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: S2W-13869

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 January 2005
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 10 February 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are schools within the Gaelic-medium education sector currently using English books with pasted-over translations and, if so, whether it aims to replace these entirely with Gaelic translations and over what timescale.

It is the Scottish Executive’s aim that good quality materials should be available to pupils in Gaelic-medium classes and for all subjects. Stórlann has made very good progress in providing materials for Gaelic-medium education classes. There is now little need for Gaelic-medium classes to be using English books with pasted over translations. Stórlann has provided Gaelic books for all stages and most subjects of Gaelic-medium primary education.

Question reference: S2W-13868

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 27 January 2005
Current Status: Answered by Peter Peacock on 10 February 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an evaluation of educational materials required by Gaelic-medium education has been carried out in order for the provision of materials for such education to have parity with the provision of materials for pupils being taught in the English language and whether there has been an assessment of the impact of any lack of equivalent materials on Gaelic-medium education's ability to attract Gaelic-speaking teachers to teach in the Gaelic language.

Stórlann, the Gaelic Resources Centre, carries out an annual evaluation of the education materials required by teachers for Gaelic-medium education. The Scottish Executive seeks to ensure that there is adequate provision of good quality materials for Gaelic-medium classes. It would, however, be difficult to establish parity with the wide range of English language materials that are available for schools immediately. The Scottish Executive is not aware of any research that seeks to establish a correlation between the availability of Gaelic-materials in Gaelic-medium classes and the appeal of Gaelic-medium education to Gaelic speaking teachers. We will continue to support Stórlann to keep improving Gaelic-medium resources.

Question reference: S2W-13444

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 4 February 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive how many major transport projects were completed from 1987-88 to 1996-97, broken down by parliamentary constituency within the Highlands and Islands, North East Scotland and Mid Scotland and Fife.

The following table details those projects funded directly by the Scottish Office with a cost of £3 million or more along with other major projects we are aware of.

Highlands and Islands

Argyll and Bute

None

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

A9 Dornoch Bridge Approach Roads; A9 Dunbeath Bridge and Mound Bridges; A9 Dornoch Firth Bridge; A9 Broomhill to Logie Easter

Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber

A830 Mallaig-Kinsadel; A830 Polnish Lochailort; A830 Morar Bypass

Moray

A96 Forres Bypass; A96 Lhanbryde Bypass

Orkney

None

Ross, Skye and Inverness West

A87 Dornie Bypass; A87 Skye Bridge Approach Roads; A87 Skye Bridge Crossing

Shetland

None

Western Isles (Eilean Siar)

None

North East Scotland

Aberdeen Central

None

Aberdeen North

A96 Bucksburn to Tyrebagger

Aberdeen South

None

Angus

None

Banff and Buchan

None

Dundee East

None

Dundee West

A929 Kingsway-Powrie

Gordon

A92 (now A90) Murcar to Balmedie; A92 (now A90) Ellon Bypass/Tipperty; A96 Inverurie Bypass

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

A94 (now A90) Candy Stonehaven;A94 (now A90) Upper Northwater Bridge-Oatyhill

Mid Scotland and Fife

Central Fife

A92 Bankhead Interchange

Dunfermline East

A92 East Fife Regional Road II; A92 East Fife Regional Road III and IV

Dunfermline West

None

Kirkcaldy

None

North East Fife

None

North Tayside

A94 (now A90) Forfar Bypass; A94 (now A90) Parkford-Balnabreich; A929 (now A90) Tarbrax-Forfar; A94 (now A90) Brechin Bypass

Ochil

None

Perth

A9 Greenloaning-Blackford

Stirling

A9 Dunblane Bypass.

Question reference: S2W-13445

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 13 January 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 1 February 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive how many major transport projects have been, or will be, completed between 1997-98 and 2006-07, broken down by parliamentary constituency within the Highlands and Islands, North East Scotland and Mid Scotland and Fife.

Those projects funded directly by the Scottish Executive, or the former Scottish Office, with a cost of £3 million or more are as follows:

Highlands And Islands

Argyll and Bute

Oban Terminal and 2nd Linkspan; Redevelopment of Port Askaig; Rothesay Pier; A848 Salen to Tobermory; Dunoon Harbour Breakwater and Linkspan; A828 Creagan Bridge

Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

A9 Logie Easter-Garrick Bridge; A9 Helmsdale Phase 2

Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber

Eigg Pier; Rhum/Muck Pier; A830 Polnish Bridge-Loch nan Uamh; A86 Rubha na Magach-Aberarder; A830 Arisaig-Kinsadel

Inverness Airport Terminal

Moray

None

Orkney

Hatston/Stromness Pier and Terminal; Scrabster Pier and Passenger Facilities

Ross, Skye and Inverness West

A890 Achnasheen to Glen Carron

Shetland

Holmsgarth Ferry Terminal

Western Isles (Eilean Siar)

Eriskay Causeway; Sound of Barra Ferry Infrastructure

In addition, the Scottish Executive provided funding for 29 new trains which will benefit services to Inverness.

