record to gain quota allocations that will make their investment economically sustainable.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As stated in my response to question S1O-5561 of 19 September 2002, the European Council of Ministers will not formally adopt the regulation agreed on 11 June until they have the opinion of the European Parliament. Arrangements for the management and allocati…
28 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to address any disparities across Scotland in the availability of specialist services and community/family support for people suffering from anorexia nervosa.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Health Department published guidance in October 2001 on the organisation and provision of eating disorder services. It is for all NHS boards and their care partners to consider what provision best suits the assessed needs of their area, in collaboration w…
28 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to increase the number of specialist hospital beds in the Grampian NHS Board area for the treatment of life-threatening forms of anorexia nervosa.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: People suffering from anorexia nervosa are treated and supported through mainstream mental health and social work services. Treatment is undertaken mainly in out-patient settings, with very few in-patient and day cases. It is for NHS Grampian to assess the ne…
28 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what average length of time anorexia nervosa sufferers in the Grampian NHS Board area have to wait to see a specialist and what plans it has to reduce these waiting times.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not available centrally.<P>People suffering from anorexia nervosa are treated and supported through mainstream mental health and social work services. Treatment is undertaken in a variety of settings, with very few in-patient and …
14 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27518 by Mr Andy Kerr on 13 August 2002, whether its departments have any evidence and/or statistics on the effectiveness of each advertising campaign carried out since May 1999 and whether it will place a copy of any such evidence or statistics in t…
Answer · Andy Kerr: Methods of evaluating advertising campaigns are undertaken in a number of ways, as set out in my previous answer, and the results recorded in a variety of formats. To provide the information in the form requested would result in disproportionate cost.
13 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a reply has been sent to the Lord Justice General in relation to his letter of 11 April 2002 on the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Yes, on 27 May 2002.
2 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Environment and Rural Development will reply to my letter of 28 June 2002 regarding nitrate vulnerable 'ones.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I replied to your letter on 31 July 2002.
24 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-24184 and S1W-27027 by Mr Jim Wallace on 2 April and 17 July 2002, why the information requested was given in respect of Fife Constabulary but not in respect of the other police forces.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Ordinarily this information is not held centrally. The information given in respect of Fife had been provided to officials in another context. The other Scottish forces had not provided similar information.
22 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any study of the competitive opportunities in comparison with England which could be created by providing uniform availability of low pricing for broadband access across Scotland.
Answer · Iain Gray: No. However, as part of Project ATLAS, Scottish Enterprise has carried out a benchmarking study comparing prices for a range of broadband services in Scotland with the UK. Its findings support the concepts being developed and implemented within Project ATLAS,…
22 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to hold a meeting involving direct public interaction similar to practice by the Welsh devolved administration.
Answer · Jack McConnell: All Scottish Executive Ministers meet the public on a regular basis, learn from their views and answer questions about policies. Scottish ministers will continue to do so as appropriate.
19 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last issued guidance to departments and agencies in relation to the implementation of policies or practices on disability and racial discrimination.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has a range of policies and initiatives to support good practice in respect of disability and racial discrimination. These are subject to regular review and include:<P>Policy/Guidance			Issued<P>Disability Guidance			M…
19 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when any member of staff employed by the Scottish Prison Service last met representatives of the Commission for Racial Equality.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>On 9 July.
18 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide substantive answers to questions S1W-24637, S1W-24733 and S1W-25240 relating to prisons for which holding replies were provided on 25 April, 1 May and 3 May 2002 respectively.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>S1W-24733 and 25240 were answered on 22 July 2002. S1W-24637 was answered on 6 August 2002.
18 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the arrangements made by the Scottish Prison Service for feeding prisoners differ in any respect between those on remand and those convicted.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Arrangements for providing meals vary among prisons and parts of prisons according to the physical characteristics of the establishments and o…
18 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its and its agencies' canteens, restaurants or similar facilities can provide Halal, Kosher, vegetarian, vegan or other special diet meals when given notice of any such requirement.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27729.
18 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many canteens, restaurants or other similar facilities on its and its agencies' premises regularly provide hot prepared meals for staff.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The following table sets out the number of staff restaurants/canteens regularly providing hot food for staff. All of these facilities are able to provide Halal, Kosher, vegetarian, vegan or other special diet meals, when given notice of such requirement.<TABL…
18 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has made for responding to requests made on ethical or moral grounds from prisoners held in prisons managed by the SPS or the privately operated prison for vegetarian, vegan or other special diets.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27726.
18 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were held in all prisons, broken down by religious affiliation, on the most recent date since 1 April 2001 for which figures are available.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The following are the figures as at 22 July 2002.<P>Baptist		2<P>Buddhist		4<P>Christian		90<P>Church of England	66<P>Chur…
18 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements the Scottish Prison Service has made for providing Halal, Kosher or other religiously prescribed foods for prisoners.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Special diets are made available from within all prison kitchens where necessary with the exception of the Orthodox Jewish diet, which require…