- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 26 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive which minister has responsibility for the operation of its Correspondence Unit.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17817.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16872 by Nicol Stephen on 22 August 2001, what advice it gives to local authorities with regard to budgeting for fees for schools for those with special educational needs.
Answer
The Executive does not provide such budgeting advice to local authorities.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 23 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 20 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it now has on the circumstances and chain of infection which lead to the first case of foot-and-mouth disease recorded in Dumfries and Galloway and whether it will make this information public.
Answer
The first case of foot-and-mouth disease in Dumfries and Galloway was confirmed on 1 March on the farm run by C M Kirkpatrick, Nether Place, Dryfesdale, Lockerbie. The infection has been traced to animals brought on to his premises from Longtown market. Information about all foot-and-mouth disease cases is recorded on the DEFRA website to which there is a link from the Scottish Executive website.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 19 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what security measures are in place to ensure that no genetically modified vaccines for animals are deliberately or accidentally used in Scotland without strict supervision.
Answer
Activities involving genetically modified micro-organisms are prohibited unless they comply with the Contained Use Regulations 2000 and relevant sections of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Applications must satisfy the regulatory authorities that the activity can be undertaken in conditions which are safe for humans and the environment.The prescribed conditions include the provision of risk assessments in relation to human health and safety and environmental protection; the establishment of a local safety committee to advise on risk assessments; classification of all activities into one of four categories related to the degree of risk; notification to the competent authority of an intention to use premises for genetic modification for the first time; notification to the competent authority of individual activities other than those defined as of no or negligible risk, and the preparation of an emergency plan for any reasonably foreseeable accident. Enforcement of the Contained Use Regulations is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive. Their inspectors have extensive powers to enter premises and to require the production of relevant documentation.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 19 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what research is being undertaken in Scotland on genetically modified vaccines for animals.
Answer
Research on genetically modified vaccines for animals is required to be notified to the Scottish Executive and the Health and Safety Executive under the Genetically Modified Organisms (Contained Use) Regulations 2000. No such activities covered by these regulations have been notified for Scotland. However, some research is being undertaken on immune systems that could eventually lead to the development of such vaccines.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 11 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures the Crown Office is taking to inquire fully into the reasons for, and lessons to be learned from, the halting on 25 July 2001 at the High Court of the prosecution for child sex abuse of six men.
Answer
The case was halted because one of the essential witnesses was deemed unfit to complete his evidence. The decision to do so was based upon an assessment by an experienced clinical psychologist. As is common in major cases, the Crown Office will consider whether any matters have arisen the further examination of which may be beneficial for future cases.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 11 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold a public inquiry into the decision to prosecute for child sex abuse six men, the case against whom was halted at the High Court on 25 July 2001.
Answer
No.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 11 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with (a) the Scottish Arts Council and (b) Scottish Ballet regarding any proposed change of role for Scottish Ballet.
Answer
The Executive has been in close touch with the company and the Scottish Arts Council in respect of recent events.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 10 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that the role of Scottish Ballet does not change without a debate involving all interested parties and a discussion of the issue in the Parliament.
Answer
I have asked the Scottish Arts Council to ensure that Scottish Ballet consults widely and that Scottish Ballet's plans are consistent with the overall five-year strategy for dance that the Scottish Arts Council is currently developing.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 10 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital beds there were in each hospital in the Clydesdale parliamentary constituency in 2000, how many there are currently and how many of these are or were designated for elderly or geriatric patients.
Answer
This is an operational matter for the NHS in Lanarkshire Health Board. I have, therefore, asked the Chief Executive of the Lanarkshire Health Board to write to you with the details you have soughtrequested. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
