Richard Baker

20 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the Safe City Centres Initiative has had on crime in Aberdeen city centre.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Safe City Centres Initiative has undertaken a number of projects in Aberdeen city centre. For example, three car parks attained the Park Mark award under the Safer Parking Award Scheme. The total reported crime incidents in these car parks has reduced sig…

18 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether past efficiency of management and budget will be taken into account by the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council in awarding funds to colleges.

Answer · Allan Wilson: This is an operationalmatter for the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, however Iunderstand that colleges may only apply their SFEFC funding for the purposesintended and must ensure sound financial management arrangements are in placefor t…

18 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the overall efficiency of colleges will be taken into account by the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council in awarding funds and if so, how.

Answer · Allan Wilson: This is an operationalmatter for the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, however Iunderstand that funding allocations willcontinue to be allocated to colleges and higher education institutions usingthe same funding allocation methodologies …

18 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the remoteness of colleges will be taken into account by the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council in the awarding of funds to colleges.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Further andHigher Education Funding Council will continue to fund colleges andinstitutions using the same funding allocation methodologies as SFEFC and SHEFCcurrently use.</p><p>As part of SFEFC formulafunding, an additional element is awarded to…

7 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is engaging with the Ministry of Defence and related agencies on the future of weather forecasting services in Scotland.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I recently wrote to Don TouhigMP, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans to express concernsat the proposal to close the Met Office’s weather centre in Aberdeen and ask himto take account of the success and expertise of the Aberdeen Of…

7 Jul 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much is spent annually by its agencies on services from the Met Office.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The total spend by the Executive and its agencies on services (rounded to the nearest £100) for the latest three full financial years is as follows.</p> <p>Financial Year 2002-03: £7,400</p><p>Financial Year 2003-04: £4.300</p><p>Financial Year 2004-05: £16,9…

16 Mar 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the publication of the inshore fisheries review will benefit rural development and the environment.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Strategic Framework for Inshore Fisheries and the Inshore Fisheries Groups which will be established are primarily fisheries management tools. On the basis that the aim is help to develop sustainable inshore fisheries which help to maintain communities wh…

9 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any changes to the rates of student support for further and higher education students which will apply for the academic year 2005-06.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I am delighted to announce thenew rates of support for students in further and higher education for academic year2005-06. I am today placing in the Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib.number 35558) details of the rates of those loans, bursaries and gr…

2 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has recently designated any new national services within the NHS in Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I recently decided that the followingservices should be designated as national services with effect from 1 April 2005:</p><p>the Paediatric Spinal SurgicalService, provided at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, but in close consultationwith York…

26 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the farm income figures for 2004.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is today publishing the Scottish farm income figures. There are two separate data series published at this time, each of which looks at agriculture from a different perspective.</p><p>The Total Income from Farming series is an aggregate…

19 Jan 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in addressing the need for affordable housing in rural areas.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We have increased our investment in rural areas this year to nearly £80 million which will fund more than 1,400 affordable homes. The percentage share of the housing investment programme allocated to rural areas now stands at a record high - 28% in 2004-05 co…

13 Jan 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is given to efficiency in awarding funding allocations to further and higher education institutions.

Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Councils, however, I understand that funding is based on a units of resource applied to a fixed target of activity. This provides a strong incentive for institutions to be eff…

1 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging home-link ICT projects for school pupils.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Within the National Grid for Learning programme the Executive is providing all primary schools with membership of Gridclub, a web education resource for children aged 7-11. This includes a safe online environment in which primary children can interact and mes…

1 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it is providing in the NHS Grampian area for the provision and fitting of prosthetic limbs.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the question S2W-12746 answered on 16 December 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk…

1 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it is providing for the provision and fitting of prosthetic limbs.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: There is no portion of the general allocation provided to NHS boards that is specifically ring fenced for the provision and fitting of prosthetic limbs, which forms part of Rehabilitation Technology Services. It for each NHS board to decide how best to apport…

