Questions · Tavish Scott

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were made in 2009 to the Scotland Rural Development Programme by Shetland applicants; how many of these included agri-environment proposals, and how many of the agri-environment applications were (a) successful and (b) rejected.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In 2009, 113 applications were made by Shetland applicants for funding under the Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme. Ninety-one of these included agri-environment options. (a) 63 proposals with an agri-environment el…

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the formal guidelines it issues to applicants for grant aid under the Scotland Rural Development Programme include a requirement or recommendation that applicants’ bridging loan arrangements should be made with a commercial bank.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There is no specific recommendation or requirement in the guidance for the Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme regarding the arrangements for any bridging loan that may be necessary. Ultimately it is for applicants to…

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long it has taken to review the tenders for grant aid for capital projects made under the Scotland Rural Development Programme, broken down into each (a) round of applications since the programme became operational and (b) regional proposal assessment committee areas.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The consideration of all supporting documentation is an integral part of the project assessment process. All applications for grant are considered within the published framework and timescales for the assessment of applications. These timescales may vary due …

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long it has taken, after announcing the successful applications for grant aid under the Scotland Rural Development Programme, to send contracts to the successful applicants, broken down by regional proposal assessment committee areas.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are not able to report average contract issue times for each region. We issue contracts for successful Rural Priorities applications as soon as possible after approval is given. The time taken to issue contracts can be affected by a number of factors, incl…

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long after meetings of regional proposal assessment committees it has made its decisions to endorse or overturn the committees’ recommendations to grant aid under the Scotland Rural Development Programme, broken down into each (a) round of applications since the programme became opera…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Regional Proposal Assessment Committee (RPAC) system only relates to the Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). We endeavour to make decisions on RPAC recommendations as soon as possible after the final committee has …

7 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it does not publish the national score benchmarks, which determine an application’s success under the Scotland Rural Development Programme, before the date of the meetings of the regional proposal assessment committees that consider the applications.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The scoring benchmarks under the Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Programme are agreed by a national committee, in advance of regional assessment committee meetings, and are intended as a guide for the regional committees. R…

22 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29731 by Alex Neil on 18 December 2009, whether it has undertaken an assessment of the geographical distribution of the households that received support from the Energy Assistance Package from April to end November 2009 to ascertain the reasons for t…

Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package is a demand-led programme targeted primarily towards fuel poor households. Each month, fuel poverty officials review progress on the installation of heating system and insulations measures, both nationally and by each l…

22 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29731 by Alex Neil on 18 December 2009, what the reasons were for the rejection of unsuccessful applications for support from the Energy Assistance Package.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package checks the eligibility of each caller and identifies the individual types of help appropriate to them. It is therefore not possible to identify an unsuccessful application. Local energy advisors guide the caller through…

22 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29731 by Alex Neil on 18 December 2009, what action was taken in 2009 to publicise the Energy Assistance Package and invite applications and how such action varied across local authority areas.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Energy Savings Trust, which administers the Package, promoted the EAP both at national and local level and provides regular reports on marketing and community liaison activities. These reports do not analyse activity by local authority, but give examples …

22 Dec 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-29731 by Alex Neil on 18 December 2009, how many households have unsuccessfully applied for support from the Energy Assistance Package in 2009-10, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30247 on 22 January 2010. 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.parliam…

20 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing will make a statement to the Parliament when the Penrose Inquiry issues its preliminary report.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In making his opening statement for the public inquiry, Lord Penrose said he would set out in a preliminary report the facts and circumstances, and medical and scientific opinions, which have emerged from the first stage of evidence gathering. The timing of p…

20 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, given that the Penrose Inquiry terms of reference do not include the issue of compensation, what consideration it has given to the recommendations on this issue made in Lord Archer’s independent inquiry report on NHS contaminated blood and blood products.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The issue of compensation is not specifically part of the terms of reference of the inquiry. As a matter of law, the inquiry cannot involve finding individuals and institutions legally liable for penalties, or for damages, or for breach of duty in any legal s…

19 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the clinical management of acute cholecystitis is under review by NHS Scotland; if so, whether changes are envisaged to treatment plans, and when such changes will be implemented by NHS boards.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is no review of the clinical management of acute cholecystitis currently underway and there are no plans to do so in the near future.

19 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Historic Scotland reclaimed or plans to reclaim grants from the National Trust for Scotland as a result of the sale of the trust’s headquarters in Charlotte Square.

Answer · Michael Russell: Historic Scotland provided an acquisition grant to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) towards the purchase of the Charlotte Square property of £700,000 on 27 March 1996. This grant is repayable by the trust on the sale of the property. On the assumption th…

11 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to advertise the post of chair of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The post of chair of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) was advertised from 9 October 2009 in the Scottish press, on our website and on HIAL''s website. The closing date for applications was 6 November 2009.

23 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when North Isles Marine Ltd, of Yell in Shetland, will be informed of the outcome of its appeal against the rejection of its application to the European Fisheries Fund.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Decisions in respect of the current round of applications under the European Fisheries Fund were announced on 25 November 2009. The appeal by North Isles Marine Ltd was considered as part of this round and the applicants have been informed of the award of £25…

23 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the LEADER programme is now able to process applications for community services and facilities projects and, if not, when will it be able to do so.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28979 on 18 November 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/App…

23 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will handle applications to the Rural Priorities scheme for support for community services and facilities projects made before its announcement that such applications are to be transferred to the LEADER programme and whether fresh applications to the programme will be required.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28979 on 18 November 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/App…

23 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will be available to the LEADER programme in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12 to support community services and facilities projects; whether it will be shared between regions, and, if so, how.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28979 on 18 November 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/App…

23 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the transfer of support for community services and facilities projects from the Rural Priorities scheme to the LEADER programme will be matched by a transfer of funding and, if so, what funding will be transferred in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28979 on 18 November 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/App…

8 Oct 2009 · First Minister's Question