- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2006
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 26 January 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how its proposals for planning reform will ensure that the public interest is protected in respect of maintaining the balance between out-of-town shopping centres and traditional town centre and village shops.
Answer
The proposals for planning modernisation set out in the Planning Bill will give local people better opportunities to influence the planning decisions that affect them and their communities.
In addition, we are in the process of revising National Planning Policy Guidance 8: Town Centres and Retailing which will take account of recent major changes in the retailing sector. The revised Scottish Planning Policy 8 will continue to support new retail development being located in town centres.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Friday, 20 January 2006
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 20 January 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive when negotiations relating to the buyout of the Inverness Airport Terminal PFI contract by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd will be completed.
Answer
I am pleased to announce that negotiations between Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) and the PFI owners have now been completed and Inverness Airport Terminal Ltd has been acquired by HIAL with effect from 20 January 2006.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 January 2006
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 12 January 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has monitored the delivery of GP out-of-hours cover in the Highlands following the introduction of the new GP contracts.
Answer
We have and continue to monitor the performance of NHS Highland in the provision of out-of-hours cover, as part of wider monitoring arrangements for all NHS boards.
As well as the Health Department monitoring NHS boards’ overall performance through the Performance Assessment Framework and the annual Accountability Review, the national General Medical Services Out-of-Hours Working Group tracks the progress of out-of-hours services. In addition, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) also monitors the delivery of out-of-hours standards across all NHS boards.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Friday, 18 November 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 28 November 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for its overturning a decision by Highland Council to refuse planning permission for a Hutchison 3G telephone mast in King Brude Road, Inverness.
Answer
The reporter appointed to determine this case explained the reasons for allowing the appeal in his decision letter dated 2 November 2005. A copy of this letter was sent to Mr Munro on that date.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 10 November 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it expects the Crown Estate or Crown Estate Commissioners under the Interim Scheme for the Authorisation of Marine Fish Farms in Scottish Waters to implement recommendations made by (a) the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit or (b) the relevant local authority.
Answer
Yes, under the terms of the agreed non-statutory scheme.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 10 November 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the Interim Scheme for the Authorisation of Marine Fish Farms in Scottish Waters, the Crown Estate, as the relevant authority under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Fish Farming in Marine Waters) Regulations 1999, and competent authority under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2004, is legally bound to approve planning recommendations made by (a) the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit or (b) the relevant local authority.
Answer
Whilst not legally bound to do so, I understand that the Crown Estate has made clear that it expects always, in accordance with the terms of the non-statutory Interim Scheme, to follow recommendations of the local authorities or the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit reporter.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 October 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 9 November 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19691 by Malcolm Chisholm on 18 October 2005, why it is the responsibility of the Crown Estate to answer questions on the content of the Annat Bay fish farm report if that report was produced by the Scottish Executive.
Answer
The report into proposals toestablish a finfish farm at Annat Bay was produced by an inquiry reporter provided by the ScottishExecutive Inquiry Reporters Unit. The Inquiry Reporters Unit has no input into thecontent of his report which is made directly to the Crown Estate Commissioners.The final decision on whether or not the reporter’s recommendations are acceptedrests with the Crown Estate Commissioners whose policy is to accept those recommendationsexcept where to do so would compromise their statutory responsibilities in termsof the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations2004 or the Environmental Impact Assessment (Fish Farming in Marine Waters) Regulations1999.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 October 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 8 November 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether imported blood plasma was present in any blood plasma products used by the NHS, or any other healthcare suppliers, between 1980 and 1988.
Answer
The Scottish National Blood TransfusionService (SNBTS) has confirmed that blood plasma products manufactured by them during1980-88 were not derived from imported plasma.
However, demand for blood plasmabased products, mainly Factor VIII for the treatment of haemophilia A patients,exceeded available supplies from SNBTS and some products were imported during theperiod. Responsibility for the purchase of imported products lay with localhealth boards and, consequently, the Executive does not hold this information centrally.
Blood plasma products are “PrescriptionOnly Medicines”. Authorisation for marketing/distribution of imported blood plasmaproducts within the UK was (and remains) the responsibility of the Medicines ControlAgency (now MHRA). Further information on imported plasma products authorised foruse in UK during this period may be obtained from Medicines and Healthcare ProductsRegulatory Agency.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 October 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 3 November 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid to the Haemophilia Society in each year from 1980 to 2004 and what the purpose was of these payments.
Answer
The Haemophilia Society has received grant funding under section 16B of the NHS (Scotland) Act 1978, amounting to £10,000 in each financial year from 1996-97 to 2005-06. The purpose of these grants is to offer the society a contribution to the costs of the support and information services it provides to people with haemophilia in Scotland.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 October 2005
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 3 November 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the issue of users in communities with broadband-enabled telecom exchanges being unable to receive broadband due to the existence of old copper wiring which is unable to deliver broadband to those far from the exchange.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-19677 on 3 November 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
