David Stewart

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the Inverness to Wick and Thurso railway lines for a pilot to consider the possible extension of the national concessionary travel scheme.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18280 on 12 December 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/we…

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the national concessionary travel scheme to include rail travel.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The review of the Scotland Wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People is still ongoing. I expect to receive a report of the review in the next few weeks and shall consider recommendations made by the Steering Group who carried out the review.</…

21 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what fare concessions have been deleted for (a) commercial and (b) non-commercial ferry passengers in the road equivalent tariff pilot areas and what savings will be achieved in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11..

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: All existing discount arrangements, except for the national concessionary schemes for young persons, older and disabled islanders and the 10% discount on the overnight freight service between Ullapool and Stornoway, will cease on the Road Equivalent Tariff pi…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what cost would fall to (a) Highland, (b) Moray, (c) Argyll and Bute, (d) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, (e) Orkney Islands and (f) Shetland Islands councils if school meals were provided free to all school children in these local authority areas.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government has not calculated the cost of providing free school meals to all primary school and secondary school pupils. The most recent school meals data are available on the Scottish Executive website at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publ…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children receive free breakfasts in (a) Highland, (b) Moray, (c) Argyll and Bute, (d) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, (e) Orkney Islands and (f) Shetland Islands local authority areas.

Answer · Adam Ingram: This information is not collected, however the publication <i >School</i><i > meals in </i><i >Scotland</i><i >, 2008</i> contains information on the number of schools in each local authority providing breakfast clubs, see link below:</p> <p ><a href="ht…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children receive free school meals in (a) Highland, (b) Moray, (c) Argyll and Bute, (d) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, (e) Orkney Islands and (f) Shetland Islands council areas.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The available information on the number of children entitled to and taking free school meals by local authority area has been published in tables 8 and 14 of the <i >School Meals in </i><i >Scotland</i><i >, 2008</i> publication, see link below:</p> <p ><a…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with (a) Caledonian MacBrayne, (b) Western Ferries, (c) Argyll and Bute Council and (d) Highlands and Islands Enterprise regarding the future use of the Dunoon linkspan.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Discussions about the way forward for the Gourock to Dunoon route have taken place with all interested stakeholders. Specific discussions about the future use of the Dunoon linkspan have taken place with the current operators of the services and with Argyll a…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of the cost of reducing all Caledonian MacBrayne fares by 40% for (a) passenger, (b) vehicle and (c) cargo services.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No detailed assessment has been made of a 40% reduction of CalMac Ferries Ltd''s fares for (a) passengers, (b) vehicles or (c) cargo services. The Scottish Government is currently investigating Road Equivalent Tariff as the basis of future ferry fares in Scot…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources are planned for (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 in order for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd to provide instrument landing systems where they are required across its network area.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) has not sought resources from the Scottish Government for the provision of new Instrument Landing System equipment at its airports for the period 2008-11. Such investment does not form part of HIAL''s capital plan for…

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of instrument landing systems in the Highlands and Islands airport network area in terms of the (a) reduction in postponed and delayed outward flights, (b) fall in diverted inward flights and (c) effects on regional economic development.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We understand that a study undertaken by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd has shown that less than 2% of scheduled flights through Wick are cancelled or diverted and that an Instrument Landing System (ILS) would benefit only 50% of those flights.</p>

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd regarding the installation of an instrument landing system at Wick Airport.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have held no such discussions with Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL). As satellite based technologies develop, HIAL will evaluate the costs and benefits of these in relation to the provision of navigational aids at its airports.</p>

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that the omission of ornithology, construction, transport and local public opinion from consideration at the Baillie windfarm public local inquiry is consistent with a balanced inquiry.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Baillie wind farm application is being considered in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 2000. The statutory consultation exercise, provided all parties with the opportunity to make representations. We have received …

20 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the issues that will be considered at the public local inquiry regarding the proposed Baillie windfarm in Caithness.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish ministers have asked the reporter to consider the following issues at the public local inquiry:</p> <p >The relationship of the development to Scottish Planning Policy 6 in relation to the proximity of the proposed wind farm to existing dwelling ho…

14 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how local authorities will be incentivised to deliver the waste management targets in single outcome agreements.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Following the completion of the Strategic Spending Review and the signing of the concordat with local government, the Scottish Government provided local authorities with record levels of funding over the period of the spending review 2008-11.</p> <p >In acc…

