John Scott

21 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide an answer to question S1W-5733, lodged on 29 March 2000.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: This question was answered today.

20 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in view of the Stewart Report, it intends to consider the introduction of retrospective planning procedures for mobile phone masts.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: We have no plans to introduce retrospective planning procedures for mobile phone masts.

14 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the Whitletts roundabout on the A77 at its intersection with the A719 and B743 to the north east of Ayr.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no plans to upgrade the A77/B743 Whitletts Roundabout.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">A design is currently being progressed to construct a roundabout at the A77/A719 Sandyford Toll Junction together with the closure of the centre reserve gaps b…

14 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made regarding the implementation of the Pooley Report and what specific cost-cutting measures it proposes to introduce in the Meat Hygiene Service.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Of the Meat Industry Red Tape Review's 35 recommendations, three were rejected, three were for Agricultural Departments and 29 were for the Food Standards Agency (FSA).<P>Of the 29 recommendations for the FSA, six require EU approval. As anticipated, four of …

13 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it has invited the North Ayr Social Inclusion Partnership to create a Committee of 500 in Ayr, given that a Committee of 1,000 already exists in the South Ayrshire Council area, and what the expected benefits of the creation of a Committee of 500 will be for the area.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The establishment of People's Panels allows the SIPs to test attitudes, opinions and changes in quality of life, specifically in the Partnership areas, so that they can measure their progress over time. In this way the SIPs can ensure that their activities co…

9 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-1879 by Ross Finnie on 8 June 2000, who would be liable to pay compensation should it subsequently be revealed that a ha'ardous substance, caused by GM contaminated oil seed rape, had entered the animal and human food chain.

Answer · Susan Deacon: In the hypothetical situation to which you refer, I would advise that liability for the payment of compensation would be a matter for the civil courts and would depend on the facts and circumstances of each case.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">However, I would like to rep…

8 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take regarding subsidy payments to farmers due to be paid in spring 2001 if a suitable Less Favoured Area support scheme to replace Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances is not agreed with the European Commission.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Further discussions are being arranged with European Commission officials to help devise an area-based scheme which complies with the new Rural Development Regulation. The Scottish Executive's aim is to have a scheme in place so that payments can be made on t…

8 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the bringing forward of the landing craft contracts for Ailsa Troon shipbuilders in order to reduce the prospect of redundancies at the yard.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues and MoD are aware of the importance of this order to Ailsa Troon.

7 Jun 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why Sites of Special Scientific Interest are being created in Arran, Muirkirk, Galloway and elsewhere, encompassing more than 587,000 acres for the protection of Hen Harriers and other raptors, what consideration it gave to the available scientific information and advice in reaching its d…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is statutorily responsible for the notification of areas as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). It is Scottish Executive policy that SSSIs should normally be notified to protect areas selected as Special Protection Ar…

31 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why health boards in Scotland are charged more for beta interferon than comparable health bodies in other parts of the world.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Information about the price paid for beta interferon by health boards is not held centrally.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">However, for a number of reasons, direct comparisons of prices of products of this type are misleading. They are often supplied direct to hospitals,…

31 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a disproportionately high number of multiple sclerosis sufferers in the Ayrshire area compared to the rest of Scotland and, if so, why this is.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The information requested is not available centrally.

24 May 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any implications for the financial sector if the demutualisation of Standard Life goes ahead.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Special General Meeting being held by Standard Life on 27 June 2000 will include a vote on the company's mutual status. The issue of demutualisation is a matter for the members and the board of Standard Life and the Executive does not therefore wish to an…

23 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of any employment implications for the Scottish financial sector if the proposed merger of the London and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges goes ahead.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Executive, through regular contact with the Scottish financial sector, considers a wide range of matters which could impact on overall employment prospects for the sector. Overall, further growth in employment in the financial sector is expected, as sugge…

12 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the situation where pensioners, who have recently stopped working and are the parents of students, are still making high parental contributions based on income figures dating from the preceding year.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The means test used to assess contributions in higher education has not changed materially for many years. We plan to radically review the existing arrangements and will consult on any proposals for change. Information about any particular areas of concern wi…

3 May 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Heart Transplant Unit at Glasgow Royal infirmary is to be closed and, if so, what plans it has for the future of its transplant operations.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There are no plans to close the Heart Transplant Unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The Scottish Executive is working closely with the Trust in the best interests of patients and their families to do everything we can to make sure the service continues in Scotl…

29 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4661 by Sarah Boyack on 21 March 2000, which sections of the A77 it intends to upgrade to near-motorway standard, and to detail the total indicative costs of the upgrade and the indicative costs for each phase of the upgrade.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has commissioned a feasibility study into the long-term upgrading of the A77 from Kilmarnock to Dutchhouse Roundabout to near motorway standard. Options are only at their formative stages and timescales and cost estimates will not be av…

29 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what property it, its agencies or other Scottish public bodies own at the Shawfarm Industrial Estate, Prestwick, and what plans it has for any such property.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Scottish Enterprise owns 25 acres of land at Shawfarm/Prestwick International Industrial Park. This site has been allocated for runway related use to facilitate the long term potential of Prestwick Airport. Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire plans to sell this land…

29 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop industrial land in its, its agencies' or other Scottish public bodies' ownership at Monktonhill Farm, Monkton.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire owns part of the land at Monktonhill Farm, Monkton. This land forms part of an 85 acre Business Park development that is situated immediately to the north of Prestwick Airport and to the west of Monkton Village. This site was acqu…

29 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the phasing of Freight Facility Grant payments recently announced for Ayr Harbour, identify each component of the total investment, and indicate a timescale for implementation and payment.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The £4.4 million Freight Facilities Grant awarded to Associated British Ports will be applied over five years (2000-05). A detailed breakdown of the costs of individual elements of the project is commercially confidential.

29 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Seafield Hospital, Ayr, ceased to be operational; what property costs including security costs will have been incurred on Seafield Hospital between that date and 31 March 2000; what proposals there are for the future use of the entire site, and what timescale has been determined for …

Answer · Susan Deacon: I have been advised by Ayrshire and Arran Health Board that Seafield Hospital, Ayr, ceased to be operational as a hospital in 1991 but was used as the Health Board Headquarters until December 1996. An offer of purchase was approved by the health board in Sept…