Parliamentary questions

Dr Alasdair Allan

348 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of an advert by defence contractor QinetiQ for a post to “undertake Range modernisation, integration of Command and Control functions for the Aberporth and Hebrides Ranges, and implement remote control and monitoring of much of the Hebrides Range T&E equipment”, whether it consi…

Answer · Jim Mather: Jim Murphy, Secretary of State for Scotland, has subsequently announced on 15 September 2009 that the proposals would in fact be abandoned. It therefore appears that the appearance of that job advert has been overtaken by events.

14 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to the UK Government following the publication of an advert by defence contractor QinetiQ for a post to “undertake Range modernisation, integration of Command and Control functions for the Aberporth and Hebrides Ranges, and implement remote control and mo…

3 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on the provision of adequate tied police houses in rural areas as a means of ensuring that police cover is maintained in these areas.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government places great importance in ensuring all of Scotland''s communities receive effective policing. The government recognises that many police forces in Scotland therefore retain tied housing stock to help support operational policing in ar…

6 Aug 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Registrar General will publish his annual report for 2008.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scotland''s Population 2008: the Registrar General''s Annual Review of Demographic Trends is published today. The report contains information about births, deaths and marriages during the year, together with other demographic information. A …

18 Jun 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to increase the provision of education for adult learners of Gaelic.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government recognises the vital role which Gaelic adult education has to play in creating a secure future for the language in Scotland. The Scottish Government also recognises the importance of increasing the opportunities for and the effectivene…

18 May 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish its consultation paper on a draft crofting reform Bill.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The consultation paper on a draft Crofting Reform Bill will be published later today. Copies will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48142).

30 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it is providing to NHS Western Isles in terms of its cumulative deficit of £3.1 million.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is providing resources of £3.1 million to NHS Western Isles to clear a deficit built up in previous years. NHS Western Isles has balanced its books over the past two years (2007‘08 and 2008‘09) and the Scottish Government has now agree…

12 Mar 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is considering to support the Harris Tweed industry in light of recent job losses.

Answer · Jim Mather: We were very concerned to hear that Kenneth Mackenzie Ltd. planned to close the mill in Stornoway for 12 months. Scottish ministers are committed to supporting a strong and vibrant Harris Tweed sector and will work jointly with the Harris Tweed Indus…

19 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the public service obligation air route between Stornoway and Benbecula, commencing in April 2009, to be awarded.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The award of the contract for the public service obligation air service between Stornoway and Benbecula is a matter for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

5 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to respond to the views of fishermen and other local interests when dealing with the European Commission’s proposals for special area of conservation designations in the Sound of Barra and near Mingulay.

Answer · Michael Russell: This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0205-01.htm">http://www.scot…

16 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Housing Regulator anticipates that the Hebridean Housing Partnership will have provided the necessary information about its financial plans to the Scottish Government for consideration.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator to respond. Her response is as follows: The regulator has received a range of information from the Partnership to allow it to assess the partnership''s financial plan…

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the estimated percentage of the extra fuel required to heat houses in (a) Edinburgh, (b) Glasgow, (c) Aberdeen, (d) Dundee, (e) Stornoway and (f) Braemar compared with identical houses in Bristol.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The estimated percentage of extra fuel, compared to Bristol, used to heat a typical semi-detached and detached house with gas central heating and with non-white meter electric heating in those locations is shown in table 1: Table 1: The % of Extra Fu…

9 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much fuel it takes to heat a typical semi-detached house with (a) gas central heating and (b) non-white meter electric heating in (i) Braemar, (ii) Stornoway, (iii) Aberdeen, (iv) Edinburgh, (v) Dundee and (vi) Glasgow and what information it has on how this compares with the amount t…

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The fuel used (in kilowatt hours) to heat a typical semi-detached house with gas central heating and with non-white meter electric heating in those locations is shown in table 1: Table 1: The Fuel Used (Kwh) Across Scotland to Heat a Semi-Detached Ho…

8 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to address the economic circumstances in the Western Isles following such events as the announcement of the closure of the Lighthouse Caledonia fish processing factory on Lewis and the downturn in the Harris Tweed industry.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Lighthouse Caledonia announcement is of course regrettable and, coupled with the downturn in the Harris Tweed industry, poses obvious challenges to the Western Isles economy. The Scottish Government will continue to work with local partners, both in the p…

