Parliamentary questions
Jim Hume
1,310 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) Rural Stewardship Scheme, (b) Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme (c) and Organic Aid Scheme agreements expire in 2007.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: (a) 529, (b) 329and (c) 49.</p>
17 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the consultation on animal health and welfare, what assurances it will give that any cost-sharing and responsibility-sharing measures will only be implemented with the long-term economic sustainability of the livestock sector in Scotland in mind.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government iscommitted to maintaining a sustainable and profitable livestock sector andScottish decisions on any specific proposals for responsibility and costsharing will be taken in this context.</p>
17 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the consultation on animal health and welfare, what assurances it will give that any cost-sharing and responsibility-sharing measures will only be implemented with the full, consensual agreement of the livestock sector in Scotland.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government iscommitted to working with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that the rightpolicies are developed for Scotland. As any specific proposals for responsibility andcost sharing emerge the Scottish Government will continue to engage c…
28 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the road improvements on the A7 at Auchenrivock will commence in summer 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to thequestion S3W-1733 answered on 24 July 2007. All answers to written ParliamentaryQuestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa/sear…
28 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the previously agreed funding for the road improvements on the A7 at Auchenrivock will remain available to allow the work to go ahead in summer 2007.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to thequestion S3W-1733 answered on 24 July 2007.All answers to written Parliamnetary 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/wa.se…
28 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it remains committed to the planned road improvements on the A7 at Auchenrivock.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. Preliminaryenvironmental and utility diversion works that form part of the plannedImprovements to the A7 at Auchenrivock have already been completed. Tenders arecurrently being prepared for the main contract which is expected to start thisAutumn.</p>
27 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its commitment to local food procurement in the public sector referred to by the Minister for Environment on 21 June 2007 (Official Report c. 1120), whether it will make specific funding available to local authorities whose schools wish to follow the Food for Life programme.
Answer · Adam Ingram: The Scottish Executive alreadyprovides funding for school meals and for Hungry for Success. Our priority is toensure that healthy food is provided in schools. Public procurement law does notpermit public bodies to favour local suppliers but by following guida…
27 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of its commitment to local food procurement in the public sector referred to by the Minister for Environment on 21 June 2007 (Official Report c. 1120), whether funding will be continued through the Hungry for Success initiative which supported East Ayrshire Council’s local food …
Answer · Adam Ingram: Current funding for the implementationof <i>Hungry for Success</i> has been confirmed until March 2008. Decisions aboutfuture funding will be taken as part of the spending review process.</p>
27 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable would be for trunking the A7 from Galashiels to Edinburgh.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1621 on 17 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.se…
27 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commit to trunking the A7 from Galashiels to Edinburgh.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are no plansto trunk the A7 from Galashiels to Edinburgh.</p>
21 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Rural Development Programme will be submitted to Brussels for approval.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scotland Rural DevelopmentProgramme 2007-13 was submitted electronically during the week ending Friday 22June.</p>
21 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the Scottish Rural Development Programme, what criteria will be used for applicants to the new entrants scheme.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The precise criteria arestill being developed. However, to comply with EU Regulations, the measure willapply to new entrants who are under 40 years of age, who are setting up for thefirst time as head of a farming business, who possess adequate occupationalsk…
20 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will be in a position to advise parents and staff whether Glentrool Primary School in Newton Stewart will remain open after this summer’s academic break.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Dumfries and Galloway Council was advised on 27 Juneof our decision against giving consent to the implementation of its proposal toclose Glentrool Primary School. It is for the council to communicate appropriately withparents and school staff.</p>
20 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will be in a position to review the closure of Glentrool Primary School in Newton Stewart.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Dumfries and Galloway Council was advised on 27 Juneof our decision against giving consent to the implementation of its proposal toclose Glentrool Primary School.</p>
20 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm the commitment to protect rural schools.
Answer · Maureen Watt: We have made clearour commitment to introduce a presumption against the closure of rural schools andshall be considering further the detailed implications of taking that forward. Wedo of course consider any individual council application for ministerial conse…
20 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase the funding available to registered social landlords in the Scottish Borders for housing adaptations.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Communities Scotland’s adaptation funding is available to registeredsocial landlords (RSLs) for works to adapt a property to suit the changing needsof the existing, or new, tenant where those works could not reasonably have beenidentified when the property wa…
20 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to increase availability of more affordable, socially rented accommodation in the Scottish Borders.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The budget set forthe 2007-08 affordable housing programme in the Scottish Borders is £7.2 million,with a target of 89 new homes, 71 for affordable rent. Decisions on affordable housinginvestment beyond 2008 will depend on the outcome of the spending review p…
6 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the ministerial statement on the future of the accident and emergency unit at Ayr Hospital on 6 June 2007, whether it will give an assurance that other planned local health investments in Ayrshire and the south of Scotland will not be adversely affected and detail any service…
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As I outlined in my statementin the Chamber on 6 June 2007, I have instructed the board of NHS Ayrshire and Arran to reviewtheir original plans and to produce revised proposals that will enable accidentand emergency services to continue at both sites in Ayrsh…
5 Jun 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that maternity services that do not currently meet the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland standards in respect of routine second ultrasound scans are able to do so in the near future.
Answer · Shona Robison: We are working closely withNHSScotland to ensure that developments in screening during pregnancy,including the introduction of routine foetal anomaly scanning in those boardswhich do not currently offer this service, are introduced efficiently andeffectively …
31 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce marketing grants for the veal industry to help primary producers and processors develop outlets for their products, thus helping to ensure a local market.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Under the proposed new ScottishRural Development Programme, assistance will be available to help primary producersand processors, including those in the veal industry, to develop new and existingmarkets for their products.</p>