Parliamentary questions

Willie Coffey

538 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has made available to farmers and others in rural areas in (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun and (b) Scotland to support diversification of the rural economy in each year since 1999.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: From 2000 to 2006, funding for diversification was provided by the Agricultural and Farm Business Development Schemes (ABDS/FBDS). The information you have requested is not held or readily available specifically for the Kilmarnock and Loudoun area, but a tota…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average rents have been per square metre for business premises in (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun and (b) Scotland in each year since 1999.

Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally by Scottish Government and it is not possible to obtain this information from external sources as no one calculates average rents per square metre for business premises.

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the business rate poundage has been in each year since 1999.

Answer · Jim Mather: The following table shows the business rate poundage in each year since 1999: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=86 valign=top > Year </td> <td valign=top > Rate Poundage…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average (a) numbers and (b) rateable values have been of vacant business premises in (i) Kilmarnock and Loudoun and (ii) Scotland in each year since 1999.

Answer · Jim Mather: Information on the number and rateable value of vacant business premises is not held centrally. Information on premises liable for business rates is held on the Scottish Assessors Portal (<a href="http://www.saa.gov.uk/">www.saa.gov.uk</a>), but the portal do…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to enforce compliance by retailers with any targets set for reducing the volume of excess packaging waste.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: In respect of excess packaging use, none; technical standards of this nature are reserved. In respect of packaging waste, The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 2007 obligate medium and large companies, including retail…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration within its powers and responsibilities it has given to banning stores from issuing single-use non-biodegradable plastic bags.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is in favour of reducing the unnecessary use of carrier bags but our preference at this stage is not in favour of an outright ban of products. In any event, an outright ban on a product might run contrary to Scotland’s EU obligations.<…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what work is taking place with the major supermarket chains to secure the adoption of biodegradable and compostable plastic bags.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We are working with retailers to reduce the number of single-use carrier bags generally. I met retailers on 15 May to discuss this matter and it was agreed a working group should be established. This working group has its first meeting on 19 June and will dis…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the introduction of a levy on plastic bags.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is committed to working with retailers and others to reduce the number of single use carrier bags. To that end, I have established a working group with retailers to consider various options to cut bag use on a voluntary basis. If volun…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect it expects the recent changes in alcohol duty to have on the manufacture and export of distilled spirits.

Answer · Jim Mather: The importance of the whisky/spirits industry to the Scottish and UK economies should not be underestimated. Scottish Government ministers share the concerns of the spirits industry and have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer condemning the recent cha…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect it expects the recent changes in alcohol duty to have on underage drinking.

Answer · Shona Robison: There is some evidence to suggest that price impacts on consumption, but it is only one factor which may affect how people drink. We are taking some immediate action on underage drinking and have rolled out test-purchasing for alcohol. We want to change the p…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect it expects the recent changes in alcohol duty to have on binge drinking.

Answer · Shona Robison: There is evidence to suggest that price impacts on consumption, but it is only one factor which may affect how people drink. We are taking some immediate action on binge drinking through continued implementation of the Licensing Act which will end irresponsib…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will pursue with the Department for Transport and rail service providers a reduction in the cost of tickets permitting travel at any time for cross-border rail services operating below capacity.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Cross-border rail services are the responsibility of the Department for Transport. It is already in the commercial interests of the train operating companies to maximise revenue and, accordingly, we have no plans to seek a reduction in the costs of tickets on…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations are placed on providers of cross-border rail services to maximise the uptake of underused services.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Cross Border rail services are the responsibility of the Department for Transport. I understand it is already in the commercial interests of the train operating companies to maximise revenue and, accordingly, it has not proved necessary to impose mandatory re…

29 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it had to the recent decision to simplify the rail pricing structure in the United Kingdom.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Officials in Transport Scotland had regular dialogue with the Department for Transport (DfT) to achieve the new simplified structure. We recognise the need for the fares system to be easily understood by passengers and we supported the work by DfT to achieve …

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all MMR vaccines used by the NHS, showing the date of (a) their first use in vaccination programmes and (b) withdrawal from use of any vaccines, together with the reasons for such withdrawal.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Department of Health purchases stocks of the MMR vaccine under the national childhood vaccine contract to meet the needs of the entire UK vaccination programme. Combined MMR vaccines were first introduced into the routine childhood immunisation p…

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to amending the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is considering what amendments to the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 may be required. Further information will be available in due course.

