Parliamentary questions

Mike Pringle

251 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

17 Mar 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote reductions in food miles as part of an environmentally sustainable economy.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government continues to support modal shift of transport from road to rail through freight grants. We are also encouraging consumers; to get to the shops more sustainably, to choose fresh, seasonal produce and to reduce food waste as part of a gr…

27 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will assist those businesses that would have applied for the Freight Facilities Grant, which is due to close on 31 March 2011, and are unable to take advantage of the (a) Mode Shift Revenue Support and (b) Waterborne Freight Grant scheme.

Answer · Keith Brown: The scale of the UK Government''s cuts in our overall budget means we have had to make tough decisions which include a reduction in our Support for Freight Industry budget in 2011-12. We are not therefore in a position to provide this direct form of assistanc…

20 Jan 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what target has been set to continue to reduce plastic bag use, given that the Welsh Assembly Government is planning to introduce a levy on all disposable plastic bags.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government remains committed to the current voluntary agreement with retailers which has successfully reduced the number of plastic carrier bags used in Scotland. We are closely monitoring progress and considering possible further measures, such …

3 Jun 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect endangered plant and animal species as part of the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy is delivered through a wide range of actions that protect endangered plant and animal species, carried out by many partners. A good example of this partnership approach can be found in the new Edinburgh Local Biodiversity Ac…

5 May 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the restructuring of Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s environmental science services to be completed.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has decided that its laboratory services can best be delivered through a centre of excellence model, located at two main laboratory sites based in Aberdeen and the central belt. These laboratories will be supported b…

29 Apr 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to protect the stock of wild salmon in rivers.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: We have made available £1.2 million over three years forging a new partnership with the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland and local salmon fishery managers to modernise the management of wild salmon and freshwater fisheries in Scotland.

5 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legislative steps it has taken to reduce the legal limit of primary one class sizes since the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning announced on 23 September 2009 that local authorities were to be given the legal protection that they required to limit primary one clas…

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W“32192 on 17 March 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.parliament.uk/apps2/…

5 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legislative steps it has taken since May 2007 to reduce the legal limit of primary one class sizes.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government announced on 10 March that a consultative exercise on regulations to limit primary one classes to a maximum of 25 would commence on 19 March 2010 with a view to making regulations, subject to parliamentary procedures, in the autumn.</p…

5 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal powers local authorities have at their disposal to implement its proposals to reduce primary one class sizes to a maximum of 25 before the beginning of the 2010-11 academic year.

Answer · Michael Russell: Class size maxima for primaries one to three are set out in The Education (Lower Primary Class Size) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. It is for local authorities to set class sizes subject to these limits taking into account local circumstances and parental choic…

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release of 28 September 2009, Building better schools, when the second tranche of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools will begin.

Answer · Keith Brown: The timescale for the second tranche of schools will be determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account local circumstances.

18 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to its news release of 28 September 2009, Building better schools, when the second tranche of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools will be announced.

Answer · Keith Brown: We are working with COSLA to identify the next schools to benefit from the new £1.25 billion school building programme and expect to make an announcement later this year. style

5 Jan 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the US Government in the last two years regarding its ban on importing Scottish haggis.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The US import ban on haggis remains in place. It''s a great pity that the American authorities are denying ex-pat Scots and other US consumers the chance to enjoy the delights of this world renowned delicacy, with Burns Night just around the corner. <p …

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the impact of the primary one class size restriction proposed by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in September 2009 on school catchment areas in Edinburgh; whether it will publish any such analysis, and, if so, when.

Answer · Keith Brown: No such analysis has been undertaken. We intend to consult shortly on regulations that will introduce a class size maximum of 25 for primary one classes and it is open to the City of Edinburgh Council to comment on their impact on catchment areas.

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has made of the impact of the primary one class size restriction proposed by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in September 2009 on primary schools at which primary one pupil intake has previously exceeded 25 by more than five pupils and accommodat…

Answer · Keith Brown: No such analysis has been made. We intend to consult shortly on regulations that will introduce a class size maximum of 25 for primary one classes and local authorities will have the opportunity to comment on their impact where the intake exceeds 25.

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the primary one class size restriction proposed by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in September 2009 will apply to the 2010-11 primary school intake.

Answer · Keith Brown: Yes. We intend to consult shortly on regulations that will introduce a class size maximum of 25 for primary one classes from August 2010.

