- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 21 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met NHS Highland and what issues were discussed.
Answer
I meet regularly with all NHS chairs to discuss matters of importance to health and the NHS in Scotland, most recently on 28 January. Health officials are also in regular contact with NHS Highland about a range of matters. The Minister for Public Health also met with the senior team of NHS Highland on 21 August last year when she chaired the board''s annual review. The board''s performance on key national health targets including health improvement, efficiency, waiting times and cancer care were discussed.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 18 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the life expectancy was for (a) men and (b) women in (i) Orkney and (ii) Scotland in the last year for which figures are available.
Answer
Life expectancy figures are normally calculated for a three-year period, to provide large enough numbers to ensure accuracy.
The latest life expectancy estimates area as follows:
(i) Life expectancy at birth for males living in Orkney between 2004-06 was 76 years and for females it was 81 years.
(ii) Life expectancy at birth for males living in Scotland between 2004-06 was 74.6 years and for females it was 79.6 years.
These figures, along with life expectancy information for all council and NHS board areas, are available from the General Register Office for Scotland website through the following link:
http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/life-expectancy/life-expectancy-for-administrative-areas-2004-2006/index.html.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 4 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to market the quality of river and loch angling in the highlands and islands as part of Scotland’s tourism industry.
Answer
VisitScotland is responsiblefor promoting Scotland to potential tourists. The marketing aimedat fishing, which focuses on thequality of the wonderful fishing experience that is available in Scotland, is not specifically aimed at particular regions butpromotes the whole of Scotland according to types of fishing, of which angling isone of the most popular.
VisitScotland hasdeveloped a website (www.visitscotland.com/fish)that provides information on where to fish, what to bring and when to come for thebest chance of success. There is also information on permit availability for nearlyall of the main lochs and rivers in Scotland; some of whichmay be booked online. The information is divided into types of fishing rather thanlocations but does provide a regional listing of quality accommodation for visitors,making it easier for them to visit and book. VisitScotland has also produced anannual brochure on angling in Scotland that is mailed to over 30,000 people on theirdatabase with an interest in fishing.
In March, April andMay this year, VisitScotland will be promoting the quality of Scotland’s angling and fishing industry with full-page advertisementsin several specialised fishing magazines.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 29 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to open up access to all inland waters in Scotland.
Answer
Fishing rights are held as privateheritable titles and access is, therefore, controlled by the fishery owner. A draftStrategic Framework for Scottish Freshwater Fisheries was published for consultationin September 2007, with a closing date for responses of 4 January 2008. Amongthe priorities for action contained within the proposals are examination of accessand protection issues, promotion of angling in Scotland and broadening social inclusionin the sport.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 29 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to reverse the decline in west coast sea trout numbers.
Answer
The Scottish Government has forsome time recognised the concerns about declining sea trout catches on the westcoast. Through our agency, Fisheries Research Services, the Shieldaig Sea TroutProject was set up in 1998 to address these issues. The project operates in partnershipwith the Loch Torridon Area Management Group, part of the Scottish Government’sTripartite Working Group, to identify the causes of the decline in sea trout numberson the west coast. The causes are likely to be complex and multi-factorial. Theproject is currently developing and testing restoration techniques. Improvementsin marine survival have continued, and results from the Shieldaig Sea Trout Projectfor 2006-07 saw increased numbers of mature fish returning to spawn.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Kenny MacAskill on 29 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any criminal prosecutions as a result of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 and, if so, how many.
Answer
The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries(Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 came into force on 1 April 2005. Threepersons were proceeded against in Scottish courts for offences under this act in2005-06, the latest year for which data are available.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 25 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what technical or administrative problems have led to cases due to be dealt with at Inverness Sheriff Court being held elsewhere.
Answer
I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8552 on 25 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 25 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total costs were for the use of other premises to stage cases that should have proceeded at Inverness Sheriff Court in each of the last three years.
Answer
I refer the member to answerto question S3W-8552 on 25 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 25 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers Inverness Sheriff Court to be fit for purpose.
Answer
Inverness Sheriff Court has been progressively modernised over the years andcontinues to be fit for purpose. Following Court Unification the Scottish CourtService will acquire part of the North Tower adjacent to Inverness Sheriff Court and will programme refurbishmentwork to ensure our courts continue to be fit for purpose.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 January 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 25 January 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any cases due to be held in Inverness Sheriff Court but held elsewhere have caused other cases to be delayed and, if so, how many.
Answer
I refer the member to the answerto question S3W-8552 on 25 January 2008. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.