- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 12 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many days wind speeds rose above 39 miles per hour in (a) Lerwick, (b) Kirkwall, (c) Wick, (d) Stornoway, (e) Barra, (f) Islay, (g) Inverness and (h) Glasgow in each of the last four years.
Answer
The information is not readilyavailable for all those locations in the format requested.
The information on the numberof days where the mean wind speeds exceeded 39 miles per hour is set out in thetable and has been obtained from the Met Office:
| Location | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
| Lerwick | 48 | 35 | 36 | 31 |
| Kirkwall1 | 48 | 5 | --- | --- |
| Wick | See next table | --- | --- | --- |
| Stornoway1 | 32 | 14 | 16 | --- |
| Barra | See next table | --- | --- | --- |
| Islay1,2 | 37 | 8 | --- | --- |
| Inverness3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Glasgow | See next table | --- | --- | --- |
Notes:
1. No longer readily availablefrom 2002 (Kirkwall and Islay) and 2003 (Stornoway).
2. This information relates toTiree, the nearest weather station to Islay.
3. This information relates toKinloss, the nearest weather station to Inverness.
The information for Wick, Barraand Glasgow is recorded on an hourly rather than a daily basis andis therefore not comparable to the previous table. The number of readings in thelast four years where the wind speed exceeded 39 miles per hours is as follows:
| | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
| Wick | 36 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Barra | 162 | 84 | 197 | 178 |
| Glasgow | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Winds in excess of 39 miles perhour are classified by the Met Office as gale force. Winds of such force are, however,not necessarily critical to the ability of aircraft to take off or land. Other factorssuch as the type of aircraft and wind direction are also relevant. While for examplea gale force cross wind would prevent a fixed-wing aircraft from talking off orlanding, helicopters, such as those available under the arrangements with the AirAmbulance Service preferred provider, would not be so affected by such winds. Ifthe weather conditions were of such severity to prevent the contracted air ambulanceaircraft from flying, the ambulance service will call upon the services of the Coastguardor the Ministry of Defence.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 12 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many days (a) Sumburgh, (b) Kirkwall, (c) Wick, (d) Stornoway, (e) Benbecula, (f) Barra, (g) Inverness, (h) Aberdeen and (i) Glasgow airport has been closed due to fog in each year since 2000.
Answer
There have been no days whenthese airports have been closed due to fog since 2000. If the closure of an airportaffected air ambulance services, then the Scottish Ambulance Service would considercalling upon the services of the Coastguard or the Ministry of Defence.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 12 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total budget was for air ambulance services covering (a) the Highlands, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) the Western Isles in each of the last four years.
Answer
The Scottish Ambulance Servicesets the budget for air ambulance services across Scotland fromthe revenue allocation it receives from Scottish Executive Health Department. The directcosts budget for the last four years was:
| 2000-01 | £5.1 Million |
| 2001-02 | £6.1 Million |
| 2002-03 | £6.3 Million |
| 2003-04 | £6.3 Million |
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 11 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many days wind speeds rose above 39 miles per hour at Tingwall Airport, Shetland, in each of the last four years.
Answer
The nearest weather station toTingwall is at Lerwick. Information on the number of days mean wind speeds exceeded39 miles per hour at Lerwick has been obtained from the Met Office and is set outin the table below:
| Location | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
| Lerwick | 48 days | 35 days | 36 days | 31 days |
Winds in excess of 39 miles perhour are classified by the Met Office as gale force. Winds of such force are, however,not necessarily critical to the ability of aircraft to take off or land. Other factorssuch as the type of aircraft and wind direction are also relevant. While for examplea gale force cross wind would prevent a fixed wing aircraft from talking off orlanding, helicopters, such as those available under the arrangements with the AirAmbulance Service preferred provider, would not be so affected by such winds. Ifthe weather conditions were of such severity to prevent the contracted air ambulanceaircraft from flying, the ambulance service would call upon the services of theCoastguard or the Ministry of Defence.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 25 October 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 11 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many days Tingwall Airport, Shetland, was closed due to fog in each year since 2000.
Answer
There have been no days whenTingwall Airport has been closed due to fog since 2000. If the closureof an airport affected air ambulance services, then the Scottish Ambulance Servicewould consider calling upon the services of the Coastguard or the Ministry of Defence.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 11 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many air ambulance journeys were carried out from within the Highland Council area in each of the last five years, detailing where such journeys originated.
