Jeremy Purvis

14 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met Scottish Water and what issues were discussed.

Answer · Ross Finnie: My deputy met Scottish Wateron Tuesday. The discussion focussed on the delivery of the current capital programme.</p>

30 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Scottish Natural Heritage will be signing a protocol with Scottish police forces with regard to their respective roles in enforcing legislation against wildlife crime to accompany those already agreed by the Executive's Environment and Rural Affairs Department, the Scottish Society f…

Answer · Allan Wilson: I understand that a draft protocolformalising the respective roles of the police and Scottish Natural Heritage iscurrently being developed and should be finalised by the end of May 2004.</p>

24 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether all budgets have been set for local enterprise companies.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The allocationof budgets to local enterprise companies is a matter for Scottish Enterpriseand Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The budgetsare set by the networks in the context of the preparation of the annual operatingplans.</p><p>ScottishEnterprise will de…

17 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the introduction of NHS 24 has had upon ambulance call-out rates.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS 24 referralscurrently account for some 4% of the Ambulance Service’s emergency and urgentworkload.</p>

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its justice portfolio's total spending of #755.29 million (real terms) in 2003-04, #783.97 million (real terms) in 2004-05 and #792.52 million (real terms) in 2005-06, as detailed in the Draft Budget 2004-05, will be spent on staff costs.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6880 on 25 March 2004.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.parliament.uk/weba…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service's total spending of #87.90 million (real terms) in 2003-04, #87.59 million (real terms) in 2004-05 and #88.04 million (real terms) in 2005-06, as detailed in the Draft Budget 2004-05, will be spent on staff costs.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6880 on 25 March 2004.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.parliament.uk/weba…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its education and young people portfolio's total spending of #281.40 million (real terms) in 2003-04, #362.00 million (real terms) in 2004-05 and #386.39 million (real terms) in 2005-06, as detailed in the Draft Budget 2004-05, will be spent on staff costs.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6880 on 25 March 2004.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.parliament.uk/weba…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its tourism culture and sport portfolio's total spending of #206.06 million (real terms) in 2003-04, #227.30 million (real terms) in 2004-05 and #252.59 million (real terms) in 2005-06, as detailed in the Draft Budget 2004-05, will be spent on staff costs.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6880 on 25 March 2004.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.parliament.uk/weba…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its health and community care portfolio's total spending of #7,251.08 million (real terms) in 2003-04, #7,640.09 million (real terms) in 2004-05 and #8,119.80 million (real terms) in 2005-06, as detailed in the Draft Budget 2004-05, will be spent on staff costs.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6880 on 25 March 2004. 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.parliament.uk/web…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its enterprise and lifelong learning portfolio's total spending of #2,351.29 million (real terms) in 2003-04, #2,404.24 million (real terms) in 2004-05 and #2,438.17 million (real terms) in 2005-06, as detailed in the Draft Budget 2004-05, will be spent on staff costs.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6880 on 25 March 2004.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.parliament.uk/weba…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its communities portfolio's total spending of #832.62 million (real terms) in 2003-04, #858.29 million (real terms( in 2004-05 and #860.20 million (real terms) in 2005-06, as detailed in the Draft Budget 2004-05, will be spent on staff costs.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6880 on 25 March 2004.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.parliament.uk/weba…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its transport portfolio total spending of #1,174.52 million (real terms) in 2003-04, #1,218.89 million (real terms) in 2004-05 and #1,313.78 million (real terms) in 2005-06, as detailed in the Draft Budget 2004-05, will be spent on staff costs.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6880 on 25 March 2004.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.parliament.uk/weba…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its environment and rural development portfolio's total spending of #1,137.54 million (real terms) in 2003-04, #1,124.96 million (real terms) in 2004-05 and #1,123.05 million (real terms) in 2005-06, as detailed in the Draft Budget 2004-05, will be spent on staff costs.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6880 on 25 March 2004.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.parliament.uk/weba…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its finance and public service portfolio's spending of #8,110.72 million (real terms) in 2003-04, #8,290.38 million (real terms) in 2004-05 and #8,503.95 million (real terms) in 2005-06, as detailed in the Draft Budget 2004-05, will be spent on staff costs.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-6880 on 25 March 2004.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.parliament.uk/weba…

11 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its administration and associated departments' total spending of #243.19 million (real terms) in 2003-04, #243.79 million (real terms) in 2004-05 and #240.78 million (real terms) in 2005-06, as detailed in the Draft Budget 2004-05, will be spent on staff costs.

