- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 6 April 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is considering a private finance package to complete the Holyrood Project.
Answer
With the approval of Parliament and the co-operation of the Scottish Executive, the SPCB intends to complete the Holyrood Project by conventional public funding arrangements for major Scottish capital projects, from money assigned to Scotland in the "Scottish Block".
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 27 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to supply emergency hormonal contraception through pharmacies.
Answer
Hormonal emergency contraception is at present available through community pharmacies but only on prescription.The Medicines Control Agency is currently considering applications to re-classify hormonal emergency contraception from prescription-only to pharmacy availability, so that it can be obtained from a pharmacy without a prescription. Careful consideration will be given to risks and benefits on the basis of a thorough evaluation of evidence, to ensure safe use without medical supervision. Expert advice will be sought from the Committee on Safety of Medicines, and there will be a period of public consultation before the Medicines Control Agency reaches a decision.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive why it believes that it is necessary to change the board structure of trust ports such as Peterhead or Fraserburgh, given their track records in running their ports.
Answer
The Scottish Executive recognises the important role and contribution of the harbours at Peterhead and Fraserburgh for the local economy in particular for the fishing industry. Modernising Trust Ports, A Guide to Good Governance, published in January 2000 sets out standards of accountability for the Trust Ports sector. It encourages ports to overhaul the appointment process based on the best commercial and Government practice. The extent to which any change to Board structure is required will depend on whether a port's existing Board structure fully reflects all of the interests of the local communities and stakeholders which the port serves. An implementation guide is planned to be published this spring to assist ports in undertaking this process.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive why it believes that directors of Scottish trust ports will be more accountable if they are appointed rather than elected as at present.
Answer
Most Trust Ports' Board members are appointed following nomination by the various interest groups represented on the Board rather than elected. There are Trust Ports where the majority of appointments to Boards are made through local elections but they will be able to continue on this basis, subject to compliance with the principles of the guidelines Modernising Trust Ports: A Guide to Good Governance published in January 2000. The guidance is aimed at providing a more open, accountable and transparent elective process which will represent the entire community of stakeholders with an interest in each port's activities.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 23 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns it has about the effect of the increase in charges of almost 20% to be levied on elderly residents in sheltered accommodation in Aberdeenshire following the local government finance settlement and whether it has any plans to address this situation directly.
Answer
That is a matter for the Council. I understand that the increase relates to charges for the warden service in local authority accommodation. Residents currently pay approximately £6 per week, which is one third of the cost. Other providers of supported accommodation charge the full cost. The Council is increasing the charge to approximately £7 per week.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive why it has decided to accept all of the guidelines in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions publication Modernising Trust Ports: A Guide to Good Governance without examining whether they apply to Scottish trust ports, and in particular to Scottish fishery ports, and why it did not follow the example of Northern Ireland ministers in reserving the right to introduce guidelines which accord with the specific needs of its own trust ports.
Answer
The Scottish Executive was closely involved in developing the guidelines Modernising Trust Ports: A Guide to Good Governance. The guidance was drawn up following wide consultation with the trust sector and its representative bodies. The guidelines apply to the Scottish Trust Ports sector and the Executive endorses the underlying principles of open, accountable and transparent operation of Trust Ports. The Guide sets national standards of accountability as a benchmark to provide good practice for the future. The Guide also makes clear that the Executive has the option to amend these standards for application to the Trust Ports sector in Scotland.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 14 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to take control over the prices of non-pharmaceutical price regulation scheme branded medicines and branded generics sold to the NHS.
Answer
This matter is reserved to the Department of Health. We are in touch with the Department of Health on a wide range of issues including the prices of non-pharmaceutical price regulation scheme branded medicines and branded generics sold to the NHS.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 10 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the future management of its treasury function and to detail the reporting structure of Ministers within it.
Answer
The finance function within the Scottish Executive is currently the subject of an internal review which is aimed at ensuring that, following devolution, it continues to provide appropriate financial advice and control effectively. In pursuing this objective I will be interested also to see the outcome of the Finance Committee's study of this issue. Ministerial responsibility for the finance function rests with me.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 16 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it has planned for the years 2001 to 2004 to increase visitor spending in Scotland.
Answer
Our proposals are set out in the new strategy for Scottish tourism which was published today.
- Asked by: Mr David Davidson, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 16 February 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it has taken since July 1999 to increase visitor spending in Scotland during 2000.
Answer
We have prepared a new strategy for Scottish tourism, which was published today.
