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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S2W-08689

Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 June 2004
Current Status: Awaiting answer

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider further support for NHS dentistry, particularly to improve the premises from which services are provided.

Question reference: S2W-07351

Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 18 May 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to develop water and sewerage infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands, in light of the recent announcement of funds for new affordable homes in the region.

I understand that CommunitiesScotland has not finalised its investment plans for the Highlands andIslands following its recent announcements. In these circumstances, it is not possibleto comment in detail on any plans to develop water and wastewater infrastructurein specific locations in respect of the recent announcement.

However, and as you will knowfrom recent correspondence with Allan Wilson, Deputy Minister for Environment andRural Development, Communities Scotland and the Executive are liaising over thepossibility of aligning the CS investment programme and the funding specificallyallocated in Scottish Water’s current programme for investment in the rural waterand sewerage infrastructure.

I can confirm that Scottish Waterhas made plans to invest considerably in water and wastewater infrastructure inthe Highlands and Islands in the period up 2006. Some of the more significant developmentsinclude:

Aviemore, new Waste Water TreatmentWorks - £7 million

Lairg, Water Treatment Worksupgrade, £900,000

North East Coast Regional Schemeto improve drinking water quality for populations of North Coast of Scotland -£25 million

Lochaber, upgrading water treatmentworks at Salen, Drimnin and Acharacle - £4.4 million

Carbost, new Waste Water TreatmentSystem - £400,000

Habost and Gravir, new waterpipeline - £1.6 million

Hoy and Flotta, Water TreatmentWorks - £1.5 million.

All new development would besubject to the normal conditions relating to planning requirements in which availabilityof the relevant infrastructure would be a necessary consideration.

Question reference: S2W-07352

Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 27 April 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional measures it will introduce to further support and develop the rail network in the Highlands and Islands in light of the recent report by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The Case for Rail in the Highlands and Islands.

Question reference: S2W-07273

Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 26 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Allan Wilson on 30 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its progress in implementing the Water Framework Directive.

Question reference: S2W-07079

Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 19 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 22 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will put in place to support NHS dentistry.

I announced on 20 November 2003, aconsultation on modernising NHS dental services in Scotland, togetherwith some measures to assist recruitment and retention of dentists. I can todayannounce that the Executive will make available £3 million in the financial year2004-05 for improvements to NHS dental practices. In addition, the general dentalpractice allowance, designed to help dentists with support costs such as healthand safety and training and supporting staff, is to be increased by 50 per centthis year – an increase of £1.5 million.

Question reference: S2W-06962

Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 15 March 2004
Current Status: Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 16 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the proposal to build a 3.5 megawatt hydroelectric generating station at Shieldaig/Slattadale, Wester Ross.

Question reference: S2O-01427

Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 February 2004
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support small businesses in complying with Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 when it comes into force.

Question reference: S2W-06596

Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 27 February 2004
Current Status: Answered by Allan Wilson on 3 March 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will report on the outcome of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 24 February 2004.

The Irish Presidencypresented its work programme for the first half of the year. Their generalpriorities were enlargement, simplification and enhancement of food safety.

On agriculture, the Council noted progress on technical leveldiscussions preparatory to political discussion at the April Council on theproposals for a regulation on the protection of animals during transport.During discussion, the UK supported the need for an early agreement.

The Council took note of areport from the Commission on its public hearing on 22 January 2004 on organicfood and farming. This is preparatory to the tabling of an action plan by theCommission to the Council later in the Irish Presidency.

The Council noted a reportfrom the Greek Minister about severe weather conditions in Greeceaffecting agriculture, and the sympathetic response from the Commission. Greece andthe Commission will pursue the assessment of this situation bilaterally.

The Council also noted apresentation from the Commission on its proposals for the agriculture, ruraldevelopment and fisheries elements of the financial perspective.

Under any other business,the Council noted a written report on BSE and reports from Commissioner Byrneon the current situation in regard to Avian Influenza in Asia and arecent outbreak in the US. Commissioner Byrne notified the Council that actingunder comitology procedures, the Commission was to introduce a ban on theimportation of live poultry and certain products from the US. TheCouncil also noted a report from Spain and Portugal about the high level of feed grain prices andindications from Finland and Sweden that there remained supplies of oats which could beused.

The Council notedinformation from Italy and Portugal with support from other wine producingcountries about recent changes made to the use of traditional terms for wineimported from third countries; and also that the Commission had explained thesechanges were necessary to take account of recent discussions at World Trade Organizationlevel.

Information from France aboutthe low level of milk prices was noted. A wide range of views were expressed insubsequent discussion, the UK making the point that a fall in milk prices wasto be expected as a result of the changes agreed last June. Farmers would,however, get compensation through direct payments which would be introducedshortly. The Commission undertook to produce an analysis of the situation withassistance from the member states.

Finally, the Commissionamplified the terms of a letter which it had recently sent to all member statesabout the single farm payment to explain that it was making the point that memberstates which chose to operate on regional or hybrid models would need tojustify this decision to the Commission, as will be clarified in the Commissionimplementing regulations. This was noted by the Council.

On fisheries, the Council agreed by a qualified majority a regulationproviding for tariff quotas for the importation of certain fishery products. TheUKsupported the proposal.

Question reference: S2O-01153

Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 January 2004
Current Status: Answered by Frank McAveety on 29 January 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will support Scottish community drama.

Executive support for community drama, as with all other types of drama, is channelledthrough the Scottish Arts Council. The Council continues to work with variousorganisations, including the Scottish Community Drama Association, to promoteand develop community participation in drama. The forthcoming consultation onculture will also provide an opportunity to consider how the voluntary sector canbest contribute towards the delivery of drama and other art forms.

Question reference: S2O-01023

Asked by: Maureen Macmillan, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 December 2003
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 8 January 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the next European Council negotiations on fishing take cognisance of ecological considerations.

One of thestated objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy is to provide sustainableenvironmental conditions; one of its guiding principles is consistence withother Community policies, including environmental policies.

To thatend, Article 1 of the Framework Regulation (EC/2371/2002) requires fisheriesmanagement decisions taken by European Council under the Common FisheriesPolicy to provide coherent measures for limiting the environmental impacts offishing.

Commissionproposals to regulate fishing activity are prepared by DG Fish and routinelycirculated for inter-service consultation within the Commission itself,including to DG Environment. The proposals must take full account of existingCommunity regulations, including environmental, species or habitat protectionrequirements. Further, the Council is empowered to take emergency measures to restrictfishing activity where there is an immediate or unforeseen threat to theenvironment, as are individual member states.