Parliamentary questions
Alex Neil
3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given consideration to the allegations of Amnesty International that three US agency chartered flights flew terror suspects from various locations to countries where they faced torture and on the plane’s return to America stopped over at Glasgow Prestwick airport to refuel …
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-21577 on 22 December 2005. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given consideration to the comments of Rosemary Burnett of Amnesty International who was reported in The Herald on 16 December 2005 to have stated “the Scottish Executive should investigate these illegal transfers as a matter of urgency. Not to do so is to aid and abet tort…
Answer · Colin Boyd: Torture is a crime under Scots law. Where specific, credible information exists to support allegations that such crimes have been committed within or facilitated through Scottish jurisdiction the police will be responsible for conducting appropriate investiga…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government to establish the nature of the business of CIA flights landing at Scottish airports which an official spokesperson for the Prime Minister identified as “normal CIA business, not related to renditions” in a Downing Street press brie…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive hasnot had any discussions with the UK Government to establish the nature of thebusiness of CIA flights landing at Scottish airports.</p>
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would view the forcible removal of an individual against their will and without recourse to legal representation to a country where they may be tortured as an act of abduction by those responsible for the removal.
Answer · Colin Boyd: This is a legal question to be determined by reference to the law of the country or countries concerned. The forcible removal of an individual against their will may constitute the crime of abduction in Scots law and I would refer to my answer to question S2W…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the definition of abduction is within Scots Law.
Answer · Colin Boyd: Abduction is a common law crime in Scots law. The crime of abduction is committed by carrying off or detaining a person against his or her will without lawful authority.</p>
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the quality of responses to written parliamentary questions provided on its behalf by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has responsibility for providing answers to written parliamentary questions on operational matters as defined by the SPS Agency Framework Document. I have the opportunity to review all parliamentary que…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures the quality of its answers to written questions received from MSPs.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Ministerial Code sets out clearly the responsibilities on ministers to Parliament and to the wider public. In line with the code, responsibility for the content of answers to written questions from MSPs rests with the minister issuing each reply.…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21261 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 December 2005, why the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) was asked to respond to this question, given that the information requested did not necessarily pertain to the SPS.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Question S2W-21261 referred to S2W-20863 which relates to the contract between the Scottish Prison Service and Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd. As the Chief Executive of SPS is responsible for contractual matters, it was appropriate for him to respond to this …
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21261 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 December 2005, how this answer indicates whether it considers that its contracts are rigorously enough drafted to ensure that contractors adhere to their contractual commitments, if failure to meet a particular contractu…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p>The SPS are content with the terms of our contract with Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd, which has delivered excellent performance.</…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21258 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 December 2005, how this answer indicates what the definition of a breach of contract is.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p>I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21860 on 20 January 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21259 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 December 2005, how this answer indicates what the distinction is between “failure to meet a particular contractual commitment” and a “breach of contract”.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p> <p>The response referred to the terms of the contract. It makes no such distinction as it does not define a breach of contract.</p>
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21260 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 December 2005, how this answer indicates whether failure to meet a particular contractual commitment is not a breach of contract in relation to all contracts it or its agencies sign or just in the specific case of the co…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The answer to question S2W-21260 and the previous question, S2W-21258 on 15 December 2006, made reference to the contract for the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock. In general terms, contracts reflect particular sets of circumstances.</p> <p>All answers to wr…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21260 by Cathy Jamieson on 15 December 2005, why the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) was asked to respond to this question, given that the information requested did not necessarily pertain to the SPS.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:</p><p>Question S2W-21260 referred to S2W-20863 which relates to the contract between the Scottish Prison Service and Kilmarnock Prison Services L…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21283 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, whether it considers that an on-line upgrade of the A80 to full motorway status provides more room for the construction of a hard shoulder than would be provided by routing the M80 through the identified Kel…
Answer · Tavish Scott: Due to physical restrictions there would be a number of short lengths where an on line route would not have hard shoulders. A design for a Kelvin Valley Route has not been developed to the same level of detail but I would not expect restrictions.</p> <p>Trans…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21273 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, whether this indicates that the new Auchenkilns Junction is an integral part of the plan to undertake an on-line upgrade of the A80 to full motorway status.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The new Auchenkilns Junction is being designed to integrate with an on-line upgrade of the A80 to motorway status should that successfully negotiate its statutory procedures. However, the scheme stands alone economically in that the benefits accrued from it o…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21285 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, whether its use of the word “will” indicates that its plans to undertake an on-line upgrade of the A80 to full motorway status have been finalised, despite the reporter in the inquiry not having yet reported…
Answer · Tavish Scott: The A80 upgrading was originally split into three parts. Draft line orders for Phase 1 were published on 19 December 2003 and the draft compulsory purchase order (CPO) on 13 April 2004. Draft orders for phases 2 & 3 were published on 26 November 2004 and …
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21289 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, whether it will provide details of the integral demand management measures that might be deployed on the route of the M80 on-line upgrade.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Integral demand management measures will be introduced to address specific traffic problems should they occur. Broadly speaking they could take the form of ramp metering or restrictions to the types of vehicles to control entry flows, or mainline metering to …
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21288 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, what the projections are for the volume of traffic per day on the A80 in (a) 2010 and (b) 2025 if the M80 was constructed through the identified Kelvin Valley Route rather than the on-line upgrade.
