- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 6 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet representatives of the Highland Council to discuss the proposed final route of the Sustrans cycle network link between Newtonmore and Kingussie.
Answer
The trunk road cycling officer is meeting representatives of Highland Council on 10 June 2003. Highland Council's proposals for the route of this National Cycle Network link through Kingussie will be discussed as part of the agenda.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 4 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what conclusions it has reached as a result of its consultation on Towards Better Oral Health in Children and whether it is minded to add fluoride to the public water supply.
Answer
An independent analysis of the 1,400 written responses to the consultation on Towards Better Oral Health in Children is currently in train. The analysis, which will be published when completed, will inform our consideration of the measures needed to improve the oral health of children in Scotland.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by George Reid on 3 June 2003
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S1W-8962 by Sir David Steel on 21 August 2000, whether the works package in respect of "MSP Cladding" included the windows contract.
Answer
Yes.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 3 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers of direction it has in relation to non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs); what its policy is on the use of such powers, and how it will ensure that all NDPBs operate and make decisions in an accountable and responsive manner.
Answer
Powers of direction vary from body to body. They are usually contained in each body's establishing legislation or other founding framework documentation. Powers may also be contained in legislation relevant to a body's functions or areas of responsibility.NDPBs vary greatly in size and nature of their operations. It is important that the scope and use of powers of direction reflect that variety. The decision to make use of such powers therefore lies with individual ministers, assessing the circumstances on a case-by-case basis.The report
Public Bodies: Proposals for Change contained detailed recommendations for improving the Accountability and Governance of NDPBs. It emphasised an approach based on "multiple accountability". This makes clear that NDPBs have a duty to continuously improve and strengthen their links to stakeholders, users and customers and the general public, as well as to be accountable to ministers and the Parliament. A copy of the report is available at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/government/pbreview.pdf.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 3 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) to cease moving any further staff to Edinburgh in advance of the Parliament having an opportunity to debate the future of the college, given the position of the college management that no decision will be taken without the Parliament having considered the issue, and whether it will intervene to prevent any further action being taken that would have the effect of implementing any decision by the college management in respect of this matter.
Answer
The current position is that SAC is addressing concerns that have been raised by me and others about its proposals for rationalisation. It will be submitting revised proposals to the Executive. No decision has been taken on a preferred option. Against that background I do not expect SAC to take any action that would pre-empt or prejudice the final outcome of its strategic review.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 15 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 3 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will urge sportscotland to approve the application for financial assistance in connection with the Morar playing field; what its position is on whether the decision by sportscotland on this application could have been made before the Parliament was dissolved and on the written statement made by sportscotland to applicants on this issue, and whether it will make representations to sportscotland to ensure that financial assistance is provided for the Lovat Memorial Games field at Morar.
Answer
The consideration and determination of individual lottery applications are matters for sportscotland. The role of ministers relates to the setting of strategic priorities and making Policy and Financial Directions.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 3 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to HM Inspector of Fire Services and the Health and Safety Executive in relation to proposals to close 42 fire auxiliary units in the Highland Council area
Answer
None - Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services in Scotland provides professional advice to Scottish ministers.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 3 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce legislation to confer powers on local authorities to enable them to determine whether the existing 50% council tax discount for holiday homes should be removed in whole or in part and in respect of specific types of property; if so, whether it will enable local authorities to retain the additional revenue yielded, and what the cumulative total of revenue forgone in council tax receipts as a result of the 50% discount has been in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority.
Answer
We are giving careful consideration to the responses received to the recent consultation on council tax for second and long-term empty homes. Information on the number of second homes in each local authority is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 26 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the Fort William Medical Community Working Group's proposal that Belford Hospital become a rural general hospital and what action it will take to put this proposal into effect.
Answer
It is for NHS Highland in the first place to consider any proposals for service change and development in consultation with all interested parties and the wider public.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 20 May 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports an inquiry into proposals to close 42 fire auxiliary units in the Highland Council area.
Answer
The programme of fire station upgrading is a matter for the Highland and Islands Fire Board. I understand that at this stage no decision has been made about closure of basic volunteer stations. If, following consideration by the board, such a decision is reached then, as part of the process, there would have to be a public consultation.
