Parliamentary questions
Richard Baker
2,136 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Apr 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making on the Aberdeen Crossrail project.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The development of theAberdeen Crossrail proposal is being led by Aberdeenshire Council, inpartnership with Aberdeen City Council. I understand that a full appraisal of the proposal is currently being prepared in accordance with the Scottish Executive’s Scott…
1 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in negotiating adjustments to the haddock management regime agreed at the December Fisheries Council.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I am pleased to announce agood result on the various haddock management adjustments we have beendiscussing with the Commission.</p><p>The Commissioner gave hispersonal undertaking to meet our concerns, when Ben Bradshaw and I met him on22 March. Yesterday, th…
31 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to providing transitional aid to the onshore industries affected by the fishing quotas set for this year through the Common Fisheries Policy.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The case for any aid for onshoreindustries will be considered as part of the consideration of the socio-economicimpact of fisheries measures. Such consideration will take into account, for example,the availability of raw material for processors from imports: …
31 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to providing transitional aid to the fishing industry following the agreements through the Common Fisheries Policy negotiations on fishing quotas for this year.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We are considering the socio-economicimpact of fisheries management measures, including the likely effects of proposedchanges, and the case for and nature of any interventions.</p>
24 Mar 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Cogent, the Sector Skills Council, in respect of the promotion of diversification into new technology and more sustainable production in the oil and gas sector.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: When Ispoke at the UK launch of Cogent on 2 March 2004, I underlined the importance ofdeveloping the skills base in the oil and gas industry to meet the newchallenges and opportunities within the sector and beyond. I will meet with theChairman and Chief Execu…
17 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who will take ultimate responsibility for the implementation of a strategy for pest control.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The very diverse nature of pests and pest control may require organisations in some instances andindividuals in others to take responsibility for implementing pest control measures.</p>
17 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to implement and monitor a strategy in respect of pest control.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Currently there are no suchplans. Cases are dealt with on their individual merits.</p>
17 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in attracting new dentists to work in the NHS Grampian area.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Grampian Primary Care NHSTrust is actively pursuing the recruitment of dentists for the salaried generaldental service. In addition, I announced on 20 November 2003 increases in existing recruitment and retention initiatives and theintroduction of a number of…
11 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will continue to support local area destination marketing within the new VisitScotland structure.
Answer · Frank McAveety: Much work has still to bedone on the detail of the new tourism network, but area destination marketingwill be carried out by the tourism hubs which will comprise the network.</p>
3 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5668 by Lewis Macdonald on 28 January 2004, what support is being given to marine energy research in higher education institutions through the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Information about the levelof support is not held centrally. The allocation of funding for research tohigher education institutions is a matter for the Scottish Higher EducationFunding Council. Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies andlegislatio…
1 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is prepared to support the National Library of Scotland's bid to secure the John Murray Archive.
Answer · Frank McAveety: I am delighted to announce that, under Scottish ministers’ arrangements for supporting major purchases by the National Institutions in Scotland, the Scottish Executive will contribute £6.5 million towards the total cost of securing the John Murray Archive for…
25 Feb 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support Scottish football in light of recent financial difficulties in the Scottish Premier League.
