Parliamentary questions
Rob Gibson
971 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions were set by the European Commission for the funding of the upgrade of the Nigg Bay dry dock.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The conditions set in relation to European Regional Development Fund grants to upgrade Nigg Bay dry dock were set by the then Scottish Office as Implementing Authority for the programme. These were set following detailed consultation between the European Comm…
7 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what objections were made by the EC auditor to the management of 14 projects in the Highlands and Islands funded by the European Regional Development Fund between 1994 and 1999.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The draft report did not refer to the management of projects in operational terms. Concerns related largely to the absence of supporting documentation at the time of the visit, and since provided as part of the Executive’s response to the draft report.</p>
7 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which 14 projects funded by the European Regional Development Fund in the Highlands and Islands between 1994 and 1999 failed the recent first stage European Commission audit.
Answer · Allan Wilson: None. The draft audit report raises a range of issues. These have been addressed in the Executive’s response. We await the European Commission’s response.</p>
7 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the audit and monitoring procedures for the European Regional Development Fund in the Highlands and Islands have changed since the Parliament was established.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The essential principles remain unchanged however current audit and monitoring procedures for the European Regional Development Fund are those set out in updated regulations that were adopted by the European Commission in July 1999.</p>
4 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12959 by Tavish Scott on 28 January 2005, what levels of fine may be levied for breaches of the Game (Scotland) Act 1832; what punishments are available for any non-payment of such fines; whether these punishments have been amended since 1832, and wh…
Answer · Tavish Scott: The levels of fine which maybe levied for breaches of the Game (Scotland) Act 1832, and the punishments which are availablefor non-payment of fines are set out in the table below.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=609> <tr> <td> <p>Breac…
4 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12959 by Tavish Scott on 28 January 2005, what its policy is in relation to provisions to allow criminal convictions on the evidence of a single witness, in particular what criteria it uses to determine to which offences such provisions should apply,…
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Law of Scotland provides that no person can be convicted of a crime or statutory offence unless there is evidence of at least two witnesses implicating the person accused with the crime or offence with which he is charged. The rule does not require every …
4 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12959 by Tavish Scott on 28 January 2005, what its policy is in relation to the undertaking of criminal prosecutions by private individuals and whether the power for a landowner or occupier, as well as the procurator fiscal, to prosecute an alleged o…
Answer · Tavish Scott: The sole public prosecutor inScotland is the Lord Advocate. He is represented locally by the Procurator Fiscal.The question of prosecution by a private individual is a matter of law rather thanpolicy. </p><p>The authority vested in landownersand others by vir…
4 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12958 by Tavish Scott on 20 January 2005, what correspondence or discussions, either formal or informal, it has had with the European Commission or the UK Government in relation to references to game birds in the DG Environment press releases on 29 J…
Answer · Tavish Scott: Issues arising from legal action proposed by the European Commission against member states are confidential. Therefore no information can be provided at this time.</p>
4 Feb 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12957 by Tavish Scott on 20 January 2005, how long it expects its consideration of whether to conduct a review of the Game (Scotland) Acts to last and when it will announce its conclusion.
Answer · Tavish Scott: No timescales have been setfor this activity. This issue is still under on-going discussion with the UKGovernment, and at the conclusion of these discussions a decision on any reviewapplying to Game Acts on Scotland will be made.</p>
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are schools within the Gaelic-medium education sector currently using English books with pasted-over translations and, if so, whether it aims to replace these entirely with Gaelic translations and over what timescale.
Answer · Peter Peacock: It is the Scottish Executive’s aim that good quality materials should be available to pupils in Gaelic-medium classes and for all subjects. Stórlann has made very good progress in providing materials for Gaelic-medium education classes. There is now little ne…
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an evaluation of educational materials required by Gaelic-medium education has been carried out in order for the provision of materials for such education to have parity with the provision of materials for pupils being taught in the English language and whether there has been an a…
Answer · Peter Peacock: Stórlann, the Gaelic Resources Centre, carries out an annual evaluation of the education materials required by teachers for Gaelic-medium education. The Scottish Executive seeks to ensure that there is adequate provision of good quality materials for Gaelic-m…
27 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive from which area of the existing budget for Gaelic-medium education the sum of £10,000 for Stórlann, announced on 6 January 2005, came.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The sum of £10,000, announced on 6 January 2005, from a sum that may otherwise have remained unspent at the year end, came from a Scottish Executive Education Department budget. Stórlann also receives funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig. In addition, local authorit…
19 Jan 2005 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made to ensure the availability of EU structural funds for the Highlands and Islands after 2008.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Negotiations on the future Structural Funds programming period – which starts in 2007 – are still at an early stage. This is a reserved matter, but the Executive has been closely engaged with the UK throughout the negotiations. Our approach has been governed …
14 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure the correct and timely implementation of EC Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC in light of the decision by the European Commission on 12 January 2005 to send the United Kingdom a final written warning ordering it to comply with the require…
Answer · Ross Finnie: Discussions are ongoing regarding required investment at the Lerwick waste water treatment plant. The Scottish Executive is contributing to the United Kingdom response to the European Commission’s reasoned opinion.</p>
