Parliamentary questions

Murdo Fraser

2,062 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive from what date the target to generate 100% of Scotland's electricity demand from renewable resources by 2020 will be a material consideration in the determination of development proposals.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The target was announced on 18 May 2011 and became a material consideration in the determination of development proposals from this date forward.

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected cost is for (a) developers and (b) taxpayers through (i) government subsidies and (ii) energy bills for Scotland to have 100% of its electricity demand generated from renewable resources by 2020.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: With the exception of a number of support schemes to assist with the development and deployment of small scale renewable energy projects, including Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme, Wave and Tidal Energy: Research Development and Demonstration Support and…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions regarding consumer energy bills it has had since 5 May 2011 with (a) Ofgem and (b) power companies with customers in Scotland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: A Scottish Government Energy Directorate official met with Ofgem on 8 June 2011 to discuss energy market issues. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth met with the Scottish Power (UK) Retail Director on 14 June 2011, to discuss…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure that its decision to raise the renewable electricity target to 100% of Scotland's electricity demand being generated from renewable resources by 2020 meets the requirements of the (a) Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and (b) Conservation (Nat…

Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-792 on 28 June 2011. 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/Apps2/Business/PQA/…

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that renewable energy developments do not harm the natural environment.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: In order to come to a view on the environmental impacts of a proposal, the Scottish Government consult the Local Planning Authority, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and any such other persons that are in their opinion likely …

14 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it gave to the potential impact on (a) local communities and (b) the environment when deciding to raise the renewable electricity target to 100% of Scotland's electricity demand being generated from renewable resources by 2020.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The target to meet the equivalent of 100% of Scotland’s electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020 is included in the scope of the current Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Scottish Government’s forthcoming Renewables Roadmap and revised …

10 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what changes it will make to national planning guidance for onshore wind turbines to enhance the role of local communities in the determination of wind turbine sites.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 brought forward enhanced opportunities for people to get involved in planning and recent planning advice on wind turbines has been published online at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/National-P…

10 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its investment plans are for improvements to the A9.

Answer · Keith Brown: The A9 is a key artery in Scotland’s transport network and we will continue to invest in improvements to the road on a continuing and progressive basis. The construction of the extended dual section at Crubenmore is well advanced and we are taking forward ear…

10 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that next generation broadband is available to all of Scotland by 2020.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government’s overarching broadband ambition, as set out in Scotland’s Digital Future: A Strategy for Scotland, published on 3 March 2011, is that next generation broadband will be available to all by 2020, with significant progress made by 2015. …

10 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its action plan is for organic (a) food and (b) farming.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government published Organic Futures: An Action Plan for organic food and farming in Scotland on 14 March 2011. The action plan can be accessed at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/03/14093552/0.

10 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work it has done with train operating companies to roll out the availability of wi-fi on trains.

Answer · Keith Brown: We are working with train operating companies to roll out wi-fi on trains across Scotland. We will include the provision of enhanced communications within the contract for future ScotRail passenger services, encouraging bidders to identify the best technical …

9 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff in each ambulance station have opted not to be available to be called out during their rest break.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not hold a breakdown for specific ambulance stations but we understand the number of eligible employees across Scotland who have not opted to be available during meal breaks in 2011-12 is currently 1,911. This figure may change th…

9 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff in each ambulance station are entitled to a rest break.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish ambulance staff are employed under the terms of the UK wide Agenda for Change agreement. Agenda for Change allows for all staff working more than six hours to be allowed an unpaid rest break during their shift.

9 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many 999 calls have been diverted away from the ambulance crew nearest to the incident in the last year.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Ambulance Service, the information requested is not held centrally.

9 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff in each ambulance station have opted to be available to be called out during their rest break.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not hold a breakdown for specific ambulance stations but we understand the number of eligible employees across Scotland who have agreed to be available during meal breaks in 2011-12 is currently 502. This figure may change through…

8 Jun 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with NHS Tayside regarding Ninewells Hospital.

6 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions have been made for the (a) proxy buying and (b) sale of alcohol to underage people in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table: Persons Convicted in Scottish Courts for Sale of Alcohol to Persons Under 18 and Purchasing Alcohol for Consumption of a Person Under 181, 2000-01 to 2009-10. Financial Year Sale of Drink to Perso…

6 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how challenges can be made to decisions by local licensing boards to use their powers under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to apply for restrictions based on age to licensing applications for off-trade sales.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The premises licence applicant or holder may appeal a licensing board’s decision through the courts by the processes provided for by the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005.

6 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation local licensing boards have to carry out before using their powers under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to apply for restrictions based on age to licensing applications for off-trade sales.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Under the terms of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, before taking a decision on a licensing application a licensing board must invite representations from statutory consultees which include notifiable neighbours; community councils; the local authority; the…

6 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria local licensing boards have to consider before using the powers laid out under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to apply for restrictions based on age to licensing applications for off-trade sales.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In applying any condition to a premises licence at application or following a review, a licensing board must judge whether the steps are necessary for the promotion of the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder; securing public safety; preventi…

6 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times local licensing boards have used their powers under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to apply for restrictions based on age to licensing applications for off-trade sales.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

6 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence local licensing boards have to collect before using their powers under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 to apply for restrictions based on age to licensing applications for off-trade sales.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It for a licensing board to satisfy itself that it has the necessary evidence to defend a decision should it be appealed.

1 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the comments of the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy reported by the BBC on 30 May 2011 in relation to a further review of research on transcatheter aortic valve implantation, who will be involved in the review and what the (a) scope and (b) timesca…

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There is emerging evidence on the use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation, and as agreed at the time of the original decision, I have asked for a further review to be carried out to assess whether this most up to date research provides more robust evid…

1 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what account the Scottish Medicines Consortium takes of the budgetary impact of the uptake of ultra-orphan medicines when assessing their cost effectiveness.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) operates independently from the Scottish Government. Details about the nature of the SMC processes are available at: http://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk.

1 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding requests for treatments for ultra-orphan diseases it regards as being exceptional.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is a matter for individual clinical decision in discussion with each patient as to the most appropriate treatment in each case. Treatment(s) for people with rare diseases may be available locally, regionally, nationally and/or in some cases via UK special…

1 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidance to ensure that evidence of clinical benefit or suitability is sufficient for patients with rare diseases to receive treatment through the exceptional funding process.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Decisions regarding the provision of NHS services are a matter for NHS boards. In the case of medicines, all NHS boards have arrangements for clinically-led consideration of Scottish Medicines Consortium “not recommended” medicines for individual patients, i…

31 May 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS patients have received services through private healthcare arrangements in order to receive medicines that were not available through the NHS in each of the last three years, also broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of NHS patients who have received healthcare services through private arrangements under the guidance in document CMO(2009)3 is not held centrally.

31 May 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS patients have received healthcare services through private arrangements under the guidance laid out in document CMO(2009)3 in each of the last three years, also broken down by NHS board.

26 May 2011 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what support is being provided to berry farmers whose crops and infrastructure were badly damaged by the recent severe weather.

25 May 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out its strategy to improve Roman history tourism in Scotland.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scotland’s ancient Roman sites form part of our rich heritage which is a key asset in our drive to boost tourism and meet industry growth ambitions. Partners are currently looking for opportunities to capitalise on rural heritage tourism by building on a rece…