Parliamentary questions

Alex Neil

3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that no new nuclear power stations are constructed until the waste management issue is resolved.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Under Section 36(1) of the Electricity Act 1989, consent of Scottish ministers is required to build any new generating station, including a nuclear power station, over 50 mega watts.

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had (a) with Her Majesty’s Government and (b) internally about the impact of potential exploration for sources of oil in the Atlantic Ocean.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Scottish ministers meet regularlywith the oil and gas industry and play an active role in PILOT, working throughthis forum with the UK government and the industry to maximise the productivelife of the UK continental shelf – which includes the waters West ofSh…

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had (a) with Her Majesty’s Government and (b) internally about the impact of altering the Scotland Act 1998, particularly Schedule 5 of the Act.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-28375 on 10 September 2002 whichexplained that the Scottish Executive isin regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including, whereappropriate, issues relating to legislative competence…

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government about the impact of the creation of an oil fund from revenues secured by North Sea oil, similar to that which exists in Norway.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has not had any discussions with Her Majesty’s Government about the impact of the creation of an oil fund from revenues secured by North Sea oil. North Sea Revenues are collected centrally at the UK level and the powers to introduce an …

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what internal discussions it has had about the contents of file SEP 10/556, held by the National Archives of Scotland and opened on 8 September 2005 for public view.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The contents of file SEP 10/556were reviewed by officials but there were no further substantive discussions.

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government about the possibility of transferring control of North Sea oil in Scottish waters to the Executive.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has had no discussions with Her Majesty’s Government about the possibility of transferring control of North Sea oil to the Executive.

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21275 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, who made the assessment of these costs.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I referthe member to answer to question S2W-23923on 20 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search…

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average house price was in each local authority area in each year since 1995.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows medianhouse prices in each local authority area in each year since 1995 to 2004, the latestyear for which this information is available. Information on median and mean houseprices for different geographical areas is available from th…

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many council houses have lain vacant and available for rent in each local authority area in each year since 1995.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The following table shows numbersof vacant local authority dwellings available to let by local authority area, 1996to 2005. Data for current local authorities is only available for 1996 onwards.The figures exclude dwellings which are vacant to be demolished, …

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage the redevelopment of urban brownfield sites, in particular through the creation of affordable housing.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has a range ofpolicies and programmes in place to encourage the redevelopment of urban brownfieldsites for affordable housing and other uses.National planning policy generallyencourages the reuse of previously developed land in preference…

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the costs of recruiting the new Director of the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service.

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

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration has been given to operating regular rail passenger services between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley via Cumbernauld station, or between Cumbernauld and Edinburgh Waverley.

Answer · Tavish Scott: There are no current plans toalter the existing service frequency between Glasgow Queen Street and EdinburghWaverley via Cumbernauld or between Cumbernauld and Edinburgh Waverley.However, proposals to increasethe frequency of services between Cumbernau…

7 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist in the delivery of a new train station in Castlecary with park and ride facilities, referred to in Building Better Transport in March 2003 as being part of a package to be taken forward by the Executive arising from recommendations made by the Central Scotland …

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive awardedFalkirk Council £450,000 from the Public Transport Fund to undertake a feasibilitystudy to improve rail services along the A80-M80 corridor, including opening a stationand park and ride site at Castlecary (now called Allandale). …

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the cost of constructing the M80 through the identified Kelvin Valley route has been analysed by either an independent contractor or consultancy engineers.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The cost estimate was independentlyprepared by Jacobs Babtie, a leading firm of consulting engineers.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21275 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, whether its estimate of the cost of constructing the M80 through the identified Kelvin Valley route takes account of the (a) good rock that would be excavated at various points on the route that could be cru…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Kelvin Valley Route was costed in outline for the Public Local Inquiry held in October 2005.A general allowance for these items was included in these costs, but the estimatesdid not separately identify these savings.Transport Scotland hasthe operat…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it prefers to upgrade the A80 on its on-line route to full motorway status, rather than constructing the M80 through the identified Kelvin Valley route.

