Parliamentary questions
Jim Hume
1,310 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate for NHS Dumfries and Galloway, while undertaking a formal public consultation on service delivery change, to develop new or more detailed proposals and arguments on aspects of the changes without resubmitting them to full public consultation and extending the con…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I expect all NHS boards to conduct formal public consultation on major service changes in line with national guidance on informing and engaging the public. As in all cases of major service change, I will receive a report on the adequacy of NHS Dumfries and Ga…
17 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the formal public consultation that NHS Dumfries and Galloway is undertaking on service delivery change to be a statutory requirement or an administrative requirement imposed by ministers.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The National Health Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2004 introduced a duty on NHS boards to consult with local people on the planning and development of healthcare services; and on decisions to be made by boards that would significantly affect the operation of …
2 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on replacing PFI with a new tripartite form of financing involving government, private and co-operative partners.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government supports the use of the Non Profit Distributing (NPD) model of finance for public infrastructure. The NPD structure has both public and private sector financial involvement, alongside enhanced stakeholder involvement in the management …
2 Dec 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how its agencies are working with energy co-operatives to help meet its renewable energy targets.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government recognises the value of the co-operative business model as a way of financing renewable energy projects. This is reflected in the membership of the new Community Renewables Implementation Group, a subgroup of the Forum for Renewable En…
17 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances farmers would be penalised for breaching the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition standards in the context of the sheep electronic identification scheme and how that penalty would be applied.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition relates to the maintenance of land. However, electronic identification (EID) of sheep does form part of one of the statutory management requirements of cross compliance covering identification and traceability of …
17 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the sheep electronic identification scheme will be subject to the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition standards.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: No. Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition relates to the maintenance of land. However, electronic identification of sheep does form part of one of the statutory management requirements of cross compliance covering identification and traceability of sh…
12 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it next expects to meet farming organisations to discuss the prospect of providing financial support to assist farmers in relation to the introduction of compulsory electronic sheep tagging.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is still analysing the responses to the public consultation, looking at all aspects of EID, to find the best route forward and ensure a suitable future for sheep farmers. Once this work is complete, officials will meet to discuss with …
12 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with farming organisations regarding the prospect of providing financial support to assist farmers in relation to the introduction of compulsory electronic sheep tagging.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has had various discussions with farming organisations regarding financial support to assist farmers, in relation to the introduction of compulsory electronic sheep tagging. These discussions have taken place both during and prior to t…
12 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has investigated the prospect of providing financial support to assist farmers in relation to the introduction of compulsory electronic sheep tagging.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28926 on 26 November 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.parlia…
12 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to provide financial support to assist farmers in relation to the introduction of compulsory electronic sheep tagging.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has been working hand in hand with industry to gain concessions and minimise the impact of these rules being imposed by Europe. That is why we have already invested £3 million in a large scale electronic research pilot aimed at finding…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment last met representatives of the Scottish Beekeepers Association and the Bee Farmers’ Association; what the outcome was, and whether the minutes are available to MSPs.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I have agreed to meet with representatives from the Scottish Beekeepers'' Association and the Bee Farmers'' Association and my officials are currently in the process of identifying a suitable time.</p>
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met bee health stakeholders; what the outcome was, and whether the minutes are available to MSPs.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Government officials last met with stakeholders/commercial beekeepers on 11 September 2009. These beekeepers were trained in the safe use and administration of the antibiotic Oxytetracycline for the treatment of European Foul Brood only. Following su…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for its bee health strategy.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: In view of the unprecedented scale and seriousness of the ongoing bee disease outbreaks in Scotland this summer and autumn, Scottish Government officials are taking time to consider the valuable lessons we have learned from this experience and incorporate the…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date bee inspectors last made an inspection and how many inspections have taken place in each of the last three years.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The latest bee inspection by Scottish Government Bee Inspectors was made during week commencing 2 October 2009.</p> <p >Inspections are completed only when a beekeeper has notified the relevant authority of their suspicion of a notifiable disease.</p> <p >T…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the services provided by the specialist bee adviser at the Scottish Agricultural College are advertised and to whom.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The apiculture specialist at the Scottish Agricultural College works closely with representatives from both the Bee Farmers Association and Scottish Beekeeping Association.</p> <p >The apiculture services are advertised in the Scottish Beekeeping Association…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the specialist bee adviser at the Scottish Agricultural College has provided training to beekeepers.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: During this financial year the apiculture specialist at the Scottish Agricultural College has delivered 20 formal training courses to date with a further six planned. Evening lectures and workshops to beekeeping associations throughout Scotland are also provi…
