Parliamentary questions

Jamie Hepburn

761 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

12 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether individuals can lose access rights as set out under the terms of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Yes. It is a condition under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 that access rights are only available if those taking access act responsibly. Guidance on what constitutes responsible access is set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. An…

28 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what are considered to be relevant Scottish authorities as referred to in section 49D(3) of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: For the purposes of section 49D(3) and as defined in section 49D(10) of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, a relevant Scottish authority means: (a) a member of the Scottish executive or a junior Scottish minister; <p align=left…

28 Jul 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32727 by Alex Neil on 24 March 2010, whether a local authority is not considered to be a relevant Scottish authority under the powers invested in the Scottish Ministers by section 49D(3) of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A local authority is considered to be a relevant Scottish Authority under the powers invested in the Scottish Ministers by section 49D(3) of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. Scottish ministers have used their powers to impose specific duties on Scottis…

30 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the June 2010 British-Irish Council summit.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: On 25 June, the States of Guernsey hosted the fourteenth Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council, attended by ministers from all eight member administrations. The summit began with a very useful discussion on the global financial situation and on the meas…

24 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for public liability on an identified core path.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Public liability obligations are not affected by designation of land as a core path under the provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. The nature of the liability obligations applicable on land to which the public have a right of access wi…

24 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a local or national park authority, in drawing up a core path plan, has the power to identify core paths on a route that is not a pre-existing right of way.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: Yes.

11 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-34033, S3W-34039, S3W-34040, S3W-34041, S3W-34042 and S3W-34043 by Nicola Sturgeon on 8 June 2010, what the incidence of these cancer types is, broken down by the most localised geographical unit for which information can be provided.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the incidence of the cancers previously supplied at all Scotland and health board level for these parliamentary questions can be further broken down to the level of Community Health Partnership (CHP). The most recent calendar year for which complete n…

10 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total value is of the contract awarded to Highway Management (Scotland) Ltd in respect of the completion and operation of the M80.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The tendered cost for the project is £322 million. This includes the construction cost and the maintenance costs over the 30 year concession period, expressed as a net present value.

3 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is possible for a business to have part of its premises deemed not liable for rates if that space is being unused.

Answer · John Swinney: Where property is partially unoccupied, the local authority can request the local Assessor to apportion the rateable value for the property between the occupied and unoccupied parts. The local authority may then apply empty property relief to the uno…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence of newly diagnosed respiratory problems has been in (a) Scotland, (b) NHS Forth Valley and (b) NHS Lanarkshire in each year since 2004, also broken down by data zone.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information is not held centrally in the format requested. The way that centrally held healthcare information is coded means that it is not always possible to reliably distinguish between respiratory problems that have been newly diagnosed (inci…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence of newly diagnosed testicular cancer has been in (a) Scotland, (b) NHS Forth Valley and (c) NHS Lanarkshire in each year since 2004, also broken down by data zone.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the incidence of testicular cancer are available for Scotland and NHS board by calendar year at: <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=i_cancer_male_genital_organs.xls&pContentDispositionType=inline">http:/…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence of newly diagnosed cancers of the digestive system has been in (a) Scotland, (b) NHS Forth Valley and (c) NHS Lanarkshire each year since 2004, also broken down by data zone.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the incidence of oesophageal, stomach and colorectal cancer are all available for Scotland and NHS board by calendar year at: <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/183.html">http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/183.html</a> (under the Cancer Statistics se…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence of newly diagnosed mesothelioma has been in (a) Scotland, (b) NHS Forth Valley and (c) NHS Lanarkshire in each year since 2004, also broken down by data zone.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the incidence of mesothelioma are available for Scotland and NHS board by calendar year at: <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=i_cancer_lung_mesothelioma.xls&pContentDispositionType=inline">http://www.is…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence of newly diagnosed leukaemia has been in (a) Scotland, (a) NHS Forth Valley and (c) NHS Lanarkshire in each year since 2004, also broken down by data zone.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the incidence of leukaemias are available for Scotland and NHS Board by calendar year at: <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=i_cancer_leukaemias.xls&pContentDispositionType=inline">http://www.isdscotland…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence of newly diagnosed breast cancer has been in (a) Scotland, (b) NHS Forth Valley and (b) NHS Lanarkshire in each year since 2004, also broken down by data zone.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the incidence of breast cancer is available for Scotland and NHS board by calendar year at: <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=i_cancer_breast.xls&pContentDispositionType=inline">http://www.isdscotland.o…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence of newly diagnosed cancers of the respiratory system has been in (a) Scotland, (b) NHS Forth Valley and (c) NHS Lanarkshire in each year since 2004, also broken down by data zone.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the incidence for cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung is available for Scotland and NHS board by calendar year at: <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=i_cancer_lung_mesothelioma.xls&pContentDispositi…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S3W-33563 by Keith Brown on 25 May 2010, what the figures are broken down by local education authority

Answer · Keith Brown: Table 1. Number and percentage of school leavers from special schools in Scotland not in employment, voluntary work, education or training, by local authority, 2008-09. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33563 by Keith Brown on 25 May 2010, what the comparable figures were for each of the five years prior to 2008-09.

