Dr Alasdair Allan

16 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what definition exists in the planning process of community renewable schemes as opposed to other renewable schemes.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: <i>Scottish PlanningPolicy (SPP) 6 Renewable Energy</i> states that there is potential for communities to develop their own localprojects for local benefits but “community renewable schemes” is not specificallydefined. The use of the term by planning authorit…

16 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will meet the costs of the proposed public local inquiry into the North Harris Community wind farm application.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This application hasnot yet been passed to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA)to make arrangements for a public local inquiry. Partiesto an inquiryError! Bookmark not defined. are expected to meet their owncosts. DPEA, as part of the…

16 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated costs are of a public local inquiry into the North Harris Community wind farm application.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This application hasnot yet been passed to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals tomake arrangements for a public local inquiry. It is not therefore possible, at thisstage, to estimate what the anticipated costs will be.</p>

15 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the condition of machair grassland habitats designated under domestic and European nature conservation law, particularly unique arable machair sites, and what plans it has to further the conservation and management of such areas.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Site ConditionMonitoring programme undertaken by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) assesses thecondition of all sites protected under European Directives and those notified underdomestic legislation. 53% of machair features were assessed as being in favoura…

15 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it has made to ensure that Scotland's environment benefits from the new EU LIFE+ funding programme; how it will maximise the proportion of the UK's LIFE+ annual allocation that is won by Scottish bids, and how it intends to help, support and source co-financing for Scott…

Answer · Michael Russell: LIFE+ is managed directlyby the European Commission under the terms of the EU LIFE+ Regulation. The Commissionhas recently published on its website near-final drafts of forms and guidance notesfor the use of applicants.</p><p>The Scottish Executiveis using ne…

13 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given any consideration to the potential release of CO2 from peat as a consequence of a major road building project, such as that required across the Barvas Moor peatlands by the building of an industrial scale wind farm at that location.

Answer · John Swinney: There is uncertaintyabout how much carbon dioxide will be released from peat in response to it beingdisturbed by, for example, the construction of a road or a wind farm, particularlythe long-term effects. For this reason the Scottish Government intends to fun…

13 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what ongoing support it will provide to address the maintenance backlog for village halls across the country.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Rural communitygroups will be able to access support through the Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 which the Executive hassubmitted to Brussels. Before any of the available funds can bespent, the programme needs to be approved by the European Commi…

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider re-examining the present schedule of protection afforded to greylag geese in the Western Isles.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2997 on 5 September 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…

7 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give consideration to extending the seasons during which greylag geese may be shot in the Western Isles, in light of the interests of crofters.

Answer · Michael Russell: If there isappropriate justification, licences can be issued for shooting geese outwiththe open season. Any change to the shooting season would need to be justifiedon the basis of evidence and would need to be compatible with the requirementsof the EU Wild Bi…

31 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits the London Olympics will have for the Western Isles constituency.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentis working with various sectors across Scotland to ensure they are aware of the possibilities and opportunities availableto individuals, communities, groups, and businesses from the London 2012 Games.</p><p>The 2012 Games willoffer some…

25 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how plans to reform local enterprise companies will impact on the careers advice service that those companies currently offer.

Answer · Jim Mather: Considerationof the delivery of local economic development activity, including the future oflocal enterprise companies (LEC), is now underway as part of the wider workwhich we are undertaking on the future shape of the enterprise networks. Anychanges which ma…

24 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider funding the postgraduate doctorate in counselling psychology at Scottish universities on a par with similar courses elsewhere, in light of the value that the British Psychological Society places on this course.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The ScottishExecutive has no plans to provide funding for Counselling Psychology courses.</p><p>NHS Education forScotland is responsible for the commissioning of education and training forNHSScotland. It has reported that there is no demand from NHS boards to…

23 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its commitment to an integrated transport system, whether it will make representations to Citylink to provide additional buses when scheduled buses are full, particularly for people travelling from the islands to Glasgow or Uig who find themselves stranded on arrival.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: he Scottish Executive iscommitted to encouraging a more integrated transport network as part of theimplementation of the National Transport Strategy. We are also working closely with key stakeholders to implementMoving into the Future – an Action Plan for Bus…

18 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take in co-operation with NHS Western Isles to ensure that Broadbay Medical Practice in Stornoway is in a position to continue to provide its current level of service to patients.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Western Isles has astatutory duty to secure the provision of primary medical services for allpeople in its area.</p><p>The Scottish Executive is inregular contact with NHS Western Isles to ensure that the patients of Broadbaymedical practice continue to r…

29 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when determining questions of property deprivation for the purposes of calculating the cost of personal care, it will disregard property in cases where a home has been made over to a family member who has to live in a tied house due to their employment conditions and who has no o…

Answer · Shona Robison: Local authorities take no accountof property or any other assets in determining free personal care payments to peopleaged 65 or over whom they assess as needing residential care.</p><p>The National Assistance (Assessmentof Resources) Regulations 1992 provide …

19 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that an appointment will be made to the post of Chief Executive of Bord Na Gaidhlig.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Bòrd na Gàidhlig is activelypursuing the appointment of a new Chief Executive and the Scottish Executive isin close contact with the Bòrd as it progresses this matter. The Scottish ministersand Bòrd na Gàidhlig recognise the importance of making a high qualit…

30 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any instances of GP practices citing the level of global sum funding as a reason for a practice being financially unsustainable.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No. It is open to anypractice which cannot come to an agreement with its health board about anyaspect of its contract to refer the case to the Scottish ministers under thestatutory dispute resolution procedure. In such cases concerning global sums ashave been…

30 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from GP practices in respect of the level of global sum funding.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The National Health Service(General Medical Services Contracts)(Scotland) Regulations 2004 provide thatany GP practice which has a contract with a health board for the provision ofgeneral medical services may refer any dispute where it cannot reach agreementw…