Parliamentary questions
Alex Johnstone
582 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
22 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much is being paid to Caledonian Maritime Assests Ltd by CalMac Ferries Ltd in vessel leasing charges, also broken down by vessel.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Under the termsof the agreements between CalMac Ferries Ltd and Caledonian Maritime AssetsLtd, for the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services contract, CalMac Ferries Ltd currently payCaledonian Maritime Assets Ltd £10.3 million per annum in vessel leasingcharges.…
25 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4039 by Stewart Stevenson on 18 September 2007, how much CalMac Ferries Ltd spends per month on harbour operations and harbour management in fulfilling the functions it requires to carry out on behalf of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Under the terms of the agreements between CalMac Ferries Ltd (CFL) and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd(CMAL), relating to the delivery of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS)contract, CFL has paid CMAL, since the start of the contract on 1 October 2007…
12 Sep 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what further action it can take to encourage local food procurement by schools, hospitals and prisons.
Answer · John Swinney: Work has begun onthe development of a national food policy for Scotland that will reflect the Scottish Government’s strategic objectives. Food procurementin the public sector will be an integral part of that policy. Guidelines on thesupply of food within publ…
5 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what fees are paid by Cowal Ferries Ltd for access to Gourock pier.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Cowal Ferries Ltdare currently paying £400,000 per annum to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL)for the use of Gourock pier. This comprises three elements namely, the costs ofharbour maintenance, harbour operations and harbour management.</p>
5 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3346 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 September 2007, whether it will provide a breakdown by harbour and pier of the £110,583.33 per month harbour access fee paid by CalMac Ferries Ltd to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and what the equivalent breakdown is f…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The monthly fee paidby Calmac Ferries Ltd is a composite figure that has been calculated to cover allof Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) ports and it does not represent an aggregationof charges for individual ports. Consequently there is no further break…
27 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to allow council tax reductions for single occupancy to be claimed by householders who have partners posted overseas on military service.
Answer · John Swinney: <strong>The Scottish Government continues to support work at a UK-levelfollowing the then Prime Minister’s announcement in October 2006 that the UK Governmentwould look into providing support for the council tax costs of service personnelon operations oversea…
15 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what fees are paid by CalMac Ferries Ltd for access to ports and harbours owned and managed by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: CalMac Ferries Ltdare currently paying £110,583.33 per month to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd inharbour access fees for the use of the port and harbour facilities owned by CaledonianMaritime Assets Ltd.</p>
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to encourage private sector growth within the Scottish shipping services market.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Governmentwould be willing to consider any proposals from the private sector shipping industrythat would promote growth in the sector.</p>
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to develop and improve ferry links to and from Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The development andimprovement of ferry links to and from Scotland is primarily a matter for the commercial ferry operators, who will makedecisions based on their assessment of the market. The Scottish Government’s powersto support international shipping conn…
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to meet private sector ferry operators to discuss how they could make a greater contribution to innovation and improved cost-effectiveness in respect of Scottish shipping services, as outlined in the recent Sustainable Transport Research and Development Network in the …
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2377 on 14 August 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/wa.…
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet representatives of Highland Council and other relevant local authorities to discuss the findings of the recent Sustainable Transport Research and Development Network in the North Sea Region (SUTRANET) report, State Intervention in Scottish Shipping Markets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There have, to date,been no requests for meetings with the Government to discuss this report, or itsfindings. Should such requests be received, the Government would consider them.</p>
25 Jul 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will formally respond to the recent Sustainable Transport Research and Development Network in the North Sea Region (SUTRANET) report, State Intervention in Scottish Shipping Markets.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Governmenthas noted this report but it is not it’s intention to respond formally to it.</p><p>We observe that thereport describes the outcome of a 150 minute workshop attended by five private sectorferry operators, one consultant and an academic.…
30 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the A82 Tarbet to Crianlarich trunk road.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The A82 Tarbet to FortWilliam Action Plan recommended a 10 year improvement programme at a cost of£90 million. The outcome of this study will feed into the Strategic TransportProjects Review which will examine the needs of our national strategictransport corr…
30 May 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to streamline the operation of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Howat report published lastweek clearly supports our view that the landscape of public sector delivery is crowded.Reviewing and understanding this landscape will allow changes to be made that bothcreate efficiencies but more importantly improve the servic…
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place for the construction of a grade-separated junction at the junction of the A90 and the A937 at Laurencekirk.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland hasimplemented a range of safety measures including the installation of safety cameras,a 50mph speed limit in the vicinity of the junction, advance warning signs, anti-skidsurfacing and renewed road markings. These measures will be monitore…
