Parliamentary questions
Richard Baker
2,136 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents there were on rural roads in Grampian between November 2006 and February 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Data about injuryroad accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executiveusing the Stats 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidentsin which one or more people were injured and which become known to the police.…
11 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents there were in Grampian between November 2006 and February 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Data about injuryroad accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executiveusing the Stats 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidentsin which one or more people were injured and which become known to the police.…
11 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support rural local authorities in ensuring that sufficient resources are available to maintain local roads during the winter months.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Governmentsupports local authorities’ net revenue expenditure on road maintenance and wintermaintenance through the core local government finance settlement. All local authoritiesreceive their needs-based share of the road maintenance and winter …
31 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has undertaken with the stakeholders in the oil and gas industry on the need to address skills gaps.
Answer · Jim Mather: We are working throughPILOT, the joint industry/government taskforce, on the key issues that are vitalfor the oil and gas industry’s future success. PILOT and the industry, togetherwith The Scottish Government, are working together to deliver a range of train…
31 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has undertaken with the Unite (Amicus Section) trade union on the establishment of an oil and gas skills academy.
Answer · Jim Mather: There has been norecent bilateral consultation but there is trade union representation on PILOT.</p>
31 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to establish an oil and gas skills academy.
Answer · Jim Mather: We are working throughPILOT, the joint industry/government taskforce, on the key issues that are vitalfor the oil and gas industry’s future success. PILOT and the industry, togetherwith The Scottish Government, are working together to deliver a range of train…
29 Aug 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce offending related to alcohol misuse.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This government isfirmly committed to tackling alcohol misuse and the associated problems faced byour communities.</p><p>We recently announcedthat we are looking at the legalposition concerning offences associated with alcohol misuse. We will examine howwe ca…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has received on its ability to make payments to graduates to enable it to implement retrospectively a policy of abolishing student loans.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I am currently working withofficials to take forward the proposals of replacing loans with grants andremoving the burden of student loan repayments for Scottish resident anddomiciled borrowers. The Scottish Executive takes all appropriate advice as isnecessar…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has received on its ability to make payments to graduates to enable it to implement retrospectively its policy of ending the graduate endowment.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Executive takesall appropriate advice as is necessary in relation to the formulation of eachpolicy. The policy of abolishing the graduate endowment is currently subject topublic consultation and the Scottish Executive will give consideration to a…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into the effect of ending graduate endowment payments on the number of students applying to study at Scottish institutions from other EU countries.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Executive hasnot carried out specific research into the prospect of ending the graduateendowment fee payments on the number of students applying to study at Scottishinstitutions from other EU countries.</p><p>We will continue to monitorthe number…
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what income it anticipates will be lost through ending all future graduate endowment payments from non-Scottish EU citizens.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The estimated loss of incomefrom ending all future graduate endowment payments from non-Scottish EUcitizens is £1.5m per year.</p>
26 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it anticipates the cost will be of ending graduate endowment payments from non-Scottish EU citizens currently studying at Scottish institutions and eligible to pay.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: There will be no additionalcost, other than the loss of income of £1.5 million annually, to the ScottishExecutive of ending graduate endowment payments solely from non-Scottish EUcitizens currently studying at Scottish institutions and eligible to pay.</p>
19 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-795 by Stewart Stevenson on 19 June 2007, when the results of Transport Scotland’s review of all strategic transport projects will be made available to the Parliament.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to thequestion S3W-01256 answered on 24 July 2007. All answers to written PQs areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search">http://www.sco…
19 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-795 by Stewart Stevenson on 19 June 2007, who will be consulted as part of Transport Scotland’s review of all strategic transport projects.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to thequestion S3W-01256 answered on 24 July 2007. All answers to written PQs areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search">http://www.sco…
19 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-795 by Stewart Stevenson on 19 June 2007, what the timescale is for Transport Scotland to complete its review of all strategic transport projects.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I asked Transport Scotlandto undertake a detailed review of all transport projects inherited from theprevious administration.</p><p>I reported the outcome ofthis review to Parliament on Wednesday 27 June 2007.</p>
13 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-515 by Kenny MacAskill on 13 June 2007, how many people aged under 18 have been charged with possession of an offensive weapon in the Grampian Police area in each of the last five years for which information is available.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Statistics onpersons cautioned and charged by the police are not collected centrally. Theavailable information on persons proceeded against in court is given in the followingtable.</p><p>Persons AgedUnder 18 in Grampian Police Force Area Proceeded Against in …
13 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-515 by Kenny MacAskill on 13 June 2007, how many people were charged with possession of an offensive weapon in the Grampian Police area in each of the last five years for which information is available.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Statistics on thenumber of people cautioned and charged by the police are not collectedcentrally. The available information on persons proceeded against in court isgiven in the following table.</p><p>Persons inGrampian Police Force Area Proceeded Against in C…
8 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report to the Parliament on a review of existing proposals for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-795 on 19 June 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/wa.sear…
8 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which agencies will carry out a review of existing proposals for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-795 on 19 June 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/wa.sear…
8 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale will be for a review of existing proposals for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-795 on 19 June 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/wa.sear…
8 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of a review of existing proposals for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-795 on 19 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.sea…
8 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who will be consulted as part of a review of the existing proposals for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no specificreview planned for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route. Wehave asked Transport Scotland to examine it as part of a review of all strategictransport projects. We continue to monitor all projects to ensure proper financialcontrol and mana…
6 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when funding will be made available for regeneration work in the Middlefield area of Aberdeen.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-601 26 June 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search"…
6 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will be made available for regeneration work in the Middlefield area of Aberdeen.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-601 26 June 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/wa.search"…
6 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the completion of regeneration work in the Middlefield area of Aberdeen.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-601 on 26 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.sea…
6 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is working with Aberdeen City Council and other agencies to ensure that regeneration work in the Middlefield area of Aberdeen begins as soon as possible.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I understand thatAberdeen City Council is developing regeneration proposals for six areas of theCity, including Middlefield. The council has had informal discussions with CommunitiesScotland but no formal proposals for funding have been submitted to the gover…
6 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to support proposals for a bye-law banning the use of airguns in Aberdeen.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Governmentis committed to taking action to protect our communities from the real fear andharm caused by the misuse of air weapons. We shall look at any proposal from AberdeenCity Council on this issue with interest.</p>
6 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aberdeen City Council regarding proposals for a bye-law banning the use of airguns in Aberdeen.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No discussions havetaken place on this issue.</p>
6 Jun 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will move from assessing proposals for Aberdeen Crossrail to construction of the project and what timescale it anticipates for construction.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We will carefully consider theSTAG 2 appraisal currently being finalised by the North East of Scotland TransportPartnership. I understand the report should be with Transport Scotland by theend of the summer. It is at that point that we can make the appropriat…
5 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged under 18 were convicted of possession of an offensive weapon in the Grampian Police area in each of the last five years for which information is available.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information isgiven in the following table.</p><p>Persons Aged Under 18 inGrampian Police Force Area with a Charge Proved in Court for Carrying Knives orPossessing an Offensive Weapon<sup>1</sup>, 2001-02 to 2005-06</p><table border=1 cellspaci…