Parliamentary questions

Murdo Fraser

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

21 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11165 by Stewart Stevenson on 17 April 2008, which roads have had the highest number of (a) accidents and (b) fatalities in each of the last five years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The following tables provide statistics requested and are ranked by estimates per km of road. 2003 <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=289 nowrap colspan=3 valign=bottom > Injury …

21 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements are being undertaken to the A9 and whether the dualling programme will start in 2012.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Design work is currently underway to improve the A9 by dualling between Birnam and Luncarty. In addition, the current investment programme provides for improvements and reconstruction schemes at Kincraig, Loch Moy, Bankfoot, Carrbridge, Kincraig to Dalraddy, …

21 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether work on dualling the A9, as set out in the Strategic Transport Projects Review, will commence in 2012 and whether it will detail this work.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) now provides a robust framework of schemes, the delivery of which will be considered in each spending review. A timetable for undertaking work on dualling the A9 will be set in the context of overall aff…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has information on how much North Sea gas from Scottish fields has been exported as a percentage of the total amount extracted from such fields for each of the last five years for which information is available.

Answer · Jim Mather: The following table reports estimates on gas produced from Scottish fields in the North Sea, gas consumption in Scotland, and gas exports from Scotland. GWh <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=b…

26 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support has been provided to the Scotch whisky industry, malting industry and malting barley supply chain from the National Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The National Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Scheme has provided £3.2 million assistance to the food elements in malting projects.

23 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether farmers can apply to the National Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Scheme for funding to support the provision of storage facilities for malting barley.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22271 on 7 April 2009. 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/B…

23 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what grants are available to farmers to support the storage of malting barley.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Farmers can apply for funding to support the provision of storage facilities for cereals, including malting barley, from the food processing, marketing and co-operation grant scheme and through rural priorities.

19 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent since 1998 on promoting, publicising and advertising the MMR vaccine as safe.

Answer · Shona Robison: The only promotion or publicity campaign undertaken around MMR is the MMR: Never too late campaign, which was carried out by NHS Health Scotland in 2006. This consisted of posters and leaflets which were (and continue to be) supplied to local NHS boar…

12 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has approached the city of Lübeck to request that the Lübeck letter be loaned to Scotland on a long-term basis.

Answer · Michael Russell: 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/sor0312-01.htm">http://www.scot…

10 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors progress towards implementation in full of its health improvement, efficiency, access and treatment (HEAT) targets.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards'' local delivery plans (LDPs) set out the delivery trajectories and risk management plans for each HEAT target, which are underpinned with financial and workforce plans. LDPs are agreed with NHS boards in advance of the financial year to which they…

5 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons it considers it necessary to charge English, Northern Irish and Welsh students a medical top-up fee to study medicine at Scottish universities.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The higher rate of tuition fees for medicine was introduced by the then Scottish Executive as voted on and agreed by Parliament on 20 April 2005. They claimed there was a need to increase medical tuition fees to the same level as the new tuition fees in Engla…

5 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to abolish medical top-up fees for English, Northern Irish and Welsh students studying medicine at Scottish universities.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We have no plans at this stage to amend the level of tuition fees for undergraduate medical courses at Scottish Medical Schools.

5 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) English, (b) Northern Irish and (c) Welsh students started studying medicine at Scottish universities in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The number of non-Scottish domiciles from within the UK entering pre-clinical or clinical medicine courses at higher education institutions in Scotland between 1997-98 and 2006-07 (the latest data available) are given in the following table. UK domic…

5 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) English, (b) Northern Irish and (c) Welsh students are studying medicine at Scottish universities and paying medical top-up fees.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In 2006-07 there were 160 entrants to preclinical medicine courses at Scottish institutions whose prior domicile was in England, five from Wales and 75 from Northern Ireland. All entrants to preclinical medicine courses at Scottish institutions in 2006-07 wou…

2 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the results of its recent survey of parent councils.

Answer · Keith Brown: We have yet to receive the results of the survey and will then wish to give them proper consideration.

2 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the results of its recent survey of parent councils.

Answer · Keith Brown: We have yet to receive the results of the survey although they are expected soon.

2 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to the Scottish Parent Councils Association.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Parent Councils Association is a wholly independent organisation which charges member schools an annual fee. It does not receive government funding.

2 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is a need for a national body to represent the views of parents of schoolchildren.

Answer · Keith Brown: Yes. At the first national conference for Parent Councils in June 2008 the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning made clear her agreement with the many parents who think that there should be such a national body. That is why we have commission…

2 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it consults parents when proposing changes in policy or legislation on schools.

Answer · Keith Brown: Government consults parent councils and other parent representative bodies directly. For example, the chairs of all parent councils and various parent organisations were sent copies of the consultation paper and invited to comment on our proposals for legisla…

2 Mar 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it values the views of parents of schoolchildren.

Answer · Keith Brown: Yes. The government has made clear how it values, seeks and listens to the views of parents on a wide range of matters to do with the education of their children.