Stewart Stevenson

11 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when its Cabinet last discussed the Scottish Prison Service's Estates Review.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Cabinet discussed the Scottish Prison Service's Estates Review at its meeting on Wednesday 16 January 2002.

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to my letter of 26 November 2001 to the Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care regarding Scottish Ambulance Service provision.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I replied to the member on 15 January.

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what subjects have been covered in any correspondence with Grampian NHS Board on health services in the Banff area since September 2001.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21659.

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last sent any correspondence to Grampian NHS Board regarding health services in the Banff area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21659.

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last received any correspondence from Grampian NHS Board regarding health services in the Banff area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive Health Department is in regular and frequent contact with NHS Grampian through correspondence and meetings. These contacts cover a wide range of subjects affecting health care services throughout the area.

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include provision within its NHS capital expenditure allocations for 2002-03 to fund developments in the Banff area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is entirely a matter for NHS Grampian to fund any capital developments in the Banff area from within available resources.

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any requests by Grampian NHS Board for permission to develop NHS facilities in the Banff area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Grampian is considering longer term proposals for service developments to improve benefits for patients and any proposals for Banff should follow that.

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any requests by Grampian NHS Board for capital expenditure funding for facilities in the Banff area.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive currently has no such requests under consideration. We will of course give careful consideration to any future proposals put to us by NHS Grampian for capital funding for facilities in the Banff area.

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its final detailed proposals for NHS capital expenditure for 2002-03.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The proposed changes to the capital planning and approvals process are currently being considered following a period of consultation with NHSScotland. It is anticipated that the outcome of this exercise will be announced by the end of March.

7 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether officials from its Environment and Rural Affairs Department are obliged to advise owners of crops when they plan to make an inspection of their crops.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There are two types of crop inspection carried out by officials from the Environment and Rural Affairs Department.<P>Although not obliged to do so, it is usual practice for inspectors to advise growers before inspecting seed potato, cereal and horticultural c…

7 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why original invoices are required by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department for Sheep Annual Premium Scheme audits and whether farmers should be entitled to withhold information, such as vendors' names and prices, which may be commercially sensitive.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Invoices are required to fulfil the inspection requirements that the department is obliged, by EC Regulation, to undertake. Sheep Annual Premium is paid to producers who maintain the claimed number of eligible animals throughout a 100-day retention period. It…

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a risk assessment has been conducted comparing the operation of the Peterhead and/or Fraserburgh stations of the Scottish Ambulance Service on a non-call basis for some periods with full-time operation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Yes, such an assessment informed the Scottish Ambulance Service proposals to convert 10 selected ambulance stations, including Peterhead and Fraserburgh, from part-time to full-time operations.

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support moves in 2002-03 to convert either or both of the Scottish Ambulance Service stations at Peterhead and Fraserburgh from operating on a non-call basis for some periods to full-time operation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21507.

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on which Scottish Ambulance Service stations could be converted to full-time operation rather than operating on a non-call basis for some periods.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Ambulance Service last year submitted to the department proposals to convert 10 selected ambulance stations from part-time to full-time operations thereby eliminating the reliance on on-call working in these areas. The proposals identified the ex…

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide sufficient revenue allocation in financial year 2002-03 to enable the Scottish Ambulance Service to convert any of its stations from operating on a non-call basis for some periods to full-time operation.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive is currently reviewing the 2002-03 indicative allocation for the Scottish Ambulance Service against its proposed service developments. We expect to issue the allocations for 2002-03 in the near future.

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the revenue allocation to the Scottish Ambulance Service for 2002-03.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Ambulance Service was given an indicative revenue allocation of £107.6 million for 2002-03 on 6 April 2001. Firm allocations for 2002-03 will be announced shortly.

2 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has given to the voluntary sector for undertaking work with those suffering from drug addiction.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The Executive values the contribution made by the voluntary sector to tackling Scotland's drug problems. Our direct funding includes £1.5 million per annum for Scotland Against Drugs, £200,000 per annum for the Scottish Drugs Forum, and £27,000 per annum for …

21 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of the pig industry regarding Porcine Dermatitis Nephropathy Syndrome and Post-weaning Multi-systemic Wasting Syndrome in pigs.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There has been on-going dialogue between the members of State Veterinary Service (SVS) based in the Animal Health offices in Scotland with local pig breeders. No formal discussions have been held with representatives of the pig industry but nearly all pig far…

21 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken regarding any potential threat to the pig industry posed by Porcine Dermatitis Nephropathy Syndrome and Post-weaning Multi-systemic Wasting Syndrome.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Veterinary Officers from Animal Health Offices in Scotland have informed local vets about the recent case of Post-weaning Multi-systemic Wasting Syndrome in the North East of Scotland. In addition, professional staff from the State Veterinary Service (SVS) in…

21 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken into Porcine Dermatitis Nephropathy Syndrome and Post-weaning Multi-systemic Wasting Syndrome in pigs.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has not commissioned nor undertaken research into Porcine Dermatitis Nephropathy Syndrome or Post-weaning Multi-systemic Wasting Syndrome. Research to investigate the role of candidate viruses in both diseases is being undertaken by th…

21 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what economic assessments of the impact of the aggregates tax on the Scottish economy it has undertaken and what conclusions have been reached.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Assessment of economic impacts of UK taxation measures is the responsibility of HM Treasury. No separate assessment has been undertaken by the Scottish Executive.

21 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Treasury regarding a derogation for Scotland from the aggregates tax .

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with HM Treasury on a wide range of issues, including the aggregates tax.

21 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding will be required to cover the cost of purchasing materials for the new Parliament building in light of the aggregates tax.

Answer · David Steel: The vast majority of aggregate required for the Holyrood Project has already been supplied. The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that the effect of the tax on the remainder is likely to be minimal, and will not require additional funding.

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce open learning initiatives for ICT training in Peterhead.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive established the Scottish University for Industry (SUfI), in 2000, to simplify access to <I>all</I> types of learning for everyone in Scotland through its learndirect scotland services. Through <I>learndirect scotland</I> people can now …

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding it plans to make available to businesses to mitigate any adverse affects of the introduction of the aggregates tax.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Most of the revenues raised from the levy will be returned to business through a 0.1 percentage point cut in employers National Insurance Contributions. The Executive has no plans to provide additional support in connection with the aggregates tax.

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Northern Ireland's retention of a share of the Aggregates Tax Sustainability Fund will place Scottish communities at any disadvantage by impacting on Scotland's ability to retain a sufficient share of the fund.

Answer · Allan Wilson: No, £3 million has been allocated to the Assigned Budget from 2002-03 through the Barnett formula.

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the postponement of the introduction of the aggregates tax in Northern Ireland will place Scottish industry at any competitive disadvantage.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Assessment of economic impacts of taxation measures is a matter for HM Treasury.

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the introduction of the aggregates tax will lead to any increase in the level of imports of finished stone products and whether this will have an adverse effect on Scottish businesses.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The levy will apply to imports, while exports will be exempt. The Executive, therefore, does not expect to see a large increase in the level of imported finished stone products.

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government to ensure that the introduction of the aggregates tax is in the best interests of businesses and in particular does not create additional costs for rural businesses or lead to the redirection of resources to main employment cent…

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20820.

7 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government in relation to the economic and environmental impact of the introduction of the aggregates tax and the date of the tax's introduction.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the aggregates tax.