Parliamentary questions
Liam McArthur
3,663 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of care for urgent cases and managing minor injuries and illnesses at the Balfour Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12979 on 27 May 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./webapp/…
14 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Delivering for Remote and Rural Healthcare: What it Means for You will have on the delivery of outpatient, day case, inpatient and rehabilitation services at the Balfour Hospital, detailing how the new arrangements will differ from those currently provided.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: <i >Delivering for Remote and Rural Health care: What it Means for You</i> will impact on all rural general hospitals, including Balfour General Hospital, by improving local access to a range of emergency, diagnostic and planned treatment services.</p> <p >…
14 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any preliminary assessment of the annual cost, in addition to current subsidies to Caledonian MacBrayne and NorthLink Ferries, of applying road equivalent tariff rates to the fares on all Scottish internal ferry routes and, if so, what the results were.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The consultants undertaking the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) study have undertaken an initial assessment of the annual reduction in fares revenue with the application of RET rates. This initial assessment has been carried out on all ferry services subsidised …
13 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership will be of each of the regional proposal assessment committees set up to assess applications to the Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities section of the Scottish Rural Development Plan.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Regional Proposal Assessment Committees (RPACs) are made up of a range of local public officials selected on the basis of the relevant expertise required to assess the types of applications being submitted via the Rural Development Contracts “ Rural Prior…
13 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the work programme will be for each of the regional proposal assessment committees set up to assess applications to the Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities section of the Scottish Rural Development Plan, including the dates of meetings for consideration of applications and…
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The 11 Regional Proposal Assessment Committees (RPACs) will meet up to three times a year to assess applications submitted under the Rural Development Contracts “ Rural Priorities element of the Scotland Rural Development Committee.</p> <p >The specific dat…
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the Marine Energy Collaboration Fund and whether it is considering a review of the fund and, if so, what form such a review will take.
Answer · Jim Mather: A full evaluation has not yet been conducted, as two projects are still in progress and one completed just last month. Signs to date indicate that the funding has been a reasonable success in supporting the marine sector and encouraging collaboration across s…
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which projects have received funding from the Marine Energy Collaboration Fund and for what purpose.
Answer · Jim Mather: Since the fund''s initial launch by Scottish Enterprise in June 2007, funding support worth £250,000 has been committed to the following four projects:</p> <p >Scotrenewables (Orkney)</p> <p >AWS (Alness)</p> <p >Green Cat Energy (Lanarkshire)</p> <p >Sub…
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the overall budget for the Marine Energy Collaboration Fund is and how much money has been spent under the fund in each year since establishment.
Answer · Jim Mather: There has been no precise limit on the fund. Instead, the sums allocated have been limited by the number of applications, as well as the limits imposed by the wider Scottish Enterprise energy team budget for each year. Around £250,000 has been awarded since t…
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts have been made to raise awareness in the marine renewables sector and elsewhere of the existence of the Marine Energy Collaboration Fund.
Answer · Jim Mather: The fund was promoted initially through mail-shot activities to companies known to Scottish Enterprise, and through industry bodies such as Scottish Renewables, the Industrial and Power Association and Subsea UK. The fund has also been announced at various in…
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who has responsibility for administering the Marine Energy Collaboration Fund; what its purpose is, and what criteria have been set for applications to the fund.
Answer · Jim Mather: Responsibility for administering the Marine Energy Collaboration Fund rests with the Scottish Enterprise energy team. Its purpose is to encourage and incentivise the collaboration of marine renewable developers with, for example, oil and gas engineering compa…
7 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it quantifies and communicates the greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved as a result of the delivery of renewable energy targets.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has not quantified the impact on greenhouse gas emissions resulting from delivery of the Scottish Government''s renewable energy targets. However, prospective developers are now required to estimate the reduction in greenhouse gas emis…
7 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3192 by John Swinney on 4 September 2007, when it will publish the results of the research project into the potential release of CO2 from peat as a consequence of major construction projects.
Answer · John Swinney: The research project is very near completion and the final report will be published on the Scottish Government website in June 2008.</p>
30 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12017 by Shona Robison on 30 April 2008, how the £130k allocated to the Partners in Orkney will be shared out between the partners; whether it will be ring-fenced to fund the joint local implementation plans under the Mental Health (Care and Treatmen…
Answer · Shona Robison: The funding for partnership spend on mental health will be allocated through NHS boards. It will be the responsibility of the local partners to work together and agree priorities for spend on local services. The expectation is that this funding will continue …
25 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much income Scottish Development International received from (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) the Executive and (c) any other sources in each of the last three years and what it will receive from these sources over each of the next three years.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is the source of funding for Scottish Development International (SDI) irrespective of whether the funds flow through the Scottish Enterprise budget or the Government''s own budgets. However, the division between these two funding chan…
25 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase Scottish Development International’s overseas postings, co-location of offices and representation in other countries.
