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.

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Question reference: S1W-31812

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2002
Current Status: Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 9 December 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received an offer from West Sound Radio that would provide free maintenance of roundabouts to a high standard on the A77.

Yes. The Scottish Executive did receive a proposal from West Sound Radio suggesting that it would pay for landscape works on the roundabouts in exchange for signs which, we understand, would carry information about the radio station and also road safety messages. However, the proposal lacked detail and officials have therefore written to West Sound Radio setting out the Scottish Executive's position on this and other road safety related issues.

Question reference: S1F-02294

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 25 November 2002
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 28 November 2002

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Executive has made of the implications for the temporary jobs market of EU legislation to give temporary workers the same employment rights as permanent employees.

Question reference: S1W-31443

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2002
Current Status: Answered by Richard Simpson on 26 November 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will expand its campaign that highlights the health risks associated with tobacco smoking to include any increased health risks arising from smoking cannabis.

The Executive has helped to fund the publication of an updated version the Fags & Hash leaflet, prepared in partnership by Action on Smoking and Health Scotland, the Scottish Drugs Forum, the Health Education Board for Scotland and the West Lothian Drugs and Alcohol Service.This leaflet sets out the health risks from tobacco and cannabis, and it highlights that cannabis contains higher levels of dangerous tars and gases than tobacco. The leaflet has been given wide distribution in Scotland.

Question reference: S1W-31442

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 November 2002
Current Status: Answered by Richard Simpson on 26 November 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it will give to the recent research by the British Lung Foundation stating that smoking cannabis carries a seven to one higher degree of risk than smoking ordinary tobacco cigarettes.

We were aware, prior to publication of the British Lung Foundation study, that cannabis carries potentially serious health risks, including risks posed by levels of carcinogenic tars, gases and chemicals which exceed those found in tobacco. As part of our Drugs Communications Strategy, we published, in July, a Know the Score booklet on cannabis. The booklet sets out the legal position in Scotland, and the risks to physical and mental health associated with this drug. The text already makes it clear that smoking cannabis may be more harmful than smoking tobacco, since cannabis has a higher concentration of certain chemicals which can cause cancer. We printed 45,000 leaflets, and it is now being reprinted to meet demand. We will also publish a shorter version, perhaps credit-card sized, aimed specifically at young people.The free and confidential Know the Score Informationline can also provide advice on cannabis, and information can be accessed on the Know the Score website.

Question reference: S1W-30894

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 October 2002
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 26 November 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive in which five years from 1992-93 to 2001-02 spending on new and improved social housing was lowest.

Question reference: S1W-30893

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 24 October 2002
Current Status: Answered by Margaret Curran on 26 November 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive in which five years from 1992-93 to 2001-02 spending on new and improved social housing was highest and what the average spending level on new and improved housing was for these years.

Question reference: S1O-05661

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 September 2002
Current Status: Answered by Frank McAveety on 3 October 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy of free personal care for elderly people is being implemented nationally in line with its expectations.

Question reference: S1O-05566

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 September 2002
Current Status: Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 19 September 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive what increase on current traffic flows is built into the traffic flow design figures for the proposed Glasgow southern orbital junction with the M77.

The present and predicted hourly traffic volumes in the year 2020, taken as the design year for this scheme, were given in the answers to questions S1W-28403 and S1W-28404 on 10 September 2002. North of the proposed junction with the Glasgow Southern Orbital route the increases are approximately 1,000 vehicles and 700 vehicles respectively for the morning and evening peak hours. South of the junction traffic to and from the Glasgow Southern Orbital will add to this flow and the increases are 2,800 and 2,350 vehicles in the peak hours.

Question reference: S1W-29028

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2002
Current Status: Answered by Iain Gray on 17 September 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive how many learning providers under the individual learning account scheme have gone out of business since the scheme was suspended.

Question reference: S1W-29029

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 September 2002
Current Status: Answered by Iain Gray on 17 September 2002

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25845 by Iain Gray on 27 May 2002, what its current plans are in respect of replacing the individual learning account scheme.