Parliamentary questions

Liam McArthur

3,646 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

15 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what types of marine (i) protected and (ii) special protected areas are being considered by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Joint Nature Conservation Committee provide scientific advice to Scottish ministers to support the identification in the Scottish offshore zone of Marine Protected Areas under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, Special Areas of Conservation under the…

2 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many care leavers under the age of 21, who have left school have been declined financial assistance under Section 30 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 over the last five years, broken down by (a) age and (b) local authority area.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: This information is not held centrally.

2 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many care leavers under the age of 21, who have left school have received financial assistance under Section 30 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 over the last five years, broken down by (a) age and (b) local authority area.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: This information is not held centrally.

2 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many care leavers aged between 19 and 21 were given guidance and assistance under Section 29(2) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 over the last five years by age, broken down by (a) age and (b) local authority area.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The numbers of young people aged 19-21 years who were eligible for aftercare services on 31 March 2007-09 and 31 July 2010-11 are detailed in the following table. We are unable to break this down further to give specific ages. 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011…

2 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many care leavers aged between 19 and 21 have applied for guidance and assistance under Section 29(2) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 over the last five years, broken down by age and by local authority area.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: This information is not held centrally.

2 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what is being done to ensure that young people living near to the construction of the Forth Replacement Crossing are able to benefit from the training and job opportunities it is creating.

Answer · Keith Brown: Key performance indicators have been agreed with the Principal Contractor to ensure work experience placements for further education students, support for PhD students and educational visits to the works. All Forth Replacement Crossing employment opportunitie…

2 Aug 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which education provider is responsible for filling modern apprenticeship places arising from the Forth Replacement Crossing construction.

Answer · Keith Brown: The current modern apprenticeships within the project are being filled by students from Telford College. An appropriate education provider will be appointed depending on the particular needs of each apprenticeship.

2 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it can take when a local authority or harbour authority approves a scheme for ballast water discharge against the advice of Scottish Natural Heritage or the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Under Regulation 48A of the Habitats Regulations 1994, the Scottish Ministers can request a copy of the proposal and may direct an assessment in compliance with that legislation. Scottish Ministers must consult the appropriate nature conservation body regard…

2 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what communication it has had with Orkney Islands Council regarding the proposal to authorise ballast water releases in the sheltered harbour of Scapa Flow.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is the responsibility of Orkney Islands Council to ensure it complies with the relevant legislation. I have written to the Convener, Orkney Islands Council to stress the importance of complying with international conventions and guidelines on the exchange…

2 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to whom the "polluter pays" principle, as described in the draft Code of Practice on Non-native Species, would apply if ballast water exchange led to the introduction of damaging invasive non-native species.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is the responsibility of the ship owner to comply with the international requirements as set out in the Ballast Water Convention when it enters into force.

2 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what standards are appropriate for ballast water exchange at ports near or contiguous with sites protected under the EU birds and habitats directives.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is the responsibility of the port/harbour authority to ensure that any environmental legislation, such as the Habitats Directive, is met within the area under their authority. Vessels will have to meet the requirements of the Ballast Water Management Conv…

2 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the transfer of ballast water a potential route for invasive non-native species to marine habitats in Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: If not managed properly the transfer of ballast water is a potential route for the introduction of invasive non-native species to marine habitats in Scotland.

2 Jul 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support mechanisms are available to port authorities to assist them in meeting environmental standards in respect of ballast water exchange near Natura sites.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Natural Heritage provides advice on possible impacts of developments, including ballast water transfers, on Natura sites. No specific funding is available to port authorities on this issue.

27 Jun 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to progress its plans for a management fee for non-UK EU students.

20 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the new chairs of regional boards of colleges will be in place.

Answer · Michael Russell: We plan to bring forward legislation to make provision for the establishment of statutory regional boards in those college regions where there is more than one college (except in the Highlands and Islands, for which separate provision will be made). Subject t…

20 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the appointment round for new chairs of regional boards for colleges will commence.

20 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the code of practice for ministerial appointments to public bodies will be used in the appointment of chairs of regional boards of colleges.

Answer · Michael Russell: We intend that the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland would be used for the appointment of the chairs of regional boards of colleges in multi-college regions.

14 May 2012 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to provide support to families fostering disabled children.

11 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out an evaluation of the implementation of the guidance, Introduction and Availability of Newly Licensed Medicines in the NHS in Scotland (CEL17), from the perspective of (a) NHS boards, (b) healthcare professionals and (c) patients and, if so, what the outcome was.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Since the issue of CEL 17 (2010) on 17 May 2010, the Scottish Government has continued to work with NHS boards to ensure effective and proper processes are in place. This work resulted in the issue of good practice guidance on the management of Individual Pat…

11 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the individual patient treatment request process operates in each NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Decisions regarding the provision of NHS services remain matters for NHS boards. Also, clinicians remain responsible for clinical decisions regarding the care of individual patients. Details of each NHS board’s individual patient treatment request process is …

11 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to increase awareness of the individual patient treatment request process among (a) healthcare professionals and (b) the general public in each NHS board area.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government issued CEL 17 (2010) on 17 May 2010, which set out a framework within which boards were expected to develop and align local policies regarding access to new medicines. This was followed up by the issue of good practice guidance on the …

11 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available in each NHS board to inform (a) healthcare professionals and (b) the general public how to apply for medicines via individual patient treatment requests.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The issue of CEL 17 (2010) on 17 May 2010 set out a framework within which boards were expected to develop and align local policies regarding access to new medicines. This was followed up by the issue of good practice guidance on the management of Individual …

2 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the rate of adult registrations with an NHS dentist in Orkney compares with the national average and what plans the Scottish Government has to improve the situation for patients in the islands.

1 May 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the report in the 1 May 2012 edition of The Press and Journal, which quoted a spokesperson from Transport Scotland saying that "following complaints, the commission had confirmed that the ADS [air discount scheme] was for the benefit of individuals and had 'no difficulty with…

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland’s response to the Press and Journal on 30 April 2012 did not use the word "complaints" but did confirm that our approach to the European Commission followed meetings with local Councils and MSPs representing island communities. In the latte…