Parliamentary questions
Murdo Fraser
2,062 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
2 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government who was (a) invited to and (b) attended each event held at Scotland House in London during the Olympic Games.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-09003 on 31 August 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…
2 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it discussed with the Scottish Development International using their London office as the base for Scotland House in London during the Olympic Games and, if so, (a) how much the office would have cost and (b) for what reason it did not use it.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-09003 on 31 August 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…
2 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it discussed with the Scotland Office using Dover House as the base for Scotland House in London during the Olympic Games and, if so, how much (a) Dover House would have cost and (b) for what reason it did not use it.
Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-09003 on 31 August 2012. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybu…
2 Aug 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost was of establishing Scotland House in London during the Olympic Games and from which budget line this was taken.
Answer · Shona Robison: Information relating to the costs of Scotland House, including rationale for choosing the venue, costs and where possible guest lists for events have been published on the Scottish Government website: www.scotland.gov.uk/scotlandhouse. Note: Some of the info…
6 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what benefits the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Project will bring to (a) Stirling, (b) Dunblane and (c) Alloa.
Answer · Alex Neil: The continuing electrification of the Scottish rail network will benefit all rail passengers by driving reliability improvements across the entire network. The newly refurbished Haymarket Station will provide an effective interchange between Stirling service…
6 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how much NHS boards have spent purchasing Merck’s MMR 11 vaccine in each year since 2007.
Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not held centrally.
6 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when a review was last carried out of the MMR vaccine in Scotland.
Answer · Michael Matheson: A review of issues around MMR vaccination in Scotland was carried out by an expert group in 2001-02. A report of the group was published in April 2002 and this is available on the Scottish Government website. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisat…
6 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the evidence of the merits of the inclusion of the mumps vaccine element of Merck’s MMR 11 vaccine.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government does not plan to review the composition of the MMR 11 vaccine. As with all vaccination programmes, the Scottish Government relies on independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The mumps …
6 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the case in the USA under the whistleblower statute in which two scientists previously employed by Merck allege that the company engaged in fraud to hide the fact that the mumps element of the MMR vaccine is not as effective as the company claims.
Answer · Michael Matheson: It would be inappropriate for the Scottish Government to comment on these proceedings.
6 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08223 by Michael Matheson on 28 June 2012, whether it will review the safety of the MMR vaccine and hold an inquiry into the management of the immunisation programme.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has no plans to review the safety of the MMR vaccine, or hold an inquiry into the management of the Scottish childhood immunisation programme. There remains no credible scientific evidence to suggest that MMR vaccine is a cause of aut…
6 Jul 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-08222 by Michael Matheson on 28 June 2012, whether it will review the use of epidemiological studies as proof of the safety of the MMR vaccine.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government has no plans to review the use of epidemiological studies as proof of the safety of the MMR vaccine. We will continue to monitor new emerging data on an ongoing basis, and continue to consider the advice of the Joint Committee on Vacci…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Perth and Kinross Council regarding broadband upgrades since the publication of Scotland’s Digital Future - Infrastructure Action Plan.
Answer · Alex Neil: Since publication of Scotland’s Digital Future – Infrastructure Action Plan on 31 January 2012, the Scottish Government has been in dialogue with Perth and Kinross Council on its broadband plan for the region; this has included one meeting at official level o…
28 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which broadband exchanges in Perth and Kinross are planned for an upgrade in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013.
Answer · Alex Neil: Upgrading of BT exchanges, such as those in Perth and Kinross, is a matter for BT. BT’s press release of 13 September 2011 confirms that the Perth exchange is scheduled to be upgraded to provide Superfast (fibre-based) broadband services during 2012. BT has …
25 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider increasing HGV speed limits from 40 mph to 50 mph on trunk roads.
Answer · Keith Brown: We currently have no plans to increase the speed limits applying to HGVs on trunk roads, although we do now have the power to do so under the Scotland Act 2012.
25 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of the haulage industry regarding increasing HGV speed limits on trunk roads.
Answer · Keith Brown: Officials from Transport Scotland meet representatives of the Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association periodically. Speed limits for HGVs on A-roads have been one of many issues discussed.
25 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work will take place to improve the A9 between 1 July 2012 and 1 January 2017.
