Parliamentary questions
Dave Thompson
88 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many rheumatology specialist nurses are working in Scotland and where they are based.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on staff in post is published annually by National Services Scotland, Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland as part of the workforce census as at 30 September each year. Data for clinical nurse specialists by specialty, NHS region and NHS b…
29 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many dermatologists are working in Scotland and where they are based.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on staff in post is published annually by National Services Scotland, Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland as part of the workforce census as at 30 September each year. Data for hospital, community and public health services medical and de…
29 Jan 2010 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many rheumatologists are working in Scotland and where they are based.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Information on staff in post is published annually by National Services Scotland, Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland as part of the workforce census as at 30 September each year. Data for hospital, community and public health services medical and de…
24 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the additional resource implications are for NHS boards of the recommendations in the Better Heart Disease and Care Action Plan.
Answer · Shona Robison: The actions in the Better Heart Disease and Stroke Care Action Plan are framed in a way that should make them cost neutral or susceptible to implementation in the longer term. Many of them relate to ensuring that existing good practice, standards and guidelin…
24 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with individual NHS boards on the implementation of the Better Heart Disease and Stroke Care Action Plan.
Answer · Shona Robison: Better Heart Disease and Stroke Care Action Plan makes clear that NHS boards are expected to take forward the individual actions on them, within a specified timeframe, through their cardiac and stroke managed clinical networks (MCNs). The National Advisory Co…
12 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24467 by Richard Lochhead on 12 June 2009, whether it will set out the arrangements for the new EU agricultural rural payment appeals procedure.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The time required to carry out the very detailed and careful negotiations between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Land Court in developing this new process has resulted in a slightly later implementation date. That date had been originally planned fo…
29 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in order to fulfil its responsibilities under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, it requires accurate information on the status of the Scots language and, if so, whether the census will include adequate questions on Scots.
Answer · Michael Russell: Accurate information on the numbers of Scots speakers would contribute to the Scottish Government making progress with other Scots undertakings in Part II of the Council of Europe''s Charter for Regional and Minority languages. In relation to the census, Parl…
12 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent, expressed in today’s prices, on trunk roads in the Highland local authority area from (a) 1999-00 to 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04 to 2006-07; how much has been spent and is planned to be spent between 2007-08 and 2010-11, and how much is planned to be spent in each year fro…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Total expenditure on major trunk road projects in the Highland local authority area is as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >1999-2000 to 2002-03</p> <p align=center >(£ million)<…
3 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-7069 by Fiona Hyslop on 21 May 2009, whether it considers that bilingualism improves the cognitive abilities of children; whether this is the case with Gaelic-English bilingualism, and how many and what percentage of children in Gaelic-medium primary…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government is aware that there may be a number of benefits resulting from Gaelic-English bilingual education. No information is held centrally on the number or percentage of Gaelic-medium pupils in primary schools that are taught French. The Scot…
21 May 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are being taught through the medium of Gaelic.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The number of school pupils taught through the medium of Gaelic is published in <i >Pupils in Scotland 2008</i>, which is available on the Scottish Government''s website at the following address <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/04/0109090…
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the 2008 woodfuel demand and usage data published by Forestry Commission Scotland, what assessment has been made of the impact on current and future supply to the wood processing industries.
Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Wood Fuel Task Force reported to the Minister for Environment last year. Its report indicated that there are substantial additional supplies of woody biomass available in Scotland. Much of this would not be suitable for existing wood processing markets. …
26 Mar 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Scottish criminal law is sufficient to deal with the activities of loan sharks.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It is unacceptable for people to make profits from others'' financial desperation. Illegal and extortionate money lending and the criminal behaviour that often goes with it is abhorrent in modern society.</p> <p >While the Consumer Credit Act 1974 which regu…
26 Feb 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects were removed by ministers from the recommendations of the Strategic Transport Projects Review prior to publication.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson : <i > This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0226-01.htm">http://www.scot…
15 Jan 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Strategic Transport Projects Review is the only means by which it will progress transport developments.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: <i > This PQ was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link:</i></p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0115-01.htm">http://www.scottish.p…
6 Nov 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the current provision for physiotherapy services in the NHS Highland area to be adequate.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is the responsibility of NHS boards to ensure that local services are in place to meet the needs of the population they serve.</p>
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to improve the safety of level crossings for blind and partially sighted people.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Railway safety is a matter which is reserved to Westminster.</p> <p >Network Rail is legally responsible for operating level crossings with the lowest practical risk to all users and they chair the National Level Crossing Safety Group as part of the process …
11 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the TRIBAL Economic Appraisal of the A82 Tarbet to Fort William Road and will bear in mind the economic benefits outlined when undertaking the strategic transport projects review, especially regarding the removal of tourism constraints to help the Highlands and Isla…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes.</p>
10 Jun 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Lord Advocate will reply to my letter of 25 March 2008 about Skye Bridge convictions.
Answer · Elish Angiolini: The letter was answered on 27 June 2008.</p>
5 Jun 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the safety of level crossings.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Railway safety is a matter which is reserved to Westminster.</p> <p >Rail travel is one of the safest forms of transport and the passenger accident rate remains at an all time low level with only one passenger fatality in the past three years.</p> <p >Whil…
27 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure the inclusion of bilingual signs on the full length of the agreed A82 route between Tarbert and Inverness, including within Inverness city limits.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Transport Scotland to investigate an extension of the current bilingual sign proposals to include the A82 trunk road within the City of Inverness. This necessarily requires to be carried out in conjunction with Highland Council, the local road au…
8 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in the Caithness, Easter Ross and Sutherland parliamentary constituency will benefit from the recently announced reduction in business rates.
Answer · John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the format requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available on the Scottish…
8 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in the Ross, Skye and Inverness West parliamentary constituency will benefit from the recently announced reduction in business rates.
Answer · John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the format requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available on the Scottish…
8 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in the Moray parliamentary constituency will benefit from the recently announced reduction in business rates.
Answer · John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the form requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available on the Scottish A…
8 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in the Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber parliamentary constituency will benefit from the recently announced reduction in business rates.
Answer · John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the form requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available on the Scottish A…
8 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in the Argyll and Bute parliamentary constituency will benefit from the recently announced reduction in business rates.
Answer · John Swinney: Information on small businesses in the format requested is not held centrally. However, information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which may be eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available on the Scottish…
1 Feb 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to commission a policy and financial management review of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I anticipate thata Policy and Financial Management Review (PFMR) of HIAL will start in May 2008.</p><p>The PFMR process willensure that HIAL is subject to challenging review, taking full account of the viewsof all stakeholders, to ensure that the right struct…
19 Sep 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the current prison population are reoffenders.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>Some 77% of thosecurrently in prison have previously been held in prison for an offencecommitted at some stage. This figure compares with that…
21 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were treated in accident and emergency units for injuries caused by assaults with glass in each of the last five years, broken down by hospital.
Answer · Shona Robison: The information requestedis not centrally available.</p><p>The following linkgives access to a report entitled<i> Understanding Alcohol Misuse in Scotland</i>.It looks at the number and nature of assault presentations to emergency departmentsin Scotland, and …