John Scott

30 Oct 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will arrange for the installation of bar markings or take any further additional safety measures at the Sandyford Toll roundabout on the A77.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The new Sandyford Toll roundabout at the A77/A719 junction is, in common with all other alterations to the trunk road network, subject to a Road Safety Audit (RSA) procedure. The third stage in this procedure is a site examination once the works have been ope…

23 Oct 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to offer breast cancer screening services to all women whose mothers received diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy between 1941 and 1975.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The NHS Scotland Breast Screening Programme provides routine breast screening every three years for women aged 50-64. Women below the age of 50, irrespective of whether or not they received diethylstilboestrol (DES) during pregnancy, are not routinely screene…

2 Oct 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase the number of junior doctors joining the NHS.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is taking a number of steps to increase the number of junior doctors.<P>The total Specialist Registrar establishment was increased by 100 in 2001, a rise of 9%, with many of the increases being in the specialties with the highest levels…

26 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the policy paper on canals and waterways will be published.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Our policy paper <I>Scotland's Canals: an asset for the future</I> is being published today.

20 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered extending its free bus travel scheme for pensioners to include rail travel.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We have no such plans.

18 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to limit the spread of GM pollens in this year's field trials.

Answer · Ross Finnie: As oil seed rape produces pollen, it is impossible to rule out altogether the possibility of some pollen travelling outwith the boundaries of the trial site. Separation distances are used to minimise this possibility. <P>When considering applications for GM f…

18 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the funding for environmental protection and waste management announced by the Minister for Finance and Public Services in his Spending Review 2002 statement will constitute an increase in the budget of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has been allocated additional resources over the three-year period covered by the 2002 Spending Review of £11.2 million. This comprises an extra £3.3 million in 2003-04, £3.0 million in 2004-05 and £4.9 million in 20…

6 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to hold a public inquiry into the causes and effects of the cryptosporidium outbreak in Glasgow's water supply.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Cryptosporidium Direction 2000 required the then water authorities to identify all water works in Scotland considered to be at high or moderate risk and set a strict timetable for the water authorities to take steps to introduce appropriate measures to re…

6 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Food Standards Agency Scotland will review Scottish Water's practices and procedures leading up to and subsequent to the cryptosporidium outbreak in Glasgow's water supply.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: I am advised that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been involved in the current review of Scottish Water's Waterborne Hazard Plan insofar as it relates to food safety. It is not, however, within the FSA's remit to review Scottish Water's practices and proc…

6 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of the outbreak of cryptosporidium in Glasgow's water supply, it will issue any guidance to Scottish Water on whether sheep and cattle should continue to gra'e within the catchment areas of reservoirs.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The recommendation in respect of livestock grazing on land controlled by Scottish Water contained in the Outbreak Control Team report published by Greater Glasgow Health Board in November 2001 is being acted upon by Scottish Water. Scottish Water has no contr…

10 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a new code of guidance dealing with homelessness will be published in respect of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and, if so, when any such guidance will be published.

Answer · Margaret Curran: An updated <I>Code of Guidance on Homelessness</I> was published in 1998. It now requires further updating to reflect various changes both in legislation and good practice, including changes arising from the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. Work to produce a full…

10 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to address any gap between the funding it provides to local authorities to deal with their new responsibilities for homelessness under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and the actual funding which local authorities may require in order to implement these new responsibilities.

Answer · Margaret Curran: We have made £11 million available over the next two financial years to support recommendations of the Homelessness Task Force - this is in addition to the £27 million provided specifically to contribute to the cost of implementing the homelessness provisions…

4 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial savings would result from the abolition of the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland.

Answer · Elaine Murray: Abolition of the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland will provide a saving to the Scottish Executive of about £20,000 per annum.

18 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on animal disease surveillance.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-26283, 26677 and 26748 which outline the work being taken forward to develop an animal health surveillance strategy.

14 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made an assessment of any need for harmonisation of compensation payments to victims of crime across Europe and what plans it has to initiate or participate in any exercise designed to achieve that objective.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is a UK-wide tariff based scheme. In January, the Westminster Government (in consultation with the Executive, the Northern Ireland Office and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority) responded to a consultation p…

14 Jun 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has budgeted for any increase in compensation payments to victims of crime as a result of the increased referrals to Victim Support Scotland since 1 April 2002.

