- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 5 May 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the proposed withdrawal of cheques in 2018 might present security issues for older and housebound people.
Answer
The issue of withdrawal of cheques has not been raised with the Scottish Government in terms of potential impact on older or housebound people. However, we wait with interest to see the Payment Council''s alternative accessible method of payment which should meet users needs.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 5 May 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been made to it, and by what organisations, regarding the proposed withdrawal of cheques in 2018.
Answer
Scottish Government has not been made aware of any concerns on this issue by any organisations, consumers or businesses.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 5 May 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the proposed withdrawal of cheques in 2018 might have a detrimental impact on small businesses, in particular sole traders.
Answer
Scottish Government has not been made aware of any concerns by small businesses or sole traders on this issue.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 April 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 30 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 to take account of situations where dispensing GP practices in rural areas have no representation on their Area Pharmaceutical Committee and no account might be taken by it of the impact on a GP practice of the loss of dispensing income, as is the case with Newcastleton GP practice.
Answer
The National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 state that, when an application is made to a Health Board to open a community pharmacy in its area, its Area Pharmaceutical Committee and its Area Medical Committee must be notified, and that they may make written representations to that Board and their Pharmacy Practices Committee. It is the Pharmacy Practices Committee which considers such applications on behalf of the Board. As part of that process, GPs, including dispensing GPs, can make their views known through the Area Medical Committee.
It is not possible under the current legislative framework to allow a Health Board''s Pharmacy Practices Committee to take into account the financial effect on dispensing GP practices in cases where an application to open a pharmacy in the area is successful. This would require amendment to a number of pieces of legislation, including the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978. Our current consultation Review of the Control of Entry Arrangements, published on 22 March 2010, is looking at the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009. Any further views on these issues are welcome.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors payments from the International Development Fund.
Answer
Payments are monitored as part of the grant management process and are only released on satisfactory completion of required reports.
Details of these reports can be found at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/International-Relations/internationaldevelopment/idffundingguidance/malawidevprog/grantholder/Q/editmode/on/forceupdate/on.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 April 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17190 by Linda Fabiani on 20 November 2008, what the total expenditure from the International Development Fund has been since 21 November 2008.
Answer
The total expenditure from the International Development Fund from 20 November 2008 to date is £10,339,410.77. The breakdown is as follows:
International Development Fund Expenditure - 20 November 2008 to Date
| Organisation | Country | Expenditure |
| Active Learning Centre | Malawi | £63,669.00 |
| Active Learning Centre | Malawi | £38,500.00 |
| Adam Smith College | Malawi | £130,800.00 |
| Advance Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) | Malawi | £110,000.00 |
| British Red Cross | Haiti | £75,000.00 |
| Challenges Worldwide | Malawi | £20,743.00 |
| Christian Aid Scotland | Malawi | £102,800.00 |
| Christian Aid Scotland | Malawi | £134,690.00 |
| Christian Aid Scotland | Gaza | £85,000.00 |
| Christian Blind Mission (CBM) | Malawi | £75,800.00 |
| Christian Blind Mission (CBM) | Democratic Republic of Congo | £50,000.00 |
| Christian Blind Mission (CBM) | Gaza | £38,998.00 |
| Christian Blind Mission (CBM) | Haiti | £51,259.17 |
| Church of Scotland World Mission | Malawi | £265,405.00 |
