Parliamentary questions

Bill Walker

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

2 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it would, in an independent Scotland, consider ringfencing a proportion of taxes raised through vehicle excise duty, petrol and diesel for new roads and road maintenance.

Answer · Keith Brown: In the event of a vote for independence in September 2014, decisions on post-independence budgets would be for future Parliaments to take. You may be interested to know that since 2007 the Scottish Government has invested over £2.6 billion to maintain and im…

1 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish a national conservation scheme for the preservation of wildcats and, if so, how much this will cost.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: Scottish Natural Heritage has been coordinating a comprehensive national conservation action plan for Scottish wildcat during the last nine months. This has sought to obtain agreement from a wide range of partners and is due to be published shortly. The conse…

1 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to establish protected areas where feral cats can be neutered to avoid cross-breeding with wildcats.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There are no plans to put in place formal protected areas for Scottish wildcats. Although wildcats are a European Protected Species, they are listed on Annex IV of the Habitats Directive rather than Annex II, for which protected areas can be designated. Also,…

1 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what programmes are in place to ensure the survival of wildcats outside captivity.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: The Scottish Cairngorms Wildcat project ran from 2009-2012. Scottish Natural Heritage, Cairngorms National Park Authority and Forestry Commission Scotland were partners in the Cairngorms Wildcat Project, along with the Royal Zoological Society for Scotland an…

1 Jul 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an estimate of the number of wildcats living outside captivity.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There is currently no reliable basis from which to produce an estimate of the number of wildcats in the wild in Scotland. A number of estimates have been put forward, however none of these are considered to be reliable. As part of a conservation action plan …

14 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the data on religion from the 2011 Census is released later in Scotland than in England and Wales.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Although the census was carried out on the same date in all UK countries, Scotland developed its own separate timetable and approach for releasing the data, designed to ensure outputs are of high quality and relevant to users of Scottish data.

14 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the data on religion in Scotland from the 2011 Census will be published.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Release 2 outputs from Scotland’s Census, which will include statistics relating to religion, are due to be published from late summer 2013. Detail about this release and further information is available from the National Records of Scotland publication: Scot…

14 Jun 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date Scottish data from the 2011 Census will be made available to the public.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Scottish data from the 2011 Census is already available to the public online via the Scotland’s Census website http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk: Population estimates from the 2011 Census were published in December 2012. Population estimates at local authori…

12 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether and, if so, when it will consider extending the restored Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line to encompass Dunfermline and Edinburgh.

Answer · Keith Brown: When considering the re-opening of former rail lines, it is necessary for the Scottish Government to take a strategic view and fully consider the impact of the whole network. Determining the potential benefits to new passengers against the negative impact on …

6 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when reconstruction will begin on the guardrails and footways of the Kincardine Bridge.

Answer · Keith Brown: The scheme is in the current trunk road programme and will be taken forward at the earliest possible opportunity, when funding allows. Accordingly, it is not possible at this stage to provide any start dates for the specific aspects of the works required.

6 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when realignment will begin on the northern approach to the Kincardine Bridge.

6 Mar 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when reconstruction will begin on the southern approach viaduct of the Kincardine Bridge.

31 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of annual visitor numbers at the Contact and Education Centre at the Forth Replacement Crossing once the centre is fully open to the public.

Answer · Keith Brown: The primary purpose of the Contact and Education Centre is to provide an information point for those affected by the works. No estimate has been made of annual visitor numbers and the booking system ensures that the numbers within the building can be managed.…

31 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the Contact and Education Centre for the Forth Replacement Crossing will be fully open to the public.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Forth Replacement Crossing (FRC) Contact and Education Centre provides a permanent location for those affected by the FRC works to speak to a member of the project team face to face. This facility opened to the public on 7 January 2013. Booking requests t…

31 Jan 2013 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Forth Replacement Crossing remains on target for completion by 2016.

Answer · Keith Brown: Yes, the Forth Replacement Crossing remains on target for completion in 2016.

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it protects girls at risk of female genital mutilation, in light of the Home Office’s estimation that over 20,000 children under 15 in the UK are at risk each year.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Scottish Government takes the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM) very seriously and sees it as a form of physical abuse of women and girls and a violation of their human rights. The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Act 2005 made it il…

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there have been no prosecutions for female genital mutilation in Scotland.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: There have been no prosecutions because no FGM (female genital mutilation) related incidents have been reported to relevant authorities. This is because it is a hidden problem which affects some women and girls from some minority ethnic communities who are ve…

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the first UN International Day of the Girl Child, which took place on 11 October 2012.

Answer · Aileen Campbell: The Scottish Government is supportive of any activity which raises awareness and understanding of children’s rights. Scottish Ministers are committed to ensuring the well-being of each and every child in Scotland. This means keeping children safe from all for…

31 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the prospects are for the advancement of clean coal technology at Longannet Power Station.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The decision to fit Longannet Power Station with clean coal technology would be a commercial decision for the station operator. The Scottish Government has set out its approach to the development of clean electricity generation in its draft Electricity Genera…

26 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that people in rural areas have access to local pharmacies.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government believes that people in all areas should have access to a local community pharmacy where that is possible. This is, however, a matter for NHS boards. Provisions for applications to NHS boards to open a community pharmacy are set out in…

26 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to formally evaluate the NHS self-management programmes available for people with osteoarthritis.

Answer · Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has no plans to conduct a formal evaluation of NHS self-management programmes for patients with osteoarthritis. It is for NHS boards to plan and provide services in accordance with national and local priorities and in line with the he…

25 Oct 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds regarding the recent lack of aviation fuel at Edinburgh Airport, which caused the unscheduled diversion of fuel of several outgoing flights, and what steps it will take to prevent delays for passengers caused by refuelling diversions.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government facilitated meetings between airport operators, refinery operator and fuel suppliers/distributors to explore their mitigation measures following a problem with aviation fuel production at the Grangemouth refinery which resulted in temp…

23 Mar 2012 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what incentives are in place to encourage the implementation of run-of-river hydroelectric schemes in West Fife and the rest of the country.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: The Renewables Obligation (Scotland) is Scotland’s main incentive for renewable electricity generation. It includes support for hydropower installations. The Scottish Government has also ensured that Scotland can benefit from the UK wide Feed-in Tariff for r…

22 Feb 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in the training of science and technology teachers.

8 Feb 2012 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on ensuring that Scottish companies get the maximum amount of work possible from the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

25 Jan 2012 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to support dairy farmers.

21 Dec 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made regarding the programme for the Year of Homecoming 2014.

7 Dec 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the radioactive contamination detected at Dalgety Bay.

16 Nov 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the refurbishment of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery will improve the visitor experience.

26 Oct 2011 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the withdrawal of funding from the Longannet carbon capture project.