Parliamentary questions
David Stewart
1,651 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for eligible patients with type 1 diabetes to secure access to insulin pump therapy, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is, where available, shown in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > <p align=center >NHS Board</p> </td> <td width=337 valign=top > <p align=ce…
19 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the proportion of patients with type 1 diabetes who meet the criteria for eligibility for insulin pump therapy under current clinical guidance.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish diabetes services are expected to provide insulin pumps services in line with the advice outlined in the NICE Technology Assessment 151(TA151).</p> <p >These criteria are thought to apply to between 4 and 14% of people with type 1 diabetes.</p>
19 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of patients with type 1 diabetes is receiving insulin pump therapy, broken down by NHS board.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is given in the following table:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=181 valign=top > <p align=center >NHS Board</p> </td> <td width=276 valign=top > <p align=center >Perce…
19 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals have been put to the European Commission regarding the future of ferry services between Gourock and Dunoon and whether any such proposals involve a vehicle and passenger service.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23794 on 26 May 2009. The European Commission has agreed that it would not be appropriate for information relating to its investigations to be published whilst investigations are live. The decision not to provi…
10 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated timescale is for the commencement of work to dual the A96 between Nairn and Inverness.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24698 on 19 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament…
10 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any preparatory work has been carried out on dualling the A96 between Nairn and Inverness.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24698 on 19 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament…
10 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated timescale is for the commencement of work on a bypass at Nairn.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24698 on 19 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament…
10 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what preparatory work has been carried out on a bypass at Nairn.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-24698 on 19 June 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament…
10 Jun 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place for a bypass at Nairn as outlined in the Strategic Transport Projects Review.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A delivery partnership has been established between Highland Council and Transport Scotland. This partnership will oversee the design and phased delivery of the Nairn bypass and the A96 upgrade from Nairn to Inverness.</p> <p >The timetable for undertaking t…
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place for developing long-term park-and-ride solutions for either side of the Kessock Bridge.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: HITRANS (Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership in Scotland) have carried out a study into congestion and urban issues in the Inner Moray Firth area, which includes a focus on park-and-ride opportunities. Any development of park-and-ride sites in the Inv…
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what projections it has for vehicle movements per day on the Kessock Bridge over the next five years.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland does not routinely hold such projections but has the capability to produce them if required.</p>
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what design capacity was planned in terms of maximum vehicle movements for the Kessock Bridge when it opened in 1982.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland does not have any record of the design capacity for the Kessock Bridge when it opened in 1982 but would expect the dual two-lane cross-section to be capable of carrying up to 1800 vehicles per lane per hour. The four lanes across the Kessoc…
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what maximum daily traffic movements have been recorded on the Kessock Bridge.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The maximum daily traffic flow recorded on the Kessock Bridge was 42,434 recorded on 6 August 2008. This compares with an average daily flow in 2008 of 27,162 and an August daily average flow in 2008 of 32,768.</p>
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to reduce traffic congestion on the Kessock Bridge, particularly at peak times.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In the late 1990s measures were introduced to alleviate congestion at the Longman Roundabout at the south end of the Kessock Bridge. In 2006, as a consequence of increasing delays experienced at peak periods, Transport Scotland commissioned Scotland Transerv …
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what timescale is anticipated for improvements to the A9 Longman roundabout.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is currently considering possible improvements to the Longman Roundabout. Once defined, any such improvements will have to compete for funding with other minor schemes across the trunk road network. Consequently, no timescale has yet been d…
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what budget allocations have been made for improvements to the A9 Longman roundabout.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Funding has been provided for a preliminary design for improvements of the Longman roundabout on the A9.</p>
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the conclusions of the traffic capacity study carried out by Scotland Transerv on the A9 Longman roundabout to be published.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The study report is currently in draft and will be finalised by end of July 2009.</p>
29 May 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the traffic capacity study for the A9 Longman roundabout was commissioned.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The brief for the Longman roundabout traffic capacity study was finalised in June 2006, shortly after the start of the Scotland Transerv contract.</p>
30 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision on the inquiry into the Beauly to Denny transmission line.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21310 on 9 March 2009. 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/B…
3 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reopen the women-only facility at HM Prison Inverness.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p >The SPS has no plans at this time to transfer female prisoners into Inverness. The facility in the prison previously set aside to a…
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to promote and encourage an extension of international connections in line with the SNP’s 2007 election manifesto pledge.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Our strategy to maintain and improve Scotland''s international air connectivity has two elements: maintaining and developing Scotland''s profile within the airline sector, including at world events such as the World Route Development Forum, and the provision …
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out of the economic benefit of the former air route development fund.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: An evaluation of the former Air Route Development Fund is currently being undertaken and will be completed in 2009-10. A number of appraisal tests are being carried out as part of the evaluation to assess the impact of the fund and a full economic appraisal i…
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much VisitScotland and other government sponsored bodies have contributed towards airline marketing in the last 12 months.
Answer · Jim Mather: VisitScotland does not contribute directly to airlines'' marketing costs. However, they do carry out jointly funded partnership campaigns with various businesses including airlines. In the last 12 months, VisitScotland has spent approximately £2.35 million on…
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has offered to airlines in the last 12 months to encourage the establishment of new direct international routes to and from Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have offered no financial support in the past 12 months for the establishment of new direct international routes serving Scotland. We have however provided market intelligence and data to a wide range of airlines on the potential of the Scottish market to …
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the operators of Scottish airports, including airports in the Highlands and Islands, regarding the establishment and promotion of new direct international air routes to and from Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have regular dialogue at both ministerial and official level with Scotland''s airport operators on a range of issues, including the maintenance and improvement of Scotland''s international air connectivity.</p>
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of its sponsorship of the conference reception at the 2008 World Route Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The cost of the sponsored reception at the World Route Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur was £46,810.05.</p>
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of its sponsorship of the conference reception at the 2008 World Route Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur and what plans it has for sponsorship of future routes conferences.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The sponsored reception at the World Route Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur focused on the promotion of Scotland and the potential of the Scottish market for business and tourism. New contacts were made and existing contacts renewed with airlines from Europe…
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the establishment of new direct international air routes to and from Scotland in each of the next five years.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We wish to see improvements in Scotland''s international air links which help to promote business connections and make Scotland more accessible for inbound tourists. Decisions on whether to serve the Scottish market are commercial ones for airlines in negotia…
2 Apr 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent European Commission ruling in relation to Brussels South Chaleroi Airport, what assessment it has made of the legality of a Scottish air route development fund.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Court of First Instance''s annulment of the European Commission''s decision on advantages granted by the Walloon Region and by Charleroi Airport to Ryanair did not refer to the commission''s guidelines on aid for the start-up of new air routes or the issu…
26 Mar 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees work more than 35 hours per week as part of their normal, not including overtime, core contract in (a) Highland, (b) Moray, (c) Orkney, (d) Shetland, (e) Argyll and Bute, and (f) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar local authority areas.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22408, on 15 April 2009. 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…