Answer
The detail of where the air ambulance journeys within Highland area originated from for the last five years is shown in the following table :
| Highland Activity by Pick Up Point | Year | |
| Pick up From | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | Total |
| A82 | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| A82 2 Miles Nth of Invergarry | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| A82 Altsia Youth Hostel | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| A82 At Urquhart Castle | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| A82 Invergarry | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| A82 Sth Inverness | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| A831 Drumnadrochit | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| A835 North of Garve | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| A836 Tongue | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| A839 Lairg | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| A850 Broadford | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| A861 - B6002 Salon Junction | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| A862 Ardfern Nurseries | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| A87 | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| A87 At Clunie Inn | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| A87 At Cluny | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| A87 Invermorrison | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| A88 8 Miles from Inverness | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| A889 Laggan | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| A9 | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| A9 Blair Athol | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| A9 Jcn A89 Dalwhinnie | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| A9 North of Tamatin | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| A9 Slochd Summit | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| A9 Sth Latheron | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| A9 Tomatin | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| A95 Drumluie | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| A96 Nairn Side | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| A96 Near Brodie | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Abbriachoan | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Achanalt | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Acharacle | 1 | 2 | 2 | | 1 | 6 |
| Achiltibuie | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Achmelvich | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Achmonie | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Achnasheen | 1 | | | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Advie | | 1 | | 1 | | 2 |
| Alness | 2 | | 4 | | 3 | 9 |
| Alves | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Applecross | 2 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 5 |
| Arasaig | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Ardgay | | | | | 2 | 2 |
| Ardnamurcahn | | 2 | | | | 2 |
| Ardnamurchan | | | 1 | 2 | | 3 |
| Ardnish | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Argey | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Ashnasheen Junction | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Auchilboute | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Auchnasheen | | | | 2 | | 2 |
| Auchternead | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Auerty | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Aultbea | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Aultharra | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Aunchnabat | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Aviemore | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| B801 Big Brae Kinlochbervie | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Balblair | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Ballintore | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Balloch | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Bannar Bridge | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Barrasdale | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Beauly | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| Beauly To Inverness | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Ben Wyvis | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Berrydale | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Bettyhill | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Between Rosemarie and Cromarty | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Beuly | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Black Isle | | 1 | | 1 | | 2 |
| Blackpark | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Bonar Bridge | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Borrereig Piping Centre | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Broadford | 21 | 112 | 131 | 92 | 120 | 476 |
| Broadford Helipad | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Brora | 2 | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Cairngorms | | 1 | | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| Caithness | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Canna | 1 | 1 | | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Cannich | 2 | 2 | | 4 | | 8 |
| Carbost | | 1 | 1 | | | 2 |
| Carrbridge | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Castletown | | 2 | | | 1 | 3 |
| Cawdor | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Clunie | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | 3 |
| Corpach | | | | | 6 | 6 |
| Corran | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Craigellachie | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Crannich | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Cromarty | 2 | 1 | | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Cromarty Lighthouse | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Croy | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Culloden | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Dalcross (*) | 3 | 5 | | 4 | 140 | 152 |
| Dalwhinnie | 2 | 2 | | | 1 | 5 |
| Daviot | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Delny | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Dingwall | 3 | 1 | | 1 | 8 | 13 |
| Dores | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Dornach | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Dornoch | | 4 | | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Drumadrochit | | | | | 2 | 2 |
| Drumbeg | | | | | 2 | 2 |
| Drumechter | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Drumnadrochit | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| Drumochter | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Dulmane | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Dundonnel | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Dundonnell | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Durness | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | 3 |
| Eigg | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 18 |
| Euinort | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Evanton | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Ewe | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Farr | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Fearn | | 1 | | | 1 | 2 |
| Fort Augustus | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 19 |
| Fort George | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Fort Tuick | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Fort William | 41 | 69 | 63 | 38 | 23 | 234 |
| Fortrose | | | | | 2 | 2 |
| Foyers | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Gairloch | | 6 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 17 |
| Garve | | | 1 | | 1 | 2 |
| Glen Affrick | | | | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Glen Docherty | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Glen Etive | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Glen Morriston | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Glen Urquhart | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Glencoe | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Gleneig | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Glenelg | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Glenfinnan-Mallaig Road | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Glenmoriston | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Glenmorriston | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Glennan | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Golspie | 7 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 27 |
| Gouchigan | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Granton | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Grantown | 1 | 2 | 1 | | 1 | 5 |
| Grantown on Spey | | | | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Grantown on Spey | 1 | | | | 1 | 2 |
| Helmsdale | | 1 | 2 | | 1 | 4 |
| Highland | 2 | | | | | 2 |
| I Mile North Of Latheron | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Inchnadamph | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Invergarry | | | | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Invergarry and Loch Loyne | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Invergordon | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 |
| Invermorriston | | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 3 |
| Invermorrsiton | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Inverness (*) | 109 | 228 | 194 | 165 | 76 | 772 |
| Invershen | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Invershin | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Invershin Junction | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Isle Of Canna | | | | | 2 | 2 |
| Isle Of Eigg | | 2 | | | 2 | 4 |
