Parliamentary questions
Margaret Smith
931 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to create a state fund to pay immediate court-based compensation awards to victims.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Governmenthas no plans to create such a fund.</p>
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it is giving to the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland to move from its present site to its proposed new location.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Governmenthas worked in partnership with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothianand the City of Edinburgh Council to conduct a site search exercise followedby a feasibility study …
23 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide direct funding to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland for the modernisation of Edinburgh Zoo in its current location.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Edinburgh Zoo is owned and operated by the Royal ZoologicalSociety of Scotland. The society is not funded by the Scottish Government.</p>
10 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of Transport Scotland’s report on the condition of the existing Forth Road Bridge, whether it is satisfied that the Bridge Master and Forth Estuary Transport Authority can reassure the travelling public that they have taken all current bridge defects into account in calculating …
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: FETA is responsiblefor assessing the overall condition of the bridge and determining whether it isfit for purpose.</p><p>The Scottish Governmentundertook a technical audit of FETA’s inspection and assessment of the main cablesand concurred with the findings. …
28 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with figures contained in the promoter’s written response to the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Bill Committee on alternative options (PROM (P) 1H) with regard to the de-congestion benefits, patronage levels, economic benefits and loss of revenues involved in alternative op…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The promoter’s previouswritten response was concerned with alternative options which did not include integrationwith the tram as is now being proposed. The new proposal costs a third of the costof the EARL scheme and the Gogar station will enjoy the same leve…
28 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what land acquisition measures will be undertaken as part of its proposed new Edinburgh Airport rail link.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The land needed forthe tram route to the airport will be acquired using the recently passed EdinburghTram Act. Any further land needed for the interchange at Gogar will be acquiredusing normal processes which may include the use of the new Transport and Works…
28 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the modal shift figures are for people travelling to Edinburgh Airport under its proposed new Edinburgh Airport rail link.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No specific assessmenton modal shift from cars has been carried out at this time for the Gogar stationproposal.</p><p>The new Gogar stationand its connection with the tram is part of a rolling programme of works known as“Package C3”. This package of works inc…
28 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how its proposed new Edinburgh Airport rail link will impact on the road capacity at the Gogar roundabout and Maybury junction.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The proposal willencourage the use of both the heavy rail and light rail network instead of the roadnetwork.</p>
28 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when trains on the Edinburgh to Glasgow line will be able to stop at Edinburgh Park as part of its proposed new Edinburgh Airport rail link.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: An interchange withthe Edinburgh tram at Edinburgh Park and the new station at Gogar will be in placeto coincide with the completion of the tram in 2011, improving public transportconnections to both Edinburgh airport and the growing economic area to thewest …
28 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many car journeys it is estimated will no longer be undertaken as a result of its proposed new Edinburgh Airport rail link.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No specific assessmenton modal shift from cars has been carried out at this time for the Gogar stationproposal.</p><p>The new Gogar stationand its connection with the tram is part of a rolling programme of works known as“Package C3”. This package of works inc…
28 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation has been undertaken with the City of Edinburgh Council on the likely impact on the trams scheme of its proposed new Edinburgh Airport rail link.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Officials from TransportScotland discussed the emerging conclusions of theEdinburgh to Glasgow Rail Improvements work with theCity of Edinburgh Council including the proposed integration of thetram and rail network. More detailed discussions will now take pla…
12 Sep 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on the Delivering Care, Enabling Health strategy.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: <i>Delivering Care,Enabling health</i> is the keydelivery and outcome evaluation mechanism for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied HealthProfessionals in Scotland. The strategy document contained a 26 pointaction plan to be taken forward by NHS Scotland, higher edu…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S3O-476 by Kenny MacAskill on 6 September 2007 (Official Report c. 1151), what target it has for the number of police officers it wishes to retain who were expected to leave active service from 2007 to 2011.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-4212 on 20 September 2007. 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/…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the first supplementary to question S3O-476 by Kenny MacAskill on 6 September 2007 (Official Report c. 1151), how many of the 1,000 additional police officers promised in the SNP manifesto will be (a) new recruits or (b) as a result of retaining serving police of…
