- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 14 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether officials have confirmed which range of tests were carried out on the samples which were later used to establish that Christopher Norris from the Scottish Borders had died from anthrax.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27842 on 11 September 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 14 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date officials involved in the testing of a sample from Christopher Norris from the Scottish Borders first suspected that it was a case of anthrax.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-27842 on 11 September 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 13 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since 1999 officials from its Justice Department with responsibility for civil contingencies planning have met to discuss plans in the event of possible accidental leakage of chemical weapons disposed of in Beaufort’s Dyke and what the worst estimates are of the number of likely casualties as a result of such an accidental discharge.
Answer
There are well-established proceduresinvolving the Police, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and, where required, MOD ExplosiveOrdnance Disposal (EOD) personnel for the removal and/or disposal of munitions beachingon land in Scotland. Detailed information on past UK sea-dumpingof munitions in Beaufort’s Dyke and elsewhere is held on the MOD website at
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/HealthandSafety/DSC/DsandcEnvironmentSeaDumping.htm.The Executive and Scottishministers maintain close contacts with emergency response organisations. The basisof any emergency response is based on the principle of subsidiarity in which controlof operations is exercised at the lowest practical level. This approach has provenrobust in Scotland. Further information can be found in the Civil ContingenciesAct 2004 and its accompanying guidance Preparing Scotland published on the ScottishExecutive website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/02/27140215/0.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 13 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what provisions or plans it has made to offer additional assistance to low income consumers in light of research by energywatch which indicates that higher tariffs charged on gas and electricity prepayment meters disproportionately disadvantage low income households.
Answer
Energy pricing and regulationof energy supply companies is a matter reserved to Westminster.Nevertheless I will meet over the next few weeks with representatives from the mainenergy suppliers in Scotland to discuss the measures they are taking to protect vulnerable,low-income customers.
I already announced in Marchthat fuel poverty programmes will continue and from January next year will be extendedto provide up-grades for partial or inefficient central heating systems for thoseon the guarantee element of Pension Credit and Warm Deal measures for families withdisabled children.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 13 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to organise a summit of gas and electricity suppliers to examine ways in which low income households are disproportionately disadvantaged or forced into voluntary disconnection as the result of additional tariffs on prepayment meters and record rises in energy bills.
Answer
I will meet over the next fewweeks with representatives from each of the main energy suppliers in Scotland to discussmeasures they are taking to protect vulnerable customers from the effects of risesin energy costs. I intend to include the issue of pre-payment meters in these discussions.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 13 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations about the provision of additional assistance to low income consumers, in light of research by energywatch which indicates that higher tariffs charged on gas and electricity prepayment meters disproportionately disadvantage low-income households.
Answer
Energy pricing and regulationof energy supply companies are matters reserved to Westminster.Nevertheless I will meet over the next few weeks with representatives from the mainenergy suppliers in Scotland to discuss the measures they are taking to protect vulnerable,low-income customers.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 13 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has about the number of voluntary disconnections which are estimated to take place among low income households this winter due to a combination of energy price rises and the additional tariff on prepayment meters operated by energy companies.
Answer
We do not have this information.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 12 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what role Scottish Enterprise is playing with regard to Edinburgh Crystal.
Answer
As part of the Partnership for Action on Continuing Employment (PACE)team, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothianwill contribute to action to ensure thatif employees are affected by the situation, they receive the necessary support.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 August 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 12 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive why it has not sent in a task force to assist Edinburgh Crystal in continuing in production in response to my request to the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning.
Answer
It will be for theadministrator to decide on the future of the business. I understand that the companycontinues to trade and that the aim is to sell it as a going concern.
The Partnership for Action onContinuing Employment (PACE) team is monitoring the situation closely to ensurethat if employees are affected, they will receive the necessary support.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 11 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out in the last five years into the prevalence of anthrax among wild mammals.
Answer
Anthrax is a rare disease inthe UK. Experience of dealing with anthrax in domestic animals over many decadesby the State Veterinary Service has not led to suspicion of anthrax in the wildanimal population to date.
No research to determine theprevalence amongst wild animals has been conducted by the Executive.
