- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 11 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government to ensure that Longannet coal mine receives maximum support from the investment grant as announced by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 17 April 2000.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has maintained close contact with the UK Government to press the case for Longannet mine ever since the possibility of operating aid being made available to the UK mining industry was raised. I understand that Mining Scotland, the mine's owners, has informed the Department of Trade and Industry of its intention to apply for operating aid in respect of the mine once such support becomes available and I will continue to press the case for deep mining in Scotland.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 4 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects Hyundai to begin production at its Dunfermline site and, if there is no expected date for production to begin, whether it or Scottish Enterprise has been in discussion with any other potential operators.
Answer
On 20 April 2000 the Scottish Executive and Scottish Enterprise welcomed the announcement that Motorola is to invest £1.3 billion in a state of the art project to be situated at the manufacturing facility in Dunfermline, acquired from Hyundai.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 13 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for a hernia operation in the Fife Health Board Area.
Answer
The latest information available for the median waiting time for Fife residents admitted routinely from the waiting list for a hernia operation during the 12 month period to 31 December 1999 was 112 days.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 21 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction there has been in the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill sites in each year since 1995, broken down by local authority.
Answer
The proportion of biodegradable material in wastes going to landfill varies according to the source and the time of year. The information requested is not available for all local authorities, although some authorities have carried out sampling exercises. I intend shortly to publish a report of recent research commissioned jointly by the Executive and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to collect waste management data for 1997 and 1998. This will include a summary of the sampling information provided by local authorities.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 16 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how much land and property Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies have sold or disposed of since May 1997; what was the total monetary worth of the sales or disposals, and which government departments have been in receipt of the revenues raised from the sales or disposals.
Answer
Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies have sold 796 acres of land and 1,158,000 sq ft of buildings during the period from April 1997 to the end of February 2000.These sales realised income of £62.148 million. Each year Scottish Enterprise is set a gross expenditure budget. This gross figure represents the maximum expenditure Scottish Enterprise may incur in the financial year. Receipts from the sale of land and property contribute towards this overall gross figure.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 9 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning will reply to my letter of 3 November 1999 and reminder of 20 January 2000 regarding student finance.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no record of Mr Crawford's letter of 3 November 1999 or his reminder of 20 January 2000. However, if the Member cares to send my office another copy, I shall ensure that it receives immediate attention.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 9 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial help is available to disabled students who do not meet the eligibility criteria for "Disabled Students Allowance" because, due to their disability, they have to take the fourteen-month, two-day course, as opposed to the full-time HNC course in social care.
Answer
As from academic session 1999-2000, Disabled Student Allowance was extended to part-time students undertaking the equivalent of 50% or more of equivalent full time courses. Students on the fourteen-month, two-day social care course should therefore qualify for assistance. However, the rules are complex and students should approach the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for advice on their individual circumstances.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what research there has been to determine whether prions can be transferred from contaminated condensate effluent to cattle via plants or vegetation, when the research was conducted, by whom, what the results of this research were and whether these results are available to the public.
Answer
The Executive is not aware of any research in this specific area.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive to which farms, opencast sites, forestry sites or other sites in Scotland the condensate effluent from the Mammalian Rendering Plant in Staffordshire was brought, which contractor bought it, and which contractor was responsible for spreading it at these sites.
Answer
I refer to the answer given to question S1W-4627.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 7 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive to which Scottish sites the condensate effluent from rendering plants in the UK and Northern Ireland associated with the BSE cattle cull, including the over thirty months scheme, has been brought.
Answer
The Executive is not aware of any condensate effluent from rendering plants elsewhere in the UK being transported to Scotland for disposal. Enforcement of the relevant statutory controls is a matter for the appropriate local authority.
