- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive how many spans of the Cromarty Bridge are being repaired under the trial refurbishment that started in July 2010 and what the expected (a) cost and (b) completion date is.
Answer
Under the current trial refurbishment contract, 4.5 spans of the Cromarty Bridge are being repaired, with an expected cost of £800,000. The trial contract is now scheduled for completion in spring 2011. Completion of the last phase of the works is scheduled for early April 2011 and is expected to last for six weeks.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 December 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 20 January 2011
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an assessment will be made of the cost of the (a) repairs and (b) construction of a replacement bridge before a commitment is made to undertake repairs to the Cromarty Bridge.
Answer
An assessment of these costs has already been made by our operating company, Scotland TranServ and presented to Transport Scotland. The estimated cost of the remaining repairs is approximately £21 million and the overall scheme cost of replacing the structure is approximately £100 million. A cost comparison can be made with the new Clackmannanshire Bridge, which had an approximate final cost of £120 million. Value for money has therefore been sought for Cromarty Bridge.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 2 December 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive when the improvements to the linear radiotherapy equipment at Raigmore Hospital will be completed.
Answer
Linear radiotherapy equipment at Raigmore hospital is not currently subject to improvement work. Work is underway, however, to facilitate the replacement of a linear accelerator (the machine used to deliver radiotherapy to patients) at Raigmore.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 22 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37331 by Richard Lochhead on 11 November 2010, whether it will publish any response that it receives from the UK Government.
Answer
I have not yet received a response to my letter of 8 November 2010. It is, however, not Scottish Government policy to publish exchanges of ministerial correspondence with the UK Government, particularly while matters are under active discussion.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 05 November 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the UK Government regarding its decision to decommission the Maritime and Coastguard emergency towing vehicles, Anglian Prince and Anglian Sovereign, in light of their role in protecting Scotland’s marine and coastal interests from maritime accidents.
Answer
I wrote to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport on 8 November 2010 requesting that the decision to withdraw funding for the emergency towing vessels (ETVs) stationed at Stornoway and Lerwick be reconsidered.
In doing so, I noted that in his 1994 report Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas, Lord Donaldson recommended that The UK Government should set up a system to ensure that tugs with adequate salvage capacity are available at key points around UK shores.
I have also highlighted that it is essential, if the decision to withdraw funding is to stand, that alternative arrangements are put in place to allow a seamless transfer of ETV coverage to alternative providers.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 October 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 November 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) timetable and (b) process is for considering the future of the C3 orthopaedics ward at the Raigmore Hospital by (i) NHS Highland and (ii) the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.
Answer
I understand that the Clinical Management Team at NHS Highland has been reviewing the overall bed usage within Raigmore Hospital, in conjunction with the relevant staff, to ensure that the bed complement continues to be safe and sustainable; remains compliant with infection control protocols and is as efficient as possible.
In terms of timing, I understand that further engagement is underway between management and staff on the proposals, and that the outcome of these discussions will inform the next steps and associated timeframe. Should any resulting proposals be considered major service change, they must be subject to formal public consultation and, ultimately, ministerial approval.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 September 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 October 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it gave to creameries in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10 and has given in 2010-11, broken down by (i) creamery, (ii) value of grant, (iii) purpose of grant and (iv) source of funding.
Answer
The requested information is provided in the following table:
| Company Name | Location | Project Description | Source of Funds | Grant Award (£) |
| 2008-09 | | | | |
| North Street Dairy | Forfar | Cream separator and butter churn | FPMC | 5,018 |
| Katy Rodger | Fintry | New creamery building and equipment for ice cream production. | FPMC | 77,939 |
| Cambus O''May Cheese Company | Torphins | Establishment of cheese making and maturing company. | FPMC | 187,958 |
| Cambus O''May Cheese Company | Torphins | Product development and quality system certification. | FPMC | 10,884 |
| Orkney Cheese Company Ltd | Orkney | Feasibility study to consider the introduction of whey processing. | FPMC | 16,000 |
| 2009-10 | | | | |
| Graham''s Dairies | Bridge of Allan | Extension to existing dairy building and installation of new production line. | FPMC | 184,246 |
| Mackies Ltd | Rothienorman | Purchase and installation of an automated integrated and packaging manufacturing system, together with additional items of processing and packing equipment. | FPMC | 362,293 |
| Arran Dairies Ltd | Brodick, Arran | Purchase and installation of a homogeniser. | FPMC | 7,125 |
| Millers Dairy | Carluke | Glass bottle testing facility. | FPMC | 39,014 |
| Alan Wilson and Son | Stanley | Purchase of larger vertical batch freezer and small potting machine. | FPMC | 17,070 |
| Scottish Milk Products Ltd | Campbeltown | Construction of new cheese creamery | Scottish Gover-nment | 3,931,800 |
Note: FPMC = Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation grant scheme (a measure within the Scotland Rural Development Programme).
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 September 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 10 September 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to take forward the conclusions of its consultation on high hedges and other nuisance vegetation.
Answer
I intend to inform elected members of the progress made so far at a briefing to be held in Parliament on 16 September 2010, at which all members are welcome.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 July 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 26 August 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive how much VisitScotland spent on (a) administration and (b) marketing in 2009-10.
Answer
VisitScotland''s audited accounts for 2009-10 are not yet available. They will be published later in the year, normally in November, when they are laid in Parliament.
According to the 2008-09 accounts which were prepared under UKGAP accounting standards:
(a) VisitScotland''s other operating costs for 2008-09 were £10.7million.
(b) VisitScotland''s commercial marketing activities costs for 2008-09 were £28.8million.
The published accounts for 2008-09 give more detail and are available at:
http://www.visitscotland.org/about_us/our_focus/annual_report.aspx.
- Asked by: John Farquhar Munro, MSP for Ross, Skye and Inverness West, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 30 July 2010
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 24 August 2010
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had discussions with the UK Government regarding the provision of financial support to people affected by contaminated blood and blood products.
Answer
The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including the provision of financial support to people affected by contaminated blood and blood products.
In late March 2010, I agreed with plans of the then UK Government, to bring forward a review of the UK Skipton Fund which had originally been scheduled for 2014. The Fund was set up in 2004 to make ex gratia payments to those similarly infected with hepatitis C. I understand that the new Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Public Health at the Department of Health, Anne Milton, MP, is currently considering this matter. The Scottish Government will play a part of any review of the Skipton Fund.
I will ensure that any such work will sit alongside that of the current Penrose Public Inquiry which is looking into the circumstances of hepatitis C/HIV acquired infection from NHS treatment in Scotland with blood and blood products.
