Parliamentary questions

Richard Baker

2,136 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what campaigns it is planning to increase participation rates for sport in schools, colleges, universities and the community in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6252 on 20 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its targets are for increasing participation rates for sport in schools, colleges, universities and the community in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: This government iscommitted not only to ensuring that the games in 2014 are the best sportingevent that this country has ever seen, but also that the games are used as acatalyst for social change. We have an unrivalled opportunity to really use thepower of sp…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Grampian Institute for Sport will receive additional funding and technical support for developing world-class athletes in the north east.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: It will be the responsibilityof sportscotland to determine if additional funding and technical support is required.However it should be noted that the review of sportscotlandcurrently underway involves examining whether sportscotland’s current function…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish a timetable for delivery of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Information onkey dates for the delivery of the games are set out in the Glasgow 2014Candidate City File which can be found at:<ahref="http://www.glasgow2014.com/Our-Bid/Candidate-City-File/">http://www.glasgow2014.com/Our-Bid/Candidate-City-File/</a>.…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a consultation to ensure that the delivery of the 2014 Commonwealth Games will benefit all local authorities in Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Within the first100 days, we will consult on an outline plan of how we intend to secure alasting legacy for everyone in Scotland from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legacy the 2014 Commonwealth Games will leave for the Grampian area.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The ScottishGovernment has a very clear commitment to ensuring that the whole of Scotland benefits from the Commonwealth Games in 2014.We will work withrelevant agencies and local authorities to ensure that, Scottish businesses arewell-placed to bid fo…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage competing nations to use the north east as a training base in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The ScottishGovernment would like as many teams as possible to base a training camp in Scotland prior to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We will buildon work already being done to ensure as many Scottish facilities as possible,including facilities in the north e…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for (a) maintaining existing and (b) building new sports facilities in the Grampian area to accommodate teams that use the area as a training base leading up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: It is a statutoryresponsibility for local authorities to provide adequate sports facilities for itsresidents including on-going maintenance and repair. Our National and Regional SportsFacilities Strategy aims to provide world class training and competition fa…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional investment it will provide for the development of sport in the north east in the years leading up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: It is not possibleto identify additional investment in sport to the north east of Scotland at this time.

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to proceed more quickly with proposals for an Olympic-standard swimming pool in Aberdeen so that it will be available for use by local athletes ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6241 on 21 November 2007. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, thesearch facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in establishing an Olympic-standard swimming pool in Aberdeen with a view to it being available to be used by international teams as a training base before the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6241 on 21 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in establishing an Olympic-standard swimming pool in Aberdeen with a view to it being available to be used by local athletes before the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-6241 on 21 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will work with Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council to promote proposals for a regional sports centre and Olympic-standard swimming pool in Aberdeen to encourage international teams competing in the Olympic and Commonwealth games to use Aberdeen as a training base.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Work is currentlyunderway on the construction of the Chris Anderson Stadium multi‑sport facilitywhich will be suitable for hosting national and regional sporting events as wellas providing a range of quality sporting facilities which will be available t…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in constructing a north-east regional sports centre in Aberdeen with a view to it being available to be used by international teams as a training base before the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Work is currentlyunderway on the construction of the Chris Anderson Stadium multi-sport facilitywhich will be suitable for use by both local and international athletes and teams.Our investment of£7 million in the development of this facility is a clear…

12 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in constructing a north-east regional sports centre in Aberdeen with a view to it being available to be used by local athletes before the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2012 Olympic Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Work is currentlyunderway on the construction of the Chris Anderson Stadium multi sport facilitywhich will be suitable for use by both local and international athletes and teams.Our investment of£7 million in the development of this facility is a clear…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5136 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 October 2007, whether the decision-making process in the review of cleft lip and palate services in Aberdeen is the same as the process that will be used to review other areas of NHS Scotland’s national service delivery.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The highly specialisedsurgical element of the cleft lip and palate service is formally designated as anational service. All of these services are subject to regular review to make surethat they continue to meet the criteria for designation. The decision-makin…

8 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5136 by Nicola Sturgeon on 30 October 2007, what the membership was of the review group on cleft lip and palate services in Aberdeen.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The membership of the Review Group was as follows:MrArthur Morris (Chair) Retired Plastic SurgeonMr John Boorman ConsultantPlastic Surgeon, Queen Victoria HospitalMsKathy Collins Nu…

7 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of the timetable for construction of the Aberdeen Crossrail project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The STAG 2 appraisalhas not yet been finalised by the North East of Scotland Transport Partnership (NESTRANS).We are therefore not in a position to make a decision on this.

7 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a timetable for construction of the Aberdeen Crossrail project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The STAG 2 appraisalhas not yet been finalised by the North East of Scotland Transport Partnership (NESTRANS).It is therefore premature to talk about construction timescales.

7 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-212 by Stewart Stevenson on 14 June 2007, when it will make a decision on the timescale for commencing construction of Aberdeen Crossrail following consideration of the STAG 2 appraisal.

7 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been involved in any research to ensure that there is an equitable pricing regime for rail fares across Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are currently reviewingthe rail fares policy that we inherited as part of the current rail franchise toconsider whether there are any improvements that can be made. This will includeconsideration of the variation in rail fares across the country and across…

7 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the policy of First Scotrail that young persons railcards are not valid between 6.00 am and 9.15 am from Monday to Friday.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Young PersonsRailcard is a Great Britain-wide discounted ticketing scheme operated by the Associationof Train Operating Companies (ATOC) on behalf of all train operating companies.The product is one of a series of discount schemes provided by the previous…

2 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the community projects in the Grampian area that will benefit in 2007-08 from money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The allocation offunds for 2007-08 has yet to be determined. An announcement will be made followingthe finalisation of new arrangements.

2 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the community projects in the Grampian area that are receiving funding as a result of money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: No community projectswithin Grampian area have received funding through the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.The allocation of funds for 2007-08 has yet to be determined. An announcement willbe made following the finalisation of new arrangements.

2 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what income was obtained as a result of assets being recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 from criminals who were convicted of offences related to drug dealing in the Grampian area in the first six months of the 2007-08 financial year.

Answer · Frank Mulholland: There have been noconfiscation orders made relating to drug-related offences in the Grampian areain the first six months of the 2007-08 financial year.

2 Nov 2007 · Written Question

Answer · Elish Angiolini: Forty-fourconfiscation orders in relation to drug related offences of a value amountingto £794,424 were made in the first six months of 2007-08 financial year.

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the timescale for the regeneration of Middlefield in Aberdeen is likely to have on the timescale for improvements at the Haudagain roundabout and what dialogue it has had with Aberdeen City Council on this issue.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5867 on 19 November 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/w…

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that a flyover should be one of the options consulted on for improvements at the Haudagain roundabout in Aberdeen, given that public consultation has been delayed.

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it now believes that work on improvements at the Haudagain roundabout in Aberdeen will begin.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5867 on 19 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the delay to public consultation on improvements at the Haudagain roundabout in Aberdeen will have on the overall timescale for the project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Following the recentreporter’s determination against the third Don Crossing as proposed in the FinalisedAberdeen Local Plan there is a requirement for the current Haudagain STAG assessmentto take stock of the implications of this decision.This work iso…