Answer · Jim Wallace: We are not aware of any significant increase in applications for compensation payments as a result of an increase in referrals to Victim Support Scotland. The overall budget for the demand-led Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is set by the Home office an…

24 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether groundwater contamination could occur as a result of genetically modified crop trials.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The herbicide which is used in association with the GM herbicide-tolerant oilseed rape growing in Scottish farm scale evaluations has been approved for use by the pesticide regulatory authorities. The potential impact on water resources (both surface and grou…

23 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact of the new British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements on entrepreneurs launching sustainable energy technologies and ventures.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We are in regular contact with colleagues in the Department of Trade and Industry and with the industry regulator Ofgem concerning plans for the introduction of new electricity market trading arrangements across Great Britain.<P>The regulation of the electric…

13 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the student recruitment budget for the Scottish Agricultural College for the academic year 2002-03 has been reduced by 20%, given that student applications to the college fell by almost one third in 2001-02.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for the Scottish Agricultural College.

2 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to examine the Norwegian planning system of strategic co-ordination as part of its development of the Scottish fish farming industry.

Answer · Allan Wilson: We sought views last year, when we reviewed the regulation of the aquaculture industry, on the proposition that a central regulatory authority might be created. This was not favoured by the majority of our consultees. <P>The present statutory controls interfa…

30 Apr 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer when the new Parliament building will be (a) fitted out and (b) ready for use by members.

Answer · David Steel: The Corporate Body's determined aim is for the building to be fit for occupation after the elections in May 2003 and this will be achieved provided no unexpected problems arise during the remaining stages of construction<B>.</B>

30 Apr 2002 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer when the building and landscaping work for the new Parliament building will be completed.

Answer · David Steel: I understand from the Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that all buildings will be completed by April 2003<B> </B>provided that no unexpected problems arise during the remaining stages of construction<B> </B>It is estimated that hard landscaping will be…

29 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the #4.5 million funding package for the wave test centre in Orkney will be made available.

Answer · Ross Finnie: We are in close contact with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other stakeholders regarding the proposed centre in Orkney. We expect to be able to make a decision on further support in early summer.

28 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether exemption from competition for domestic users of water complies with European Union competition laws and whether any such exemption is in the best interest of consumers.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24221, which explained that further consideration is needed of the issues surrounding a legislative framework for the water industry that will safeguard public health, environment protection and social ob…

22 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it is likely to incur in legal fees as a result of the appeal to the Court of Session against its decision to refuse planning permission for the Heathfield Road development in Ayr.

Answer · Margaret Curran: This information is not yet available. However, once Counsels' accounts are submitted, I will write to the member with the necessary details and place a copy of my letter in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

22 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it is likely to incur in legal fees as a result of the appeal to the Court of Session against its decision to refuse planning permission for a superquarry at Lingerbay, and how much of this figure represents the legal costs for the developer, Lafarge Redland Aggregates Ltd.

Answer · Margaret Curran: This information is not yet available. When all the accounts have been submitted, I will write to the member with the necessary details and place a copy of my letter in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

12 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect importing putrescible waste from Northern Ireland to south-west Scotland would have on landfill charge costs in Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The level of the fee paid to a landfill operator for every tonne of waste disposed of at a site is a commercial decision for the operator of a landfill site. In Scotland and across the UK these gate charges are determined by supply and demand. Information on …

12 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken in order to ensure that the proposed Nitrate Vulnerable Zones apply only to areas where the discharge of nitrogen compounds of agricultural origin make a significant contribution to pollution levels.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Th Scottish Executive has taken advice from the British Geological Survey and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in identifying the boundaries of the proposed Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) to ensure that only areas making a significant contribution …

12 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be significant levels of discharge of nitrogen compounds of agricultural origin.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Nitrates Directive requires the identification of waters affected by pollution, and which could be affected by pollution, if specified measures are not taken. It defines pollution as "the discharge, directly or indirectly, of nitrogen compounds from agric…

8 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish a blood testing facility in south-west Scotland following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The provision of serology facilities to serve needs throughout Great Britain is being considered carefully in the context of contingency planning following last year's foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.