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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: S3W-09036

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister met any objectors to the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest and, if so, on what dates.

Question reference: S3W-09037

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) MSPs and (b) MPs made representations on the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest; in what form such representations were made; on what dates each written representation was made; on what dates and at what times they arrived in the First Minister’s Office, and when the contents of the representations were notified or given to ministers.

Representations concerning the Aviemore planning applications were received in the First Minister''s Office from:

- Mary Scanlon MSP in a letter dated 6 December 2007, delivered by hand and received electronically on 6 December, and notified to the First Minister immediately, and

- Rhoda Grant MSP in a letter dated 6 December 2007, received electronically on 6 December, and notified to the First Minister immediately.

The First Minister discussed these letters on 6 December with the constituency member, Fergus Ewing MSP, who also made representations.

In addition Danny Alexander MP wrote to the First Minister in a letter dated 11 December, received by fax on 12 December, and notified to the First Minister on the same day.

Each of the above also made representations direct to other ministers and to others.

On 6 December 2007 Mary Scanlon MSP made written and verbal representations to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and to the Minister for Environment, as did Rhoda Grant MSP. On 6 December John Farquhar Munro MSP made verbal representations to these ministers.

Mary Scanlon, Rhoda Grant and Danny Alexander wrote to other individuals and agencies including SEPA whose then chairman, Sir Ken Collins, was contacted by mail in letters dated 6 December 2007. Rhoda Grant drew attention in her letter to Sir Ken Collins to the fact that she had also written to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, and to the Chief Executive of SEPA, Campbell Gemmell.

Mary Scanlon MSP and Danny Alexander MP were also in direct contact with Tom Inglis, SEPA''s Head of Environmental Protection and Improvement (North) concerning the Aviemore development and SEPA''s processing of the flood risk assessments.

As the constituency MSP Fergus Ewing MSP wrote to Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment on 29 November and 6 December and was in touch with the various agencies involved.

Question reference: S3W-09033

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the advice from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to the Cairngorm National Park Authority changed shortly before the National Park Planning Committee was due to consider a planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest and, if so, on what date the advice was changed and how close that date was to the date that the planning committee was due to meet.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) withdrew its objection to the planning application for the development of the Horse Field site at Aviemore on 12 December 2007. SEPA was able to withdraw its objection after it had completed its review of the Flood Risk Assessment, received from the developer on 10 December, and satisfied itself about the potential impact of the development on adjacent properties. The National Park Planning Committee met on 14 December 2007.

Question reference: S3W-09034

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the work of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) relating to aspects of the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had an interest could be said to have been completed more quickly than could normally be expected for similar tasks, following the receipt of information required by SEPA from the applicants and, if so, in respect of what issues.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency prioritises responses to planning consultations primarily according to environmental risk, but also takes into account sustainable development considerations. To meet planning authorities'' deadlines, SEPA will also deal with some consultations more rapidly than others.

SEPA gives high-priority to flood risk assessments for developments of a scale and nature such as that proposed at Aviemore in an area already prone to flooding. In the case of the Aviemore planning applications, SEPA also took account of the Cairngorms National Park Authority''s deadlines and the need to provide for the sustainable development of the region, including the particular financial and employment imperatives involved, as part of SEPA''s overall consideration of the applications.

Question reference: S3W-20543

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 February 2009
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 19 February 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will develop a national mental health service for deaf people and, if so, what the timescale will be for achieving a service agreement to that effect.

Mental health services for those with sensory loss continue to develop and improve. For example, a new dedicated community service and a deaf counselling service are now operational and have been well received by service users in Lothian. National access to specialist in-patient services when needed is long established through referrals to the John Denmark Unit in Manchester with attention to transitions a feature of the care pathway.

We are examining with partners the merits of a Scotland-based in-patient facility and how to further improve regional specialist community services.

Question reference: S3W-09005

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 1 February 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will answer the freedom of information requests submitted by me on 20 December 2007.

Question reference: S3W-09006

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 1 February 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the delay in answering the freedom of information requests submitted by me on (a) 9, (b) 11, (c) 19 and (d) 20 December 2007.

Question reference: S3W-08899

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 January 2008
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 1 February 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the condition of Dumbarton Academy is a cause for concern.

Question reference: S3W-09003

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 28 January 2008
Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 1 February 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will answer the freedom of information requests submitted by me on 11 December 2007.

Question reference: S3W-08900

Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 January 2008
Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 February 2008

To ask the Scottish Executive what legislative obligations are placed on (a) local authorities and (b) the Scottish Government for the provision of education.