- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 2 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether minimum standards are in place for food quality in hospitals in the Lanarkshire Health Board area, how these standards are monitored and whether they are being met.
Answer
Lanarkshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust both have service specifications for the quality of food to be supplied to patients, and for their cleaning services. These are monitored regularly. Further information is available from Lanarkshire Health Board.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 28 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of its intention to remove the statutory basis of the SJNC, it will set out a timetable for the implementation of the relevant legislation to ensure that the current maximum composite class si'e of 25 is maintained, that the current maximum class si'e of 33 in the upper primary and secondary is maintained, and that the current maximum class si'e of 20 in practical classes is maintained.
Answer
Legislative provisions allowing regulations to be made already exists in the form of section 2 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. Further consideration of the need for regulations under this power will follow from consultation on the recommendation of the Committee of Inquiry being chaired by Professor McCrone.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 28 October 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of its intention to remove the statutory basis of the SJNC, it will set out a timetable for the implementation of the relevant legislation to ensure that the current maximum composite class si'e of 25 is maintained, that the current maximum class si'e of 33 in the upper primary and secondary is maintained, and that the current maximum class si'e of 20 in practical classes is maintained.
Answer
Legislative provisions allowing regulations to be made already exists in the form of section 2 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. Further consideration of the need for regulations under this power will follow from consultation on the recommendation of the Committee of Inquiry being chaired by Professor McCrone.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 9 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of its planned level of support for local authority capital spending for each local authority in financial years (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-2001 and (c) 2001-2002.
Answer
Because of the complexity and volume of information, I will write directly to the member and arrange to have a copy of the letter and the information placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre for the use of other members.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 9 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the level of Scottish Office financial support for local authority capital spending for each local authority in financial years (a) 1994-1995, (b) 1995-1996, (c) 1996-1997, (d) 1997-1998 and (e) 1998-1999.
Answer
Because the information is lengthy, I will write directly to the member and arrange to have a copy of the letter and the information placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre for the use of other members.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct all Scottish councils to impose a moratorium on all planning applications for open cast mining until the Newcastle University study, "Do particulates from open cast mining impair health?" is completed.
Answer
I refer Mr Paterson to the answer I gave with respect to question S1W-539.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 September 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will impose a moratorium on all planning applications which it has called in for open cast mining until the Newcastle University study "Do particulates from open cast mining impair health?" is completed.
Answer
No. Further consideration will be given to existing planning advice when the outcome of the research is known. NPPG 16 was published in March 1999. It introduced a robust new framework for the control of opencast coal mining and is intended to ensure that full weight is given to the effects of mining on local communities and the environment. The guidance confirmed that the research was under way and that further consideration would be given to existing planning advice when the outcome of the research is known. In the meantime, the industry and planning authorities were asked to adopt a cautious approach and ensure that proposals and developments do not result in an unacceptable level of airborne dust. The Scottish executive will do likewise in considering cases that come before it.
- Asked by: Gil Paterson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 July 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 13 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take when dealing with new open cast planning applications from companies which have been in breach of planning regulations and/or health and safety regulations with regard to their existing mining operations.
Answer
As with all planning applications, each case must be judged on its merits. The publication of a tougher planning policy guidance framework for opencast coal on 31 March 1999 should ensure that applications are subjected to greater scrutiny. Developers will be expected to match the higher standards that are now expected so that greater protection can be given to communities and the environment. Where consent is granted, arrangements should be put in place to ensure development is carried out in accordance with the planning permission and various other control regimes. These are matters for the planning authority and the other control authorities such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Health and Safety Executive and other local authority departments. The relevant body should respond to breaches with speedy and robust action.
