Parliamentary questions

Shiona Baird

294 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

1 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in relation to the proposed re-opening of Laurencekirk station and when it anticipates that construction work will begin.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We are currently assessing thefinal feasibility study, giving the costs and benefits of the re-opening of Laurencekirkstation. I hope to be able to make a decision before the end of the year.

1 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will cross the Old Deeside Railway line and, if so, what action will be taken to ensure that the line will remain capable of supporting the future railway service to and from a re-opened Banchory station.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will pass beneath the former Deeside Railway line,allowing the future provision of a suitable bridge.

1 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether draft road orders with specific reference to the finalised, rather than indicative, route will be published in respect of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route before full public consultation has been carried out.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Draft road orders will be publishedshowing the final route proposals. The public consultation, as required by statute,will commence on the date of publication of the draft orders.

1 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when its response to the consultation on Review of Access Criteria for Infertility Services in Scotland is expected to be published.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We are currently consideringresponses received to the review. Further areas of work have been identifiedand are on-going, and we hope to publish a final report and draftrecommendations in 2007.

24 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what public consultation was carried out in relation to the route chosen by the Minister for Transport for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route prior to the final decision being announced in December 2005.

Answer · Tavish Scott: An extensive informal publicconsultation exercise was carried out between 10 March 2005 and 29 April 2005 includinga series of exhibitions at various locations throughout the North East of Scotland.Over 7,600 responses were received which helped inform the de…

24 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on preparatory works, including engineering, surveying, drilling and other associated costs, in respect of the proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route since the announcement of the chosen route in December 2005.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Since the announcement on 1 December 2005, approximately£5.6 million has been spent on preparatory works for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.Transport Scotland hasoperational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information…

24 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money was spent on (a) public consultation and (b) preparatory works, including engineering, surveying, drilling and other associated costs, in respect of each of the original five route options which were proposed and consulted on in relation to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral R…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The information is not availablein the breakdown requested. The total spend on preparatory work on the project from2003 until 1 December 2005 was approximately £10.8 million.Transport Scotland hasoperational responsibility for this area, and can be con…

20 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions in respect of the sustainability of raw materials have been attached to the grant of £9 million to the INEOS Enterprises biofuels plant in Grangemouth, in particular whether the Regional Selective Assistance from the Executive prohibits the company from using palm oil from…

Answer · Allan Wilson: I understand that it is the company’sintention to use rape seed oil supplemented with soya oil for its raw materialsbut this is not a specific condition of grant (Regional Selective Assistance – RSA)support. RSA is available to support business investment to …

10 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what further steps are being taken to ensure that recyclate markets are developed in Scotland and, in particular, what involvement Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have in such activities.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish Enterprise providesa range of support to recycling. This support includes using recycled material andcompost in construction and regeneration projects; signposting businesses to servicesoffered by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and R…

10 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether recyclers based in Scotland are still dependent on recyclate markets based in the rest of the United Kingdom or abroad.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The location of markets for recycledmaterial differs depending on the type of material. Organic material (such as gardenor green waste) is very likely to undergo reprocessing in Scotland (to turn it intocompost) as the heavy nature of the material makes it un…

10 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what increased capacity has been developed in the recyclate market in the last three to four years, through its funding for Remade and WRAP, in response to the increased amount of material being collected by local authorities and community groups.

Answer · Ross Finnie: WRAP’s Capital Grant Scheme hassupported, or is in final negotiations to support, 42 projects in Scotland coveringa range of materials including glass, paper, aggregates, garden and food waste,plastic and wood. It has also supported eight assets which will be…

26 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recent concerns expressed by the paper and aluminium industries about the quality of recyclable material being sent for reprocessing, what steps it is taking to ensure that the quality of recyclate is not being compromised in any attempt to increase the quantity of recyclable…

Answer · Ross Finnie: We are taking action in a numberof areas to ensure that the quality of recyclate is not being compromised.First of all, Strategic WasteFund awards to local authorities have included provision for education and awareness,to support local Waste Aware Sco…

20 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that Renewable Devices’ Swift Rooftop Wind Energy System is not available in Scotland through the exclusive distributors Scottish and Southern Energy.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Swift system has been installedin a number of locations with support from the Scottish Community and HouseholderRenewables Initiative. I understand that refinements have been made to the systemand that it is currently being monitored in a number of locati…

16 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to allow public sector bodies to have access to information on the energy performance of buildings gained through the provision of energy performance certificates and how this will be achieved.