8 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it plans to have with housing associations on investment reform.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: We have today published Investing in Affordable Housing: a consultation which invites comments from the wider housing sector on our proposals for reform. Copies have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47123)

13 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the likely economic impact on the Western Isles should the European Commission’s initial proposals on west of Scotland prawn fishery be approved.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Commission has made no assessment of its proposal''s likely economic impact on the affected areas. However, I am certain that if it went ahead it would have a devastating effect on the west coast, removing landings worth at least £70 million from vulnerab…

13 Nov 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to ensure that public sector jobs are dispersed throughout Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: In January I set out the Scottish Government''s relocation policy. Our approach is based on making better use of the existing government estate, securing value for money and ensuring the operational effectiveness of individual bodies. Where those tes…

12 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Skills Development Scotland will be in a position to confirm further details of its commitment to dispersing work to its centre on the Isle of Benbecula and to ensure that this operation grows and develops.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Decisions about the dispersal of work to Benbecula are an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland (SDS). However, I understand that they have no plans to reduce current staffing at the centre and indeed are looking to further develop its use as par…

21 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policies on addressing fuel poverty and poor housing take account of the prevalance of concrete and other difficult-to-insulate housing in the Western Isles.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The fuel poverty programmes we inherited from the previous administration do not allow measures to tackle such homes effectively. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing re-established the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum on 22 May 2008 to advise on the fu…

11 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on what measures it is taking to address the depredation of crofting land by greylag geese in Uist.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) provides support and assistance to crofters and farmers in the Uists to manage the impact of greylag geese on their land and livelihoods. The Uist Greylag Goose Management Scheme is managed by the Uist Local Goose Management Gr…

11 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reached any conclusion about what a sustainable number of graylag geese in Uist would be.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Natural Heritage have commissioned two research studies: An assessment of the status of the native greylag goose population and an analysis of future population trends based on simple modelling, and The population size o…

11 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to develop the marketing and promotion of Scottish scallops.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: As part of the Scottish Fisheries Council, a commercial strategy group for the Scottish scallop sector was convened on 8 May 2008. This group will consider issues such as regulation, stock levels and the impact of scallop fishing practices on the marine envir…

13 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in each local authority area since 1999.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Statistics on the number of antisocial behaviour orders granted in each local authority area between April 1999 and March 2006 can be found in the report Use of Antisocial Behaviour Orders in Scotland, laid before Parliament on 20 September 2007. Cop…

9 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Gaelic language plans Bòrd na Gàidhlig has approved for public bodies since its inception, broken down by year and organisation.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 Act provides for B²rd na G idhlig to issue notices to Scottish public authorities requiring them to develop Gaelic Language Plans setting out how they will enable the use of Gaelic in connection with the exercise of the…

15 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the increase in the cost of domestic oil-fired central heating has been in the last year.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The annual average cost of installing an oil fired heating system under the central heating programme, as notified by the managing agent, Scottish Gas, is shown in the following table: <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=t…

15 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many households in each local authority area use oil-fired central heating, broken down by available age profile.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS) had the following results for the combined years 2003-04 to 2005-06: Scottish House Condition Survey 2003-04 to 2005-06: Person Aged 60 or Over in Household by Presence of Oil-Fired Central Heating <tab…

20 Mar 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to help solve the shortage of dentists in the Western Isles.

Answer · Shona Robison: The responsibility for the overall provision of NHS dental services in the area rests with NHS Western Isles. To increase dental access NHS Western Isles are currently undertaking a property review of all board accommodation to link with the clinical…

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the roll-out of DAB digital radio to the Western Isles before 2010.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government will encourage the roll out of DAB digital radio to the Western Isles, although the further extension of such services is in the first place a commercial matter for operators. The government will be involved with the UK Govern…

25 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discretionary powers it has to waive the clawback requirement that exists on the sale of government-owned land to community organisations involved in land buyouts.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: There is no statutory clawback requirement on the disposal of Scottish Ministers' crofting estates to community organisations. The Scottish Public Finance Manual offers guidance on the considerations to be taken into account when Ministers exercise their disc…

25 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to Her Majesty’s Government to ensure that money is set aside in the Big Lottery Fund for community land buyouts.

Answer · John Swinney: The priorities for distribution in Scotland by the Big Lottery Fund are set by Scottish ministers in policy directions made with the consent of the Secretary of State. The current directions, December 2006, identify promotion of community land ownership as on…