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-303 and S3W-8837 by Tom McCabe on 4 June 2003 and by Shona Robison on 5 February 2008 respectively, what progress has been made since June 2003 in compiling a Scotland-wide database of diagnoses of autistic spectrum disorder at NHS board or local a…

Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has recently published guidance for commissioners of services for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The guidance states that local authorities and health boards should work in partnership to identify and keep a record of peop…

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in developing estimates of the exports from Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom.

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government attempts to estimate exports from Scotland to rest of UK using its annual global connections survey. The latest available estimates are for 2002 to 2005 and are available using the attached link: <a href="http://www.scotland.…

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what change has taken place in unemployment, as measured by the claimant count in each month since May 2003, for (a) Scotland and (b) the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency.

Answer · Jim Mather: Table 1 shows the number of people claiming unemployment related benefits in each month since May 2003 in Scotland and the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency. Information on the claimant count is available free of charge from the Natio…

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what inward investment and new international companies Scottish Enterprise has attracted to the East Ayrshire travel to work area since May 1999.

Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Development International (SDI), the international trade and investment arm of the Scottish Government, has been involved in attracting 14 inward investment projects from 12 companies headquartered outside Scotland to the East Ayrshire travel to work…

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money Scottish Enterprise has invested in Ayrshire in the Kilmarnock and Loudoun parliamentary constituency since May 1999.

Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask its Chief Executive to write to you in this regard.

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) male and (b) female prisoners participated in drug rehabilitation while in prison in each year since 2002 and what proportion of the total prison population they represented in these years.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The available information is provided in the following table, which details drug-related interventions provided in Scottish prisons. The i…

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what proportion of (i) male and (ii) female prisoners in each year since 2002 used Category A drugs in the year before entering prison.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: The Annual Prisoner Survey asks the question did you use illegal drugs in the 12 months before being in prison. The self-reported response…

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the costs associated with reoffending by former prisoners met from the Scottish block grant.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The information is not held in the manner requested.

18 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the health and wellbeing profile will be available for the East Ayrshire Community Health Partnership area.

Answer · Shona Robison: The health and wellbeing profile for the East Ayrshire Community Health Partnership area will be released on 24 June by Information Services Division Scotland

15 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified teachers were granted accelerated progress on the salary scale in accordance with section 14 of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers’ Circular SNCT/35 in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Maureen Watt: This information is not collated centrally. It is a matter for local authority employers to determine relevant salary levels on an individual basis in line with the guidance provided by the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers. This is now contained in…

15 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of entrants to the teaching profession in each of the last three years were mature entrants, broken down by (a) age and (b) gender.

Answer · Maureen Watt: There is no standard definition of a mature entrant to the teaching profession. The following table shows the percentage distribution by age and gender of teachers on the probationer induction scheme over the past three years. <table border=1 cellspacin…

15 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many mature entrants there were to the teaching profession in each of the last three years, broken down by (a) age and (b) gender.

Answer · Maureen Watt: There is no standard definition of a mature entrant to the teaching profession. The following table shows the age and gender of teachers on the probationer induction scheme over the past three years. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <tr >…

27 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Serco has suffered any penalty as a consequence of the murder of Michael Cameron on 16 June 2006 and, if so, what that penalty was, when it was imposed and in respect of what breach of its obligations it was imposed.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: In line with Schedule F to the Minute of Agreement between the Secretary of State for Scotland and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd …

27 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what changes have been introduced to the service specifications in the contract in respect of HM Prison Kilmarnock following the murder of Michael Cameron in the prison on 16 June 2006.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Prison Service do not consider that any changes to the Service Specification are required as a result of the murder of Mr Cameron.