| Coatbridge High School | Malawi | £50,000.00 |
| Commonwealth Local Government Forum | Malawi | £69,000.00 |
| Concern Worldwide | Malawi | £66,140.00 |
| Concern Worldwide | Rwanda | £266,960.00 |
| Concern Worldwide | Malawi | £200,500.00 |
| Concern Worldwide | Rwanda | £403,039.00 |
| Deaf Action | Malawi | £15,228.00 |
| Deaf Action | Malawi | £74,545.00 |
| Edinburgh Direct Aid | Gaza | £21,000.00 |
| Equal Exchange | Malawi | £38,500.00 |
| Equal Exchange | Malawi | £40,263.00 |
| Equal Exchange | Malawi | £60,778.00 |
| Equal Exchange | Malawi | £212,587.00 |
| Glasgow the Caring City | Gaza | £9,000.00 |
| Glasgow the Caring City | Haiti | £17,000.00 |
| Global Concerns Trust | Malawi | £13,450.00 |
| Global Concerns Trust | Malawi | £27,650.00 |
| Imani Enterprise | Malawi | £148,000.00 |
| Imani Enterprise | Malawi | £137,000.00 |
| International Network of Street Papers | Malawi | £36,700.00 |
| International Network of Street Papers | Malawi | £31,465.00 |
| Inverclyde Council Education Services | Malawi | £7,000.00 |
| Inverclyde Council Education Services | Malawi | £14,000.00 |
| Islamic Relief | Gaza | £75,000.00 |
| Link Community Development Project | Malawi | £207,251.00 |
| Link Community Development Scotland | Malawi | £24,654.00 |
| Macaulay Land Use Research Institute | Malawi | £143,415.00 |
| Macaulay Land Use Research Institute | Malawi | £92,858.00 |
| Malawi Tomorrow | Malawi | £40,567.00 |
| Malawi Tomorrow | Malawi | £19,358.00 |
| Medical Aid for Palestine | Gaza | £38,998.00 |
| Mercy Corps | Democratic Republic of Congo | £100,000.00 |
| Mercy Corps | Haiti | £75,000.00 |
| Mission Aviation Fellowship | Haiti | £51,580.00 |
| Moffat Centre | Malawi | £73,500.00 |
| Moffat Centre | Malawi | £46,290.00 |
| NIDOS | n/a | £57,833.00 |
| Opportunity International | Malawi | £250,635.00 |
| Opportunity International | Tanzania | £250,000.00 |
| Opportunity International | Tanzania | £400,000.00 |
| Opportunity International | Malawi | £100,905.00 |
| Oxfam Scotland | Haiti | £74,684.00 |
| Oxfam Scotland | Malawi | £112,150.00 |
| Oxfam Scotland | Gaza | £85,000.00 |
| Oxfam Scotland | Malawi | £260,682.00 |
| Save the Children | Haiti | £75,000.00 |
| Save the Children | Gaza | £75,000.00 |
| Scotland Malawi Business Group | Malawi | £84,466.00 |
| Scotland Malawi Business Group | Malawi | £12,835.00 |
| Scotland Malawi Business Group | Malawi | £91,647.00 |
| Scotland Malawi Business Group | Malawi | £47,337.00 |
| Scotland Malawi Partnership | n/a | £59,102.00 |
| Scotland''s Buddhist Vihara | Sri Lanka | £9,524.00 |
| Scottish Agricultural College | Malawi | £59,534.00 |
| Scottish Agricultural College | Malawi | £119,804.00 |
| Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund | Tanzania | £20,188.00 |
| Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund | Sudan | £35,000.00 |
| Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund | Zambia | £239,038.00 |
| Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund | Democratic Republic of Congo | £50,000.00 |
| Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund | Zambia | £403,005.00 |
| Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund | Tanzania | £20,187.00 |
| Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund | Haiti | £75,000.00 |
| Scottish Churches World Exchange | Malawi | £76,442.00 |
| Scottish Churches World Exchange | Malawi | £109,766.00 |
| Scottish Fairtrade Forum | n/a | £60,000.00 |
| Scottish Fairtrade Forum | n/a | £20,000.00 |
| Scottish International Relief | Malawi | £133,330.00 |
| Scottish International Relief | Haiti | £67,552.00 |
| Scottish International Relief | Malawi | £133,330.00 |
| Scottish Police College | Malawi | £20,427.00 |
| Scottish Police College | Malawi | £56,865.00 |
| Sense Scotland | Malawi | £34,937.00 |
| Stenhouse Primary School | Malawi | £63,500.00 |
| Stenhouse Primary School | Malawi | £42,100.00 |
| Tearfund Scotland | Malawi | £99,050.00 |
| Tearfund Scotland | Sudan | £100,000.00 |
| Tearfund Scotland | Malawi | £112,800.60 |
| Tearfund Scotland | Sudan | £450,000.00 |
| The INSP Foundation | Malawi | £28,300.00 |
| University of Edinburgh | Malawi | £79,320.00 |
| University of Edinburgh | Malawi | £187,492.00 |
| University of St Andrews | Malawi | £102,000.00 |
| University of St Andrews | Malawi | £82,000.00 |
| University of Stirling | Malawi | £241,100.00 |
| University of Strathclyde | Malawi | £60,904.00 |
| University of Strathclyde | Malawi | £121,209.00 |
| University of Strathclyde | Malawi | £63,193.00 |
| University of Strathclyde | Malawi | £46,331.00 |