Answer · Andy Kerr: This answer addresses thisand questions S2W-6881 to S2W-6990 answered on 25 March 2004, in whichsimilar information for the Executive’s other portfolios is sought. Whilst theexact figures are not available, the following comparable information may be helpful.…

3 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new homes for rented accommodation will be built in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive is on track todeliver our commitment of funding 18,000 homes for social rent and low costhome ownership by 2006. An announcement will be made shortly about how manysocial rented homes we will be approving in 2004-05.</p><p>Last October we announ…

23 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been taken to make the former premises of the Scottish College of Textiles in Galashiels a listed building.

Answer · Frank McAveety: I have asked Graeme Munro,Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to reply. His response is as follows:</p><p>The former premises of the Scottish College ofTextiles in Galashiels has been listed at category B for their architecturaland historic interest.</p>

7 Jan 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is policy for an NHS board to have no consultant-led maternity services.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The national policy context is laid out in the <i>Frameworkfor Maternity Services</i> (2001) and the report of the Expert Group on AcuteMaternity Services (EGAMS 2002). This report provides guidance for NHS boardson levels of care ensuring that all women have…

11 Dec 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on whether there should be a maximum time or distance limit within which people can access consultant-led maternity services.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: There arenumerous variables that can affect travel time, such as transport links,population density, weather and rurality. These factors will affect differentparts of Scotland, in different ways, at differenttimes and as such the setting of maximum times and …

1 Oct 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to improve transport infrastructure in Midlothian.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We are working in partnershipwith Midlothian Council on a number of important transport projects. The Scottish Executive has provided financial support for the Edinburgh to Penicuik Multi-ModalStudy which is expected to report later this year.</p>

24 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with Scottish Borders Council and the Scottish Court Service with a view to reaching agreement on the retention of sheriff court services in Peebles.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Discussions involving officials of the Scottish Court Service and the Scottish Borders Council have resulted in an outline agreement which would see the return of court hearings to Peebles, using the council building at Rosetta Road. In tandem with the discus…

17 Sep 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Borders Council and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency concerning the proposed fish farm on the River Tweed.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Officials met with the RiverTweed Commissioners on 22 November 2002 to discuss concerns about containment on local fish farmswhen the proposal for a new salmon smolt hatchery was raised. Representatives ofBorders Council and the Scottish Environment Protectio…

3 Sep 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the social housing stock in the Borders.

Answer · Margaret Curran: In the current year we haveincreased the Communities Scotland development programme in the ScottishBorders by 39% to £3.9 million, which will fund 69 new or improved affordablehomes. Communities Scotland is also working closely with Scottish BordersCouncil in…

1 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale it has set to implement the recommendations of the Scottish Transplant Group's report An Organ Donation Strategy for Scotland and how it will evaluate the success of the strategy.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The strategy sets out an on-going programme aimed at raising awareness of organ donation and thereby increasing the number of organs becoming available for transplantation. The most tangible indication of such awareness is the number of people adding their na…

3 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what joint working there should be between the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Borders Council with regard to funding allocations arising from the Cities Review.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We expect to see collaboration between the City of Edinburgh Council and other councils in the delivery of its city vision and city growth fund allocation. The best mechanism for this is for the councils to determine.

3 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council about joint working between the council and other local authorities in respect of the Cities Review.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There was regular contact with the City of Edinburgh Council during the preparation of its city vision, including discussion on consultation with other councils. Now that the city vision has been approved that liaison will be maintained.

19 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what resources have been made available to Borders NHS Board in 2003-04 for the provision of digital hearing aids.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-981 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa">http:…

19 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been refused a digital hearing aid in the Borders NHS Board area owning to budget constraints in (a) 2001-02 and (b) 2002-03.

Answer · Tom McCabe: This information is not held centrally.<P>I also refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-511 on 10 June 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at …

13 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with providers of sheltered accommodation regarding standards of warden cover.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has not had any discussions with sheltered accommodation housing providers about standards of warden cover. <P>However, if sheltered accommodation wardens provide housing support services, such services are regulated by the Scottish Com…

4 Jun 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote tourism in the Scottish Borders.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The promotion of tourism in the Scottish Borders is an operational matter for both VisitScotland and the Scottish Borders Tourist Board. But I know that both organisations are working hard to promote the Scottish Borders to potential visitors.