Answer · Frank McAveety: The mosteffective contribution the Executive can make to Scottish football is ensuringthat there is a greater pool of healthy, physically active young peopleavailable and willing to become involved in football. That is why we areinvesting significant sums in …
18 Feb 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in helping local authorities develop sustainable strategies for dealing with waste.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Plans for the sustainable management of municipal waste in Scotland were set out in the National Waste Plan and its 11 constituent area waste plans published early in 2003. To support implementation of the plans, around £120 million to 2006 has, to date, been…
4 Feb 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to appoint a new head of the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Theappointment of Mr Graeme Pearson as the new Director of the Scottish DrugEnforcement Agency was announced on Friday 6 February.</p>
28 Jan 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to afford greater protection to bus drivers on duty.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Working closely with the STUC, employers’ organisations and other relevant bodies and agencies, the Scottish Executive is currently developing a package of measures to help address the problem of attacks on workers who provide services to the public. Ihave me…
22 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the creation of an Energy Intermediary Technology Institute in Aberdeen will have on the development of marine energy technology.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I expect the EnergyIntermediary Technology Institute (EITI) to focus strongly on areas such asmarine energy where Scotland, with indigenous developers leading the field, has apotential competitive advantage. The EITI will support the development ofmarine and …
22 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting research into the development of marine energy technology.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We have contributed over £2million towards the capital cost of the European Marine Energy Centre offOrkney, due to begin operating by April this year. The Centre will play a vitalrole in the testing and accreditation of wave energy devices. We are alsoprovidi…
22 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government and other stakeholders in respect of developing the use of marine energy.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Forum for RenewableEnergy Development in Scotland (FREDS), which comprises senior stakeholdersfrom Government, academia, the industry and enterprise networks, hasestablished a sub-group tasked with developing an action plan for the developmentof marine en…
16 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what future plans it has to support veterinary services at the Scottish Agricultural College.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-5557. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa" targ…
16 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will continue to support environmental and plant research by the Scottish Agricultural College.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Our present plans are to continue to commission environmental and plant research, and veterinary services from the Scottish Agricultural College. The Scottish Executive is currently reviewing its Strategy for Agricultural, Biological and Related Research. Fut…
7 Jan 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to respond to fear of crime with information about levels of crime.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Informationon the levels of crime recorded by the police in Scotland is published annually through a National StatisticsStatistical Bulletin: <i>Recorded Crime in Scotland</i>. These bulletins show a25% reduction in total crime since 1991.</p><p>The ScottishC…
26 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made under the National Cultural Strategy in 2003 to date.
Answer · Frank McAveety: I am delighted to statethat, tomorrow morning, at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh, Ishall launch the 3rd annual report of the National Cultural Strategy. Thisgives a full account of much progress and many important announcements andinitiatives for Sc…
13 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to promote the civil rights of disabled people.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive is committedto promoting disabled people’s rights and tackling discrimination andinequality. Our equality strategy provides a framework for this work across departments.</p><p>The Executive is also usingthe opportunity provided by the European Y…
11 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support local racial equality councils.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive values thework and commitment of race equality councils in Scotland. As voluntary bodies,it is open to them to apply to the Executive for funding under relevantExecutive grant programmes, such as the ethnic minorities grants scheme.</p>
29 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish information on its use of the Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) scheme.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The first RSA Scotland AnnualReport is published today. A copy has been placed in the Parliament’s ReferenceCentre (Bib. number 29374).</p>
25 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funds it would receive through the Barnett formula as a result of the 7% increase in 18- to 30-year-olds studying in higher education in England projected in The Future of Higher Education.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive will receivethrough the Barnett formula, a proportion of any additional Government funds providedfor higher education in England, including any in order to meet the costs of increasingcapacity.</p><p>It will then be for Scottishminister…
24 Sep 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle anti-social use of cars.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Anti-social use of cars can takea number of forms ranging from dangerous driving, abandonment and excessive noisethrough to throwing litter from vehicles. The police are responsible for the enforcementof the road traffic law. Local authorities are responsible…
10 Jul 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people, and what percentage of the work force, (a) are employed in the manufacturing industry and (b) were so employed in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The table shows the number of people employed in the manufacturing industry in their main job, also expressed as a percentage of the total workforce:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=258><TR><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP" ROWSPAN=2 HEIGHT=51><P>Ye…
19 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to build on the performance of drug treatment and testing orders in Aberdeen.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire drug treatment and testing orders (DTTO) scheme became operational in December 2001 and was the third DTTO project to be set up, after Glasgow and Fife. The number of DTTOs imposed to date in Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire is 65. The scheme…
19 Jun 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for a drugs court in Aberdeen.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Ministers will decide the future policy on drugs courts, in Aberdeen and elsewhere in Scotland, when they have the findings of the independent evaluation of the two-year pilot drugs courts in Glasgow and Fife.