Angus MacDonald

20 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made toward extending the John Muir Trail to the Falkirk Council area.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Falkirk Council formally approved the route of the John Muir Trail in February 2012. Route improvements started the following month.

20 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made toward the declaration of Bo’ness and Kinneil foreshore as a nature reserve.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The declaration of local nature reserves is a matter for local authorities under section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. Further information on Local Nature Reserves is available on Scottish Natural Heritage’s website at the f…

20 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress Scottish Development International has made in fostering trade links with Turkey.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Scottish Development International (SDI) led an energy focussed trade delegation between 24 and 28 June 2012 that visited Ankara, Izmir and Istanbul. This mission has resulted in an agreement to involve the major Turkish oil and gas pipeline contractor, BOTAS…

19 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding reform of the EU Regional Aid Guidelines.

Answer · Alex Neil: The European Commission has issued a discussion paper on its proposals for the new Regional Aid Guidelines, which will come into force in 2014. The proposals in the discussion paper are not helpful for Scotland, and we are directly engaged in negotiations wit…

19 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the survival rates are for small to medium-sized enterprises in Falkirk district at (a) 12 and (b) 36 months and how this compares with the rate for Scotland.

Answer · John Swinney: Table 1 shows the proportion of businesses born each year, which were still in business one year on and three years on. These data are taken from the Business Demography 2010 publication which contains the most up to date data available. Table 1: New Busines…

18 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made toward the creation of the Inner Forth landscape partnership.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A partnership board has been established, bringing together a number of key public and third sector partners. The board is responsible for determining the direction and strategy of the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative, monitoring delivery and ensuring funding…

18 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) local authorities and (b) public bodies have completed a Gaelic language plan as per the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005.

Answer · Alasdair Allan: To date, a total of 23 Gaelic Language Plans have been agreed by Bòrd na Gàidhlig as per the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005. Five of these are local authorities (four are at the stage of undertaking renewals as per the timetable in their original plans)…

14 Jun 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many bariatric surgery operations were carried out by NHS Forth Valley in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: ISD central records do not include any bariatric surgery procedures carried out by NHS Forth Valley hospitals in the financial year ending 31 March 2011. Figures for the financial year ending 31 March 2012 are expected to be available in September 2012. The …

30 May 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the impact on businesses of the proposed water framework and industrial emissions directives.

16 May 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has had with the partners of the NorthConnect interconnector between Norway and Scotland and what steps it is taking to encourage further development of interconnectors between Scotland and the Nordic region.

25 Apr 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the importance of the contribution of the Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre in Grangemouth to wildlife restoration.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre provides a valuable contribution to wildlife restoration and is an important educational and community resource.

18 Apr 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the types of marriage ceremony available to couples.

7 Mar 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many breaches of the sulphur dioxide 15-minute mean objective, as specified in the Air Quality (Scotland) Regulations 2000, have taken place since the Grangemouth Air Quality Management Area was declared in November 2005.

21 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in delivering improvements in port, road and rail infrastructure to support Grangemouth’s role as Scotland’s largest port and main freight distribution centre.

Answer · Alex Neil: Progress is being made in delivering the transport connections which are a main component of the development. Transport Scotland is in discussion with Falkirk Council on potential improvements at Junctions 5 and 6 of the M9. Falkirk Council has prepared desig…

25 Jan 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency uses the enforcement powers that it has.

7 Dec 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it advises livestock producers about their on-farm obligations regarding the electronic identification of sheep.

9 Nov 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made regarding health and social care integration.

19 Oct 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on encouraging port and ferry operators to introduce a direct passenger service between Scotland and Norway.

5 Oct 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in encouraging investment in affordable and social housing from pension funds and other financing options.

21 Sep 2011 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in relation to Falkirk Council's bid for funding for Grangemouth’s flood defences.