13 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replace the existing 35-year-old vessel used on the route between Gourock and Dunoon.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Until such time as a decision has been reached on the future of this route it would be premature to make any decisions on possible vessel solutions. An announcement about the way forward will be made as soon as practicable.</p>

13 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to a town centre to town centre vehicle and passenger ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17849 on 21 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/App…

13 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to the European Commission regarding the future of ferry services from Gourock to Dunoon and, if so, what these representations were and whether responses have been received from the European Commission.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Relations with the European Commission are a reserved matter. Consequently, formal exchanges with the Commission regarding their investigation are for the UK authorities rather than the Scottish Government. In these circumstances, it would not be appropriate …

25 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Rural Direct service, run by the Crofters Commission and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, has been a success and whether it intends to continue to fund this service for the duration of the Scotland Rural Development Programme.

Answer · Michael Russell: For 2008-09, the Scottish Government has awarded £100,000 to the Crofters Commission (CC) and £195,000 to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) to provide the Rural Direct service. The service was launched on 9 June 2008 and a review of its …

25 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it has decided to remove development education from its International Development Policy, which was published in May 2008.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: The previous International Development Policy did not specifically highlight development education and therefore this has not been removed. The Scottish Government fully recognises the importance of development education and this is being delivered in schools…

4 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of all respondents to the Climate Change Bill consultation supported the inclusion of emissions from international aviation and shipping in the targets.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The consultation on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill did not ask a question about whether emissions from international aviation and shipping should be included in the 80% emissions reduction target.</p> <p >Around a third of all individual respon…

4 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of all respondents to the Climate Change Bill consultation supported a target based on all greenhouse gas emissions.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The consultation on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill received 21,046 responses. Of this total, 318 were from individuals and organisations seeking to respond directly to questions asked in the consultation document itself and the remaining 20,728 …

4 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of all respondents to the Climate Change Bill consultation supported the 80% emissions reduction target.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The consultation on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill did not ask a question about whether there should be a target to reduce emissions by 80%.</p> <p >Around a third of all individual respondents, and all but one of the campaign texts, expressed …

11 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why its consultation, Agricultural Wages in Scotland: The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board, was launched, given the role of the board in protecting wages and conditions of service for agricultural workers.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are committed to delivering more effective government and to continuous improvement of public services. As part of this it is important to regularly review whether individual public organisations continue to be the best way to deliver services for which th…

11 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board has played in preserving the conditions of service and minimum pay rates of agricultural workers.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board has taken account of the specific needs of the agricultural workforce, including part-time, seasonal and migrant workers, in determining their pay and conditions of service.</p>

7 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the results of its first stage consultation on banning electric shock training devices in Scotland; when the second stage of the consultation will be issued; whether it will make a ministerial statement on the issue, and when it is likely that the Executive will bring…

Answer · Richard Lochhead: This issue was the subject of a consultation at the end of last year. A large number of responses were received but there was no consensus view. This is a complex issue and the consultation responses and research papers, many very detailed, are still being co…

3 Jul 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to archive all Scottish Government websites via the National Library of Scotland’s Trusted Digital Repository Programme.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has granted the National Library of Scotland a copyright licence to archive the main corporate website – <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/">www.scotland.gov.uk</a> – and this process is now going ahead.</p>

25 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce periodic payment orders under the Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme.

Answer · Shona Robison: Periodical payments are permitted in Scotland, with the consent of both parties, under the Damages Act 1996 as amended by the Courts Act 2003. The Executive is currently considering several areas of the law on damages, including periodical payments, pending t…

25 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total spend on the Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme has been in each NHS board area in the last three years.

Answer · Shona Robison: The sums reimbursed to NHS boards in respect of claims submitted to the Clinical Negligence and Other Risks Indemnity Scheme in each of the last three financial years were as follows:</p> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <t…

24 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how individual householders can be incentivised to recycle more and how this can be monitored.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Waste Aware Scotland (WAS) brand, marketed by the Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG) aims to make the reduce, reuse, recycle message easy for householders to follow through attractive, simple, consistent messages and advice. It also provides essential …

24 Jun 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any reports have been commissioned or consultation undertaken on how to improve recycling rates by individual householders.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Yes.</p> <p >In November 2003, the then Scottish Executive published a report by AEA Technology on Incentives for Householders to Change their Waste Practices. This is available on the Scottish Government website at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Public…