Parliamentary questions

Aileen Campbell

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

19 May 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the current political situation in Malawi and the potential impact on aid and development programmes in Malawi run by organisations supported by the Scottish Government.

19 May 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the decision of the Malawi Government to expel the British High Commissioner will have an impact on people delivering aid and development programmes in Malawi run by organisations supported by the Scottish Government.

19 May 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the decision of the Malawi Government to expel the British High Commissioner will have an impact on aid and development programmes in Malawi run by organisations supported by the Scottish Government.

22 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances a planning authority will advise a developer to change the name or description of a planning proposal and what the relevant legislation or regulations would be.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Planning legislation does not specify circumstances or procedures in this regard. In practice, specific issues relating to the proposed development and the stage in the planning process will determine the advice given by the planning authority.

4 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what savings are projected for each local authority and public body as a result of the new public sector electricity contracts announced in its news release of 30 April 2009, Public sector power goes greener.

Answer · John Swinney: Approximately 98% of in scope public sector demand in Scotland “ some 24,000 buildings “ is now signed up to our national electricity contracts. Given that public bodies migrated to these contracts on an incremental basis from 1 October 2009 until 1 April 201…

4 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what savings have been achieved by each local authority and public body as a result of the new public sector electricity contracts announced in its news release of 30 April 2009, Public sector power goes greener.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36681 on 26 October 2010. 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/Apps…

6 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact speed restrictions on trains passing through Carstairs railway station and Carstairs junction have on timetabling decisions on the west coast main line between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Speed restrictions are taken into account in the calculation of Sectional Running Times (SRTs) upon which timetables are constructed. Due to the tight curve radius and adverse camber at Carstairs junction, the line speed is restricted to 15mph.

6 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what speed restrictions are in place for trains passing through Carstairs railway station and Carstairs junction and for what reasons.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executive is aware that there are permanent speed restrictions for trains operating in both directions between Carstairs Station Junction and Carstairs East Junction. These restrictions comprise of 15 mph for a distance of 27 chains (543 metres) …

29 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it proposes to respond to the determination issued by the sheriff in the fatal accident inquiry into the tragic circumstances of the death of 21-month-old Ben McCreath.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is commencing a review of this specific area of the building regulations in line with the sheriff''s recommendation. This review will consider if the restriction on gap dimensions within protective barriers should be extended to all bu…

8 Apr 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many new criminal offences the Scottish Parliament has created in each parliamentary year since 1999.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is not held centrally.

9 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the aggregate rateable values of non-domestic properties are, broken down by rateable value of (a) up to £18,000, (b) £18,001 to £34,999, (c) £35,000 to £49,999 (d) £50,000 to £64,999, (e) £65,000 to £89,999, (f) £90,000 to £119,999, (g) £120,000 to £249,999, (h) £250,000 to £499,999…

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-32025 on 26 March 2010. 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/Apps2/…

9 Mar 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-domestic properties there are in each Scottish Assessors Association property classification category, broken down by rateable value of (a) up to £18,000, (b) £18,001 to £34,999, (c) £35,000 to £49,999, (d) £50,000 to £64,999, (e) £65,000 to £89,999, (f) £90,000 to £119,999, …

16 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is given to the good behaviour of an offender in prison when decisions are made regarding parole or early release.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The prisoner''s conduct since the date of sentence is one of a number of matters taken into consideration by the parole board when making decisions regarding early release on parole.

