Christine May

21 Feb 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is supporting housing regeneration in central Fife.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: We have substantially increasedour funding to support affordable housing investment and housing regeneration acrossScotland. The central Fife area has benefited from this with Communities Scotlandinvesting around £10 million in the area over the past two year…

17 Jan 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the proposals in the draft Culture (Scotland) Bill will have on people living in deprived or remote communities.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Culture Bill seeks to expandcultural opportunities for all Scots including those for people in deprived andremote communities, and we are working with local authorities now to help them dothat.</p>

15 Nov 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce road casualties.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive is addressing roadsafety through a combination of engineering, enforcement and education.</p><p>This includes close liaison withTransport Scotland, who are responsible for trunk roads, and local authoritieswho are responsible for road safety mat…

25 Oct 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional measures it intends to put in place to promote enterprise as a result of the recent publication of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We willcontinue to work with local authorities, the enterprise networks and otherbodies to encourage regeneration and the promotion of enterprise in Scotland’s deprived areas. Clearly it isvital that the most up to date information on deprivation is acted upo…

7 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the proposal to construct a wind-powered generating station at Abercairny, near Crieff.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I can announce that the Scottishministers have withheld consent for this proposal in terms of Section 36 of theElectricity Act 1989.</p><p>This announcement follows a comprehensiveconsultation process which involved environmental groups, government bodies and…

29 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the key performance targets set for Historic Scotland in 2006-07.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The key performance targets Ihave set for Historic Scotland in 2006-07 are set out in the table:</p><p>Historic Scotland KeyPerformance Targets 2006-07</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=147 valign=top> <p>Key Perform…

13 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its response to the UK Energy Review.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I am pleased to announce thepublication today of the Scottish Executive response to the UK Energy Review. Itfocuses on diversity and security of supply issues, as well as measures to helpminimise fuel poverty.</p><p>Copies have been placed in the Scottish Par…

10 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in setting Scottish Enterprise’s budget for 2006-07.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I have today written to Sir JohnWard, in respect of Scottish Enterprise’s budget for 2006-07. A copy of this letteris being placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39557)</p><p>The Executive will provide anadditional £45 million of r…

8 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress there has been with the UK bid to host the Worldskills Competition in London in 2011.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Worldskills Competition isthe largest skills competition in the world for young people, with 42 member countriesparticipating in over 40 different skill areas, such as joinery, bricklaying, ITand hospitality. The UK submitted its bid on 31 March 2006 to h…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the Tourism Framework for Change.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I am pleased to announce thelaunch of the Tourism Framework For Change, which will support the ambition we sharewith the tourism industry to grow tourism revenues by 50% by 2015. The frameworkdetails a number of actions which will be taken forward by the tour…

6 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will publish its Annual Report and Accounts for 2004-05.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) ninth Annual Report and Accounts were laid before Parliament on 6 October (SE 2005/179). The report contains details of SEPA’s achievements and activities during the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005. Cop…

29 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive for a progress report on the implementation of the recommendations made in the Review of Historic Scotland published in February 2004.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Significant progress has been made in implementing the recommendations both of the quinquennial Review of Historic Scotland and the Performance and Management Review carried out by Audit Scotland. The following tables provide information on how Historic Scotl…

27 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the key performance targets set for Historic Scotland for 2005-06.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The key performance targets I have set for Historic Scotland for 2005-06, along with the previous year’s targets and performance, are set out in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=cent…

29 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been put in place to ensure the availability of NHS dental services in the Central Fife constituency.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: NHS Fife are implementing a range of measures at improving access to NHS dental services in all areas of Fife. Examples of this are the appointment of salaried dentists and the completion of a three surgery dental centre, due to open shortly in Dunfermline. A…

22 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cultural Commission, undertaking the review of culture in Scotland, will submit its report to ministers.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: I can tell you that, today, Ihave received the Cultural Commission’s final report. Copies are available in the Scottish  Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 36838). At the launch of ourCultural Policy Statement, on 22 April 2004, ministers announced th…