13 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many major transport projects have been, or will be, completed between 1997-98 and 2006-07, broken down by parliamentary constituency within the Highlands and Islands, North East Scotland and Mid Scotland and Fife.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Those projects funded directly by the Scottish Executive, or the former Scottish Office, with a cost of £3 million or more are as follows:</p><p>Highlands And Islands</p><p><u>Argyll and Bute</u></p><p>Oban Terminal and 2nd Linkspan; Redevelopment of Port Ask…
13 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many major transport projects were completed from 1987-88 to 1996-97, broken down by parliamentary constituency within the Highlands and Islands, North East Scotland and Mid Scotland and Fife.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The following table details those projects funded directly by the Scottish Office with a cost of £3 million or more along with other major projects we are aware of.</p><p>Highlands and Islands</p><p><u>Argyll and Bute</u></p><p>None</p><p><u>Caithness, Suther…
21 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in, or from, remote mainland and island localities have been detained in hospital without their consent under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 in 2004 to date.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: This information is not held centrally. However the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is notified of detentions under the 1984 Act and may be able to provide some information in relation to this query. They may be contacted at:</p><p>The Mental Welfare C…
21 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by NHS boards in setting up a rural mental health network, as recommended in the RARARI Bid 79 Report.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for NHS boards and their partners. However, a mental health network has been established to support implementation of the new Mental Health Act and I am encouraged that learning networks and other shared interest fora are beginn…
21 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the practice of holding psychiatric patients in police cells continues and, if so, how many psychiatric patients have been detained in police cells in 2004 to date.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The patient information requested is not held centrally. The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 does recognise that there will becircumstances where there is no immediate alternative other than to use apolice station.</p>
21 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many community hospitals have specific facilities for dealing with psychiatric patients, including an interview room with adequate safety features within the accident and emergency department, as recommended by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is an operational matter for NHS boards about which information is not held centrally.</p>
21 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS boards that serve rural areas have set up psychiatric emergency plans, as referred to in the RARARI Bid 79 Report.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-13141, answered on24 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parl…
21 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to ensure that the recommendations in the RARARI Bid 79 Report on the safe management and transfer of acutely-disturbed psychiatric patients in remote and rural areas have been adopted as good practice by NHS boards that serve rural areas.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: £200,000 was provided to NHS boards toward the costs of planning and delivering the Psychiatric Emergency Plans as recommended in the RARARI Bid 79 Report, (Bib. number 31082).</p><p>So far, Tayside and Dumfries and Galloway NHS boards have set up psychiatric…
15 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to persuade Gaelic-speaking teachers to teach through the medium of Gaelic.
Answer · Peter Peacock: In order to address the need for Gaelic teachers the Scottish Executive is taking action in a number of areas, including encouraging local authorities to persuade Gaelic speaking teachers to teach through the medium of Gaelic. The Scottish Executive’s teacher…
15 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish statistics on the number of Gaelic-speaking teachers not currently teaching through the medium of Gaelic.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has published statistics on the number of Gaelic speaking teachers not currently teaching through the medium of Gaelic. This information was published in July 2004 in the Scottish Executive’s survey of Scottish teachers “Teachers in Sco…
15 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce enhanced provision for traditional music in schools as part of the 3-18 curriculum review.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I announced in my response to the Curriculum Review Group’s recommendations that a cycle of continuous updating and reform of the curriculum across all areas of learning will begin immediately, starting with the science curriculum 3-18. A programme board has …
10 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) prosecutions have been pursued and (b) convictions have been secured for offences relating to (i) environmental crime, (ii) breach of the peace and (iii) malicious damage in (1) Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and (2) Cairngorms National Park.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Information at this level ofdetail is not available within the statistics held centrally.</p>
9 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Antisocial Behaviour Orders have been served for offences committed in the (a) Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and (b) Cairngorms National Park.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Statistics on the number of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO) served are collected at local authority level. National park boundaries are not co-terminous with those of local authorities. Each of Scotland’s national parks includes land within the boundaries…
9 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11675 by Tavish Scott on 8 November 2004, what powers are granted to landowners, occupiers, gamekeepers and servants under the Game (Scotland) Act 1832 and whether these powers are consistent with its criminal justice policies and the European Conven…
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Game (Scotland) Act 1832 makes it an offence for any person entering or being, in the daytime, upon any land, without leave of the proprietor, in search or pursuit of game, or woodcock, snipe, wild ducks or conies (rabbits). Landowners, occupiers, gamekee…
9 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11675 by Tavish Scott on 8 November 2004, whether it considers the Game (Scotland) Acts to be consistent with the EU Directive on the Conservation of Birds; whether the European Commission has expressed any view on this matter, and how this issue wil…
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Game (Scotland) Actsall predate the obligations placed on Scottish ministers by Council Directive79/409/EEC, but they are not inconsistent with those obligations.</p><p>Scottish ministers havereceived no formal communication from the European Commission i…
9 Dec 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11675 by Tavish Scott on 8 November 2004, whether it has now reached a conclusion in respect of whether there will be a review of the Game (Scotland) Acts and, if so, what that conclusion is.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive is stillconsidering whether to conduct a review of the Game (Scotland)Acts.</p>