Parliamentary questions
Murdo Fraser
2,062 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many looked after children were aged (a) under 1, (b) 1 to 4, (c) 5 to 11, (d) 12 to 15 and (e) 16 to 17 and, of these, how many were looked after for (i) under 6 weeks, (ii) 6 weeks to under 6 months, (iii) 6 months to under 1 year, (iv) 1 year to under 3 years, (v) 3 years to under …
Answer · Robert Brown: The number of children lookedafter at 31 March each year is collected by age group, whilst the period of timefor which a young person was looked after can only be measured at the point at whichthey leave care. Both sets of statistics are published in the Chil…
7 Jun 2006 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what factors it took into account when reaching the decision to exempt Balado Activity Centre, by Kinross, from access rights under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 for 28 days in the calendar year.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Balado site has been grantedan exemption from access rights under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act2003 for the T in the Park event. The 28-day period allows three weeks for sitepreparation, and one week for dismantling after the event. The decision was base…
25 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking, in partnership with Transport Scotland and First ScotRail, to improve train services between Perth and Edinburgh.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Performance for railservices between Perth and Edinburgh is monitored by Transport Scotland aspart of the Express service group. The Public Performance Measure (measuringreliability and punctuality) has shown consistent improvement, rising frombelow 80% 12 mo…
25 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any studies into the cost of dualling the A9 in its entirety between Perth and Inverness and, if so, what the findings were.
Answer · Tavish Scott: A Route Action Plan for theA9 reported in 1996. The cost of completing the dualling of the A9 estimated inthat report was £276 million in 1995 prices.</p><p>The economic benefits ofcompleting the dualling were found to be substantially less than the costs ofc…
18 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to limit the amount of wind development to the capacity limit of a maximum average density of wind-generation of 150 kilowatts per square kilometre in any planning authority, as set out in Scotland’s Renewable Resource 2001.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Executive will shortly beconsulting on a revised draft planning policy for renewable energy developments,and will consider comments and suggestions made by interested partiesin the course of that consultation.</p>
18 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average density of consented wind generation kilowatts per square kilometre is in each planning authority area.
Answer · Allan Wilson: As I advised Murdo Fraser inmy answer to question S2W-25204 on 24 April 2006,this information is not held centrally, but the following, based on a number ofsources, represents a reasonably comprehensive picture.</p><p>Can I also correct two textualerrors in m…
11 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many proposed hydro-electric power schemes the Fisheries (Electricity) Committee has advised ministers to (a) approve and (b) reject in each of the last five years.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Fisheries (Electricity) Committeehave been asked to provide recommendations on proposed hydro-electric developmentsin each of the last five years as follows;</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td nowrap valign=bottom> <p>2001</p> </t…
11 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are applied by the Fisheries (Electricity) Committee when advising ministers of the impact of proposed hydro-electric power schemes on fisheries.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Whilst the Fisheries (Electricity)Committee do not advise Scottish ministers to approve or reject proposed hydro-electricschemes, they do provide recommendations on how damage to fish and fisheries mightbe prevented or minimised. I have arranged for copies of…
11 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Fisheries (Electricity) Committee publishes guidelines to the developers of proposed hydro-electric schemes in relation to the criteria which the committee apply when assessing such schemes.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Fisheries (Electricity) Committeeissues guidelines, containing the criteria that they apply to applications, annuallyto all developers of proposed hydro-electric schemes.</p>
11 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who the members are of the Fisheries (Electricity) Committee.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The membership of the Fisheries(Electricity) Committee is as follows:</p><p>MrJames Cockburn (Chairman)</p><p>DrSusan Walker</p><p>DrD Trevor Crisp</p><p>MrJohn Webb</p><p>MrGordon Jubb</p><p>Mr Nick Mardall.</p>
3 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it audits the customer satisfaction of individuals in receipt of installations or renewals under its central heating programme.
Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>Eaga Partnership, which isthe managing agent contracted to deliver the Central Heating Programme on behalfof the Scottish Executive, is requir…
3 May 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the standard of service provided under the central heating programme administered by Eaga Partnership Ltd.
Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>A tendering process iscurrently underway to appoint a managing agent to administer the central heatingand warm deal programmes on behalf of th…
24 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24660 by Mr Tom McCabe on 19 April 2006, why the figures for total private sector employment are different from those referred to in the answers to questions S2W-9099 by Nicol Stephen on 29 July 2005 and S2W-17703 by Mr Jim Wallace on 30 June 2004 a…
Answer · Tom McCabe: Private sector employment iscalculated as total employment minus public sector employment. The most accuratemeasure for public sector employment estimates are taken from the Quarterly PublicSector Employment in Scotland (QPSES) series. Data from the QPSES was…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all (a) operational onshore wind farms and (b) consents granted for onshore wind farm planning applications in Scotland, giving in each case the (i) number of wind turbines, (ii) capacity and (iii) location.
