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, when SQW Economic Development Consultants state in their report, Economic Impact of Hosting the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles, that “estimating the wider costs of disruption is beyond the scope of this work”, they were precluded from carrying out an analysis of the cost implicatio…

Answer · Tom McCabe: No such direction was given by the Scottish Executive at any stage.

16 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether SQW Economic Development Consultants offset the cost of negative coverage of Scotland against their estimate of the cost of positive coverage of Scotland in relation to Gleneagles hosting the 2005 G8 Summit, which they translated into an advertising equivalent value of £66.4 milli…

Answer · Tom McCabe: The industry standard methodology was employed independently by TNS Media Intelligence. First, the coverage was evaluated to give the total advertising value equivalent. Second, the tone was assessed to give an indication of positive, negative and neutral cov…

16 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how SQW Economic Development Consultants measured coverage of Scotland as a result of the 2005 G8 summit being held in Gleneagles as being either neutral, positive or negative in tone, as set out in the report, Economic Impact of Hosting the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Page 67 in the report appendices outlines how coverage was analysed. These can be found at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/G8Econ">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/G8Econ</a>.

16 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology was used by SQW Economic Development Consultants to back their statement that the total value of coverage for Scotland as a result of the 2005 G8 Summit having been held in Gleneagles in the lead-up to the summit over six months was £618 million, as asserted in the report…

Answer · Tom McCabe: Page 32 in chapter 8 of the report, produced by independent consultants SQW, describes how the estimate of £618 million was arrived at. The report can be found at: <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/G8Econ">http://www.scotland.gov…

16 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is that there is any veracity in the statement by SQW Economic Development Consultants in their report, Economic Impact of Hosting the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles, that “the profile that the Summit has generated for Scotland and the potential economic activity that th…

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21831 on 24 January 2006. 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/webap…

16 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in its estimate that the Scottish economy benefited by Gleneagles having hosted the 2005 G8 Summit, it has accounted for the costs to repair damage to civic and private property by those protesting at the presence of the summit.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The report by SQW points to damage to property only occurring in a small number of cases. For private property, the likely impact on insurance premiums was also assessed and is likely to be negligible. In terms of civic property, £6,720 will be paid to Edinbu…

16 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the terms of reference for the report prepared for it by SQW Economic Development Consultants into the economic impact of hosting the 2005 G8 summit at Gleneagles included a requirement to analyse the cost to businesses of repairing the damage to private property as a result of pr…

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the question S2W-21828, answered on 24 January 2006. 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/weba…

16 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence there is that the tourism industry will be assisted by virtue of the 2005 G8 summit having been held at Gleneagles.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The experience of previous G8 summit venues indicates that the long-term effect in tourism terms of playing host to the G8 summit in 2005 will be positive. Through international TV news coverage, it showcased many iconic aspects of what makes this country att…

16 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the profile provided for Scotland as a result of the “unprecedented media coverage” between 2 and 11 July 2005 as a result of the G8 summit provides a platform to secure greater economic opportunity in the future across many areas, as stated by SQW Economic Development Consultants in …

Answer · Tom McCabe: Chapter 10 of the report, produced by independent consultants SQW, discusses the potential legacy effects of hosting the summit. These fall within five specific areas: business tourism, leisure tourism, inward investment, export performance and talent attract…

16 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the detailed methodology used by SQW Economic Development Consultants was in their investigation of the economic impact of hosting the 2005 G8 summit at Gleneagles by which they measured the advertising value equivalent of the “unprecedented media coverage” of Scotland between 2 and …

Answer · Tom McCabe: The methodology for media evaluation is described in annex C of the report which can be found at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/G8Econ">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/12/G8Econ</a>. The industry standard methodology was…

16 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost to it was of commissioning SQW Economic Development Consultants to investigate the economic impact of hosting the 2005 G8 summit at Gleneagles.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The cost of commissioning the investigation of the economic impact of hosting the 2005 G8 Summit as contracted through the Scottish Executive was £70,866 including VAT. The cost was shared by the Executive and Scottish Enterprise. The Scottish Executive share…

16 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the terms of reference were for the report prepared for it by SQW Economic Development Consultants, Economic Impact of Hosting the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The terms of reference for the study were as follows: Terms Of ReferenceG8 Summit Economic Impact AssessmentGleneagles, Scotland6 to 8 July 2005IntroductionThe annual G8 summit is a forum for leaders from Canada, Fran…

14 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with the UK Government about responsibilities under the International Law Commission’s draft articles on Responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts which would result if the articles were to be ratified, in particular article 16, which st…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive has not had any discussions with the UK Government about the International Law Commissions draft articles on Responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts.