| Isle Of Muck | | 1 | | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Isle Of Raasay | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Isle Of Rhum | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Isle Of Skye | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| John O'groats | | | 1 | 1 | | 2 |
| Keiss | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Kilchoan | 2 | | | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Kildonan | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Kildonnan | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Killmuir | | 2 | | | | 2 |
| Kinbrace | | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Kincraig | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Kingairloch | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Kingussie | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Kinlochbervie | | 3 | | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| Kinlochewe | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Kinlochleven | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Kinlochourn | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Kinlochu | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Kirkbost | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Kirkhill | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Knoydart | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Kyle | 1 | 4 | 2 | | 2 | 9 |
| Kyle Of Lochalsh | | | 2 | | 1 | 3 |
| Kylesku | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Laggan | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | 3 |
| Laggan Bridge | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Laggan Lochs | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Lairg | 1 | | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Lairg A836 | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Larighru | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Latheronwheel | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Lenton | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Lickmelm | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Loch Carron | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
| Loch Ewe | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Loch Inver | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Loch Laggan | | 1 | | 1 | | 2 |
| Loch Ness | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | 3 |
| Lochaber | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Lochalsh | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Locharn | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Lochend | | | | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Lochinver | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 15 |
| Lochness | | 1 | | 1 | | 2 |
| Lochside | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Luichart | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Lybister | 2 | | | | | 2 |
| Lybster | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Mallaig | | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 |
| Mid Clyth | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Muck | 5 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 24 |
| Muie | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Muir Of Ord | | | 2 | | 3 | 5 |
| Nairn | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Near Cluny Dam | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Near Newtonmore | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| New Bridge | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Newton More | 1 | | | 1 | | 2 |
| Newtonmore | | 1 | | 1 | | 2 |
| Nigg | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| North Achnasheen | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| North Kessock | 1 | | | | 1 | 2 |
| North Of Loch Lochie | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Nr Dingwall | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Nr Tain | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Old Golf Course Road - Kilchoan | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Plockton | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Port Mahcomack | | | | 2 | | 2 |
| Portree | 19 | 32 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 118 |
| Portree To Bracadale Road | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Portuirk | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Raasay | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Raigmore Helipad | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Redpoint | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Rhum | 3 | | | | | 3 |
| Rireavach | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Rogart | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Rosemarkie | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Rosshire | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Salen | | 2 | | | 1 | 3 |
| Scanny Port | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Scoraig | | 2 | 1 | 1 | | 4 |
| Scourie | 1 | 2 | 1 | | 3 | 7 |
| Scoury Surgery | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Sheildig | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Shelbridge Nr Kyle | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Shieldaig | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Shieldbridge | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Shinfalls Carpark | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Sidlaw | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Skebo | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Skiary | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Skye | 3 | | | | 12 | 15 |
| Sleat | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Slocht Summit | | 1 | | 1 | | 2 |
| South Of Ullapool | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Speanbridge | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Spinningdale | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Steillbridge | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Stour | 1 | | | | | 1 |
| Strathcarron | 1 | | | 1 | | 2 |
| Strathpeffer | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Strontain | | 1 | | | 1 | 2 |
| Struiehill | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Sutherland | | 1 | | | | 1 |
| Syre | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Tain | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 29 |
| Thurso | 12 | 27 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 70 |
| Thurso Playing Fields | | 2 | | | | 2 |
| Tomatin | 1 | | | 2 | | 3 |
| Tomich | 2 | | | | 1 | 3 |
| Tongue | | 1 | | 1 | | 2 |
| Torbeg | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Torness | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Torridon | 2 | | | | | 2 |
| Toscaig | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Tulloch | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Uig Campsite | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Ullapool | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
| Urquhart | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| West Highland Way | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Wester Ross | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Whitebridge | | | | | 3 | 3 |
| Whiterashes | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Wick | 113 | 158 | 107 | 92 | 129 | 599 |
| Total | 449 | 764 | 637 | 558 | 731 | 3,139 |
Note: In 2003-04, recording procedures changed which meant that those patients picked up at Inverness airport began to be recorded under Dalcross – the actual location of the airport – hence the reason for the increase in the number shown under Dalcross in that year.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 11 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what the actual costs were for air ambulance services to (a) the Highlands, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) the Western Isles in each of the last four years.
Answer
The direct costs incurred by the air ambulance service for each of the last four years are shown in the following table:
| | Financial Year |
| 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 |
| Air Ambulance Outturn | £5.4 million | £6.1 million | £6.1 million | £6.6 million |
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 11 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many days air ambulances in (a) the Highlands, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) the Western Isles were unable to fly as a result of poor weather conditions in each of the last four years.
Answer
The Scottish Ambulance Servicedoes not retain records on the number of occasions aircraft were unable to fly dueto the weather. However, when contracted aircraft are restricted due to severe weatherconditions the ambulance service will call upon the services of the Coastguard orthe Ministry of Defence.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 11 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected budget is for air ambulance services covering (a) the Highlands, (b) Orkney, (c) Shetland and (d) the Western Isles for each of the next four years.
Answer
The budget for air ambulanceservices across Scotland will be determined by the Scottish Ambulance Servicewhen it receives its revenue allocations from the Scottish Executive Health Department. The allocation for 2005-06 will be made shortly.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 15 October 2004
-
Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 11 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision has been made for the transportation of medical teams back to their relative areas of departure under the proposed new system for air ambulance transfer.
Answer
The Scottish Ambulance Servicecurrently endeavours to return medical escorts to their home base if it is practicalto do so. That commitment will continue under the proposed new system. The ambulanceservice also has arrangements with a number of mainland NHS boards that providefor medical retrieval teams attached to the receiving hospitals to go out with theair ambulance to remote and rural areas.