10 Feb 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what rail passenger numbers have been on the Larkhall-Glasgow line in each four-week period since the service was established in 2005.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson : Over the last five years from December 2005 until February 2010 the number of rail passengers on the Larkhall“Glasgow line in each four week period since the service was established are: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=475 > <tr > …

24 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-26996 by John Swinney on 18 September 2009, which (a) data zones and (b) council wards in the South Lanarkshire local authority area are in the (i) 15% and (ii) 5% most deprived such areas in Scotland, according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Depr…

Answer · John Swinney: Of South Lanarkshire''s 398 data zones, there are 11 in Scotland''s 5% most deprived areas using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) 2009, down from 13 data zones in SIMD 2006. Ten data zones have remained there in 2009, three data zones moved o…

19 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many bids were made to each tranche of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Alex Neil: One hundred and thirty-two applications were made the first round of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund and 136 to the second. The breakdown of bids by local authority area is: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td rowspa…

19 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many bids to the Town Centre Regeneration Fund were (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in each tranche and what the total value of these bids was in each case.

Answer · Alex Neil: A total of 132 applications were made to the first round of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund seeking £127 million. Of these, 36 were successful and 96 unsuccessful. In total, £40.5 million was offered to first round applicants. The total value of unsuccessfu…

19 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many bids to the second tranche of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund were substantially similar or identical to bids rejected in the first tranche and what these bids were.

Answer · Alex Neil: The detailed information requested is currently being collated. I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 49810).

16 Nov 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in taking forward the intention, announced at the Rural Gathering on 25 September 2009, to pursue transfer of the measure dealing with supporting community facilities from the Rural Priorities scheme to the LEADER programme and increase the potential LEADER int…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government supports the LEADER approach of local projects determined by local decision making. In relation to the proposed change to the delivery mechanism for community facilities support to LEADER, Local Action Groups (LAGs) support the strateg…

26 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what rights and responsibilities are attached to common land.

Answer · John Swinney: The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 makes it clear that local authorities are the stewards of common good land and assets. Most common good assets are held in perpetuity meaning they cannot be disposed of. In many cases a specific deed of trust, or condi…

26 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support is available to help local communities identify and develop areas of common land.

Answer · John Swinney: Common good land and assets are the responsibility of local authorities and it is up to them how to involve local communities in the management of these areas. There is a statutory duty on councils to have regard to the interests of the area in which…

26 Oct 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what authorities have responsibility for maintaining records of common land.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally. All moveable and heritable common good assets which are the property of the local authority are accountable within the audited accounts of each local authority. Local authority accounts are subject to annual au…

23 Sep 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support rural development during the economic downturn.

Answer · Richard Lochhead : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor1001-01.htm">http://www.scot…

7 Sep 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) data zones and (b) council wards in the South Lanarkshire local authority area are in the (i) 15% and (ii) 5% most deprived such areas in Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: A list of deprived data zones is available on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) website: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/SIMD">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/SIMD</a>. Of South Lanarkshire''s 398 data zones: 13 are in Scotland''s 5% …

31 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many microgenerators are registered under the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) scheme, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) generator capacity size.

Answer · Jim Mather: This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Government does not hold information on accredited generators under the Renewables Obligation (Scotland). Ofgem however hold a register in the public domain which lists generators and t…

24 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the development or protection of orchards is covered by planning guidance or legislation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Although orchards are not specifically highlighted, National Planning Policy Guideline 14 states that planning authorities should seek to protect trees, groups of trees and areas of woodland where they have natural heritage value or contribute to the characte…

24 Jul 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how many orchards there are and where.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Information is available from the June Agricultural Census on commercial orchards. The following table shows the number of agricultural holdings with commercial orchards, by agricultural region, along with the corresponding areas. <table border=1 cellsp…

25 Jun 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3652 by Shona Robison on 13 September 2007, for what reasons the number of prescriptions of Ritalin fell in each year between 2002 and 2007 and whether this number is expected to continue to fall in future years.

Answer · Shona Robison: Ritalin is one of a number of products containing methylphenidate hydrochloride, used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While the total prescribing of these products increased between 2002 and 2007 and continued to increase…

10 Jun 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what structures are in place to monitor the transportation of nuclear material in Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson : This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0618-01.htm">http://www.scot…

23 Apr 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the evaporation of fuel oil held in storage in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government does not hold such information. Evaporation and safety of fuel oil storage is a matter for the operator and the Health and Safety Executive.