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Deliveringadditional policing capacity will require a co-ordinated, carefully planned andinnovative approach. We are developing our plans to deliver this commitment, andintend to publish them in due course.</p>
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers are projected to leave active service from 2007 to 2011.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Approximately 2,250police officers are eligible to retire with full pension rights between 2007 and2011. However, some officers will choose to remain within the police service andothers will leave the service before attaining 30 years service.</p><p>We want t…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1050 by Kenny MacAskill on 14 June 2007, when it will seek the Parliament’s views on the most effective way to implement the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Governmentis considering how best to deliver the custodial sentences elements of the 2007act within our overall objective of a coherent penal policy.</p><p>I announced at thedebate on Penal Policy on Thursday 20 September that I am setting up an …
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to implementing the Custodial Sentences and Weapons (Scotland) Act 2007.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish ministershave made the first Commencement Order under the 2007 act, bringing into forceprovisions relating to knife dealers’ licences, offensive weapons, swords and crossbowsand establishing a new offence of having offensive weapons in prison. Th…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would be of increasing the number of police officers by (a) 500, (b) 1,000 and (c) 1,500 and what the increase in size of each force would be under an equitable distribution of such increases.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Theaverage cost of employing police officers within Scottish police forces is:</p><p>Around£20 million per year for 500 officers.</p><p>Around£40 million per year for 1,000 officers.</p><p>Around£60 million per year for 1,500 officers.</p><p>Thefollowing tabl…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional police officers it expects to be recruited in each year from 2007 to 2011.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Thisinformation is not held centrally.</p><p>Wewill continue to work with the Scottish Police College and Forces to ensure appropriaterecruitment and retention levels.</p>
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional police officers it expects to be recruited in 2007-08.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Recruitmentis a matter for individual Chief Constables. Currently, projections are foraround 550 recruits to complete their induction training at the Scottish Police College during 2007-08.</p>
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to introduce hate crime legislation to protect disabled people and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as promised in the SNP manifesto.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-254 on 6 June 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website the searchfacility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search…
10 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to expanding hate crime legislation.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-254 on 6 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search…
27 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what average distances prisoners travelled in prisoner transport vehicles (a) while on remand and (b) post-sentence in the last 12 months.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:</p><p>This information isnot available.</p>
27 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoner transport vehicles have seat belts for prisoners.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>Reliance CustodialServices cellular vehicles are not fitted with seat belts. They also have six non-cellularvehicles and these are fitte…
27 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the merits of introducing compulsory seat belts in prisoner transport vehicles for prisoners in transit.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:</p><p>Reliance CustodialServices’ view is that the fitting of seat belts in celluar vehicles would havethe potential to provide ligature points which…
27 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents involving prisoner transport vehicles have occurred in each of the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:</p><p>The information isas follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=72 valign=top> <p align=center>Year</…
27 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents in the last five years have involved prisoner transport vehicles operated by private companies.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:</p><p>Responsibility forescorting prisoners was contracted to Reliance Custodial Services in April 2004.There have been 54 Road Traffic Accidents sin…
27 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many accidents involving prisoner transport vehicles have resulted in (a) injury, (b) serious injury and (c) fatality to prisoners in the last five years.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked MikeEwart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response isas follows:</p><p>Two prisoners receivedminor injuries following accidents in 2003-04. Responsibility for the escortingof prisoners was contracted out to Relianc…
27 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of conviction for rape cases was in each of the eight parliamentary regions in the last year for which information is available.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available statisticson recorded crime and court proceedings cannot be combined in a meaningful way toderive rates of conviction for a number of reasons. The recorded crime figures arecollected in the form of aggregate data and it is not therefore possible…
27 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of rape cases resulted in a conviction in the last year for which information is available.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available statisticson recorded crime and court proceedings cannot be combined in a meaningful way toderive a percentage rate of conviction for a number of reasons. The recorded crimefigures are derived from aggregate data and it is not therefore possible…