Parliamentary questions

Alex Neil

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

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 the estimated cost of its planned on-line upgrade of the A80 to full motorway status does not include the cost of the Auchenkilns interchange project and work on the millennium bridge over the Forth …

Answer · Tavish Scott: The estimated cost of themotorway upgrade does not include either the Auchenkilns Junction or the Millenium Bridge.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for moreinformation if required.

6 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its planned on-line upgrade of the A80 to full motorway status is one lane smaller than that recommended by consultants as in 2002.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Yes.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for moreinformation if required.

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-21717, S2W-21718 and S2W-22016 by Cathy Jamieson and Mr Tom McCabe on 19 January, 20 January and 31 January 2006 respectively, what information it has on the total cost of the accommodation and meals provided to the 7,896 English and Welsh police o…

Answer · Tom McCabe: The total cost foraccommodation and catering for the G8 summit was £4.227 million. However, it isnot possible to extract the costs for English and Welsh police officers fromthis total. The cost for accommodation and catering is included in the £21.495million.…

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22529 by Patricia Ferguson on 2 February 2006, whether its statement that it is “aware that our major cities have world-class facilities” indicates that it believes that any Scottish cities have “world city” status.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The term “world city” was usedby the IOC and is not a term used by the Scottish Executive to classify cities.

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22463 by Patricia Ferguson on 30 January 2006, who represents each of these organisations on the Scottish Steering Group for London 2012; what the level of remuneration is for each individual for their work as a member of Group, and whether they are …

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Membership of the Scottish Steering Group for London 2012 is in the following table:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td width=132 valign=top> Julie Bracewell (Chair) </td> <td width=180 valign=top> sportscotland </t…

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22467 by Patricia Ferguson on 31 January 2006, whether it will outline how it believes the investment made in transport by it in 2005-06 to 2007-08 will bring “competitive advantage” to Scotland.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland willwork with First ScotRail, Network Rail and industry partners to ensure that theservices delivered on these new links maximise the benefits to the people of Scotland andthe economy. In addition, the planned investment in rail links to Ed…

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22466 by Patricia Ferguson on 31 January 2006 and given that the International Olympic Committee has no published definition of what defines a city as having “world city” status, whether it considers that this should not be used as part of the ration…

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The use of the term “world city”by the IOC, is a matter for the IOC.

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22494 by Tavish Scott on 30 January 2006, whether this answer indicates that its sole rationale for bypassing Muirhead, Chryston and Moodiesburn is for the practical purpose that “the appropriate standards could not be achieved by an online upgrade” …

Answer · Tavish Scott: Upgrading the road throughthese settlements raises a number of difficulties along the route including thenumber of existing accesses and the space available for widening.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be con…

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the findings of its reporter for the local public inquiry into its proposals to upgrade the A80 to full motorway status through Cumbernauld and when it expects to make an announcement in respect of these findings.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2O-9110 on 2 March 2006. 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.s…

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22707 by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006, why it does not intend taking a position on the opinions expressed by Lord Steyn.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive hasnot approved and will not approve a policy of facilitating the transfer ofindividuals through Scottish territory or airspace to places where there aresubstantial grounds to believe they would face a real risk of torture. The Scottish…

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21753 by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006, why it does not consider it appropriate to state an opinion on claims made by Senator Marty, given the possible implications of some of his claims for the administration of law and justice.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Senator Marty’s inquiry isongoing. The Scottish Executive will contribute as required to any UK responseto his report, once the report is published in full.

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22551 by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006, what its opinion was of the detail contained within the dossier sent to the First Minister by Angus Robertson MP.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I wrote to Angus RobertsonMP on 22 February thanking him for his letter of 17 January which included areport. I suggested to him that the author of the report take the informationin the report to the police.

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22352 by Colin Boyd QC on 30 January 2006, whether it would consider any flight which was found to be involved in the process of “extraordinary rendition” as being aircraft used for military, customs or police business on behalf of the state engaged …

Answer · Colin Boyd: The question as to the classification of an aircraft as either military or civilian aircraft will depend upon the application of the relevant domestic or international law to the particular facts. As I stated in my answer to question S2W-22352, “milita…

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21873 by Cathy Jamieson on 19 January 2006, whether it considers that it would be a sensible course of action to discuss with Her Majesty’s Government the matter of CIA flights landing in Scotland, given ongoing speculation that the CIA has used Scot…

3 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of the quashing of the conviction of David Asbury for the murder of Marion Ross in Kilmarnock in 1997 on the basis that the fingerprint evidence provided by the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) was unreliable, what action was taken by Scottish Ministers and the Lord Advo…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer to the member to the answer to question S2W-23156 on 10 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/…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current (a) Minister for Justice, (b) Minister for Transport and Telecommunications or (c) Lord Advocate has ever visited the (i) International Court of Justice or (ii) International Criminal Court in The Hague or intends to do so in future.

