Parliamentary questions

Jamie Hepburn

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

10 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimates of the number of children under the age of 16 involved in organised sports.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Statistics on children''s participation in sport are available from Children''s Participation in Culture and Sport, which can be found on the Scottish Government website at: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/12161714/0"…

10 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of multi-use games areas where they have replaced grass or other surfaced areas.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: As a statutory consultee, sportscotland would be involved in the consideration of planning applications for the development of multi-use games areas where they are proposed on playing fields or other sports facilities as listed in Scottish Planning Policy 11:…

10 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it provides to local authorities about the siting and development of multi-use games areas.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Advice and guidance on the development of multi-use games areas is provided in Scottish Planning Policy 11: Open Space and Physical Activity (Bib. number 46842) which provides guidance on planning for development of new indoor and outdoor facilities for sport…

10 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has given to local authorities to invest in multi-use games areas in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Sportscotland has provided financial support of £1,349,013 million to 22 projects across 15 local authorities as set out in the following table. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=50 valign=top > <p align=ce…

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or any of its agencies operates a policy of asking members of the UK Parliament to refer any inquiries from constituents on devolved matters to the relevant member of the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Scottish Government and its agencies adopt the approach of carefully considering the content of each item of correspondence received before deciding how best to provide a relevant and timely response. We place a high priority on responding to ministerial …

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or any of its agencies operate a policy of answering only the first inquiry from members of the UK Parliament and, where that inquiry pertains to the original issue, not replying to further inquiries from the same member of the UK Parliament.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16841 on 3 November 2008. 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/weba…

7 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since 1999 it or its agencies have refused to answer inquiries from members of the UK Parliament by virtue of their status as members of the UK Parliament.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: Statistical information is not available to answer this question.

30 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many footbridges, underpasses or similar types of infrastructure for pedestrians there are on each (a) motorway and (b) trunk road.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are 145 trunk road footbridges recorded within Trunk Road Bridges Database (TRBDB): (a) 38 are on the trunk road motorway network (b) 107 are on the A Class trunk road network. There are 200…

30 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what direction exists in guidance or statute to allow the provision of infrastructure for pedestrians to cross motorways or trunk roads.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The statutory power that allows the Scottish Executive as trunk road authority to provide infrastructure for pedestrians to cross motorways or trunk roads is contained in section 26 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. Section 26 states, The roads autho…

23 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-16043 and S3W-16044 by Richard Lochhead on 19 September 2008, what the difference is between the area claimed as set-aside in the table in the answer to question S3W-16043 and the area designated as set-aside (Ha) in the answer to question S3W-1604…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The figures shown in S3W-16043 detail the set-aside land claimed on the area aid application 2003 and 2004 to support claims submitted under the arable area payments scheme and the set-aside land claimed on the single application form to claim payment on the …

22 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers exist to bring arable land that is not being used for agricultural production into use for that purpose.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Land use decisions are a matter for individual land managers. Set-aside requirements have been suspended for 2008. If they are abolished as part of the EU''s Common Agricultural Policy Health Check, then it is to be expected that arable land previously used f…

22 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations the owners of land designated as set-aside have to maintain that land.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Farmers/crofters only have to set land aside if they have Single Farm Payment Scheme (SFPS) set-aside entitlements and they wish to receive payment on them. To receive full payment on their set-aside entitlements they must set aside one hectare of eligible la…

22 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits to agriculture it considers are derived from the set-aside scheme.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Set-aside was introduced in 1992 as a tool for reducing surplus production in the arable sector, to permit better management of the market. Since then the Common Agricultural Policy has undergone significant changes which have largely removed the problem of s…

4 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much compensation was paid in respect of set-aside land in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The following table details the subsidy paid on set-aside land in Scotland in the last five years for which figures are available (2003 to 2007 inclusive). <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=182 valign=top > …

4 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of arable land was designated as set-aside in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The following table shows the area and proportion of arable land designated as set-aside in Scotland in each year from 2003 to 2007. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td nowrap valign=bottom > Year</p…

4 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much land was newly designated as set-aside in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Rural Payments and Inspection Directorate do not hold details on set-aside land in the format asked for. However, to be as helpful as possible they have provided details of the land claimed as set-aside in Scotland under the Integrated Administration and …

3 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified teachers of Gaelic are employed in each local authority area.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The number of teachers of Gaelic are published in tables 8.9 and 8.10 of Teachers in Scotland 2007, available on the Scottish Government website using the following link: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/18093809/0">ht…

3 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified teachers of Gaelic there have been in each year since 1995.

