Jim Wallace: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the official visits made by Scottish ministers to Orkney since the inception of the Parliament.
Jim Wallace: Deputy Speaker, this has been a lively debate—one might think that an election was in the offing. I am delighted to wind up for the Liberal Democrats in support of a motion that expressly encourages me to set out the Liberal Democrat position. I thank Margaret Curran for her generosity in conceding time to me to make what will be my last speech in the Parliament, eight years after being...
Jim Wallace: Of course we take part. I have sat at European Council of Ministers meetings articulating a Scottish case on justice matters. By all means, let us make a case for the union on the grounds of a stronger economy and securing greater influence on foreign policy. Let us not do it by pandering to and fostering a dependency culture. Let us also make a simple case for Britain, in keeping united a...
Jim Wallace: I am concluding. While we examine Scotland's relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom, we should not lose sight of the principle that many of us articulated in the run-up to devolution in 1999—that devolved government does not stop at Edinburgh. The reformed electoral system offers a fresh opportunity to build the parity of esteem between the Scottish Parliament and our councils...
Jim Wallace: To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Scottish Natural Heritage regarding levels of compensation paid under management agreements following the introduction of the single farm payment. (S2O-12396)
Jim Wallace: The minister will acknowledge that I have been in correspondence with her and her predecessor for some time about this matter. Indeed, we are dealing with farmers whose management agreements are up for review or, in some cases, renewal. They are the very people who were pioneering in accepting management agreements over land designated as sites of special scientific interest. Does the...
Jim Wallace: Does the First Minister agree that, regardless of what view one takes on nuclear weapons, they are a serious issue that should not be reduced to constitutional point scoring? Will the First Minister acknowledge that, in the House of Commons last night, Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the rush to replace Trident and spend £20 billion? When he meets the Prime Minister tomorrow, will he ask...
Jim Wallace: I am grateful to Mr Aitken for explaining the dilemma that he is in with procedures. However, before we vote on the amendments in his name, will he tell us whether he actually believes in them?
Jim Wallace: To ask the Scottish Executive how many GP practices had not concluded negotiations for a Section 17C Primary Medical Services contract at 1 March 2007, broken down by NHS board.
Jim Wallace: To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid in aggregate external finance (AEF) to Orkney Islands Council in each year since 1987-88 (a) in actual terms and (b) at 1987 prices.
Jim Wallace: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18734 by Mr Andy Kerr on 26 September 2005, what the activity levels of each NHS board were, expressed (a) in per capita spend and (b) by population share in (i) 2004-05 and (ii) 2005-06.
Jim Wallace: Does the minister agree that the United States Food and Drug Administration sets some of the highest tests for drugs to get through? It has unanimously supported the prescription of Tysabri. Does not that add weight to the call for it to be allowed in Scotland?
Jim Wallace: It certainly does not seem that the courts are overflowing with prosecutions of this nature. Is that because the current law is being obeyed meticulously the length and breadth of Scotland or, as we suspect, because people are not being caught? Would it not be better to try to enforce the current law before embarking on raising the age for buying tobacco?
Jim Wallace: In December 2005, the Parliament agreed to a motion on the issue, which I think the minister supported and which I seem to recall encouraged more of a joint approach between Scottish ministers and the UK Government. Will the minister give us a flavour of those discussions, and tell us when they last took place?
Jim Wallace: To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken in relation to the use of short-term funding initiatives and the subsequent mainstreaming of such funded activities.
Jim Wallace: First, I congratulate the Scottish National Party on bringing this motion before Parliament today and giving us such an early opportunity to welcome the announcement by Nicol Stephen and the Executive of the £13 million investment in marine renewables, much of the activity of which will be focused on my Orkney constituency. Of course, the Executive's contribution to renewables does not stop...
Jim Wallace: To ask the Scottish Executive how much each of its departments allocated to voluntary bodies, including sums channelled through local authorities, in each year from 1999-2000 to 2005-06.
Jim Wallace: To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the delivery of care services for elderly people in Orkney. (S2O-12019)
Jim Wallace: I am sure that at our meeting on 20 December the minister got the full flavour of the challenges and difficulties that the council faces in the context of the islands' fast-rising elderly population. As a result of the meeting, the council agreed to consider seeking the assistance of the joint improvement team in establishing a managed care network. In return, the Executive agreed to consider...
Jim Wallace: To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals in (a) Orkney and (b) the rest of the Highlands and Islands were registered under the Air Discount Scheme at 1 January 2007.