| University of Strathclyde | Malawi | £33,014.00 |
| University of the West of Scotland | Malawi | £147,000.00 |
| Waverley Care | Malawi | £114,879.00 |
| Waverley Care | Malawi | £162,073.00 |
| Westgate Medical Practice | Malawi | £31,000.00 |
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 March 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24239 by Richard Lochhead on 5 June 2009 and in light of the UK Government’s consultation on the welfare of racing greyhounds, whether the Scottish Government will reconsider its decision on issuing regulations on the welfare of greyhounds and consult on this issue, given public concern as to the wellbeing of these dogs after their racing days are over.
Answer
The Scottish Government is aware of the UK Government''s consultation on the welfare of racing greyhounds but has no plans to introduce regulations which specifically deal with racing greyhounds in Scotland since no evidence has been presented indicating that there is a problem. The provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 are sufficient to ensure the welfare of these dogs and, in particular, section 24 makes it an offence for any person responsible for an animal to cause that animal unnecessary suffering by action or omission.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 March 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 25 March 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24922 by Richard Lochhead on 9 July 2009, whether the code of practice on the welfare of dogs has been issued and, if so, what the uptake has been.
Answer
The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs has just been published and printed copies have only been available since 18 March 2010, so it is too early to assess the degree of uptake. However, substantial numbers of copies have been requested by and distributed to major animal welfare organisations, including the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Copies have also been distributed to veterinary practices, local authorities and police forces in Scotland, to raise awareness.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 February 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Alex Neil on 23 February 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will report progress on its framework to tackle poverty and income inequality, Achieving our Potential.
Answer
A senior-level Tackling Poverty Board has been established by the Scottish Government and COSLA to review policy and practice to reduce poverty in Scotland in the light of the additional challenges and opportunities created by the economic downturn and the developing experience of the Scottish Government''s performance framework and concordat with local government. Monitoring progress against the commitments set out in
Achieving our Potential is part of the remit of the board. Papers associated with board meetings to date are published on the Scottish Government website at
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Social-Inclusion. These and future papers will cover the work of the group in reviewing evidence of progress on
Achieving our Potential.
In addition, the overview commentary of the 2008-09 Single Outcome Agreement Reports has been published at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/SOA/OverviewComm2008-09AnnRep and contains a number of references to progress in tackling poverty and income inequality.
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 December 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 15 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of the misuse of pesticides or poisons were reported to the authorities in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008 and have been in 2009.
Answer
A total of 198, 179 and 158 specimens were referred to the Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) operated by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture, a Division of the Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate of the Scottish Government in 2007, 2008 and 2009 to date, respectively. In 2007, from 198 specimens, 35 were identified as cases of pesticide abuse and three as misuse; in 2008, from 179 specimens, 23 were identified as cases of pesticide abuse and no cases of misuse were identified; in 2009, from 158 specimens, 36 were identified as cases of pesticide abuse and two as misuse.
Abuse of a pesticide is defined as a form of deliberate, illegal attempt to poison an animal. Misuse is defined as the careless, accidental or wilful failure to adhere to correct practice.