24 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what appointments are being made to the board of the Scottish University for Industry.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish University for Industry will become an Executive non-departmental public body with private limited company status from 1 April 2005. The Scottish University for Industry was established in 2000 and has made an important contribution to learning i…

17 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to increase the availability of affordable housing in rural areas.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We have increased our investment in rural areas this year to £80 million which will fund more than 1,400 affordable homes. Other important measures include the development of new models for low-cost home ownership and action to improve land supply for afforda…

10 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in respect of regionalisation of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I was delighted to host the first meeting of the first Regional Advisory Council (RAC), the North Sea RAC, in Edinburgh on 4 November. We expect two further RACs in which Scotland has a major interest, the North Western Waters and Pelagic RACs, to be establis…

2 Nov 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in preparing for the implementation of the tourism network from April 2005.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Earlier this year, ministers decided that there was a compelling case for change in Scotland’s tourism support arrangements, based on the need to better integrate and focus public sector support on strengthening Scotland’s tourism and related businesses and g…

11 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels on Monday 18 October 2004.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I attended the one day Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on Monday 18 October with Margaret Beckett and Ben Bradshaw.</p><p>As this was the last Council attended by Commissioners Franz Fischler and David Byrne, the Council took the opportunity t…

7 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the conclusions are of the review of police funding.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Today I am publishing the findings of the Police Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) Working Group which was set up to consider how best to distribute police funding between Scottish forces. The working group has produced a new formula which aims to ensure that the…

4 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is encouraging local authorities to preserve access to public golf courses in local plans.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The content of a local plan is a matter for the planning authority for that particular area. There is no specific local plan policy on public access to golf courses. However, <i>National Planning Policy Guideline 11: Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space<…

22 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update of progress being made with the Financial Services Strategy Group following its third meeting on 14 September 2004.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Financial Services Strategy Group (FSSG) is charged with developing a vision and strategy to support the future success of the financial services sector in Scotland. Building on its earlier work, it has identified three areas around which it will build it…

1 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, when the outcome of the review of Part 5 of the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 will be announced.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Part 5 of the act, which cameinto force on 1 July 2002, provides important safeguards for adults with incapacitywho need medical treatment. At the same time, it brings helpful clarity to a hithertouncertain area of law for health care professionals who give s…

1 Jul 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when a consultation paper on reform of the laws of personal bankruptcy and diligence will be published.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I am publishing today a consultationpaper with a draft Bill which proposes wide-ranging reforms to personal bankruptcyand diligence. This meets the First Minister’s commitment on 28 May 2003 to consult.The consultation period will run until 30 September 2004.…

30 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role the joining together of Friends of Scotland and globalscot will play in the promotion of Scotland's international image and how the Executive will build on the past activities of Friends of Scotland and globalscot.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Both networks have an important role to play in developing an image of a modern, confident Scotland. We greatly value the work carried out by the members to date. We aim to build on that by avoiding overlap and ensuring better co-operation and integration of …

21 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to secure the long-term future of the Scottish Science Centres.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive recognises that science centres are valuable assets in helping to create a more enterprising, pro-science country. Science and innovation are two of Scotland’s key strengths, vital ingredients for economic growth and to achieve the aims of Smart…

16 Jun 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that street parades and marches do not encourage anti-social behaviour.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive announced yesterday Sir John Orr’s appointment to review the licensing system for marches and parades. One of the issues Sir John will consider is how the licensing system can better manage antisocial behaviour associated with marches or parades…

4 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will undertake the national consultation on smoking in public places, which it committed itself to in its Tobacco Control Action Plan, A Breath of Fresh Air for Scotland, published in January 2004.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The consultation on smoking inpublic places will be launched today and will run until the end of September. Theconsultation will test public opinion on the need for legislation to prohibit orrestrict smoking in public places and to offer individuals, business…

29 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will consult on its plans to merge the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Executive, on 30 April 2004, issuedits consultation paper on this proposed merger, with a copy of a draft bill. Weare looking for responses by 15 July 2004. </p><p>Aspart of the consultation process a series of events will be held around Scotland forthose…