Answer · Keith Brown: The timetable for the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness was announced by Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, on 26 June 2012. It identifies packages of design and development work with the objective of being re…
25 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to (a) promote and (b) preserve the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Memorial Park’s management agreement, which was drawn up in 1996, is being reviewed and updated with the assistance of Forestry Commission Scotland, National Trust for Scotland and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority. The area will, howe…
25 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the use of the MMR vaccine following the recent judgement in Italy in the case of Valentino Bocca relating to MMR inoculations and autism.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government bases vaccination policy on the independent expert advice provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The view of the JCVI is that there is overwhelming scientific evidence that MMR does not cause autism. In March…
25 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the judgement in Italy in the case of Valentino Bocca relating to MMR inoculations and autism.
Answer · Michael Matheson: The judgement in Italy reflects the opinion of a judge on the specific facts of this single case and should not be seen as a precedent for any other case. The judgement does not alter the scientific position that there is no credible scientific evidence to sh…
7 Jun 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-38227 by Richard Lochhead on 17 December 2010, how many times it has replaced regulations affecting the farming and agricultural sector with new versions rather than add to existing regulations since May 2007.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The majority of regulation impacting on Scotland’s farmers and land managers comes from Europe and, to ensure they fully meet their obligations under the terms of the Scotland Act, Scottish Ministers must implement relevant EU rules. Since 2007 a total of 164…
31 May 2012 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to the recently published Audit Scotland report, The National Fraud Initiative in Scotland.
23 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Ambulance Service since 1 January 2012 regarding the number of ambulances stationed in Highland Perthshire.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the Scottish Ambulance Service continues to provide safe, efficient and effective services to patients across Scotland, as such Scottish Government ministers and Officials are in regular dialogue with the …
23 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33199 by Stewart Stevenson on 12 May 2010, on what 20 roads the highest number of (a) accidents and (b) fatalities has been recorded in each of the last five years.
Answer · Keith Brown: The following tables provide the statistics requested and are ranked by accidents per km of road. 2006 Injury Road Accidents Fatalities Road Number of Injury Road Accidents per km of Road Road Number of Road Accident Fatalities per km of Road A8 …
23 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to prevent those not actively farming from being able to claim agricultural subsidies.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Since 2009, the Scottish Government has improved the existing links between activity and payments in respect of the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS). In relation to the Single Farm Payment (SFP) we have been lobbying hard at both UK and European lev…
23 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Network Rail since 1 January 2012 regarding improvements to Perth railway station.
Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland regularly meets with representatives of Network Rail to discuss a range of station improvement schemes. Discussions since 1 January 2012 included progress on planned enhancements to improve access within Perth railway station.
23 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements have been made to rail services serving (a) Perth and Kinross, (b) Fife and (c) Stirling since May 2011.
Answer · Keith Brown: In December 2011, two additional services each way were introduced on the Highland Main line between Glasgow (connections at Perth from Edinburgh) and Inverness. All these services call at Stirling. New services were also introduced in December 2011 between …
23 May 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people in (a) Tayside and (b) Fife has access to an NHS dentist.
Answer · Michael Matheson: As at 31 March 2012, the most recent date for which statistical information is available, the percentage of people registered with a dentist for NHS General Dental Services in (a) Tayside is 75.9% and (b) Fife is 70.0% This information is published on the I…
18 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to invest in broadband improvements and connectivity in Stirling.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scotland’s Digital Future: Infrastructure Action Plan, published on 31 January 2012, sets out the Scottish Government’s 2020 world-class digital connectivity targets, with a step-change by 2015. The 2015 target – availability of broadband at a speed of 40-80 …
18 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to invest in broadband improvements and connectivity in Fife.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scotland’s Digital Future: Infrastructure Action Plan, published on 31 January 2012, sets out the Scottish Government’s 2020 world-class digital connectivity targets, with a step-change by 2015. The 2015 target – availability of broadband at a speed of 40-80 …
18 Apr 2012 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to invest in broadband improvements and connectivity in Perth and Kinross.
Answer · Alex Neil: Scotland’s Digital Future: Infrastructure Action Plan, published on 31 January 2012, sets out the Scottish Government’s 2020 world-class digital connectivity targets, with a step-change by 2015. The 2015 target – availability of broadband at a speed of 40-80 …