Answer · Colin Boyd: Neither the Minister for Justice, the Minister for Transport and Telecommunications nor I have visited theInternational Court of Justice nor the International Criminal Court in the Hague.None of us have any immediate plans to do so. As Lord Advocate I have ma…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22705 by Colin Boyd QC on 7 February 2006, whether this answer indicates that the police only ever act on hard evidence and, if so, whether it can explain how crimes are investigated in the absence of hard evidence.

Answer · Colin Boyd: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23751 on 14 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22493 by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006, what its response would have been if the allegations did not pertain to civil aircraft.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has nothingto add to the answer to question S2W-22493. 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/webap…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21667 by Cathy Jamieson on 18 January 2006, whether it expects Chief Constables to act only when evidence is presented of people “being brought into Scotland in such a way as to breach Scots law” or whether it expects them to act if information, inte…

Answer · Colin Boyd: Speculation does not constitute a basis for a criminal investigation. To date, the police have received no credible and reliable information that any individual has been unlawfully conveyed through a Scottish airport. Procurators fiscal and the police will ac…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21574 by Cathy Jamieson on 22 December 2005, what the purpose has been of any discussions regarding the matter of US agencies using Scottish airports as refuelling stops for flights allegedly involved in the process of “extraordinary rendition” other…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has nothing to add to the answer to question S2W-21574. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/we…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21576 by Colin Boyd QC on 22 December 2005, whether the Lord Advocate will apply for a warrant in the future to allow police forces to search planes landing in Scotland and suspected of being used by US agencies to facilitate the process of “extraord…

Answer · Colin Boyd: The decision as to whether it is necessary to apply to the court for a search warrant is taken in the context of a criminal investigation, having regard to all of the available information. I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23747 on 14 March 20…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21578 by Cathy Jamieson on 22 December 2005, what it considers its obligations are under the UN Convention Against Torture in respect of the allegations that US agencies have used Scottish airports as refuelling stops for flights engaged in the proce…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21583 by Colin Boyd QC on 22 December 2005, whether the Procurator Fiscal Service will investigate the allegations that US agencies have used Scottish airports as refuelling stops for flights engaged in the process of “extraordinary rendition” in the…

Answer · Colin Boyd: The police are responsible for conducting investigations into criminal offences and the police will act if and when there is information to justify such action. At present, no credible and reliable information exists to justify an investigation by the police.…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21584 by Cathy Jamieson on 22 December 2005, why it has not said whether it has made any assessment of the details of the case being pursued by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Khaled al-Masri in relation to its assessment of whether o…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has nothing add to its answer to question S2W-21584 on 22 December 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish courts would be required to take action in respect of extradition proceedings under internationally agreed obligations in respect of any CIA officers for whom there is an outstanding arrest warrant from the Italian courts, if any of these individuals are found to be i…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Extradition arrangementsbetween the UK and Italy are now governed by the EU Council FrameworkDecision of 13 June 2002, which is in force for both the UK and Italy.Requests from Italy for extradition are made under the European ArrestWarrant (EAW) procedure wh…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the veracity is of the report in the Sunday Mail on 26 February 2006 that the Minister for Justice has pledged in an address to the Labour Party’s Scottish conference to stop Scottish airports being used to facilitate the process of “extraordinary rendition” by US agencies and, if th…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: What I said on thesubject of rendition at the Labour Party’s Scottish Conference was as follows:“On rendition flights. I would like to thank Glasgow Central Constituency and TSSAfor bringing forward the resolution this morning. Serious allegations have beenma…

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has taken on the legality in both Scots law and international law of the process known as “extraordinary rendition”.

Answer · Colin Boyd: The Scottish Executive does not generally disclose the legal advice it may have taken on any particular matter. Any such advice would, in any case, be confidential.

2 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its opinion is of the published findings by Robert E Wright of the Scottish Economic Policy Network that the current fertility rate is below the 35% replacement rate required to maintain a stable economy and that a programme should be implemented to reverse this decrease and what mea…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive recognises that demographic change is of profound importance to the economy of Scotland. The challenge of an ageing population, which results from falling birth rates and higher life expectancy, is common throughout the developed world,…

1 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what forms of subsidised travel on public transport are (a) currently in place and (b) planned in future.

Answer · Tavish Scott: There are a number of schemescurrently in place by which the Scottish Executive provides subsidised travelon public transport.There is an existingconcessionary fares scheme which offers free local bus travel for pensionersand disabled people for journe…

1 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what initiatives it is involved to encourage expatriates to return to Scotland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The First Ministerlaunched a new Diaspora Strategy and hosted two events for Diaspora in Toronto and Guelph whilst in Canada inOctober 2005. The strategy aims to encouragethe diaspora’s active participation and engagement in promoting Scotland as a greatcount…