Answer · Keith Brown: Information on leavers destinations from Special Schools is not available before 2006-07. In 2007-08, 330 (40.3%, from a total of 818) leavers from special schools entered an initial destination which was not employment, voluntary work, education or…

1 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 National Security Certificate for G8 information promulgated in 2005 was revoked.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Following consultation with interested parties, including the Scottish Information Commissioner, a Declaration of Withdrawal of Certificate by The Scottish Ministers was issued on 6 April 2010.

25 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prescriptions were dispensed by the NHS in each of the last 10 years, expressed as an average per person.

Answer · Shona Robison: The information requested is published regularly by the NHS Information Services Division and can be found on their website at <a href="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/2226.html" title="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/2226.html">www.isdscotland.org/isd/2226.htm…

18 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-33341 by Stewart Stevenson on 29 April 2010, what limits are placed on its ability to change the terms of the passenger railway franchise in Scotland by the Scotland Act 1998 and other UK legislation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish ministers were given responsibility by the Railways Act 2005 to specify and procure passenger services in Scotland in accordance with EU and UK legislation but with flexibility to meet their requirements. Changing the terms of a franchise w…

11 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what vocational training is available for those (a) in and (b) who have recently left special education.

Answer · Keith Brown: (a) Curriculum for Excellence is a curriculum for all young people, wherever they are learning. All young people are entitled to opportunities to develop skills for learning, skills for life and skills for work. This includes the development of pract…

11 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals who have left special education are not in (a) employment, (b) education or (c) training, also expressed as a percentage, and what the comparable figures are for those who have left mainstream education.

Answer · Keith Brown: In 2008-09, 384 (43.3%, from a total of 886) leavers from special schools entered an initial destination which was not employment, education or training. This compares to 7,652 (14.3%, from a total of 53,532) leavers from publicly funded secondary schools.</p…

11 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether part of its More Choices, More Chances strategy is designed to assist young adults who have recently left special education.

Answer · Keith Brown: Our More Choices, More Chances strategy aims to assist all young people to move into positive and sustained destinations. Specifically, through 16+ Learning Choices we are ensuring every young person has an appropriate offer of post-16 learning befor…

11 May 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific support is available to young adults who have recently left special education.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Additional Support for Learning Act (2004) makes provision for improving the transition from school for young people leaving special education, and mainstream education, with a view to ensuring that there is a continuum of support available to them. …

22 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the future of the east coast franchise in Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Officials have regular dialogue with Department for Transport (DfT) on matters relating to cross border franchises. In relation to the proposals for the introduction of a new East Coast timetable in May 2011, I wrote to Lord Adonis on 25 November 200…

22 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to change the terms of the passenger railway franchise in Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The current franchise agreement contains a variation mechanism which will allow changes/additions to the franchise terms during the contract''s duration. Included within the variation mechanism is the requirement to determine the effects of the change which i…

24 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-32004 by Alex Neil MSP on 8 March 2010, whether the Scottish Ministers have powers of intervention to establish whether a local authority is in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and to act accordingly.

Answer · Alex Neil: The subject matter of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) is reserved to Westminster, as regards the prohibition of discrimination and the regulation of equal opportunities. Enforcement of the DDA is a matter for the Equality and Human Rights Commiss…

18 Mar 2010 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the findings of the Consumer Focus Wales report, Post Office Closures: Impact of the Network Change Programme, have implications for Scotland’s experience of the Network Change Programme and its impact on social inclusion in Scotland.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government recognises the important social and economic role that post offices play in both urban and rural communities across Scotland. The report helps confirm that similar issues exist in both Wales and Scotland in respect of Network Change. T…

10 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what commitments or projections exist for subsidy payments to rail passenger franchise operators in 2010-11 and future years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The forecast commitment for subsidy payments to rail passenger franchise operators in 2010-11 is £315.2 million. No further projections are currently available.