14 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any views on the advice given to the All-Party Group on Extraordinary Rendition at Westminster by the Centre for Human Rights and Global Justice of New York University School of Law that “seemingly innocuous acts (e.g. allowing refuelling at airports of aircraft of another …

Answer · Colin Boyd: The control of flights in and out of Scotland is a reserved matter. Under international law the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation entitles foreign civil aircraft to make technical stops, for example for refuelling, without requiring the permi…

14 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its opinion is of the claims by Swiss Senator, Dick Marty, in his report presented to the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee of the Council of Europe, that the allegations that the CIA has abducted and illegally transported terror suspects across European borders are credible i…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive will contribute as required to any UK response to Senator Martys report, once the report is published in full.

14 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it had to meet the costs of police officers from outwith Scotland being deployed in Scotland in relation to policing the G8 summit and related events, such as the Make Poverty History march, and, if so, what the accumulated cost was of doing so.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive was responsible for the bulk of the cost of policing last year’s G8 summit, and associated events. The total policing cost was £71.976 million. The UK Government agreed to provide £20 million tow…

14 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers from outwith Scotland were deployed in Scotland in relation to policing the G8 summit and related events, such as the Make Poverty History march.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: A total of 15,400 policeofficers and staff were involved in the policing operation for the G8 summit andassociated events. Seven thousand, eight hundred and ninety-six of this totalwere officers deployed from forces based in England and Wales.

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-15618 and S2W-20862 by Cathy Jamieson on 4 April and 12 December 2005, how the Scottish Prison Service can confirm that it has at all times met its contractual commitment of employing one of more registered mental health nurses whilst stating that …

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows: My answer to S2W-15618 confirmed that Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd had met its contractual commitment in relation to the provision…

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-20862 by Cathy Jamieson on 12 December 2005, what the difference is between registered mental health nurses and “nursing staff with mental nursing skills and qualifications”.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows: Nursing staff may have mental health nursing skills and qualifications but not have undergone the registration process as defined by the N…

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the new Auchenkilns interchange has had on the traffic capacity of the A80.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The new Auchenkilns grade-separated junction, which previously existed as an at-grade roundabout, will improve the journey time and journey time reliability for travellers by removing a specific constraint on the road. Performance of the route is still constr…

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the traffic capacity is of the A80 through Cumbernauld.

Answer · Tavish Scott: There is not a definitive capacity for the A80 through Cumbernauld. However, given the current flows of around 70,000 vehicles each day and operational conditions currently experienced on the A80, it is considered that at certain times of the day, the flow is…

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21279 by Mr Andy Kerr on 12 December 2005, which local authority areas have been identified as having low air quality standards as defined in the Air Quality Strategy since the Environment Act 1995 came into force.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The following table lists the local authorities which have declared Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). Declaration follows air quality review and assessment work indicating that the Air Quality Strategy objectives for these pollutants are at risk of not be…

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21279 by Mr Andy Kerr on 12 December 2005, what the certain circumstances are in which a number of traffic-derived air pollutants have the potential to adversely affect human respiratory health.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Local authorities review and assess air quality in their area against objectives for a number of pollutants contained in the Air Quality Strategy. Where this shows the objectives are being exceeded, or are likely to be exceeded, the local authority has to dec…

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21279 by Mr Andy Kerr on 12 December 2005, whether it considers that living near a motorway adversely affects the pulmonary function and respiratory health of children to a greater extent that living near an ordinary road.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The influence of motor transport on air quality in any particular place depends on local circumstances and it is not possible to generalise concerning the relative contribution of different types of roads. Each local authority in Scotland is required to revie…

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any flights by US agencies in which alleged suspected terrorists were carried to countries where the practice of torture is used for the purposes of investigation were in either (a) civil aircraft or (b) state aircraft when such flights stopped at Scottish airports for refuelling.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21092 on 8 December 2005. All answers to written 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.search">h…

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware whether steps were taken to establish the precise nature of the cargo and passengers on board any planes allegedly carrying suspected terrorists to countries where the practice of torture is used for the purposes of investigation before such planes were given clearance…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The UK is a signatory to the Chicago Convention on Civil Aviation. The Convention allows civil aircraft to stop at airports for technical reasons, such as refuelling, without requiring permission to do so or having to disclose what passengers or cargo they ma…

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to people being forcibly brought into the country against their will, without the right to seek legal representation, before being transported to another country.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Abduction is a crime in Scots law. If anyone has evidence that people are being brought to Scotland in such a way as to breach Scots law, this should be reported to the appropriate Chief Constable.

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is responsible for meeting any requirements of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation or whether this is a wholly reserved matter.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive hasno functions in relation to any requirements of the Chicago Convention on InternationalCivil Aviation.

13 Dec 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it understands is covered by the term “prisoner”.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21502 on 14 December 2005. 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/weba…