2 Jun 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent measures have been introduced to widen access to higher education.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is committed to widening access to higher education to all who wish and are able to benefit irrespective of their background or personal circumstances. Widening access is about fairness and social justice and closing the opportunity gap…

4 May 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the first awards in the Schools of Ambition programme

Answer · Peter Peacock: We will announce the names of the schools which are being accepted onto the first tranche probably in June.</p>

17 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on restructuring the tourism network.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Our decision to restructure VisitScotland and the area tourist boards (ATB) to form an integrated tourism network was announced to Parliament a year ago. That decision was in part based on the results of a consultation exercise which showed widespread support…

1 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much state aid is given to the manufacturing sector as a percentage of value added and how this figure compares to the EU average.

Answer · Jim Wallace: This information is not heldor compiled at the UK or Scottish level. </p><p>All member states are requiredto provide annual returns of overall expenditure on approved state aid schemes tothe European Commission. Increasingly, such schemes are being directed t…

24 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish its first Scottish Infrastructure Investment Plan by the end of February.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Today the <i>Infrastructure Investment Plan</i> was published. Copies have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 35376) and I am also sending a personal copy to each MSP.</p>

18 Jan 2005 · SPCB Oral Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what assistance and advice it is providing to staff of the Parliament to give up smoking.

Answer · Duncan McNeil: Our Smoking Policy provides advice on a number of support agencies who will provide advice and guidance on how to give up smoking. We will also pay half the cost of nicotine replacement therapy up to a maximum of £248 per annum. </p><p>Through our occupationa…

12 Jan 2005 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will help improve training and skills in the transport industry.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is committedto supporting the developing employer-led network of Sector Skills Councils, whichincludes GoSkills, the Sector Skills Council for the passenger transport sector.The Executive also provides funding to the Scottish Union Lear…

15 Dec 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to encourage the development of IT services in government service delivery.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive is encouraging the development of IT services through its Modernising Government Fund pursuit of our electronic service delivery target of making all services available online, where feasible, by 2005.</p><p>I have announced the third round of t…

1 Dec 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when its response to the consultation on the establishment of a co-operative development agency will be published.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The response by the Scottish Executive to the consultation on the establishment of a Co-operative Development Agency in Scotland will be published when final conclusions have been reached on the scope of the agency, its focus and the type of body it will be. …

1 Dec 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will promote the development of marine energy.

Answer · Jim Wallace: We are continuing to work with our investment partners to extend and enhance the role of the Marine Energy Centre on Orkney, following on from our initial £2 million investment. We have also recently announced that we will conduct a Strategic Environmental As…

10 Nov 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the service provided by the NHS is carried out locally.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Over 90% of patient interaction with the NHS in Scotland starts and ends in primary care.</p><p>What is most important is that people get the right care in the right place. That place should be as local as possible with services as specialised as they need to…

20 Oct 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the targets set by the Partnership Agreement have been achieved and in what respect the targets set by the programme for government in 1999 and 2000 are relevant to current circumstances.

Answer · Tom McCabe: We have made good progress in implementing <i>A Partnership for a Better Scotland</i>. 25 of the commitments have now been achieved, and major progress made on many others. As the Record of Achievement document published in December 2002 indicated, 97% of the…

28 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will use increases in economic growth to deliver excellence in public services.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Economic growth and excellent public services are complementary and mutuallyreinforcing. We look to the potential for excellent public services to promote economic growth, through facilitating the appropriate physical, human and electronic infrastructure and …

23 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy will be published and how it will be delivered.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I will be undertaking the Scottish launch of the GB Animal Health and Welfare Strategy at the Royal Highland Show on 24 June. Copies of the Strategy have been placed in the Scottish Parliament reference centre (Bib. number 33090). The timing of the launch wil…

16 Jun 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to encourage local authorities to improve accessibility in their existing housing stock.

Answer · Margaret Curran: We expect local authorities to identify, in future Local Housing Strategies, the needs of people with disabilities.</p>