Parliamentary questions

Alasdair Morgan

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

12 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether permission has been given for waste material to be disposed of at the former Dalquhandy opencast mine in Lanarkshire.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Planning permission forrestoration of opencast is a matter for the local authority, and any necessaryenvironmental permits are a matter for the Scottish Environment ProtectionAgency.

9 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many instances have been notified to it of mature forests where timber cannot be harvested due to weight or other restrictions on public roads.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Polbae Road (U111) in Dumfries and Galloway, the B8035 on the Isle of Mull and the B840 inArgyll have weight restrictions that prevents the harvesting of mature timber. Iam aware of a further 18 instances across Scotland where there are on-going discussions r…

9 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in considering the case for a strategic timber transport fund.

Answer · Allan Wilson: COSLA and Forest IndustriesDevelopment Council representatives met with Scottish Executive officialsincluding Forestry Commission Scotland on 4 December 2003to discuss the report on the case for a strategic timber transport fund. Iexpect to be in a position t…

27 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3416 by Nicol Stephen on 10 November 2003, whether the realignment scheme on the A95 between Gaich and Craggan will provide an underpass to allow for the extension of the Strathspey railway from Broomhill to Grantown.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The current design for theimprovement of the A95 between Gaich and Craggan includes an underpass toaccommodate the proposed extension of the Strathspey Railway.

13 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many written complaints regarding criminal conduct were received by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service from 1 January 2002 to 1 September 2003 and in how many cases the complainants were not contacted by either the police or the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service p…

Answer · Colin Boyd: This information requested isnot available. The way in which an allegation is investigated will depend onthe nature of the allegation and the whole circumstances of the case includingwhether there have already been investigations into allegations made by thec…

13 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3240 by Colin Boyd QC on 4 November 2003, why Professor Colin Espie was not interviewed as a result of the complaint of criminal conduct made by Mr McKie, given that the complaint indicated Professor Espie's awareness of important new relevant inform…

Answer · Colin Boyd: What required to beinvestigated was not Professor Espie’s information but what was done with thatinformation. Accordingly, it was not considered necessary to interviewProfessor Espie.

13 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3240 by Colin Boyd QC on 4 November 2003, who was responsible for the decision that Mr McKie's letter did not indicate that he was in possession of any further relevant information in connection with the perjury case against Shirley McKie and under w…

Answer · Colin Boyd: It is not Crown Officepolicy to identify the individuals involved in investigations or decisions.

30 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what constraints there are with regard to the resumption of rail freight services to (a) Stranraer and (b) Cameron Bridge.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I understand that NetworkRail is not aware of any physical constraints which may prevent the resumptionof services to Stranraer and Cameron Bridge. However, the resumption of freight services tothese locations is a commercial matter for freight operating comp…

30 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many spare paths exist for freight trains each week on the Nith Valley line.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I understand that the NithValley Line is currently operating at or near capacity. The Strategic RailAuthority (SRA) has identified and is currently developing a number of capacityenhancement measures.

27 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the recommendations of the report An Institute for the Languages of Scotland in relation to the commitment in A Partnership for a Better Scotland to introduce a national language strategy to guide the development and support of Scotland's languages…

Answer · Frank McAveety: We are currently preparingproposals for a national language strategy and the recommendations of thereport An Institute for the Languages of Scotland are being consideredas part of that process. Consultation on the strategy will take place in duecourse.…

13 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the A95 south of Grantown on Spey.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are undertaking thesurvey and design work for improvements at Lackgie and design work is almostcomplete for a £1.8 million road re-alignment scheme between Gaich and Craggan.In addition we will continue to undertake on-going maintenance work on theroute.</…

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has awarded in grant aid to the National Library of Scotland for the purchase of books in each year since 1994.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The grant aid awarded to theNational Library of Scotland for the purchase of books each year since 1994 is setout in the table.<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> Financial Year </td> <td> Purchase Grant (£ …

7 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2712 by Colin Boyd QC on 1 October 2003, what actions were undertaken in the course of the inquiry by Strathclyde Police to interview the complainant, Mr Iain McKie, or to invite him to provide further information and what the reasons are for its pos…

Answer · Colin Boyd: In his letter of 7 April2003 to the Lord Advocate, Mr McKie set out new information which heconsidered was relevant to his belief that there had been an attempt to pervertthe course of justice in connection with the perjury case against his daughterShirley Mc…

7 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2712 by Colin Boyd QC on 1 October 2003, who was interviewed in the course of the inquiry by Strathclyde Police.

Answer · Colin Boyd: Enquiries made on behalf of the Lord Advocate into allegations of criminal conduct are confidential.

