- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 24 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive when the exemption list for NHS prescription charges was last amended and how many times it has been reviewed in the subsequent period.
Answer
The criteria for exemption fromNHS prescription charges fall into three main categories. The list of chronic medicalconditions that confer exemption from prescription charges was agreed with the medicalprofession in 1968. In the intervening period there has been no consensus for change.For exemption on financial grounds the schemes that either enable or passport exemptionstatus are subject to annual review, as are the thresholds or monetary amounts atwhich exemption is triggered. The only amendment to exemption on age grounds wasin October 1995 when the age exemption for men was reduced from 65 to 60.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 24 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimated date is for reopening the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line.
Answer
We expect services to be operationalon the re-opened line in 2010.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 24 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the Sustainable Development Commission’s latest publication, The role of nuclear power in a low carbon economy, particularly with reference to its finding that there are no long term-solutions to the disposal of waste, and what impact this will have on the Executive’s stated position that it opposes the construction of new nuclear power stations in Scotland until the issue of waste management has been resolved.
Answer
The Executive is aware of theSustainable Development Commission’s latest publication on nuclear power.
The Scottish Executive positionon nuclear power remains that we will not support the construction of new nuclearpower stations while waste management issues remain unresolved.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 24 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with Her Majesty’s Government the results of any inquiries it has had in respect of reported co-operation with US rendition operations being illegal to establish whether there are any links between these reports and the allegations that US agencies have used Scottish airports as refuelling stops for flights engaged in the process of “extraordinary rendition”, in light of a report in the Guardian on 21 January 2006 that a briefing paper sent by the Foreign Office to the Prime Minister’s Office suggested that Her Majesty's Government should be making such inquiries.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23994 on 16 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 24 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met representatives of the human rights group, Liberty, or plans to meet them, in respect of the allegations that US agencies have used Scottish airports as refuelling stops for flights engaged in the process of “extraordinary rendition”.
Answer
I have no plans for such a meeting.The Scottish Executive has not approved and will not approve a policy facilitatingthe transfer of individuals through Scottish Territory or airspace to places wherethere are substantial grounds to believe they would face a real risk of torture.The Scottish Executive is not aware of any credible and reliable information tosupport allegations that Scottish airports are being used for such transfers.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 24 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what the veracity is of the report in the Sunday Mail on 26 February 2006 that the Minister for Justice has pledged in an address to the Labour Party’s Scottish conference to stop Scottish airports being used to facilitate the process of “extraordinary rendition” by US agencies and, if the report is accurate, how the Executive will achieve this.
Answer
What I said on thesubject of rendition at the Labour Party’s Scottish Conference was as follows:“On rendition flights. I would like to thank Glasgow Central Constituency and TSSAfor bringing forward the resolution this morning. Serious allegations have beenmade, and I understand why people are concerned. Let me be very clear - torturein any form is not only abhorrent it is also illegal, and that is properly a matterfor the police and the courts. We have made it clear that along with our Westminster colleagues we will co-operate with the variousinquiries that are currently being undertaken.” I have nothing to add to that.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 24 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to implement the Declaration of the European Parliament on the Charter of Rights for People with Autism, as adopted by the European Parliament on 9 May 1996, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.
Answer
The European Charter for peoplewith autism is based on the principle that people with autism spectrum disordersshould share the same rights and privileges enjoyed by all of the European populationwhere such are appropriate and in the best interests of the person with autism.This principle underpins the Scottish Executive’s work to implement the recommendationsfrom the Public Health Institute of Scotland’s Needs Assessment Report for peoplewith autism spectrum disorders.
A number of rights outlined inthe European Charter relate to freedom from abuse, neglect, exploitation or coercion.The proposals in the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Billaim to safeguard these rights.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 24 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21577 by Cathy Jamieson on 22 December 2005, whether it is unaware of evidence to support allegations that the flights in question have involved any criminal activities due to a lack of police investigation into torture flights in the first instance and how the Executive would become aware of such evidence without a police investigation.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23994 on 16 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 23 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Lord Advocate provides advice to its Cabinet on political as well as legal matters and whether he has done so in the past.
Answer
The Lord Advocate provides legaladvice to the Scottish Cabinet where it is sought. He does not provide advice onpolitical matters.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 23 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22463 by Patricia Ferguson on 30 January 2006, who represents each of these organisations on the Scottish Steering Group for London 2012; what the level of remuneration is for each individual for their work as a member of Group, and whether they are members by virtue of the organisation they represent or for their own qualities that they will bring to the role.
Answer
Membership of the Scottish Steering Group for London 2012 is in the following table:
| Julie Bracewell (Chair) | sportscotland | Appointed by Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport |
| Jane Cook | Scottish Enterprise | Identified by organisation represented |
| Malcolm Roughead | VisitScotland | Identified by organisation represented |
| David Williams | Event Scotland | Identified by organisation represented |
| Jim Tough | Scottish Arts Council | Identified by organisation represented |
| Rod Stone | COSLA | Identified by organisation represented |
| Ewan Angus | BBC Scotland | Identified by organisation represented |
| George Thomson | Volunteer Development Scotland | Identified by organisation represented |
| Colette Cunningham | CBI Scotland | Identified by organisation represented |
| Liz Cameron | Scottish Chambers of Commerce | Identified by organisation represented |
| Roy Jobson | ADES | Identified by organisation represented |
| Mike Haggerty | Scottish Qualifications Authority | Identified by Scottish Steering Group |
| Richard Brickley | Scottish Disability Sport | Identified by Scottish Steering Group |
Members do not receiveremuneration from the Scottish Executivefor their work as a member of the group.
