- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 7 August 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Registrar General will publish his annual report for 2008.
Answer
Scotland''s Population 2008: the Registrar General''s Annual Review of Demographic Trends is published today. The report contains information about births, deaths and marriages during the year, together with other demographic information. A copy of the report is available in the Scottish Parliament''s Information Centre (Bib. number 48487), or from the Registrar General''s website at www.gro-scotland.gov.uk.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 June 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 18 June 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to increase the provision of education for adult learners of Gaelic.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the vital role which Gaelic adult education has to play in creating a secure future for the language in Scotland. The Scottish Government also recognises the importance of increasing the opportunities for and the effectiveness of Gaelic adult education. There are a number of Gaelic adult education options in place and it is the Government''s intention that this provision should increase.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 May 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 19 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish its consultation paper on a draft crofting reform Bill.
Answer
The consultation paper on a draft Crofting Reform Bill will be published later today.
Copies will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 48142).
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 April 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 1 May 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it is providing to NHS Western Isles in terms of its cumulative deficit of £3.1 million.
Answer
The Scottish Government is providing resources of £3.1 million to NHS Western Isles to clear a deficit built up in previous years. NHS Western Isles has balanced its books over the past two years (2007‘08 and 2008‘09) and the Scottish Government has now agreed a forward financial plan.
The Scottish Government will continue its work to assist the board, which is now also supported by its partner board, NHS Highland, in areas including human resources, governance and planning. Additional annual funding of £0.25 million has also been provided by the Scottish Government to support this collaborative working partnership.
This brokerage agreement is testimony to the Scottish Government''s commitment to patients in the Western Isles. NHS Western Isles has already come a long way to turn around its financial situation and we want to give the board a fresh start so that it can lay strong foundations for the future. This support is recognition of the progress that has been made to date. The repayment of brokerage means the board takes responsibility for the past, but in a manageable way, ensuring patient services will not be affected. The board is expected to make repayments over a period of six financial years commencing 2012‘13.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 March 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 12 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is considering to support the Harris Tweed industry in light of recent job losses.
Answer
We were very concerned to hear that Kenneth Mackenzie Ltd. planned to close the mill in Stornoway for 12 months.
Scottish ministers are committed to supporting a strong and vibrant Harris Tweed sector and will work jointly with the Harris Tweed Industry Liaison Group to assist its sustainable development and growth. I met key stakeholders in Stornoway last August, my officials have been in continuing contact with the sector and I plan to hold a follow-up meeting as soon as possible.
In addition, our enterprise agencies are dedicating significant resources and assistance to help the industry compete. This includes capital investment, a skills audit, consumer research, an economic impact assessment, and assistance with promotion, marketing and communications strategies.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 19 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 2 March 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the public service obligation air route between Stornoway and Benbecula, commencing in April 2009, to be awarded.
Answer
The award of the contract for the public service obligation air service between Stornoway and Benbecula is a matter for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 February 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Russell on 5 February 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to respond to the views of fishermen and other local interests when dealing with the European Commission’s proposals for special area of conservation designations in the Sound of Barra and near Mingulay.
Answer
This question was answered in the Chamber. The answer can be viewed in the Official Report using the following link: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0205-01.htm
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Housing Regulator anticipates that the Hebridean Housing Partnership will have provided the necessary information about its financial plans to the Scottish Government for consideration.
Answer
I have asked Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator to respond.
Her response is as follows:
The regulator has received a range of information from the Partnership to allow it to assess the partnership''s financial plans. Following the receipt on 12 January 2009 of financial information requested from the partnership, the regulator provided the Partnership with a confidential draft of its inspection report on 19 January 2009.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 09 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 19 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the estimated percentage of the extra fuel required to heat houses in (a) Edinburgh, (b) Glasgow, (c) Aberdeen, (d) Dundee, (e) Stornoway and (f) Braemar compared with identical houses in Bristol.
Answer
The estimated percentage of extra fuel, compared to Bristol, used to heat a typical semi-detached and detached house with gas central heating and with non-white meter electric heating in those locations is shown in table 1:
Table 1: The % of Extra Fuel Used Across Scotland to Heat a Semi-Detached and Detached House with Gas Central Heating and Non-White Meter Electric Heating, Compared to Bristol
| Location | Postcode | Semi-Detached House | Detached House |
| % Higher than Bristol |
| Gas | | |
| Braemar | AB35 5YL | 65 | 65 |
| Stornoway | HS1 2RN | 62 | 53 |
| Aberdeen | AB11 5QP | 56 | 51 |
| Edinburgh | EH15 1LF | 24 | 22 |
| Dundee | DD2 4PF | 29 | 28 |
| Glasgow | G3 6HB | 20 | 19 |
| Electricity | | |
| Braemar | AB35 5YL | 67 | 67 |
| Stornoway | HS1 2RN | 62 | 54 |
| Aberdeen | AB11 5QP | 57 | 52 |
| Edinburgh | EH15 1LF | 24 | 23 |
| Dundee | DD2 4PF | 30 | 28 |
| Glasgow | G3 6HB | 20 | 20 |
These estimates are based on National Home Energy ratings (NHER) calculation methods.
This information is sourced from the Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS). As the SHCS is a sample survey the estimates are subject to a degree of uncertainty.
- Asked by: Dr Alasdair Allan, MSP for Western Isles, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 09 January 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 19 January 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how much fuel it takes to heat a typical semi-detached house with (a) gas central heating and (b) non-white meter electric heating in (i) Braemar, (ii) Stornoway, (iii) Aberdeen, (iv) Edinburgh, (v) Dundee and (vi) Glasgow and what information it has on how this compares with the amount that it takes to heat a similar house in Bristol, using data contained in the climatic severity index.
Answer
The fuel used (in kilowatt hours) to heat a typical semi-detached house with gas central heating and with non-white meter electric heating in those locations is shown in table 1:
Table 1: The Fuel Used (Kwh) Across Scotland to Heat a Semi-Detached House with Gas Central Heating and Non-White Meter Electric Heating and how this Compares to Bristol
| Location | Postcode | Gas Central Heating | Electric Room Heaters | Gas Central Heating | Electric Room Heaters |
| Energy (Kwh) | % more than Bristol |
| Braemar | AB35 5YL | 16,100 | 9,800 | 65.2 | 66.8 |
| Stornoway | HS1 2RN | 15,800 | 9,500 | 61.8 | 62.1 |
| Aberdeen | AB11 5QP | 15,300 | 9,200 | 56.4 | 57.3 |
| Edinburgh | EH15 1LF | 12,100 | 7,300 | 23.9 | 24.2 |
| Dundee | DD2 4PF | 12,600 | 7,600 | 29.3 | 29.9 |
| Glasgow | G3 6HB | 11,700 | 7,000 | 19.7 | 19.9 |
| Bristol | BS8 1HP | 9,800 | 5,900 | - | - |
Source: Scottish House Condition Survey
These estimates are based on National Home Energy ratings (NHER) calculation methods. They do not use the Climatic Severity Index as this is not currently produced by the Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS). However the NHER method takes into account Degree Day Region, Average Wind Speed and Elevation.
As this information is taken from a sample survey the estimates are subject to a degree of uncertainty.
