Parliamentary questions
Murdo Fraser
2,062 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet the Forum of Private Business in order to discuss increases in business water charges.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-1125 today. 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/webapp/search…
25 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met Scottish Water in order to discuss the water charge increases to small businesses and pass on any concerns of the small business sector in relation to this matter.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As minister responsible for the water industry in Scotland, I have regular meetings with Scottish Water on a wide range of issues. We discussed this at our most recent meeting on 7 July.
18 Jun 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in implementing its alcohol strategy.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Good progress is being made in delivering the <I>Plan for Action on alcohol problems</I>. Key Executive action to date includes additional funding for local Alcohol Action Teams, development of a national alcohol information resource, publication of an alcoho…
17 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Manufacturing Steering Group has recommended the abolition of business rates.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member given to the answer given to question S2W-876 today. 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/webapp/s…
17 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the recommendations of the Scottish Manufacturing Steering Group are published.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member given to the answer given to question S2W-876 today. 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/webapp/s…
17 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who the members are of the Scottish Manufacturing Steering Group.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The full membership of the Scottish Manufacturing Steering Group was listed in their report, <I>Nurturing Wealth Creation: A Report by the Scottish Manufacturing Steering Group,</I> which was published in February 2003. A copy can be found on the Executive's …
17 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-450 by Mr Andy Kerr on 11 June 2003, when it will publish the results of its study into business taxation.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive intends to publish the findings of its comparative study of business taxation in late summer 2003.
17 Jun 2003 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer how much of the total cost of the Holyrood building project has been paid out as at 31 May 2003.
Answer · George Reid: Around £203 million capital has been spent on the new Parliament building project and just over £4 million capital on associated landscaping.
12 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to the Scottish Adult Learning Partnership.
Answer · Jim Wallace: In 2003-04 the Scottish Adult Learning Partnership was awarded £20,000 Headquarters Grant under the Further Education (Approved Associations) (Scotland) Grant Regulations 1989.
12 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which road locations in the Perth and Kinross area have recorded fatal and serious road accidents in each year since 1999.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Fatal and serious road accidents have been recorded on the A9, M90, A90 and A85 trunk roads within the Perth and Kinross area in each year since 1999. Accident figures for local authority roads are not held centrally. The trunk road accident figures are as fo…
12 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents have been reported at the Aberuthven junction on the A9 in each of the last five years.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The number of injury accidents that have been reported at the Aberuthven junction on the A9 in each of the last five years is as follows:<P><CENTER><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=595><TR><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year</TD><TD WIDTH="26%…
12 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents have been reported at the Auchterarder South junction on the A9 in each of the last five years.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The number of injury accidents that have been reported at the Auchterarder South junction on the A9 in each of the last five years is as follows: <P><CENTER><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=595><TR><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year</TD><TD W…
12 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents have been reported on the A9 between the Keir roundabout at Dunblane and Broxden roundabout at Perth in each of the last five years.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The number of injury accidents that have been reported on the A9 between Keir roundabout at Dunblane and Broxden roundabout at Perth in each of the last five years is as follows: <TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=276><TR><TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="…
4 Jun 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has conducted a safety review of junctions on the A9 between Perth and Stirling.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: A safety review of the junctions on the A9 between Perth and Stirling was carried out in 2002. A further study looking at the feasibility of possible junction improvements is expected to be concluded soon.
30 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a programme similar to the proposed futurebuilders programme developed by HM Treasury.
Answer · Margaret Curran: This is currently under consideration and a decision will be taken shortly.
27 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the economic impact of increasing annual expenditure on transport infrastructure by #100 million.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive expects all transport projects that it funds to undergo rigorous appraisal, in accordance with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance. The economic impact of each transport infrastructure investment is identified as part of that appr…
27 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the economic impact of reducing business rates to the same level as England.
Answer · Andy Kerr: In response to a recommendation made by the Scottish Manufacturing Steering Group, the Executive is undertaking a study to compare the levels of local taxation with Scotland's competitors in Europe and the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development…
27 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been to date to Scottish Natural Heritage of its project to reintroduce the beaver.
Answer · Allan Wilson: This is a matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. The information requested is not held centrally.
12 Mar 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to review the boundaries of the Cairngorms National Park.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We have no plans to do so. We took account of all relevant considerations when proposing the boundaries for the park. We had to strike a balance between the desirability of including certain areas for their natural heritage importance and the need to establis…
5 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-6514 by Malcolm Chisholm on 27 February 2003, whether it will now ask the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to institute an inquiry into the operations of Eurocare Environmental Services Ltd, in the light of the company's recent prosecuti…
Answer · Ross Finnie: No. Operational decisions on monitoring and enforcement action are for SEPA.
20 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are in place for Fife NHS Board to refer patients with severe dependency on alcohol and with complex needs to appropriate residential establishments, where care in the community and out-patient treatment are deemed inappropriate.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: This is a matter for NHS Fife. The information requested is not held centrally.
19 Feb 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Eurocare Environmental Services Ltd holds any contracts for the disposal of waste from the NHS in Scotland.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Eurocare Environmental Services Ltd currently holds 52% of the market share of contracts for the disposal of health care clinical waste from NHSScotland.<P>Recent legal action against Eurocare culminated in the imposition of a fine below that considered to ha…
11 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is responsible for the maintenance of the Murray Fountain in James Square, Crieff.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive is not responsible for the maintenance of the Murray Fountain in James Square, Crieff. Responsibility for the maintenance, repair and protection of statues and monuments lies with the owner, or the body in which it is vested. However, s…
22 Jan 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the appointment of active members of the Labour Party to the boards of public bodies.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Appointments to public bodies are made solely on merit following a fair and open process that involves independent scrutiny. An applicant's political activity or affiliation has no bearing on the criteria for selection.
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any evidence that Johne's disease is transmissible to humans.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It has been claimed for many years that Johne's disease, caused by <EM>Mycobacterium avium</EM> var <EM>paratuberculosis </EM>(MAP) is at least part of the cause of Crohn's Disease in people. The evidence is inconclusive. The UK Advisory Committee on Dangerou…
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to eradicate Johne's disease in cattle.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Surveillance Group on Diseases and Infections of Animals has set up a Surveillance Working Group to look into Johne's disease in the national herd. As part of their remit the group aims to determine:<P>the prevalence of the disease in the national herd;<P…
16 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence of Johne's disease has been in cattle in those years for which figures are available.
Answer · Ross Finnie: No figures are available for Johne's disease, as it is not a notifiable animal disease.<P>However, the Surveillance Group on Diseases and Infections of Animals has set up a working group and part of its remit will be to look into the prevalence of the disease…
15 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32920 by Malcolm Chisholm on 14 January 2003, whether it has any plans to collate information on the percentage of children in private residential care homes that have been prescribed Ritalin and similar class drugs.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has no plans to collate information on the percentage of children in private residential care homes that have been prescribed Ritalin and similar class drugs.<P>The decision on whether or not to prescribe a drug for a patient is always a matter …
8 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what biomedical research into medical problems such as hyperkinetic disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism it is funding and where any such research is being conducted.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), within the Scottish Executive Health Department, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. CSO is currently funding two biomedical research projects on autism. T…
8 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to develop a centralised day or residential patient service for patients of all ages with behavioural or biomedical conditions such as hyperkinetic disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism and, if so, where and in what timescale.
Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive has no such plans. The provision of services to meet the needs of people with these disorders is a matter for local health and social care organisations.