18 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2050 by Allan Wilson on 11 September 2003, when it will receive the results of the further full survey, commenced on 3 September 2003, of the containment measures put in place by Her Majesty's Government to deal with the live cluster bombs dropped in…

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Ministry of Defence has confirmedthat it expects to receive a copy of the survey report from QinetiQ by 24 October.I can confirm that a copy of the report will be sent direct to the member. A copywill also be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.</…

17 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what type of inquiry was mounted following the allegation of criminal conspiracy and/or attempt to pervert the course of justice made in the letter of 4 April 2003 to the Lord Advocate by Mr Iain McKie; what the remit of any such inquiry was, and who conducted the inquiry.

Answer · Colin Boyd: Mr Iain McKie wrote to the Lord Advocate on 7 April 2003 (rather than 4 April) concerning new information which he considered was relevant to his belief that there had been an attempt to pervert the course of justice in connection with the perjury case agains…

4 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of consultant posts in the NHS are vacant, broken down by speciality.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is published in Table B16 ofScottish Health Statistics, the website of the Information and StatisticsDivision of NHSScotland. Scottish Health Statistics can be accessed via thefollowing link: <ahref="http://www.isdscotl…

4 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many consultant vacancies there are in each speciality in the NHS.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The informationrequested is published in Table B16 of Scottish Health Statistics, thewebsite of the Information and Statistics Division of NHSScotland. ScottishHealth Statistics can be accessed via the following link <a href="http://www.isdscotl…

3 Sep 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the provision of dental services in the Dumfries and Galloway area.

Answer · Tom McCabe: It is the responsibility of the NHS board or Primary Care NHS Trust to assess the overall provision ofdental services in its area. However, the Scottish Executive recognises that there areincreasing problems with access to NHS dental services in Dumfries and …

25 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake an assessment of the impact of the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities on small port and harbour facilities in the Dumfries and Galloway area.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Maritime Security is areserved matter, and the Scottish Executive is in close touch with theDepartment for Transport about implementation of the International Ship andPort Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

25 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will undertake an assessment of the impact of the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities on the ports of Stranraer and Cairnryan.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Maritime security is a reservedmatter, and the Scottish Executive is in close touch with the Department for Transport aboutimplementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

14 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what recent assessment has been made of the environmental security and public safety impact of the containment measures put in place by Her Majesty's Government to deal with the live cluster bombs dropped in Luce Bay, Wigtownshire, in 1999.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has made no recent assessment of the containment measures, as this is a matter forthe Ministry of Defence. QinetiQ operates the Luce Bay range onbehalf of the Ministry of Defence and undertakes an annual survey…

3 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will appoint regional agri-environment project officers, with specialist ecological knowledge, in the light of such officers being appointed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In Scotland, there is a long tradition of providing financial support direct to farmers and crofters who obtain specialist ecological advice in drawing up their agri-environment proposals, and the Rural Stewardship Scheme currently pays applicants up to £300 …

3 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the main differences are between the proposed Rural Stewardship Scheme and the current Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme.

Answer · Ross Finnie: There are four main differences between the Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS) and the Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) Schemes.Firstly, there is no RSS equivalent to the ESA Tier 1 payment. Secondly, ESA Scheme payments are subject to limits: there is no …

3 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it has decided to discontinue the Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) Scheme, given that the scheme will continue in England and Wales.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I announced on 14 December 2000 that the 10 ESA schemes in Scotland would close to new applications on 31 December 2000 and would be replaced by the Rural Stewardship Scheme which makes funding for conservation management available to farmers and crofters thr…

23 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the preservation of the formation of dismantled railway lines with a view to their re-use at a future date.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: In 1999, the Scottish Office published its National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG17). Within this document is advice to local authorities on the preservation of disused transport routes, which include dismantled railways. Copies of this docume…

23 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what economic benefits there would be in adapting the Nith Valley line to allow for the passage of trains with 9 ft 6 in containers.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive recognises the important contribution rail freight makes to the economy and the environment, and will continue to support the rail freight industry in Scotland through the administration of the Freight Facilities and Track Access Grant …

23 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Strategic Rail Authority about adapting the Nith Valley line to allow for the passage of trains with 9 ft 6 in containers.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has had no discussions with the Strategic Rail Authority on this matter.

23 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which sections of motorway are classified as subject to (a) high, (b) medium and (c) low congestion in terms of the sensitive lorry mile calculation used by the Strategic Rail Authority in its assessment of freight facilities grant applications.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The sections of motorway in Scotland which are classified as subject to either higher or medium congestion are listed in the table. The remaining motorways are classified as subject to low congestion. This information can also be accessed on the Strategic Rai…

20 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the population has participated in sporting activities in each year since 1987.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Information on sports participation is gathered by sportscotland from NFO World Group's (System Three) Scottish Opinion Survey. Participation is defined as having taken part in sport at least once in the four weeks prior to the survey. To smooth out so…