Questions · Cathy Peattie

22 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will submit evidence to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s independent review of the postal services sector.

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13430 on 3 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

22 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has submitted evidence to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s independent review of the postal services sector.

Answer · Jim Mather: Following an invitation from John Hooper, Chair of the Independent Review of the Postal Services Sector on 13 March, the Scottish Government responded to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s review of the postal services sector on 2…

7 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has been undertaken with stakeholders, including passenger bodies, on the Edinburgh Glasgow Smartcard project referred to in the Scotrail franchise amendment agreement.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The option on Smartcard will be part of the consultation which will take place on the application of the funds secured through the franchise extension.

7 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who will pay for any additional rolling stock required as a consequence of the extension of the Scotrail franchise and to whom the rolling stock will belong.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is given in the ScotRail Franchise Amendment Agreement, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45544).

7 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it considers it necessary to rebrand Scotrail stations and rolling stock as Scottish Rail and why it is committing at least £15 million from public funds for this purpose.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is not rebranding to Scottish Rail nor is it committing £15 million from public funds. However, the Scottish Government are looking to create a new brand for Scotland''s railways that will improve its image at home and abroad …

7 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will decide which of the 28 priced options in the Scotrail franchise amendment agreement will be pursued.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The priced options contained within the ScotRail Franchise Amendment Agreement include a number which support the key aims of Scotland''s Railways. Some of these priced options have already been, or are about to be, implemented. Ministers will…

7 May 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements are required from the Scotrail franchise to benefit disabled people.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is given in the ScotRail Franchise Agreement, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37777).

24 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made to ensure continuity of fuel supply to essential users, such as hospitals and emergency services, as part of pandemic planning.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards and the Scottish Ambulance Service are designated as Category 1 responders under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, paragraph 2(1). As a consequence of that status, these organisations have a statutory obligation to maintain plans to ensure, so far …

11 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunities there will be for additional rail services or other enhancements to be negotiated for the duration of the extended Scotrail franchise and how it will consult on any such enhancements.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The franchise agreement as extended contains a variation mechanism which will allow enhancements, in addition to those secured at fixed price through the extension, to be negotiated at any time during the contract''s duration. Normal consultation processes wi…

11 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it was necessary for Transport Scotland to enter into negotiations over extending the Scotrail franchise less than half way through the current seven-year term.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the ministerial statement which can be found in column 7712 in the Official Report of Thursday 17 April 2008. The Official Report can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialRep…

11 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions were held with passenger bodies prior to Transport Scotland agreeing the extension to the Scotrail franchise.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the ministerial statement which can be found in column 7712 in the Official Report of Thursday 17 April 2008. The Official Report can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialRep…

11 Apr 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits the extension to the Scotrail franchise will bring for rail passengers.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the ministerial statement which can be found in column 7712 in the Official Report of Thursday 17 April 2008. The Official Report can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialRep…

23 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to develop the proposals in the national languages strategy.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8782 on 5 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

23 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to mark the UN’s International Year of Languages 2008, with particular reference to activities and events that promote and encourage the Scots language.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8782 on 5 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

23 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to apply the provisions of the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages to the Scots language.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Scots is a valuablepart of our cultural life. I am keen to see its use promoted in education, the artsand literature. For this reason I have asked for an audit of what measures are currentlyin place to promote the Scots language, and what opportunities exist …

23 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture has met representatives of Scottish Arts Council-supported Scots language organisations and, if not, when the minister plans to do so.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-8782 on 5 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

16 Jan 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will re-examine and report on the proposal for more funding for police recruitment, as specified in the Finance Committee¿s report on the budget, and at which areas of the budget it will look at to finance it.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: In November we published a draft budget that will make Scotland a moresuccessful, wealthier and fairer country.We are committed to working withParliament to deliver the budget, and that is exactly what the Scottish Governmenthas done over recent weeks …

28 Nov 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for continued support for Determined to Broadcast and other projects and programmes funded through the Determined to Succeed strategy.

Answer · Maureen Watt: We have confirmedour commitment to continued delivery of Determined to Succeed as part of the recentScottish Spending Review and are considering how best to take the strategy forward,taking into account our new relationship with local authorities. Our aim rem…

19 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been charged with fireworks offences in each of the last five years and, of these, how many have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted, specifying whether the charges involved (i) illegal purchase, (ii) illegal use or (iii) use as a weapon likely to cause human harm, …

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available informationis given in the following table. Information in relation to other offences whichinvolved the use of fireworks as a weapon is not identifiable within the availablestatistics. Statistics on persons charged by the police are not collecte…

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Scotland’s gross value added or gross domestic product was spent by local authorities on road and rail infrastructure in the last five years for which information is available and what the projections are for the subsequent five years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information inthe form requested is not available.

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Scotland’s gross value added or gross domestic product was spent on motorway and trunk and principal road infrastructure in the last five years for which information is available and what the projections are for the subsequent five years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Expenditure on motorwayand trunk road infrastructure and its relative proportion of gross value added isshown in the following table. The associated budget for 2007-08 is £377 million,budgets for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 were announced on the 14 Novembe…

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Scotland’s gross value added or gross domestic product was spent on road infrastructure in the last five years for which information is available and what the projections are for the subsequent five years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information inthe form requested is not available.

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Scotland’s gross value added or gross domestic product was spent on rail infrastructure in the last five years for which information is available and what the projections are for the subsequent five years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Railway Act 2005devolved greater responsibility for railways and rail transport in Scotland to Scottishministers therefore information is not held for prior years. In 2006-07 £536 millionwas spent on rail infrastructure in Scotland. The associatedbudget f…

17 Oct 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering changes to the arrangements for supplying home oxygen.

Answer · Shona Robison: I expect to receivea report before the end of November following an internal review of the presentdomiciliary oxygen service. The report will include possible options for changein the current arrangements.

10 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to emergency services on whether and when to contact other emergency services when dealing with a road traffic accident.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: None. This is an operationalmatter for individual Chief Constables, Chief Fire Officers and the Chief Executiveof the Scottish Ambulance Service.

10 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to 999 operators regarding the assessment of which emergency services are to be contacted, and the order in which they are to be contacted, in the event of a road traffic accident where the caller makes no specific request and is prompted.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Procedures for handling999 calls are agreed on a UK basis by the 999 Liaison Committee, whichcomprises representatives from call handling agents, telecommunications providersand relevant government departments. The agreed procedures are set out in the Codeof …

10 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance has been issued to 999 operators regarding which emergency services are to be contacted, and the order in which they are to be contacted, in the event of a road traffic accident where the caller specifies the services that they require.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Procedures for handling999 calls are agreed on a UK basis by the 999 Liaison Committee, whichcomprises representatives from call handling agents, telecommunications providersand relevant government departments. The agreed procedures are set out in the Codeof …

27 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to assess and improve the level of understanding of autism in schools.

Answer · Adam Ingram: On 31 October 2006, HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published theirreport on Education for Pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorders. This report(commissioned at the request of the Scottish ministers) evaluated and reported onthe educational provision …

27 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to monitor and reduce bullying of children with autism.

Answer · Adam Ingram: It is for local authoritiesto decide how incidents of bullying should be monitored and recorded.The Scottish Governmentis committed to preventing and tackling bullying whenever and wherever it arises,regardless of the motivation. To support this commit…

27 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to monitor and reduce the waiting times for educational support for children with autism.

Answer · Adam Ingram: No specific actionis being taken by the Scottish Executive to monitor the waiting times for educationalsupport for children with autism.However, under theEducation (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (the act), educationauthorities ar…