10 Nov 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the diagnostic service provided by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture has been used to confirm the presence of varroa in beehives.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) provide a free diagnostic service to beekeepers to identify and confirm the presence of varroa and notifiable bee pests and diseases.</p> <p >Recently, testing has primarily been to confirm the presence of t…
28 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the spread of varroa mite in bees and what action it is taking in response to any such assessment.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The varroa mite is considered endemic in Scotland and is neither a notifiable nor reportable disease. In light of this the Scottish Government does not have a current detailed assessment of spread of varroa. </p> <p >The Scottish Government retains an intere…
28 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it takes to protect honey bees; what recent assessment it has made of the level of threat to their health, and whether it will make a statement on this matter.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government provides a range of activities and services to beekeepers free of charge, including training and education, a diagnostic service and disease inspection. </p> <p >We maintain our awareness of emerging threats by gathering intelligence …
28 Oct 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many farm inspections were conducted by each inspection body in each of the last five years.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The total number of inspections conducted during the period 2005-09 respectively is 13,523, 11,489, 12,741, 13,423 and 11,151. The detail of calculating this data is enclosed in table 1.</p> <p >Table 1 (Financial Year)</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 ce…
1 Oct 2009 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet the SNP manifesto commitment to provide free swimming for school children.
Answer · Shona Robison: The Scottish Government are midway through a four year term and are working through our manifesto commitments having already delivered a significant number of measures to make Scotland wealthier, safer, healthier, smarter and greener.</p> <p >We will continu…
2 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its proposed timetable for consulting affected parties, such as doctors, pharmacists and patient representative organisations such as Epilepsy Scotland, will ensure that new arrangements for effective prescribing are introduced sensitively to allay patient fears while safeguarding…
Answer · Shona Robison: The introduction of the generic substitution measures contained in the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) will be subject to discussion with affected parties such as doctors, pharmacists and patient representative organisations to ensure that the n…
2 Sep 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that clinicians can continue to prescribe anti-epileptic drugs that currently maintain seizure control for people with epilepsy, in light of the introduction in January 2010 of generic prescribing though the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme.
Answer · Shona Robison: Under the terms of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS), pharmacists will be able to fulfil a prescription for a branded medicines by dispensing an equivalent generic medicine, but only where it is safe and clinically appropriate to do so. Provis…
6 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an estimate of the volume and proportion of commercial waste discarded in each of the last three years for which figures are available
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Tables 5a and 5b in Annex B to Scotland''s draft <i >Zero Waste Plan</i>, <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/waste-and-pollution/Waste-1/wastestrategy">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/waste-and-pollution/Waste-1/wastestrategy…
6 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made toward achieving its targets with regard to reducing the volume and proportion of commercial waste discarded and whether it is on track to meet these targets.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There are no such targets in place at the moment.</p>
6 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set regarding reducing the volume and proportion of commercial waste.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: There are no such targets in place at the moment. However, question 9 in Scotland''s draft <i >Zero Waste Plan</i>, currently out for consultation, asks whether the government should set any targets in relation to the prevention of commercial and industrial w…
6 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the volume and proportion of commercial waste discarded in any given year.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Both Envirowise Scotland, <a href="http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/scotland/Envirowise-in-Scotland.html">http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/scotland/Envirowise-in-Scotland.html</a>, and the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme Scotland (NISP Scotland), <a href="htt…
6 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it plans to undertake to determine the volume and proportion of commercial waste discarded in any given year.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) plans to carry out work to estimate the amount of commercial and industrial waste produced in Scotland for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010 using existing survey data. In addition, the Waste and Resources Action …
6 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has undertaken to determine the volume and proportion of commercial waste discarded in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Data produced by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for the EU Waste Statistics Regulation provides information on all waste generated and managed in Scotland. This data can be found at:</p> <p ><a href="http://www.sepa.org.uk/waste/waste_data/waste_…
6 Aug 2009 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make an estimate of the volume and proportion of food from (a) supermarkets, (b) households, (c) restaurants and other eating establishments and (d) other sources that became food waste in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The following table provides information.</p> <p >Food Waste from Various Sources (in Tonnes)</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=48 valign=top > <p align=center >Year</p> </td> <td width=138 valign=to…