Answer · Jim Mather: There are no current plans to increase Scottish Development International''s (SDI) overseas postings, co-location of offices and representation in other countries. SDI always seeks to align its staff resources with the extent of opportunity, and it regularly …
25 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning any changes to the arrangements for Scottish Development International’s work with (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Event Scotland, (c) VisitScotland and (d) Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer · Jim Mather: There are no plans to alter Scottish Development International''s (SDI) joint venture status so SDI''s working relationship with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise remains unchanged.</p> <p >SDI, VisitScotland and EventScotland already …
25 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planning any changes to the remit and operations of Scottish Development International.
Answer · Jim Mather: We are not planning any changes to the remit and operations of Scottish Development International (SDI) beyond the internal restructuring that is already underway.</p> <p >We are, however, raising the level of ambition for what SDI can do for Scotland. <i >T…
25 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the restructuring of the enterprise network has impacted on the remit and operations of Scottish Development International.
Answer · Jim Mather: In tandem with the restructuring of the enterprise networks, Scottish Development International (SDI) will be deploying a greater proportion of its Scottish headquarters-based staff to local offices to deliver more direct support to companies. While there hav…
25 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role ministers had in the decision not to appoint any of the applicants for the post of chief executive of Scottish Development International.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12354 on 8 May 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/webapp/w…
25 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that a new chief executive of Scottish Development International will be appointed and what role ministers will have in this appointment.
Answer · Jim Mather: The process for appointing a new chief executive of Scottish Development International (SDI) is continuing. Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise officials are in close and active discussion about next steps.</p> <p >Ministers have defined their expect…
25 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what formal arrangements are in place for Scottish Development International’s work with (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Event Scotland, (c) VisitScotland and (d) Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Development International''s (SDI) work is formally supervised by a management board made up of the Director-General Economy (chair) in the Scottish Government and the chief executives of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.</p> …
25 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish Development International’s annual budget has been for each of the last three years and what it will be for each of the next three years, broken down by funding stream.
18 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any decision has been taken on the future funding of joint local implementation plans under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003, specifically whether such funding will continue to be allocated through local authorities and NHS boards and whether it will be r…
Answer · Shona Robison: Agencies were advised by letter last week of the allocations to be made, which have been maintained at previous values continuing our support for and our additional contribution to partnership spend on mental health in Scotland.</p> <p >The arrangements for …
18 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any decision has been taken on the funding, in the current financial year, of joint local implementation plans under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003.
Answer · Shona Robison: Agencies were advised by letter last week of the allocations to be made, which have been maintained at previous values continuing our support for and our additional contribution to partnership spend on mental health in Scotland. The partners in Orkney will re…
14 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its marine energy policy group will produce a formal report on its findings and conclusions and, if so, when it will be produced.
Answer · Jim Mather: The format of outputs and the timescales for completing work will be a matter for the marine energy policy group to decide, and will depend upon the nature and scale of environmental research needed.</p>
14 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit of its marine energy policy group will be.
Answer · Jim Mather: The marine energy policy group will lead on actions relating to the undertaking of further environmental research, monitoring, and production of locational guidance for the marine renewable energy sector.</p> <p >The group will establish a programme of work …
14 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who will chair its marine energy policy group.
Answer · Jim Mather: The group will be chaired by officials from the Scottish Government''s marine directorate.</p>
14 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which stakeholders have been invited to take part in its marine energy policy group.
Answer · Jim Mather: A list of invited stakeholders can be found in our marine energy policy statement:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/19185/MEPS">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/19185/MEPS</a>.</p>
14 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when its marine energy policy group will hold its inaugural meeting.
Answer · Jim Mather: We intend to hold the first meeting of the marine energy policy group during summer this year.</p>
14 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide details of its marine energy policy group, announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism on 6 March 2008
Answer · Jim Mather: Details for the marine energy policy group are available on the Scottish Government website <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/19185/MEPS">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/19185/MEPS</a>.</p> <p >The…