Parliamentary questions
Murdo Fraser
2,062 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to prevent the spread of mites and varroa disease in the bee population.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Varroa is now endemicin Scotland. Beekeepers, as with all other keepers oflivestock, have a duty of care to treat their hives should they discover varroainfestation. Scottish Government funds the Scottish Agricultural Science Agencyto provide a free diagnosti…
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated economic benefits are for the local area of dualling the A9 between Inverness and Thurso.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-399 on 13 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated economic benefits are for the local area of dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-399 on 13 June 2007. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it plans to allocate for the full dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-399 on 13 June 2007. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its timetable is for the full dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness, including the preparation of feasibility reports, start dates for each section and completion dates.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are committed to planningfor the dualling of the A9. Options will emerge from the Strategic Transport ProjectsReview, which is due to report next summer. We will consider these options and takean informed decision on all the evidence including costs and be…
22 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all renewable schemes that have received Renewables Obligation Certificate funding since 1999, also showing how much each scheme received.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested isnot held centrally.</p><p>The Renewables Obligation (Scotland) (ROS)is administered by Ofgem, whose website, <a href="http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/">www.ofgem.gov.uk</a>has information about the number of Scottish Renewables Obligation …
22 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which hydro power schemes have downgraded from a capacity exceeding 20 megawatts to a capacity below 20 megawatts since 1999, also stating when this occurred and the company involved.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The following eight hydropower schemes reduced their capacity from above 20 megawatts to below 20megawatts before 1 April 2002, when the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) cameinto force.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td widt…
15 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to encourage the transportation of freight by rail between Perth and Inverness.
Answer · Tavish Scott: We are committed toencouraging modal shift of freight from roads to rail across Scotland andoperate three rail freight grant schemes to achieve this aim. Since 1999, thispolicy has removed over 5 million lorry miles from the A9 corridor.</p><p>Our project to …
15 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering commencing any new road projects in Angus.
Answer · Tavish Scott: No new trunk road projectsare currently scheduled for the section of the A90 trunk road running through thearea of Angus Council.</p><p>Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for moreinformation if required.</…
15 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering commencing any new road projects in Perth and Kinross.
Answer · Tavish Scott: New road projects recentlycompleted, underway or scheduled to be delivered during the current programme inthe area of Perth and Kinross Council area are as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=66 valign=top> <p>…
15 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it is providing to protect Scotland’s trees and woodlands such as the Fortingall Yew and Meikleour beech hedge.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Environmentand Rural Development</p><p><b> Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): </b>To ask the Scottish Executive <a name=QuestionText>whatfunding it is providing to protect Scotland’s trees and woodlands such as the FortingallYew and Meikleour beech h…
15 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all projects for young people for which it has provided funding through Angus Council since 1999, showing the (a) type of project and (b) amount of funding awarded.
Answer · Robert Brown: This is a matter for Angus Council.The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
15 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all projects for young people for which it has provided funding through Perth and Kinross Council since 1999, showing the (a) type of project and (b) amount of funding awarded.
Answer · Robert Brown: This is a matter for Perth and KinrossCouncil. The information requested is not held centrally.</p>
15 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to protect Ardoch Roman Fort.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Ardoch Fort complex is currentlybeing rescheduled to extend the protected area to the north and west in order toprotect all Roman remains visible as crop marks on aerial photographs.</p><p>Whilst on-going management of the site is the responsibility of th…
14 Feb 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how any relocation of the freshwater laboratory from Faskally in Perthshire would fit with its policy of public sector job dispersal.
Answer · Ross Finnie: There are no plans at this stageto relocate staff from the FRS facility at Faskally. Fisheries Research Servicesare however conducting an option appraisal exercise to ascertain whether or notfurther investment in the Faskally site represents good value for mo…
13 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has set criteria for designating whether a child is being home educated and, if so, what the criteria are and whether local authorities are required to adhere to them.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Executive issued a comprehensivedocument entitled <i>Guidance on the Circumstances in Which Parents may Choose toEducate their Children at Home</i> (Bib. number 31676) in March 2004. That guidancewas issued under Section 14 of the Standards in Scotland’s …
8 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children there are with autism in Scotland and what action is being taken to improve their lives and ensure that they receive education suitable for their needs.