Answer · Maureen Watt: The number of Gaelic teachers are published each year in Teachers in Scotland, available on the Scottish Government website using the following links: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/18093809/42">http://www.scotland.g…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the average output of CO2 emissions is per mile travelled per person travelling by (a) train, (b) bus and (c) private vehicle.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The UK Government''s Department for Transport''s Carbon Pathways Analysis: Informing Development of a Carbon Reduction Strategy for the Transport Sector, published in July 2008, provides information on CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre,…

28 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many tonnes of CO2 it estimates are emitted annually by (a) electric trains, (b) diesel trains, (c) public motor vehicles, (d) private motor vehicles and (e) commercial motor vehicles.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Emissions estimates are not produced for the specific categories requested. However, carbon emissions from all sources, including road and rail transport, are published annually in Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, <i …

27 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of delayed trains reported in each year from 1990 to 2005, broken down by (a) electric and (b) diesel-powered type.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government took over management of the franchise in October 2005, and therefore Transport Scotland does not hold this information.

27 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of reported breakdowns of trains in each year from 1990 to 2005, broken down by (a) electric and (b) diesel-powered type.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government took over management of the franchise in October 2005, and therefore Transport Scotland does not hold this information.

21 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the rates of meal allowances for NHS staff working away from home apply uniformly to all NHS staff or whether different grades or categories of staff have specific rates of meal allowance.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Whilst different staff groups within NHSScotland do work under different terms and conditions, the standard subsistence rates contained within these terms and conditions are currently the same. These rates are uniform and do not change according to the senio…

21 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is flexibility within the agreement that established the present rates of meal allowances for NHS staff working away from home to uprate them in line with increases in the cost of living.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Standard subsistence rates are specified within NHS staff''s terms and conditions. Employers do have discretion in certain circumstances to reimburse beyond these rates where there are genuine business reasons to do so, i.e. where a meal within the specified …

21 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is having with NHS employers on reviewing the rates of meal allowances for NHS staff working away from home to reflect rises in the cost of living.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Any changes to current terms and conditions for NHS staff, including subsistence rates, would be discussed on a UK-wide basis between health service trades unions and staff representative groups, NHS employers and UK health departments through the relevant ne…

21 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what agreement the present rates of meal allowances for NHS staff working away from home were set.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Subsistence rates for all non-medical staff are specified within Agenda for Change terms and conditions. Rates for medical staff are covered by the terms and conditions for their particular staff group.

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made from its initial discussions with Her Majesty’s government about its proposals that the child care element of working tax credit and childcare vouchers should be merged as reported in its news release of 16 July 2008.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Scottish Government officials met with HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officials in August 2008 to discuss their current consultation on the modernisation of the tax credits system. As part of the consultation process, officials have stressed th…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contact it has had with Her Majesty’s Government to discuss improvements to the support available to kinship carers.

Answer · Adam Ingram: There is regular discussion between officials of the Scottish Government and of the UK Government on improvements to the UK benefits and welfare system for all families with children. Specific support for kinship carers is raised as part of these discussions,…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is working with COSLA to increase the practical support available to kinship carers beyond its announced kinship care payment.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government and COSLA recognise more support is necessary for many kinship carers, including carers of children who are not looked after, and that includes practical and emotional support as well as financial assistance. Our work includes: <p…

15 Aug 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that, in line with the getting it right for every child in kinship and foster care strategy, kinship care is the first option considered for every child who can no longer live with its parent(s).

Answer · Adam Ingram: One of the guiding principles of getting it right for every child in foster and kinship care is: unless there are clear reasons why placement within the family would not be in the child''s interests, care within the wider family and community circle will be t…