- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 18 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's recommended level is of authorised emissions of dioxins to air from cement factories burning waste known as "recycled liquid fuel" and what levels are recommended by the World Health Organisation and EU respectively.
Answer
The use of substitute liquid fuel in a cement kiln is treated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency as a process of co-incineration falling within the scope of the EC Hazardous Waste Incineration Directive. That directive requires a dioxin limit of 0.1 nanogrammes per cubic metre for hazardous waste incinerators.The World Health Organisation (WHO) does not set standards for emissions from processes. WHO standards for dioxins are in terms of "Tolerable Daily Intakes" or "TDIs". The main source of these intakes is our food. The WHO currently recommends a TDI of between 1 and 4 picogrammes of dioxins per kilogramme of body weight. The European Union's Scientific Committee on Food defines its recommended limits on intake in terms of a "Tolerable Weekly Intake" which is currently set at 14 picogrammes of dioxins per kilogramme of body weight. For the UK, limits on intake are currently subject to consideration by the Food Standards Agency's Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 18 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Borders residents formerly employed at Viasystems' Scottish Borders plants will be made redundant in the event of Viasystems' North Tyneside plant closing.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not have access to individual firms' employee residence data. However, I understand that Scottish Enterprise Borders estimates that around 12 such individuals may be made redundant.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 18 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1096 by Henry McLeish on 11 October 1999 and in the light of the recent announcement of redundancies at Viasystems' Tyneside plants and reports that it intends to close its UK operations, whether it plans to discuss issues relating to the award of regional selective assistance (RSA) with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in particular the award of RSA to Viasystems' North Tyneside plant and any impact this had on Viasystems jobs in the Scottish Borders, and, if so, what concerns it will be conveying to the DTI.
Answer
The Scottish Executive maintains regular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry with regard to the administration of Regional Selective Assistance and where necessary, discusses individual cases which may impact on employment in different regions of the UK.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 13 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Scottish Borders Council and what issues were discussed.
Answer
There have been a number of recent meetings between Scottish Borders Council and officials of the Scottish Executive and associated agencies at which various routine business matters have been discussed.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 12 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many misconduct reports were logged at HM Prison Kilmarnock in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001 to date.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17666 on 6 September 2001.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 11 September 2001
To ask the Presiding Officer when a practice of flying the Saltire from the Parliament's offices on George IV Bridge at all times will be introduced.
Answer
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body's policy is to fly both the Saltire and the Union flag on Committee Chambers on certain specified days only. There are no current plans to change this policy although the Corporate Body has agreed to consider the issue of a parliamentary flag in the context of the Holyrood Arts Strategy.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the staffing levels have been at each house-block in each Scottish Prison Service prison for (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001 to date.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:Information in the form requested is not readily available and could not be produced except at disproportionate cost. SPS staffing figures are given in Appendix 7 of the SPS Annual Report for the years in question, copies of which are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many acts of self-harm were logged at HM Prison Kilmarnock in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001 to date.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The numbers of acts of self-harm reported to SPS by Premier Prison Services Ltd, the operators of Kilmarnock have been:1999-2000: 202000-01: 132001 to date: 9
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a high incidence of staff bullying at HM Prison Kilmarnock and, if so, what action it is taking in response.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:The SPS do not collect such information which is solely a matter for Premier Prison services Ltd, the operators of Kilmarnock.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 6 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prison officers were employed in Scottish Prison Service prisons in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02 to date and what the percentage turnover of prison officers was in each of these periods.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The figures are:
| Year | No. of officers at 1 April | % turnover in year* |
| 1999 | 3,091 | 2.9% |
| 2000 | 2,893 | 3.7% |
| 2001 | 2,800 | 2.0% |
*Turnover is based on voluntary resignations, and does not include retirals.