Answer · Tavish Scott: This matter was fully discussedat the Public Local Inquiry held in October 2005.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21275 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, whether its estimate of the cost of constructing the M80 through the identified Kelvin Valley route is based on a motorway with the same amount of lanes which it plans for its preferred on-line upgrade of th…

Answer · Tavish Scott: Yes, except for the section of the on line upgrade between M73 and Low Wood when the M80 and the M73 merge requiringadditional lanes.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif require…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the volume of traffic is per day on the (a) Erskine Bridge, (b) Skye Bridge, (c) Forth Road Bridge and (d) Tay Road Bridge and what the equivalent figures were (i) 10 and (ii) 20 years ago.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Information on traffic flowsand traffic growth on the Bridges, including daily trends and variations, is shownat section 4 of the Tolled Bridges Review: Phase One Report, published bythe Scottish Executive, a copy of which is available in the Scottish …

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that the capital costs of constructing the Tay Road Bridge will be recouped by the revenue from tolls on the bridge.

Answer · Tavish Scott: This is a matter for the TayRoad Bridge Joint Board which owns and operates the bridge.

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the capital costs of constructing the Forth Road Bridge were recouped by the revenue from tolls on the bridge.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Tolling income at the Forth RoadBridge repaid construction costs in 1993.

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the capital costs of constructing the Erskine Bridge were recouped by the revenue from tolls on the bridge.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The costs of constructing theErskine Bridge were met from the then Scottish Office Transport programme. Tolling revenuehas not been offset against the construction costs, but has funded the on-goingmaintenance, management and operation of the bridge.

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the contents of file SEP 10/556, held by the National Archives of Scotland and opened on 8 September 2005 to public view.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The file contains papersdetailing discussions between Government officials on Scottish devolution and North Seaoil. The file is 30 years old and is of historical interest.

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-21585 and S2W-21874 on 22 December 2005 and 23 January 2006 by Cathy Jamieson and Colin Boyd QC respectively when it states that “no specific, credible information supporting such an allegation has been brought to the attention of the police” in re…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The police are responsible forconducting investigations into criminal offences and the police will act if andwhen there is information to justify such action. At present, no credible and reliableinformation has been presented to the police to justify an inves…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government about the possibility of securing increased expenditure in Scotland of revenue created by North Sea oil.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-23933 on 14 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the contents of file SEP 10/556, held by the National Archives of Scotland and opened on 8 September 2005 to public view, and whether it was aware of its contents prior to 8 September 2005.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are aware of the contentsfile SEP 10/556, held by the National Archives of Scotland. Prior to 8 September 2005 wewere not aware specifically. The file is 30 years old and one of the approximately3,000 to 4,000 files released every year by the National Arch…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will take forward the recommendations contained in the report of the NEET Workstream submitted to the Executive in June 2005.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is currentlydeveloping a strategy to reduce the proportion of young people not in education,employment or training (NEET) in Scotland. The strategy will be published shortly and will buildon the findings of the NEET workstream report wh…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how far it has met its commitments as set out in Closing the Opportunity Gap: Scottish Budget 2003-06.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive last publishedits progress against the 2002 Spending Review targets, including the sub-set containedwithin Closing the Opportunity Gap: Scottish Budget 2003-06, in the Annual Evaluation Report (AER) 2005-06, whichwas publish…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of prisoners intentionally endangering the health or personal safety of others there have been in each prison in each year since 1999.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer question S2W-23890 on 16 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Pa…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the staff to prisoner ratio has been in each prison in each year since 1990.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The information requested isonly readily available since 2002-03. The ratios shown in the following table areof average prisoner numbers in…

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions illegal drugs have been seized from prisoners by prison officers in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Ihave asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond.His response is as follows:The information is not availablein the format requested. The following table relates also to drugs found on visitorsor from concealment in pr…