Answer · Robert Brown: The number of pupils in publiclyfunded schools for whom Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is recorded as the maindifficulty of learning in a Record of Needs and/or an Individualised EducationalProgramme is published in table 1.7 of <i>Pupils in Scotland 2005</…
8 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children with autism there are in the Fife local authority area; in what types of school they are placed in, and how many are home educated.
Answer · Robert Brown: The number of pupils in publiclyfunded schools in Fife, for whom Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is recorded asthe main difficulty in learning in a Record of Needs and/or an Individualised EducationalProgramme is published in tables 6.8, 7.5 and 8.5 of <i>Pu…
8 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that it is appropriately funding local authorities to fulfil their obligations under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.
Answer · Robert Brown: Yes. The Scottish Executive providessignificant funding specifically for the implementation of the Education (AdditionalSupport for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004. The funding for 2006-07 and 2007-08 is £12.5million per annum.</p>
8 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the impact that the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 has had on the care of children with additional support needs.
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-31711 on 19 February 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
8 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors whether local authorities are fully implementing and complying with the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.
Answer · Robert Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-31711 on 19 February 2007. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s websitethe search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
8 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all local authorities are complying with the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.
Answer · Robert Brown: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate ofEducation (HMIE) are monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the Act. Aninterim report of a specific inspection programme was published on 31 October 2006 anddid not identify any specific breach of duty by local authoritie…
7 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the relocation of the Stone of Destiny to Scone.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Decisions regarding theStone of Destiny rest solely with Her Majesty The Queen as advised by Her Commissionersfor the Safekeeping of the Regalia, whose duties are set out under the Royal warrantissued on 12 November 1996 immediately prior to the Stone’s depar…
7 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received a response from the commissioners of the regalia following the parliamentary debate on the Stone of Destiny on 13 December 2006 and, if so, what their response was.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: At the request of the First Minister,I wrote to the Lord Advocate, the Lord Justice Clerk and the Lord Clerk Registerprior to the debate to inform them that it was taking place. All responded priorto the debate and were unanimous in their view that the stone …
7 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has passed a copy of the Official Report of the parliamentary debate on the Stone of Destiny on 13 December 2006 to the commissioners of the regalia.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Historic Scotland issued hardcopies of an abstract of the <i>Official Report</i> of the parliamentary debateon the Stone of Destiny on 13 December 2006 to the Commissioners of the Regaliaon Friday 9 February 2007 in order to ensure that the commissioners were…
5 Feb 2007 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it considers that it is satisfactory that some cases take more than two years to be reviewed by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
Answer · John Scott: As part of the recentbudgetary round, the SPCB was made aware that since 2004-05 there had been anincrease in complaints and enquiries received by the Scottish Public ServicesOmbudsman. The latest Annual Report highlights the increase in the number ofcomplain…
5 Feb 2007 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what complaint procedures are in place for members of the public who are not satisfied with the work of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
Answer · John Scott: Under the Scottish PublicServices Ombudsman Act 2002, the ombudsman in the exercise of her functions isnot subject to the direction or control of any member of the Parliament, anymember of the Scottish Executive or the SPCB.</p><p>The Scottish Public Services…
22 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools have been closed in the Angus local authority area since1997, showing the name of each school and the year of closure.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answerto questions S2W-29664 and S2W-29665 on 17 November 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.…
22 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools have been closed in the Perth and Kinross local authority area since1997, showing the name of each school and the year of closure.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answerto questions S2W-29664 and S2W-29665 on 17 November 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at: </p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish…
22 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools have been closed in the Stirling local authority area since1997, showing the name of each school and the year of closure.
Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answersto questions S2W-29664 and S2W-29665 on 17 November 2006. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at: </p><p><ahref="http://www.scottis…