- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 December 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Linda Fabiani on 4 December 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for legislation on the marine historic environment.
Answer
The ScottishGovernment has formally withdrawn from the UK Heritage Protection Bill and willbe legislating in the Scottish Parliament, probably as part of a ScottishMarine Bill. We will continue to keep in touch with the UK Government so thatthe future legislation fits well with any provisions in the rest of the UK.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 29 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what constitutes “eligible forage areas” in relation to sea-girt holdings, such as exist on the eastern shores of the Hebrides.
Answer
The term “eligibleforage areas” relates primarily to the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS)qualifying criteria. LFASS eligible forage must be available throughout the year.Other land may also be claimed provided the land is available and accessible forthe applicant’s use for maintaining livestock for seven months (to include 15 May)starting between 1 January and 31 March in the year for which payment is to be made.The land must also be close enough to the permanent holding to make its seasonaluse viable.
Whilst land whichis temporarily unavailable (e.g., due to snow or flooding) may still qualify, Iunderstand that sea-girt land is coastal land which is affected by tides and, assuch, is submerged for parts of each day. For this reason, it cannot be consideredaccessible and available for use for maintaining livestock, or classed as eligibleforage land in the LFASS context.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 29 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a question on the Scots language will be included in the 2011 census in Scotland, in the same way that a question on the Gaelic language is asked.
Answer
The General RegisterOffice for Scotland (which is responsible for the Scottish census) included a questionabout the Scots language in a census test last spring but a final decision has notbeen taken. Under current plans, a formal proposal on the topics to be includedin the 2011 census will be presented to Parliament in autumn 2008 and Parliament’sfinal approval to the census questions will be sought early in 2010.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 26 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what descriptor it uses to establish the adequacy of medical staffing levels in GP practices in remote and rural settings, in light of the new contracts for such practices.
Answer
It is for healthboards to ensure the quality of services from general practitioners. Boardsmust ensure that such services are available for all patients and the mostcommon approach is to enter into contractual arrangements with doctors. It isfor those who have agreed to provide services to ensure their practice isadequately staffed to meet the requirements of their contract with the healthboard.
If services werenot provided to an acceptable standard, regulations provide that a health boardcan take remedial action. In an extreme case a contract could be terminated.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 21 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the Scottish House Condition Survey, how many households would have been in fuel poverty if the average council tax bill used in the calculations had remained at 2002 levels, broken down by household type.
Answer
The information requestedrequires special analyses from the Scottish House Condition Survey data set. Itis estimated that programming and verification of the calculations will be completeby 19 December 2007. I will write the member when the analysisis completed and place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib.number 44090).
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 21 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, according to the Scottish House Condition Survey, how many households would have been in fuel poverty in each year since 2002 if the average council tax bill used in the calculations had remained at 2002 levels.
Answer
The information requestedrequires special analyses from the Scottish House Condition Survey data set. Itis estimated that programming and verification of the calculations will be completeby 19 December 2007. I will write to the member when the analysisis completed and place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib.number 44090).
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 November 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 21 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) new central heating systems in houses with no previous central heating and (b) replacement central heating systems have been installed under the central heating programme in each year since 2002.
Answer
I have asked JamesHynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response isas follows:
The information requestedis shown in the following table:
| Year | Number of Systems Installed | Replacement Systems | New (First-Time) Systems |
| 2001-02 | 3,560 | 320 | 3,240 |
| 2002-03 | 5,550 | 999 | 4,551 |
| 2003-04 | 10,200 | 3,468 | 6,732 |
| 2004-05 | 10,768 | 5,922 | 4,846 |
| 2005-06 | 9,796 | 6,859 | 2,937 |
| 2006-07 (Eaga) | 3,426 | 2,432 | 994 |
| 2006-07 (Scottish Gas) | 2,227 | 2,027 | 200 |
| 2007-08 (until 31 October) | 3,314 | 2,817 | 497 |
| Totals | 48,791 | 24,835 | 23,956 |
Notes:
1. The figures provided are only for the mainprogramme i.e. over 60s. The over 80 part of the programme and the pensioncredit part of the programme are by definition replacement of existing systems.
2. The over 80s partof the programme started in May 2004 and the guaranteed element of pensioncredit started in January 2007.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 October 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 7 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties have private service water pipes where the connection to the main communication water pipe extends well beyond the boundary of the property, broken down by local authority area.
Answer
Information on mainsand associated drinking water pipe networks is held by Scottish Water. I have askedthe Chief Executive to consider your enquiry and respond to you directly.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 October 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 7 November 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibility homeowners have in respect of the upkeep of private service water pipes that extend beyond their property should they become damaged and what assistance is available to homeowners to meet the costs of this upkeep.
Answer
Scottish Water isresponsible for the maintenance of the public drinking water mains network up tothe communication pipe which normally, but not always, terminates at the boundaryof a property. Homeowners are responsible for the upkeep of the private servicepipe which connects to the communication pipe to bring the supply into their homes.There are insurance schemes available which can offer protection against burstsor damage to private service pipes. Scottish Water has an arrangement with HomeserveLtd to offer such cover to their customers at their own discretion.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 October 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Linda Fabiani on 25 October 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) about the criteria for nominations for Best Foreign Language film at the Oscars, in light of BAFTA’s decision to nominate no films in this category despite the Scottish Gaelic film, Seachd, being put forward for nomination.
Answer
I share the disappointmentfelt by many that Seachd was not put forward by BAFTA as the UK entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars.Whilst the Scottish Government has no direct influence over the decision makingprocess, the First Minister has written to BAFTA UKon this issue expressing our disappointment. I understand that the film has receivedmany positive reviews and has been selected for the Rome and Vancouver Film Festivals, I wish it every success at these prestigiousevents and I hope audiences across Scotland, and more widely,continue to enjoy Seachd.