8 Oct 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been carried out of the impact on the economy of restructuring Scottish Enterprise.

Answer · Jim Mather: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1008-01.htm">http://www.scott…

16 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding mechanisms are available to NHS Lothian for the development of new surgical techniques.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0924-01.htm">http://www.scott…

14 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers local authorities have to ensure that graffiti are removed swiftly from private property such as parking equipment, post boxes, bins, walls and houses where owners fail to do so.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 provides powers for local authorities to serve a graffiti removal notice on any responsible person where a relevant surface in that local authority''s area has been defaced. A relevant surface includes any bui…

28 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the statement given to the media in response to allegations reported in Scottish newspapers on the conduct of the Crown Agent in handling evidence at the Lockerbie trial.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: On 17 July 2009, Christine Grahame MSP issued a press release highlighting unfounded allegations she had made to Lothian and Borders Police. These allegations have subsequently been dismissed by the police as having no basis. To help with questions f…

28 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a formal response to allegations reported in Scottish newspapers regarding the Crown Agent’s handling of evidence at the Lockerbie trial.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: The allegations made by Christine Grahame MSP on 17 July 2009 are entirely without foundation.

23 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the concept of local prison units for women offenders comprising small multi-functional custodial centres with an emphasis on holistic care of offenders and the reduction of reoffending, as promoted by the Howard League for Penal Reform and described in the Corston …

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) are reviewing where women prisoners are accommodated. We plan to move towards a more community facing m…

22 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to increase the resources needed for the provision of drug treatment to minimise delays between referral, assessment and treatment stages and maintain an applicant’s momentum and, in particular, what action is being taken to increase access to community-based su…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We have increased funding to tackle drug addiction by 13.5%. This brings the total provided for drug treatment and rehabilitation in 2009-10 to £29,998 million. However, it is for health boards and their partners to allocate these resources in order to meet l…

14 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what actions were taken on the recent visit by the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning to China to deliver on point 14 of The Scottish Government’s Plan for Engagement with China to “take the opportunity to raise with appropriate senior Chinese fig…

Answer · Michael Russell: The First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary held a number of high level government meetings and in discussion with the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs raised the issue of human rights having received advice from both Amnesty International and the Scottish …

23 Apr 2009 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what progress the Scottish Government is making on the replacement of short-term prison sentences with robust community sentences.

Answer · Alex Salmond : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0430-01.htm">http://www.scott…

22 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether First ScotRail services or services supported by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport are in receipt of publicly funded revenue support and, if so, how much has been provided and in what capacity.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The ScotRail Franchise Agreement is in place between Scottish ministers and First ScotRail Limited. The contract specifies the train services to be operated by ScotRail including services in the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport area. In addition to speci…

22 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Government or Transport Scotland spent on supporting heavy rail passenger services, excluding capital costs, in the last year for which information is available; how many passengers travelled on Scottish Government or Transport Scotland supported heavy rail passenger…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Franchise payments from Transport Scotland, as part of the Scottish Government, to Network Rail and ScotRail in support of heavy rail passenger services totalled £690 million for 2008-09. ScotRail passenger numbers totalled 83.94 million for 2008-09. The fran…

22 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) spent on supporting heavy rail passenger services, excluding capital costs, in the last year for which information is available; how many passengers travelled on SPT-supported heavy rail passenger services in that year, and what the hig…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The last full year in which Strathclyde Partnership for Transport''s (SPT) predecessor organisation, Strathclyde Passenger Transport, supported the heavy rail franchise in their area was 2004-05. Responsibility for these services passed to Scottish ministers …

18 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to individuals and community groups to undertake targeted environmental improvement projects in their local areas.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0326-01.htm">http://www.scot…

12 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to school pupils for whom English is not their first language through the Getting it Right for Every Child programme.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is investing record levels of funding in local government, £23 billion for the period 2008-10, so that education authorities can respond appropriately to their own needs and priorities. This includes providing for pupils for whom Engli…

26 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the closure or downgrading of Howdenhall forensic laboratory in Edinburgh will be considered as part of the Scottish Police Services Authority board’s review of the future of forensic services following the completion of new laboratories in Gartcosh and Dundee.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Police Services Authority has no plans to close or downgrade the Howdenhall forensic laboratory.