29 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place for the re-opening of Laurencekirk station and when the first passenger service is scheduled to begin.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Detailed implementation planningis being undertaken and Transport Scotland expects to formally enter an implementation agreementwith Network Rail shortly.</p><p>December2008 marks railway timetable change date and is the most likely date for stationre-opening…
22 May 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Scottish Executive intends to take to assist those businesses and householders who are still unable to access broadband services due to infrastructure limitations.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Executive is in regular discussionwith CalMac Ferries Ltd on a range of matters. However, there are no plans, at present,to discuss a reduction in ferry fares to Arran and Cumbrae. The Executive does,however, recognise concerns regarding the affordability…
21 Nov 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what grants, loans and other financial and non-financial support it and its agencies have awarded to Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, its consultants or partners to progress work related to the proposal to develop an offshore windfarm in Aberdeen Bay.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has advisedthe Group of possible stakeholder interest but has provided no financial supportin respect of the offshore wind farm proposal.</p><p>On 23 December 2005, the Scottish ministers, in accordance with their statutory obligations,…
13 Sep 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers are available to the police to deal with fly-tippers who dump rubbish on private property.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Fly-tippers can be arrestedand face a penalty on summary conviction of up to £40,000 or six monthsimprisonment, or both, and on indictment of an unlimited fine and/or two yearsimprisonment (five years in the case of hazardous waste). Following theintroduction…
14 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what educational programmes and materials it has made available to Scottish schools on the dangers of illegal knife carrying.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Each NHS board receives ageneral allocation of funds. It is for boards to decide how best to utilisethese funds to meet the health care needs of their resident population,including mental health services, taking account of national and localpriorities. The Sc…
14 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what educational programmes and materials on the dangers of illegal knife carrying it has made available to schools.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I refer the member to thequestion S2W-26201 answered on 5 June 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the searchfacility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.</p>
4 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidelines are in place to determine how quickly police forces should answer telephone complaints from the public.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The manner in which a policeforce handles telephone calls from members of the public is an operational matterfor the relevant Chief Constable.</p><p>The Association of Chief PoliceOfficers in Scotland (ACPOS) advises that non-statutory guidance on handling te…
4 Jul 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to monitor the effectiveness of the police response to telephone complaints from the public.
Answer · Hugh Henry: Both call handling and complaintshandling are operational matters for the relevant Chief Constable. They are bothmonitored by each force according to their own procedures. Every Chief Constableproduces an annual report which includes the force’s responses to …
27 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidelines to local authorities in order to limit future increases in council tax.
Answer · George Lyon: The setting of council taxis a matter for local authorities and they have to justify the levels they set tolocal taxpayers. However, we have provided record levels of investment to localauthorities and we have made clear to councils that we expect that this,c…
27 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have replaced their committee system with a cabinet administration.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The information requested isnot held centrally. </p><p>However, as part of ScottishLocal Government’s Self-Review of its Political Management Structures, theLeadership Advisory Panel reported in 2001 that six councils had adopted acabinet-style structure, fiv…
27 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will spend on literature, advertising and seminars to educate and inform the electorate on the workings of the single transferable vote system in advance of the 2007 local government elections.
Answer · Tom McCabe: At this stage in thedevelopment of the Scottish Executive’s public information campaign, theestimated expenditure to educate and inform the electorate about the new singletransferable vote system for the 2007 local government elections is £1.25 million.</p><p…
27 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to educate and inform the electorate about the single transferable vote system in advance of the 2007 local government elections.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive iscurrently developing a public information campaign to educate and inform theelectorate about the new single transferable vote system for the 2007 localgovernment elections.</p><p>In doing this, the ScottishExecutive is working with th…
27 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it gives to police forces in respect of their priorities for resource allocation.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The allocation of resources withina force area is a matter for individual chief constables, taking into account strategicpriorities set by police authorities. In May, following consultation with the Executiveand other key stakeholders, the Association of Chie…
27 Jun 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce the requirement for restaurants to provide information on the country of origin of meat and meat products served on their premises.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executiveissued a consultation on this subject. We are now considering the responses tothat consultation to ensure that all the issues are fully taken into account.</p>
10 Apr 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what period of time elapsed between confirmation being obtained that avian flu was present in a dead swan found in Cellardyke and this information being made available to the public.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Laboratory confirmation of HighlyPathogenic H5 Avian Influenza became available at approximately 16.30 hours on Wednesday,5 April. On suspicion that the neuraminidase was N1, an appropriate response strategywas developed and a news release issued at 20.35 hou…