North East Scotland

Aberdeen Central

None

Aberdeen North

A944 Lang Stracht

Aberdeen South

None

Angus

None

Banff and Buchan

None

Dundee East

None

Dundee West

None

Gordon

A96 Blackburn-Kintore; A96 Newton Garry/Adamston

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

None

In addition, the Scottish Executive provided funding for 29 new trains which will benefit services to Aberdeen.

Funding was also provided to: Aberdeen City Council for Bus Priority and Park and Ride, and Dundee City Council for Smart Bus

Mid Scotland And Fife

Central Fife

None

Dunfermline East

Ferrytoll Expansion; M90 Halbeath Interchange

Dunfermline West

A876 Kincardine Eastern Link

Kirkcaldy

None

North East Fife

None

North Tayside

A90 Forfar Grade Separation

Ochil

None

Perth

A90 Inchmichael Interchange; A90 Inchture Interchange; A90 Kinfauns and Glendoick

Stirling

All Change - Point - Forthside

In addition, the Scottish Executive provided funding for 29 new trains which will benefit services to Fife. Funding was also provided for platform lengthening at a number of stations on the Fife Circle line. Freight Facilities Grant was awarded to provide facilities at Rosyth for ferry services to Zeebrugge.

Funding was also provided to: Clackmannanshire Council for Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine Railway; Fife Council for Fife Circle Capacity and Access Improvements; Stirling Council for Park and Ride/Access to Stirling, Bridge of Allan and Dunblane, and Fife Council for Interchange and Bus Corridors.

Question reference: S2W-13478

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 14 January 2005
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 1 February 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure the correct and timely implementation of EC Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC in light of the decision by the European Commission on 12 January 2005 to send the United Kingdom a final written warning ordering it to comply with the requirements of the directive in relation to the waste water treatment plant in Lerwick.

Question reference: S2W-12959

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 09 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Tavish Scott on 28 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-11675 by Tavish Scott on 8 November 2004, what powers are granted to landowners, occupiers, gamekeepers and servants under the Game (Scotland) Act 1832 and whether these powers are consistent with its criminal justice policies and the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Game (Scotland) Act 1832 makes it an offence for any person entering or being, in the daytime, upon any land, without leave of the proprietor, in search or pursuit of game, or woodcock, snipe, wild ducks or conies (rabbits). Landowners, occupiers, gamekeepers, or any servants or any person authorised by them may request that the trespasser quit the land, provide their name and address and relinquish possession of the game if requested.

If the poacher refuses to provide this information, the act also provides power for the landowner, occupier, gamekeeper, or any servants or any person authorised by them to apprehend the offender and convey him to the Justice of the Peace. Either the owner or the occupier or the Procurator Fiscal may prosecute and a conviction may proceed on the evidence of a single witness.

The Executive considers that the Game (Scotland) Act 1832 provides a legal basis for a form of detention which is not considered disproportionate or arbitrary under the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Question reference: S2O-05087

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 January 2005
Current Status: Answered by Allan Wilson on 27 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made to ensure the availability of EU structural funds for the Highlands and Islands after 2008.

Question reference: S2W-13144

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Andy Kerr on 24 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the practice of holding psychiatric patients in police cells continues and, if so, how many psychiatric patients have been detained in police cells in 2004 to date.

Question reference: S2W-13146

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 24 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in, or from, remote mainland and island localities have been detained in hospital without their consent under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 in 2004 to date.

Question reference: S2W-13141

Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 December 2004
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 24 January 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to ensure that the recommendations in the RARARI Bid 79 Report on the safe management and transfer of acutely-disturbed psychiatric patients in remote and rural areas have been adopted as good practice by NHS boards that serve rural areas.

£200,000 was provided to NHS boards toward the costs of planning and delivering the Psychiatric Emergency Plans as recommended in the RARARI Bid 79 Report, (Bib. number 31082).

So far, Tayside and Dumfries and Galloway NHS boards have set up psychiatricemergency plans. The other NHS boards are at an advanced stage of developmentin each case.

Safe management and transfer of patients is an integral aspect of the plans and I am encouraged that partners are including the local police and ambulance services in their considerations. The Scottish Ambulance Service is also reviewing its national protocol for response to mental health emergencies.