David Stewart

29 Apr 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve nail cutting services for older people with diabetes.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Everyone diagnosed with diabetes should be screened/assessed using the traffic light foot risk stratification and triage system, which identifies and defines those patients who are at risk of developing a foot problem due to their diabetes. This system aids i…

26 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has undertaken research into the uptake of the use of e-cigarettes by (a) ex-smokers, (b) people under 18 and (c) non-smokers.

Answer · Michael Matheson: E-cigarettes are relatively new products so only limited research is available. While the Scottish Government has not commissioned its own research into the use of e-cigarettes, a question on the use of e-cigarettes by under 18s has been added for the first t…

26 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to bring forward legislation on e-cigarettes.

Answer · Michael Matheson: I refer the member to the answer to question S4O-02994 on 12 March 2014. The answer to the oral parliamentary question is available on the Parliaments website and the Official Report can be viewed at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/2…

26 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted research into the health risks associated with the use of e-cigarettes for (a) smokers and (b) passive smokers.

Answer · Alex Neil: E-cigarettes are a relatively new products so research on the long term health impacts is not currently available. While the Scottish Government has not commissioned its own research into the health risks of e-cigarettes, it will consider the publicly availab…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that there will be traffic congestion associated with construction works to dual the A9 and, if so, whether it will lead to increased rail traffic in the Highlands.

Answer · Keith Brown: Measures will be put in place in the contracts to ensure disruption during construction is minimised as far as is possible. Two way traffic will be maintained in each direction during peak times and agreed key events in order to keep the disruption to a minim…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will dovetail rail and road improvements before the commencement of the construction to dual the A9.

Answer · Keith Brown: Improving the connection between Perth and Inverness will be by both an upgrade to the Highland Main Line and dualling of the A9. Both projects promote sustainable economic growth by better connecting Inverness and the Highlands with the Central Belt. Both th…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its policy is on electrification of the (a) Inverness to Aberdeen and (b) Inverness to Glasgow/Edinburgh railway lines.

Answer · Keith Brown: We recognise that there have been decades of underinvestment in Scotland’s transport infrastructure, as was recently confirmed by the UK Secretary of State for Transport. This Scottish Government has invested over £9.5 billion in transport since 2007, and is …

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) budget and (b) timeframe is for completion of improvements to the (i) Highland Main Line and (ii) Inverness to Aberdeen line.

Answer · Keith Brown: Phase 1 of the Aberdeen to Inverness line improvements, which includes the new stations at Dalcross and Kintore and phase 2 of improvements on the Highland Main Line are fully funded within the Office of Rail Regulations (ORR) overall regulatory determination…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the budget is for dualling the A9 in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16 and (c) 2016-17 and what the timetable is for completion.

Answer · Keith Brown: The A9 dualling budget for 2014-15 is £7.2 million and for 2015-16 is £17.8 million. The budget for 2016-17 and beyond will be subject to spending review. It is planned to complete the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025.

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what organisations have been invited to consult on the CalMac IT improvement projects.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentary…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how the bidding process was conducted to select an organisation to carry out the CalMac IT improvement projects, and what the rationale was for that process.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentary…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what organisation is responsible for procurement for CalMac IT projects.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentary…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how reliable the technologies are that Transport Scotland and CalMac are using in the CalMac IT improvement projects.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentary…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what wireless internet systems CalMac is investing in and whether it will (a) use the Scottish wide area network being delivered by Capita and BT fibre broadband or (b) establish its own network delivered via radio masts.

Answer · Keith Brown: The David MacBrayne Ltd (DML) Group is undertaking a commercial technology transformation programme focussed on network connectivity, digital customer services and data management. This will improve DML’s customer experience, make it easier for customers to e…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many IT projects Transport Scotland and CalMac are undertaking and when they are due to be completed.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentary…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) Transport Scotland and (b) CalMac budget is for CalMac IT improvement projects and how much has been spent to date.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentaryb…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many information systems contractors rather than CalMac employees have been employed to facilitate the CalMac IT improvement projects and at what cost.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentary…

12 Mar 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many employees are working on the CalMac IT improvement projects.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-20136 on 26 March 2014. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentary…

28 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce high risk screening for type 2 diabetes.

Answer · Michael Matheson: There are currently no plans to introduce high risk screening for type 2 diabetes. The Scottish Government takes its advice on screening programmes from the National Screening Committee (NSC). The current advice from the NSC is that screening for type 2 dia…

26 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how decisions are taken on the use of messaging on motorway gantry signs and what plans it has to use such messaging to encourage drivers to have regular eye tests.

Answer · Keith Brown: Variable message signs are used by the Scottish Government to manage the trunk road network by providing advanced warning to drivers of emergencies and incidents. That is their primary use. Only when there are no emergencies or incidents to report, the signs …

26 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many road accidents are caused by poor vision and how such accidents are recorded.

Answer · Keith Brown: In 2012 there were 12 cases where it was considered that drivers with uncorrected defective eyesight had contributed to injury road accidents. Information on contributory factors is collected by the police as part of the GB wide ‘STATS 19’ accident data colle…

26 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in the event of independence, what plans it has to align Scotland with EU standards under directives 2009/113/EC and 2006/126/EC to (a) improve eyesight testing standards for drivers and (b) legislate so that professional eye testing is carried out at the time of taking a driving test.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This would be a matter for a future Scottish Government as and when elected.

26 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging the uptake of free eye tests.

Answer · Michael Matheson: We have maintained our commitment to the free NHS eye examination introduced on 1 April 2006 delivering universally free comprehensive community based eye care services for everyone in Scotland. There has been a continued increase in the number of NHS funded…

26 Feb 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the level of uptake is of free eye tests, broken down by age group.

Answer · Michael Matheson: Information on the total number of free NHS eye examinations carried out by high-street optometrists is published by Information Services Division and can be found at the following link: Numbers of primary and supplementary eye examinations for years ending …

21 Jan 2014 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the NHS about the progress of the diabetes action plan.

16 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much of the Cities Investment Fund it has allocated to Inverness.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Cities Investment Fund is designed to accelerate the pace of investment in cities by developing programmes which lever in other funding and support collaborative programmes between cities (including their regions) which will develop large-scale projects. …

8 Jan 2014 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many notices of liability for expenses under section 50A of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 have been registered, and how many of these have been discharged in each year since 2011, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Derek Mackay: Section 50 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 (the Act) enables Scottish Ministers and planning authorities to recover expenses for urgent works which they carry out to preserve unoccupied listed buildings. Since 20…

27 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made a decision on whether to pilot an increase in the speed limit for HGVs on the A9.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has announced plans for a 50 mph HGV pilot to be introduced in 2014 at the same time as average speed cameras on the A9.

21 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend the network of public service obligation operations in order to secure the air services operated from Inverness to, from and within the Highlands and Islands by FlyBe and its franchise partner and whether it will make a statement on the matter.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government has no current plans to extend the network of Public Service Obligation operations within the Highlands and Islands. We have no plans to make a statement on this matter.

21 Nov 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the withdrawal of the FlyBe services from Inverness to London Gatwick, whether it will consider an application for public service obligation protected service from Inverness to London Heathrow or Northolt and whether it will make a statement on the matter.

Answer · Keith Brown: easyJet will be starting new services from Inverness to Gatwick when the current Flybe services cease. Given that there will be three services a day from Inverness to London, it is highly unlikely that the imposition of a Public Service Obligation on the rout…