Answer · Johann Lamont: A public consultation on implementationof Articles 7, 8 and 9 of the EU Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performanceof buildings closed on 11 August 2006 having run for 12 weeks. Section 9 of the consultationentitled Retaining and making use of in…

16 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many developments of 1,000 square metres of floor space or greater have been granted planning permission in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Johann Lamont: The following table shows thenumber of developments which are 1,000 square metres or greater that have been grantedplanning permission over the last five years. These figures include business, industryand all other major developments.<table border=1 cells…

21 Jul 2006 · Written Question

Answer · Nicol Stephen: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise.

21 Jul 2006 · Written Question

Answer · Nicol Stephen: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise.

21 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria Scottish Enterprise applies in allocating funding to energy saving developments.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise.

21 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how Scottish Enterprise invests in energy saving developments.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive’s strategicdirection to Scottish Enterprise requires it to help deliver the ScottishExecutive’s green jobs strategy, with its twin aims of improving resourceefficiency in business and exploiting new business opportunities.Information on S…

29 Jun 2006 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body when information leaflets about the Parliament’s public crèche service will be available for MSPs’ wider constituency use.

Answer · Duncan McNeil: An information leaflet is currently produced by Kidcare and is available from the crèche or the Main Hall of the Scottish Parliament.The SPCB approved a promotional plan for the crèche on 9 May 9 2006. This includes the production of a promotional flyer. …

29 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are waiting lists for places at any of the childcare facilities which it provides for its employees.

Answer · Tom McCabe: There is a waiting list forthe Scottish Executive nursery at Victoria Quay, which is the only such facilitynow run by Executive. There are currently 35 children on the waiting list.

29 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of its main premises have childcare facilities on site.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive hasone nursery, which is located at the Victoria Quay building in Edinburgh.

29 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what childcare provision and assistance is available to its staff.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive providesan on-site nursery at its Victoria Quay building with places for 36 children.In addition, in March ofthis year, the Executive introduced a childcare voucher scheme that isavailable to all of its employees who have eligibl…

27 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the final cost of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will be met by (a) it, (b) Aberdeen City Council and (c) Aberdeenshire Council.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Subject to final agreementIt is proposed that the Scottish Executive will meet 81% of the cost of constructingthe Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route from Charlestown to Blackdog with Aberdeen City Council andAberdeenshire Council contributing 9.5% each. The ex…

27 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of estimated costs in relation to the building of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route in respect of the (a) the construction of junctions, bridges and access roads, (b) compulsory purchase of properties and (c) relocation of the International School o…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The total scheme costestimate is £295 million to £395 million. The detailed costs of junctions,bridges and access roads have still to be prepared but are included in theoverall estimate. The estimated cost of land purchase including the relocationof the Inter…

27 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the estimated cost of building the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route includes the (a) construction of junctions, bridges and access roads, (b) compulsory purchase of properties and (c) relocation of the International School of Aberdeen.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Yes.

27 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated average construction cost per mile is of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We currently estimate the totalcost of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route as being between approximately £10 million to £13 millionper mile.

20 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to alleviate school staffing issues in Aberdeenshire, particularly in relation to teacher recruitment, retention, training and management, and the impact of such issues on the ability of schools to continue to offer classes in all subjects.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The staffing and management ofindividual schools in Aberdeenshire is a matter for that authority. The ScottishExecutive is committed to a teaching workforce of 53,000 by 2007. To enable localauthorities to achieve this objective additional funding of £18 mill…

24 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-25475 and S2W-25476 by Allan Wilson on 12 and 18 May 2006, whether it will confirm that any objections or letters of support which have been received by it in respect of the applications submitted for the Lewis Wind Power and Eisegein wind farm pro…

Answer · Allan Wilson: I can confirm that they will.

18 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19915 by Cathy Jamieson on 9 November 2005, how many offenders convicted of (a) rape and (b) assault with intent to rape have been given a caution in each year since 1996, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: In Scotland thereis no direct equivalent to the cautions that exist in England and Wales.<</p