Questions · Jamie Hepburn

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children will benefit from the extension of free school meals to all primary 1 to primary 3 pupils in 2010, as set out in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, in (a) Central Scotland parliamentary region, (b) each Scottish parliamentary constituency in the Central Scotland regi…

Answer · Adam Ingram: Predictednational school rolls bystage for 2010 are available on the Scottish Executivewebsite at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/19125551/16">www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/19125551/16</a>.We do not have information on pred…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average journey times will be between Cumbernauld and Glasgow Queen Street in the event of the line to Cumbernauld being electrified and what the comparable average journey times are at present.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The improvementsproposed for the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line are part of a managed programme of change, providing a moreefficient and greener rail network in Central Scotland,delivering faster journey times, increased capacity and more services. It istoo e…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average journey times will be between Polmont and (a) Glasgow Queen Street and (b) Edinburgh Waverley in the event of the Glasgow to Edinburgh main line being electrified and what the comparable average journey times are at present.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The improvementsproposed for the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line are part of a managed programme of change, providing a moreefficient and greener rail network in Central Scotland,delivering faster journey times, increased capacity and more services. It istoo e…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average journey times will be between Falkirk High and (a) Glasgow Queen Street and (b) Edinburgh Waverley in the event of the Glasgow to Edinburgh main line being electrified and what the comparable average journey times are at present.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The improvementsproposed for the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line are part of a managed programme of change, providing a moreefficient and greener rail network in Central Scotland,delivering faster journey times, increased capacity and more services. It istoo e…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average journey times will be between Croy and Edinburgh Waverley in the event of the Glasgow to Edinburgh main line being electrified and what the comparable average journey times are at present.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The improvementsproposed for the main Edinburgh to Glasgow line are part of a managed programme of change, providing a moreefficient and greener rail network in Central Scotland,delivering faster journey times, increased capacity and more services. It istoo e…

15 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many families will benefit from the proposed increase in nursery provision in (a) Central Scotland parliamentary region, (b) each parliamentary constituency in Central Scotland parliamentary region, (c) North Lanarkshire local authority area, (d) South Lanarkshire local authority area…

Answer · Adam Ingram: All eligiblechildren will be entitled to 570 hours of pre-school education from August 2010. The numbers of children attending pre-school education as ofJanuary 2007 in the areas specified are provided as follows. Information is notheld on the number of f…

15 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many small and medium-sized enterprises in (a) Central Scotland parliamentary region, (b) each parliamentary constituency in Central Scotland parliamentary region, (c) North Lanarkshire local authority area, (d) South Lanarkshire local authority area and (e) Falkirk local authority ar…

Answer · John Swinney: Information on smalland medium-sized enterprises in the form requested is not held centrally. However,information on the number and rateable value of non-domestic properties which maybe eligible for relief under the Small Business Bonus scheme is available fo…

15 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in (a) Central Scotland parliamentary region, (b) each parliamentary constituency in Central Scotland parliamentary region, (c) Lanarkshire NHS board area and (d) Forth Valley NHS board area will benefit from the proposal to scrap prescription charges, as outlined in the S…

Answer · Shona Robison: This information isnot held centrally.The Scottish Governmentis committed to abolishing prescription charges for all in Scotland within the lifetime of this Parliament, and we are currentlyexamining in detail how best to deliver that commitment. Our pr…

15 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what gross domestic product was in (a) 1975, (b) 1985, (c) 1995 and (d) 2005 and what comparative information it has for each other country listed in figure B2 of The Government Economic Strategy.

Answer · John Swinney: Gross DomesticProduct (GDP) data for Scotland and the UK,are presented in table 1. GDP data for the other countries listed in figure B2of the Government Economic Strategy (GES) are shown in table 2.Table 1: GDP2for Scotland and UK,£, Million…

15 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what gross domestic product per capita was in (a) 1950, (b) 1960, (c) 1970, (d) 1980, (e) 1990, (f) 2000 and (g) the most recent year for which figures are available and what comparative information it has for (i) each EU member state and (ii) each OECD nation.

Answer · John Swinney: Gross Domestic Product(GDP) per capita data are available for Scotland from 1989 onwards. Table 1 presents Scottish GDP per capita data for1990, 2000, and 2005, which is the most recent year. Table 2 presentscomparative information for the EU member states fo…

14 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will be involved in the joint bid by North and South Lanarkshire councils to host the 2011 International Children’s Games.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I visited New LanarkshireLimited on 27 August 2007 and discussed their plans to bid for the 2011International Children’s Games. I have also met with the International Children’sGames Executive Committee.EventScotland, thenational events agency, is in d…

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the alternative route for non-motorway traffic will be once the online upgrade of the A80 to motorway status is complete and whether this will be the alternative route in the event of the closure of the upgraded A80/M80 route as a consequence of accidents.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Once the online upgradeof the A80 is complete, the surrounding road network will accommodate non motorwayand diverted traffic. The upgrade will see the addition of hard shoulders whichwill help to keep traffic moving at times of accident. We expect closure in…

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many influenza vaccinations have been administered in each year since 1980, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) age group.

Answer · Shona Robison: This information isavailable broken down by those aged 65 and over and those under the age of 65.For those aged 65and over figures are available from the year 2000. Information for the years 2000-05is given in the table Flu Vaccination Uptake for th…

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

Answer · Shona Robison: Deaths toinfluenza are likely to be under reported when simply looking at the number ofcases where “influenza” is recorded on death certificates as more people willnormally die from complications arising as a result of influenza rather thansimply flu itself. …

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were diagnosed with influenza in (a) 1950, (b) 1960, (c) 1970 and (d) 1980 and how many have been diagnosed with it in each year since 1990, broken down by (i) NHS board area and (ii) age group.

Answer · Shona Robison: The NHS Health ProtectionScotland Flu Spotter scheme has been collating incidence reports of flu-like illnessduring the winter flu season (October to May) in Scotland for 30 years. Information is collected from around 90 volunteer GeneralPractitioners who rep…

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prisoners on remand in each year since 1980 did not subsequently serve custodial sentences for the offences for which they were remanded.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:The information requestedis not available. However, research carried out in 1997 suggests that around 50%of remand prisoners go on to receive a…

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prisoners on remand in each year since 1980 were not subsequently convicted of the offences for which they were remanded.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The informationis not available from Prison Service records.

1 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals involved in civil cases were held on remand in each year since 1980.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The informationis not available. Scottish Prison Service records do not differentiate remandwarrants.