Parliamentary questions
Jim Hume
1,310 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to support biomass initiatives while allowing the long-term leasing of full management and cutting rights over at least 25% of the national forest estate to large timberland investment companies.
Answer · Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation …
25 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it can provide that forests will not be jeopardised as recreational resources as a result of the long-term leasing of full management and cutting rights over at least 25% of the national forest estate to large timberland investment companies.
Answer · Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation …
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it considers that the long-term leasing out of full management and cutting rights over at least 25% of the national forest estate to large timberland investment companies would bring in terms of tackling climate change and ensuring sustainable woodland resources.
Answer · Michael Russell: The benefit of long-term leasing out of management and cutting rights over parts of the national forest estate is that it would release capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate cha…
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the long-term leasing out of full management and cutting rights over at least 25% of the national forest estate to large timberland investment companies would have on Forestry Commission Scotland jobs.
Answer · Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation …
21 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to lease long-term full management and cutting rights over at least 25% of the national forest estate to large timberland investment companies.
Answer · Michael Russell: Offering management leases and cutting rights is a potential option for releasing capital from the national forest estate which could be used to fund woodland creation projects to help mitigate climate change. This option is included in a public consultation …
13 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire to improve NHS dentist provision in Dolphinton.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Responsibility for the overall provision of NHS general dental services in the area rests with NHS Lanarkshire. NHS Lanarkshire is aware that there are problems with access to NHS dental services in the area and the board has been working with dental practiti…
13 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it can offer to the people in Dolphinton who cannot obtain NHS dental treatment.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The responsibility for the overall provision of NHS general dental services in the area rests with NHS Lanarkshire. Any patients wishing information on NHS dental services can contact NHS Lanarkshire''s dental Helpline on 08453 130 130.</p>
6 Nov 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government about measures being taken to ensure that furniture and upholstery products that fail to meet UK fire regulations do not enter Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues. In particular, the Scottish Government liaises regularly with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the specific issue of consumer produ…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for multi-use games areas where there is a need and desire for such a community facility and there is no local authority funding.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the development of quality facilities where these are consistent with the priorities as set out in the facility strategies of local authorities and/or sports governing bodies. Funding may be available from sp…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work is being undertaken in conjunction with local authorities and other bodies to increase provision of allotment space in the South of Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17199 on 20 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…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance and other general support will be offered to local authorities looking to increase provision of allotment space.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17199 on 20 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…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much land could be made available to local authorities in the South of Scotland for use as allotment space where there is a proven need and desire for such provision.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17199 on 20 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…
24 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms it will implement within the context of its national food policy to make land available to local authorities for use as allotment space where there is a proven need and desire for such provision.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: I recently announced that we would be asking a number of public bodies to consider how the land they manage could be made to local authorities to increase the number of allotments across Scotland, including the South of Scotland. Officials from across the pub…
9 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report to the Parliament on progress in implementing the recommendations by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland and the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland in Natural Justice: A joint thematic inspection of the arrangements in Scotland for preventing, investig…
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government fully supports the recommendations of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland report into wildlife crime. Officer appointments and organisation of the police services are a matter for the…
19 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken or is taking to protect Scotland against bluetongue.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Post-import testing of all livestock coming to the UK from bluetongue-affected countries on the European continent has been in place since bluetongue was found in the Netherlands in 2006.</p> <p >In Scotland we have, in addition, a post-movement notification…
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will restrict any planned development of existing opencast mines where it has been clearly established in a court of law that the operating company has previously committed a breach of on-site safety regulations leading to on site employee accidents and deaths.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no provision within planning or health and safety legislation to restrict development at one site because of a conviction for a health and safety offence at another site. Planning permission, if granted, does not remove the need to comply with other …
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is carrying out work in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive to reduce and minimise company safety failures on opencast mines and, if so, what the nature is of this work.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16353 on 1 October 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/webap…
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is undertaking work in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive to increase employee on-site safety in Scotland’s open cast coal mines and, if so, what the nature is of this work.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Health and safety regulation and enforcement is a reserved matter. The Scottish Government is however aware of, and supports, the action taken by the Health and Safety Executive to improve safety at all Scotland''s opencast coal sites following the tragic acc…
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make the Stranraer regeneration project a national priority.
Answer · Jim Mather: The proposed redevelopment of Stranraer waterfront has long been regarded as a local regeneration priority and there are no plans for that to change.</p> <p >The Scottish Government does however wish to see the proposal succeed and deliver benefits to the co…
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding package will be available for the Stranraer regeneration project.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is keen to see the proposed redevelopment of Stranraer waterfront succeed and deliver benefits for the community and the wider region. Lead responsibility for the project lies with the local authority and the funding package is therefo…
16 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the Stranraer regeneration project.
Answer · Jim Mather: I am aware that Stena Line''s proposed move from Stranraer to Old House Point is critical to the regeneration of Stranraer and can assure you that Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government will continue to engage closely with the company in respect of i…
5 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that community sentences are seen as effective and sufficiently severe and have the capacity to punish offenders as soon as they are sentenced, avoiding any delays in their discharge.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Following publication in November 2007 of the <i >Report of the Review of Community Penalties</i> work has been taken forward in partnership between the Scottish Government and local authorities to delivery improvements to the immediacy and speed of completio…
4 Sep 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to reduce reoffending rates.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We are delivering a more effective penal policy, with accelerated justice for offenders and a better targeted and more robust range of sentences for the courts. We are also addressing the underlying causes of offending through our early intervention strategy,…
1 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether emergency grant aid exists for community warden services in circumstances where local authorities are unable to continue funding but the need for such a service is well recognised and documented.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7746 on 19 December 2007. 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/weba…
1 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it can provide short-term emergency funding for community warden services in circumstances where local authorities are unable to continue funding but the need for such a service is well recognised and documented.
Answer · Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7746 on 19 December 2007. 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://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
28 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work is being undertaken in conjunction with trading standards officers and others to protect the Scottishness of tartan.
Answer · Jim Mather: There is currently no requirement in UK or EU law for goods to bear marks indicating their origin, nor is there anything to prevent voluntary origin marking where traders wish to do so. However, Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs) came …
28 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new affordable houses will be made available by 2011 as a result of the £100 million from the Affordable Housing Investment Programme, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: In allocating this accelerated funding we will prioritise bringing forward new construction but will also spend on off the shelf units and land acquisitions where this is strategically sensible and offers good value for money. Allocations will be made to proj…
28 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the £100 million from the Affordable Housing Investment Programme will be earmarked for new affordable housing in the south of Scotland region, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15759 on 16 September 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./w…
20 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how Galloway and Upper Nithsdale will benefit from the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, detailing those benefits and showing the knock-on effects on local projects and investments.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15672 on 2 September 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/web…
20 Aug 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how Cunninghame South will benefit from the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, detailing those benefits and showing the knock-on effects on local projects and investments.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15672 on 2 September 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/web…