Chamber and committees

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.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

Filter your results Hide all filters

Displaying 415 questions Show Answers

Order by |

Question reference: S2W-25124

Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2006
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 5 May 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues licences for the killing of red-breasted mergansers and goosanders during the period from the beginning of April to the end of July when the birds may have dependent young.

Question reference: S2W-25119

Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2006
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 5 May 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how many licences have been issued for the killing of red-breasted mergansers and goosanders in each of the last three years and to whom were the licences issued.

The number of licences to shootred-breasted mergansers and goosanders issued, as an aid to scaring, to preventserious damage to fisheries is as follows:

	2003	2004	2005
Mergansers	4	2	3
Goosanders	13	8	11

Licences to shoot merganserswere all issued to District Salmon Fishery Boards (DSFBs). Similarly the licencesto shoot goosanders were all issued to DSFBs with the exception of two in 2003 and2004 and one in 2005 which were issued to angling associations.

The licences were issued to thefollowing:

2003

Esk DSFB

Annan DSFB

Nith DSFB

River Tweed Commissioners

Conon DSFB

Tay DSFB

Spey DSFB

Beauly DSFB

Dee DSFB

Lochaber DSFB

Deveron DSFB

River Annan Fisheries ImprovementAssociation

Camps Fly Fishers Association.

2004

Esk DSFB

Nith DSFB

River Tweed Commissioners

Tay DSFB

Spey DSFB

Dee DSFB

River Annan Fisheries ImprovementAssociation

Camps Fly Fishers Association.

2005

Esk DSFB

Annan DSFB

Nith DSFB

River Tweed Commissioners

Conon DSFB

Tay DSFB

Spey DSFB

Beauly DSFB

Dee DSFB

Lochaber DSFB

Deveron DSFB

River Annan Fisheries ImprovementAssociation

Camps Fly Fishers Association.

Question reference: S2W-25120

Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2006
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 5 May 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications for licences to control red-breasted mergansers and goosanders have been made in each of the last three years.

The numbers of applications forlicences to shoot red-breasted mergansers and goosanders received in the last threeyears are as follows:

	2003	2004	2005
Mergansers	5	6	9
Goosanders	15	12	16

Question reference: S2W-25122

Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 07 April 2006
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 5 May 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive how many inspections were carried out to ascertain the facts prior to the granting of licences to control saw-billed ducks in each of the last three years and whether the individuals authorised to kill the birds fully complied with the licence conditions and, if not, whether such licences will be revoked.

There was one formal inspectioncarried out in each of the last three years. Many of the areas covered by licence applications are well known to andvisited by our advisors, Scottish Natural Heritage, Fisheries Research Servicesand The Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, through their other duties. Site visitsare normally conducted for a first application, or where circumstances have changed,or where doubt exists over the validity of the information supplied.

Licence holders are requiredto submit returns which are monitored to ensure that they comply fully with anylicence conditions or the licence would be invalid and subject to revocation. Non-compliancewould be taken into account when considering any future application.

Question reference: S2W-22928

Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Friday, 03 February 2006
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 22 February 2006

To ask the Scottish Executive when Scottish Enterprise will make a public statement regarding its reorganisation and the future role of local enterprise companies, such as Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley.

Scottish Enterprise have been taking soundings from a wide range of industry representatives and partners as they consider a new structure. There have also been discussions with the Enterprise and Culture Committee. Ministers will consider Scottish Enterprise’s proposals in the near future, once they are ready to be put to us. We will want to be assured that any new structure continues to provide local responsiveness.

Question reference: S2O-08538

Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 December 2005
Current Status: Answered by Johann Lamont on 22 December 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial resources and practical measures it is taking to alleviate fuel poverty this winter.

We are tackling fuel povertyin a number of ways, including improving the energy efficiency of homes throughour central heating and Warm Deal Programmes. We encourage people to claim all thebenefits and tax credits to which they are entitled; our central heating programmeincludes a benefits health check, and we have been pressing the energy companiesto take action to protect their most vulnerable clients from the adverse effectsof recent fuel price increases.

Question reference: S2W-19548

Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2005
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 14 October 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to reduce the waiting times for, and priority given to, post-mastectomy reconstruction surgery, especially surgery delayed before the advances in treatment that allow current cases of reconstruction to be dealt with at the same time as the mastectomy.

There are several types of reconstructive breast surgery. Certain types of immediate reconstructions can be performed by a specially trained breast surgeon. More complicated methods require plastic surgery input and some highly complex procedures such as reconstructions which are delayed for clinical or personal choice, are performed only by plastic surgeons.

Breast reconstruction should be discussed with patients prior to mastectomy. In accordance with NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) Standards each regional breast cancer network is able to offer patients immediate reconstruction.

For reasons of clinical priority if a patient chooses immediate breast reconstruction because of breast carcinoma, they take precedence over a patient who opted to delay breast reconstruction or where it was clinically inappropriate to undertake immediate breast reconstruction.

A range of actions has been taken or are under way in each of the three regional network areas. For example, for patients in the West of Scotland NHS Greater Glasgow provides regional breast reconstruction services via the plastic surgery unit at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and specific local actions are set out in the board’s local health plan. In the North of Scotland NHS Highland appointed a consultant breast and oncoplastic surgeon in 2003 with immediate and some delayed reconstruction now available at Raigmore Hospital. South East Scotland has a fellowship to allow breast surgeons to learn about reconstruction and specialist registrars are trained in reconstruction techniques so that more patients who choose to do so and where it is clinically appropriate may have immediate reconstruction.

Question reference: S2O-07773

Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 September 2005
Current Status: Answered by Tavish Scott on 6 October 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to bring economic benefits from greater use of the River Forth between Grangemouth and Stirling.

Question reference: S2W-19212

Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 September 2005
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 4 October 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of prisoner admissions each year will not be covered by the new throughcare arrangements, broken down into those who are entitled to voluntary assistance and those who are not.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

Every prisoner in the SPS can access voluntary throughcare assistance. Vulnerable groups (women and young offenders) and adult male prisoners serving over 31 days can access the new Throughcare Addiction Service.

Males in prison for fine default, serving sentences of less than 31 days, or on remand will not be able to access the new Throughcare Addiction Service. However, they can access voluntary throughcare provision.

Question reference: S2W-19210

Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 September 2005
Current Status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 4 October 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what the proposed new throughcare arrangements for prisoners are and to what extent these arrangements will include prisoners who have served less than 31 days in prison.

I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

The Throughcare Addiction Service will provide continuity of care for those leaving custody who wish to go on to receive addiction services in the community. The service will concentrate on especially vulnerable prisoners hence the inclusion of all women and young offenders, regardless of sentence length.

Adult male prisoners serving less than 31 days will be able to access voluntary throughcare support rather than the Throughcare Addiction Service.