Answer · Allan Wilson: This information is not heldcentrally. While no power station with an installed capacity in excess of 50MW canbe built, operated or extended without consent from the Scottish ministers unders.36 of the Electricity Act 1989, all other cases are considered by l…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £500,000 committed to Auchterarder for a legacy project following the G8 summit at Gleneagles in summer 2005 could be made available to refurbish Aytoun Hall.
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-25202 on 10 May 2006. 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.se…
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the commitment of £500,000 to Auchterarder for a legacy project following the G8 summit at Gleneagles in summer 2005 will be for projects chosen by the Executive or by the community of Auchterarder.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The First Minister announcedin July 2006 that a commitment of up to a maximum of £500,000 will be used for thespecific purpose of upgrading and refurbishment of Aytoun Hall. This is subjectto Perth and Kinross Council and/or the local community being able to …
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the commitment of £500,000 to Auchterarder for a legacy project following the G8 summit at Gleneagles in summer 2005 will be implemented through a grant or match funding.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The First Minister has committedup to a maximum of £500,000 towards the cost of the upgrading and refurbishmentof Aytoun Hall, subject to the council or the local community being able to raisethe remaining funding. The actual method of payment will be agreed …
11 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government regarding it matching the Scottish Executive’s commitment of £500,000 to Auchterarder for a legacy project following the staging of the G8 summit at Gleneagles in summer 2005.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Community projects in Scotland arerightly the responsibility of the Scottish Executive. The Foreign and CommonwealthOffice (FCO) gifted memorabilia to Perth and Kinross Council but the main legacy of the G8 wasthe exposure that the area received on television…
6 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions for anti-depressant drugs have been issued for under-18-year-olds in the last 12 months, broken down by (a) Prozac and (b) other anti-depressants.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: At present, the prescriptiondata collected centrally do not relate to the number or age of patients receivingtreatment. In order to provide patient-specific information, such as age, it willbe necessary to identify the patient. The standard health identifier …
6 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions have been issued for (a) Ritalin, (b) Concerta and (c) Strattera in the last 12 months.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The following table shows thenumber of items and gross ingredient cost for atomoxetine (Strattera®), methylphenidatestandard preparation (Ritalin®, Equasym® and the generic form of methylphenidate)and methylphenidate modified release (Concerta XL® and Equasym…
5 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many VisitScotland regional offices are in operation; where they are located; what areas they cover, and what their responsibilities are.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: There are 14 VisitScotland networkoffices located throughout Scotland as shown in the following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td width=186 valign=top> <p align=center>Network Office</p> </td> <td width=104 valign=top> <p a…
5 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many area tourism partnerships are in operation; what areas they cover, and what their responsibilities are.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: There are currently 17 Area TourismPartnerships in operation covering: Aberdeen and Grampian; Dundee and Angus; Fife; Orkney;Perthshire; Argyll, Stirling and the Trossachs; Western Isles; Edinburgh andLothians; Dumfries and Galloway; Ayrshire and Arran; Borde…
24 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been employed in the private sector in each of the last five years
Answer · Tom McCabe: Public and Private sector employmentin Scotland is officially published through the <i>Scottish QuarterlyPublic Sector Employment </i>(<i>SQPSE</i>) series. Estimates of private sectoremployment published in this series are calculated as total employment minu…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available for teachers and parents to help them to better understand Tourette Syndrome.
Answer · Robert Brown: Enquire, the national adviceservice for additional support for learning, is funded by the Scottish Executiveto provide information and advice to parents, young people and practitioners ona range of matters relating to additional support needs, including those…
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested isnot collected centrally.</p>
16 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any ongoing teacher training programmes to enable teachers to recognise the symptoms of Tourette Syndrome or associated disorders in children.
Answer · Robert Brown: This information is not heldcentrally.</p>
8 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it considers that the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has sufficient resources to cope with her workload.
Answer · John Scott: We do consider that the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has sufficient resources to undertake herstatutory functions. As part of the budgetary process, the SPCB invites theOmbudsman on an annual basis to prepare a budget submission which isscrutinised by t…
8 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many staff members the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has had in each year since the office was established.
Answer · John Scott: The Scottish Public ServicesOmbudsman’s staffing compliment since the office was established on 23 October 2002 is asfollows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=71 valign=top> <p align=center>Year</p> </td> <td wi…
8 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the annual budget of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman has been in each year since the office was established.
Answer · John Scott: The annual budgets of the ScottishPublic Services Ombudsman since the office was established on 23 October 2002 areas follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=71 valign=top> <p>Year</p> </td> <td width=93 valig…
2 Mar 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18439 by Peter Peacock on 13 September 2005, whether it will list all the schools that have been closed since August 2005, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to answerto question S2W-18439 on 13 September 2005 was derived from information collectedannually by the Scottish Executive Education Department on the opening and closingof schools. The information collection takes place during the summer…