- 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 11 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how many journeys were undertaken by air ambulances to (a) Inverness and (b) Aberdeen from (i) the Highlands, (ii) Orkney, (iii) Shetland and (iv) the Western Isles in each of the last four years.
Answer
The following table records the number of air ambulance journeys undertaken in each of the areas and delivered to Aberdeen and Inverness:
| | Delivered To |
| 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 |
| Area Pick Up | Aberdeen | Inverness | Aberdeen | Inverness | Aberdeen | Inverness | Aberdeen | Inverness |
| Highlands | 125 | 374 | 93 | 339 | 82 | 283 | 123 | 380 |
| Orkney | 198 | 0 | 210 | 0 | 246 | 4 | 317 | 13 |
| Shetland | 193 | 1 | 225 | 1 | 193 | 1 | 212 | 0 |
| Western Isles | 7 | 69 | 4 | 81 | 4 | 83 | 6 | 76 |
- 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 8 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive on how many days air ambulances at Tingwall Airport, Shetland, were unable to fly as a result of poor weather conditions in each of the last four years.
Answer
The Scottish Ambulance Service does not retain records on the number of occasions aircraft were unable to fly due to the weather. However, when contracted aircraft are restricted due to severe weather conditions the ambulance service will call upon the services of the Coastguard or the Ministry of Defence.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 October 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 3 November 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9840 by Mr Frank McAveety on 26 August 2004, which bodies and institutions are taking action in relation to the recommendations of the Committee of Experts on the application of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages as these relate to the Scots language; what initiatives are being taken forward, and how the performance of these initiatives will be measured and assessed by the Executive and its agencies.
Answer
The Executive is working to develop a national languages strategy to provide a framework for action in relation to Scots, as well as other languages. Along with other government departments, we shall report to the Council of Europe in June 2005 on progress to date. In addition to the Executive itself, bodies such as local authorities and cultural and educational public bodies all have a role to play. We particularly welcome initiatives from the Scottish Arts Council and Learning and Teaching Scotland in support of Scots.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 26 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce an interim measure prior to consultation on a permanent replacement for the Livestock Improvement Scheme to reassure crofters that there will be continuity of beef cattle production.
Answer
On 28 September 2004 my predecessor Allan Wilson announced the detailed arrangements for an interim scheme to provide grants and access to bull hire from the stud farm, to enable crofters to plan for the forthcoming season.
The relevant news release can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2004/09/28112646.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 21 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive when the single-crewing of ambulances will end.
Answer
Where the Scottish Ambulance Service assesses that an area should be served by an accident and emergency unit, then a double crewed unit is what should be provided. There may be occasions where, for example, a member of staff reports sick at short notice and the Service is unable to secure a relief member. In these circumstances a single-crewed unit may be used. Such cases should only arise in the most exceptional of circumstances. The Scottish Ambulance Service has been made aware that the Executive expects to see service improvement delivered to urban and rural areas of Scotland in equal measure and that there should be a reduction in the number of occasions when a single crewed ambulance is dispatched.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 18 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that local people and communities can benefit from ownership of the means to produce renewable energy.
Answer
We strongly support the principle of local communities benefiting from ownership of renewable energy developments. Highlands and Islands Enterprise is pioneering a scheme that will enable communities within its area to own or share in renewables developments. We are monitoring this closely and will consider whether it might be possible to extend the principle to other areas of Scotland.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 12 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reform the Land Court.
Answer
There are no plans to reform the Scottish Land Court. Its functions have been extended in relation to agricultural holdings and environmental designations and the Executive is proposing to do likewise in relation to crofting. The enhanced role of the court in these areas has been generally welcomed.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 6 October 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it had in respect of the formation of deer management groups.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has had no direct input in respect of the formation of deer management groups. This is a matter for individual estates to take forward with the Deer Commission for Scotland which is always available to offer advice on setting up such groups.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 20 September 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 30 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on having a fully-functioning health service in areas seeking to attract economic development.
Answer
The Scottish Executive believes it is important to have high quality health care available throughout Scotland.
- Asked by: Rob Gibson, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 August 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 3 September 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive why Her Majesty's Government's and its Scottish edition of the Preparing for Emergencies booklet is not available in Gaelic; when a Gaelic edition will be produced, and how it will be distributed.The member has provided the following Gaelic translation:A dh'fhaighneachd de Riaghaltas na h-Alba carson nach eil an riochd dhen leabhran a chaidh a dhhanamh leotha agus le Riaghaltas na Banrigh Preparing for Emergencies ri fhaighinn anns a' Gh`idhlig; agus a dh'fhaighneachd cuin a thhid riochd G`idhlig a dhhanamh, agus ciamar a thhid a sgaoileadh.
Answer
AScottish Gaelic edition of the booklet can be found on the Planning for Emergencieswebsite (
http://www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk).Copies can be downloaded from this site. Alternatively hard copies can be orderedthrough the Scottish Executive Central Enquiry Unit (Tel 08457 741 741).
the Scottish Executive has provided the following Gaelic translation:
Gheibhear tionndadh Gàidhligden leabhran air an làraich-lìn 'Ag Ullachadh airson Èiginn' (
http://www.preparingforemergencies.gov.uk).Faodar lethbhreacan a luchdachadh a-nuas bhon làraich seo air neo gheibhear iadair pàipear bho Phrìomh Aonad Fiosrachaidh Riaghaltas na h-Alba (Fòn 08457 741 741).
