Jeremy Purvis

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions have been secured based on DNA evidence in each year since 1999.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The information requestedis not available. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Case ManagementDatabase records details of accused and charges but this does not include searchableinformation about the evidence used by the prosecution.</p>

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the comments made by Alex Salmond in answer to question S3F-27 on 7 June 2007 (Official Report c. 517), what the Executive’s position is on the powers of the police to retain DNA samples and profiles.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1066 on 25 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to extend the powers of the police to retain DNA samples and profiles longer than currently authorised.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I intend to commissiona review into the operation of the powers of the police to retain DNA samples andprofiles. I will announce the details of that review shortly. We will take decisionson whether it would be appropriate to amend those powers in light of the…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether primary 1, 2 and 3 classes will be permitted to have more than 18 pupils in 2011.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Our programme forclass size reductions was announced during the “Smarter Scotland” debate on 20 June 2007. The Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) ScotlandRegulations 1999 allow a number of exceptions to the class size maximum of 30that the regulations esta…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new primary schools are planned to be approved for construction in each year until 2011.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We have a clear manifestocommitment to match the school building investment plans which were in place priorto the election, which will see schools delivered until around 2011. The constructionof new schools does not though require specific Executive approval.…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing intends to reverse the closure of Coldstream and Jedburgh cottage hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: It is for eachhealth board to plan and deliver services to meet the needs of its residentpopulation. I know that NHS Borders plans to develop the site in Coldstream to provide a dental care facility and toreinvest savings from the closure of the Jedburgh faci…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing intends to direct NHS Borders to review Getting Fit for the Future in light of the ministerial statement on Monklands and Ayr hospitals (Official Report c. 390).

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No. I havealready confirmed that my statement on Ayrand Monklands did not signal a general review of service changes that have beenmade in the NHS.</p><p>I have, however,also made clear that where there are real concerns about planned services, I amdetermined…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much NHS Borders spent on dentistry in each of the last four years; how much it plans to spend in each of the next four years, and in which geographical areas in Berwickshire, Selkirkshire, Tweeddale and Lauderdale such monies have been spent or committed.

Answer · Shona Robison: The total expenditurefor General Dental Services (GDS) is shown in the following table. This includesthe gross cost of fees and allowances paid to General Dental Practitioners, thepay of salaried dentists and costs of dental supplies used to provide services …

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been, or will be, an increase in Executive support for NHS Borders to deliver the Getting Fit for the Future programme.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This governmentis committed to working with all NHS boards and with communities across Scotland to deliver a health service that is truly fit forpurpose. We will continue to provide all NHS boards with the resources theyrequire to deliver the services and per…

14 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has asked NHS Borders to review the proposals contained in Getting Fit for the Future which include the closure of Coldstream and Jedburgh cottage hospitals.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: No.</p>

11 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-222 by Stewart Stevenson on 8 June 2007, what the current cost estimates are for the construction of the Borders railway.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The current cost estimategiven by the Promoter in their Outline Business Case is £130.6 million at 2002 prices.This figure excludes Optimism Bias and includes the additional station at Stow. The promoter’s estimate is currently subject to reviewby Transport S…

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total current outstanding student loan debt is from Scotland-domiciled and resident graduates.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The total current outstandingstudent loan debt from Scottish borrowers and resident borrowers</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td nowrap valign=bottom> <p align=center>Domicile</p> </td> <td nowrap valign=bottom> <p ali…

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28472 by Nicol Stephen on 6 October 2006, what the total current outstanding student loan debt is from Scottish borrowers.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=391> <thead> <tr> <td width=156 nowrap valign=bottom> Effective date</p> </td> <td width=235 nowrap valign=bottom> <p align=center>Outstanding Student Loan Debt</p> </td> </tr> </thead> <tr> <…

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many customer accounts the Student Loans Company Ltd maintains for borrowers domiciled in Scotland.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Customer Accounts maintainedby SLC for borrowers domiciled in Scotland</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=193> <thead> <tr> <td width=111 nowrap valign=bottom> <p>Effective date</p> </td> <td width=82 nowrap valign=bottom> <p al…

