Parliamentary questions
Frances Curran
138 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
7 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding it has given to the development of carbon sinks in the last year.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive doesnot support developments solely for their action as a carbon sink and, as such,we do not keep records of the proportion of expenditure directly attributableto the development of carbon sinks.</p><p>Support is given, however,to devel…
7 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to use forests as carbon sinks.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executivecurrently has no plans to use forests solely for their action as a carbon sink.However, increasing the areas of sustainably managed forest often has benefitsin removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Through the Scottish ForestryGra…
7 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many biomass projects are currently in operation.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There is currently onebiomass electricity generating plant in Scotland. The plant, powered by chicken litter and operatingunder a Scottish renewable obligation contract, is located in Fife.</p>
7 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has allocated for the development of biomass energy in 2003-04.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There is no separate fundingallocation at present for individual renewable technologies. The Forum forRenewable Energy Development in Scotland will shortly begin investigating ways in whichbiomass energy might be further developed in Scotland. I expect to rec…
11 Dec 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on multinational companies having access to schools through sponsorship and advertising.
Answer · Peter Peacock: We arecommitted to examining sponsorship and advertising in schools. Our aim is toprovide national guidance within which authorities can make sensible localdecisions about what is appropriate sponsorship and advertising in theirschools.</p>
10 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when its response to the consultation Integrated Strategy for the Early Years will be published.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive plans to publish a finalised Integrated Strategy for the Early Years in the early part of 2004. At that time we will also publish fuller details on stakeholder responses to the consultation.</p>
10 Sep 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the funding situation of Scottish universities and the impact on them of tuition fees being charged at English universities.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Changes to the fee regimefor higher education in England are not planned until 2005-06, subject toparliamentary approval. We have initiated a third phase of our review of highereducation in order to consider the possible impacts on Scottish highereducation of…
4 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria are used to determine funding levels allocated to electricity generating companies for research and development into renewable energy.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-2374 today. 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…
4 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which electricity generating companies have received funding over the last year for research and development into renewable energy.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-2374 today. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search">…
4 Sep 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to electricity generating companies for the past year for research and development into renewable energy sources.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The main research anddevelopment budget for renewable energy is held by the Department of Trade andIndustry, with £55 million available for renewables research and developmentprojects across the UK in the two-year period to 2004. We announced on 28August this…
4 Sep 2003 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer when the website of the Scottish Parliament and Business Exchange will be re-established.
Answer · Andrew Welsh: The website is nowre-established at www.spbe.org.uk.</p>
3 Sep 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are to address the funding implications for higher education in Scotland of higher student tuition frees in England.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Changes tothe fee regime for higher education in England are not planned until 2005-06, subject to parliamentary approval. Wehave initiated a third phase of our review of higher education in order toconsider the possible impacts on Scottish higher education o…
27 Aug 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had in the visit of the Flemish Community Commission including the representative of Vlaams Blok.
Answer · Andy Kerr: None.</p>
26 May 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether public sector workers are adequately rewarded by the current minimum wage.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Responsibility for setting a National Minimum Wage rests with the UK Government, as advised by the Low Pay Commission, and is a reserved matter.
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what public transport provision is in place to enable patients and families from the west Dunbartonshire area to travel to the maternity services at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is primarily a matter for NHS Argyll and Clyde along with their local authority partners and local transport operators.<P>I am aware that NHS Argyll and Clyde will soon complete the public consultation process on their review of maternity services. The E…
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was made to downgrade the accident and emergency services at the Vale of Leven Hospital; who was consulted on this downgrading, and whether local MSPs were informed and, if so, when.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: While this is primarily a matter for NHS Argyll and Clyde, I am aware that the NHS board decided to engage the contingency plans for surgical services at the Vale of Leven Hospital at its meeting on 12 May. I understand that this decision was not taken lightl…
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many babies have been born en route from the west Dunbartonshire area to the (a) Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley and (b) Queen Mother Hospital, Glasgow in each of the last five years.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: In each year, for each hospital, there were very few deliveries en route from the west Dunbartonshire area to the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley and Queen Mother Hospital, Glasgow. To reduce the risk of indirect identification of individuals, the figures a…
22 May 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for reinstating consultant-led maternity services at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: This is primarily a matter for NHS Argyll and Clyde who are coming to the end of the public consultation process on their review of local maternity services. The outcome of the review will be shaped by both this consultation and by relevant departmental guida…