Answer · Tavish Scott: In 2010 the predicted residual traffic flow on the A80 between Mollinsburn and Low Wood resulting from the construction of a Kelvin Valley Route would lie in the range 40,000 to 60,000 vehicles per day. The equivalent range for the Auchenkilns to Old Inns sec…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21286 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, whether this indicates that it has no plans to build roads for which it is responsible around Kilsyth to improve links from the town to the rest of Scotland.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is not responsible for building local roads around Kilsyth. This is the statutory responsibility of North Lanarkshire Council.</p>
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21290 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, whether, if it accepts the logic of bypassing Muirhead, Chryston and Moodiesburn with the upgraded A80, it considers it logical to bypass Cumbernauld as part of the upgrade as well and what the reasons are f…
Answer · Tavish Scott: Constructing an on line upgrade through Muirhead, Moodiesburn and Chryston would be impractical due to the significant degree of frontage access on that section of the route. The limited frontage access on the remainder of the route can be accommodated throug…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21290 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, what areas have been identifed that will experience an adverse effect on air quality as a result of the upgrade of the A80 to full motorway status.
Answer · Tavish Scott: In respect of the online section between Mollinsburn and Haggs the majority of air quality impacts will be insignificant. The predicted impacts of the whole scheme are shown in Section 14 of the Environmental Statement (the Air Quality section) which is avail…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21304 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, whether companies are always invited to tender or whether applications are also considered from uninvited companies.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Candidates are always invited to tender for such contracts.</p> <p>Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.</p>
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any information that it will be making available to the European Parliament’s Temporary Committee of Inquiry into allegations of CIA activity in Europe.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Any request by the European Parliament’s Temporary Committee of Inquiry will be made directly to the UK Government. Should such a request be received, the Scottish Executive will assist in providing any information required to contribute to the UK Government …
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government in relation to the European Parliament’s Temporary Committee of Inquiry into allegations of CIA activity in Europe.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has not had any discussions with the UK Government in relation to the European Parliaments Temporary Committee of Inquiry into allegations of CIA activity in Europe.</p>
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how SQW Economic Development Consultants estimated that 37% of those taking part in the Make Poverty History march and 39% of those attending the Live 8 event were from outside Scotland, as set out in their report, Economic Impact of Hosting the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles.
Answer · Tom McCabe: A detailed description of the methodologies used in surveying those involved at the Make Poverty History March and the Live 8 event is set out in annex B of the report which can be found at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/G8Econ">http…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the use of advertising value equivalence by SQW Economic Development Consultants in their report, Economic Impact of Hosting the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles, how readily it considers articles in the media about the 2005 G8 Summit being hosted in Gleneagles can be equat…
Answer · Tom McCabe: “Advertising value equivalents” and “opportunities to see” are standard industry techniques for measuring media coverage employed by TNS Media Intelligence who are experienced practitioners in this field. Both measures are included in the report. The increase…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect would be of the 2005 G8 Summit being held in Gleneagles in terms of the expenditure accrued by it, as opposed to the revenue accrued to the Scottish economy by the summit, if the revenue raised by the Make Poverty History march and Live 8 event were not included in the est…
Answer · Tom McCabe: Additional expenditure generated by visitors attending the Make Poverty History and Live 8 events is shown on page 15 of the report appendices, while the breakdown of short-term benefits is presented in table 1 on page iii of the main report. The report and a…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, where SQW Economic Development Consultants identify increased costs in a number of cases caused by damages to property in their report, Economic Impact of Hosting the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles, whether these costs have been included in the estimate within that report of the costs and …
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21834 on 24 January. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will encourage public agencies and businesses to translate the fact that “the G8 has a particularly high profile in Scotland’s main tourism markets” into economic opportunities for Scotland, as set out by SQW Economic Development Consultants in their report, Economic Impact of Host…
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotland will build on theinternational TV news coverage ofScotland hosting the G8 summit, which showcased many iconic aspects of what makes this country attractive toleisure and business visitors from overseas. Business tourism in particular is a very i…
16 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when SQW Economic Development Consultants state in their report, Economic Impact of Hosting the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles, that “the G8 has a particularly high profile in Scotland’s main tourism markets”, they have treated any coverage of the 2005 G8 Summit in these places as …
Answer · Tom McCabe: No such automatic relationship is assumed. These potential benefits have not been included in any of the monetary estimates of the economic impact in the report. However, I am confident that we will make the most of the longer term economic and business oppor…