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many students domiciled in Scotland are currently in receipt of a student loan.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scottish domiciled students currently in receipt of a student loan.</p> <p >Number of Students Receiving Loans</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=175 > <tr > <td width=109 nowrap valign=top > <p align=left >Academic Year</p> <…

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total pay-out was to students domiciled in Scotland from the Student Loans Company Ltd in 2005-06 and how many students received these payments.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Total pay-out to Scottishdomiciled students in academic year 2005-06.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=364> <thead> <tr> <td width=112 nowrap valign=top> <p>Academic Year</p> </td> <td width=141 nowrap valign=bottom> <p align=…

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many students are currently in receipt of the Young Students’ Bursary.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The number of studentscurrently in receipt of the Young Student’ Bursary is 35,104. The latest figureis based on the 2005-2006 academic year. The number of students in receipt forthe year 2006-2007 is currently unconfirmed.</p>

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the funds raised by graduate endowment has been allocated to university tuition costs since the establishment of graduate endowment.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Funds raised by the graduateendowment are not specifically allocated to university tuition costs but are allocatedgenerally in line with Section 2 of The Education (Graduate Endowment and StudentSupport) (Scotland) Act 2001.</p>

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the funds raised by graduate endowment has been allocated to funding the Young Students’ Bursary since the establishment of graduate endowment.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Funds raised by the graduateendowment are not specifically allocated to the Young Students’ bursary but areallocated generally in line with Section 2 of The Education (Graduate Endowmentand Student Support) (Scotland) Act 2001.</p>

24 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to prepare a case for the extension of the Borders railway to Hawick.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executivecurrently has no plans to prepare a case for the extension of the Borders railwayto Hawick.</p>

24 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will plan for further extensions to the Borders railway.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executivecurrently has no plans for further extensions to the Borders railway.</p>

24 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reaffirm its commitment to fund the Borders railway.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive has previouslycommitted to contribute £115 million at 2002 prices, adjusted for inflation, towardsthe cost of the Borders railway.</p>

24 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Network Rail concerning any threat to the Borders railway if the Edinburgh Airport link scheme, approved by the Parliament, progresses.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No discussions of this naturehave taken place between the Scottish Executive and Network Rail.</p>

24 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the delivery of the Borders railway will be under threat if the Edinburgh Airport rail link scheme, approved by the Parliament, progresses.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no linkagebetween any decisions on the value of EARL and the Borders railway projects. However, any increases in cost of EARL couldlimit the funds available for other rail investments, including the Borders railway.</p>

24 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital cost estimates are for the Edinburgh Airport rail link scheme.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The projected outturn cost of the EARL project as committed to Parliament by the previous Minister for Transporton 16 March 2006 is between £550 and £650 million.</p>

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to adopt the recommendation of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner to introduce legislation to establish a satisfactory framework to take account of the latest automatic number plate recognition technological advances.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We are in on-going discussionswith the Home Office on the implications of the previous Chief Surveillance Commissioner’srecommendation.</p>

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on automatic number plate recognition.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We recognise Automatic NumberPlate Recognition (APNR) technology as a powerful and effective policing tool inthe fight against crime and are fully supportive of the Scottish Police Servicemaking use of such modern technology.</p>

9 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many formal disclosures of confidential information concerning registered sex offenders have been made on child protection grounds by each local authority since 2003.

Answer · Robert Brown: The extent to which informationis made available to relevant parties is a matter for local authorities workingwith the police on a case-by-case basis.</p><p>The Children (Scotland) Act1995 provides for the emergency protection of children. In order to assess …

9 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many formal disclosures of confidential information concerning registered sex offenders have been made to third parties under the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 by each police force in each year since the provisions came into force.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The extent to which informationis made available to relevant parties, is an operational matter for the police todetermine and on a case by case basis. In all circumstances, the police assess therisk of harm an offender poses and disclose relevant information …

9 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the NHS plans to fund mouthguards for children.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We have committed as part of the Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services toensure that all secondary schools will be offered as part of the health promotingschools ethos, an interactive smile programme, promoting oral health,…