Parliamentary questions
Bruce Crawford
999 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the 1999 report by Dundee City Council into dioxin levels from the Baldovie incinerator at Dundee that found no excessive levels of dioxin, what plans it has to ensure that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency continues monitoring all areas of the site.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The 1999 report for Dundee City Council examined a range of pollutant levels around the site of the former incinerator at Baldovie, which closed in 1996. The report concluded that there was no evidence of gross pollution associated with the plant. The new inc…
13 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken as a result of the 1995 report on dioxin levels from the Baldovie incinerator at Dundee.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: I am not aware of any specific report in 1995 on dioxin levels from the Baldovie incinerator. Routine measurements of dioxin levels would, however, have been taken by Her Majesty's Industrial Pollution Inspectorate during the period up to the plant's closure …
12 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the expert scientific group set up by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to examine the issue of radioactive particles found on the foreshore at Dounreay, when the group will conclude its examination and whether this work will be published.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) formed the Dounreay Particles Advisory Group (DPAG) in May 2000. The remit of the group is to provide impartial scientific advice on the current United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) research programm…
7 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide additional borrowing consent to Perth and Kinross Council to enable the proposed Birnam flood defence scheme to be completed.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Funding for a flood prevention scheme at Birnam can only be considered once such a scheme has been confirmed by Ministers under the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961. At present, no such scheme has been submitted to the Scottish Executive by Perth and Kinr…
5 Dec 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with the Scotland Office about the availability of capital funding for expenditure on infrastructure to support the Euro-Ferry proposals for Rosyth and what the outcome was of any such discussions.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: None.
24 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11022 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 22 November 2000, whether its regular discussions with the Department of Trade and Industry and the energy industry have included any specific discussions on the possibility of increasing the nuclear electric power gene…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: No.
23 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide any additional funding to encourage the use of "greener" vehicles and, if so, whether any such funding will come from the Scottish block or from the #69 million announced on 20 November 2000 by Her Majesty's Government.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: In my statement of 28 September, I announced that funding for Powershift in Scotland would be boosted over the next three years to almost £3 million. That funding comes from within the Scottish Assigned Budget, whose total reflects the movement in comparable …
21 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10194 by Sarah Boyack on 25 October 2000, what areas of air freight traffic have shown growth over the last ten years; by what percentage each area has grown over this period, and what projections of air freight traffic levels are available for the n…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Air freight has grown from 45,445 tonnes in 1989 to 77,168 tonnes in 1999, an increase of 69.8%. Information on category types and projections is not collected centrally.
21 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a commitment to proceeding with construction work on the M77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick regardless of the outcome of the public inquiry into the Glasgow South Orbital Route.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: In November 1999, following the Strategic Roads Review, I announced in the document <I>Scheme Decisions</I> that the improvement of the M77 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh would proceed to construction.
21 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect will be on the timetable for construction of the M77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick if construction of the Glasgow Southern Orbital route does not proceed.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: In November 1999 following the Strategic Roads Review, I announced that the construction of the M77 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh could begin in 2002 with completion in 2005. This programme could still apply if the Glasgow Southern Orbital does not proceed.
21 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport attended the recent meeting involving the Deputy Prime Minister and Sir Alastair Morton, director of the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority, and what specific input was made by the Minister prior to or at the meeting.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: There have been several recent meetings between the Deputy Prime Minister and the rail industry regarding the safety of the GB rail network. I have received regular updates on the outcome of these meetings from UK Government Ministers, most recently on 28 Nov…
21 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with rail freight operating companies about any difficulties they are experiencing in accessing the rail system at appropriate times.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the rail freight operating companies with regard to national rail policy. The Government's Rail Recovery Action Group is committed to restoring the rail network to normal operations as soon as possible for all…
14 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with the Scotland Office about the availability of funding to support the Euro ferry proposed for Rosyth and what the outcome was of any such discussions.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The proposed ferry service for Rosyth is intended to operate on a purely commercial basis, with no recourse to public funds to meet operating costs. No discussions have therefore been held with the Scotland Office with regard to the availability of funding.
14 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote a Scottish airport as an international hub airport.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The development of air services, which is the key to the promotion of an airport as a hub, is a matter for airlines and airport operators.
13 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how construction of the M77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick will be financed and what financial resources will be committed to the project in which financial years.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: It is intended that the M77 Malletsheugh to Fenwick scheme will be constructed using Public/Private Partnership, provided that value for money of this procurement method can be demonstrated. It is too soon to know what financial resources will be committed to…
13 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when construction of the M77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick will be completed.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Construction of the M77 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh could be completed by 2005 on the basis of current programme considerations. This is the same programme that I announced following the Strategic Roads Review. It is too soon to provide a more definite e…
13 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when construction of the M77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick will commence.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Construction of the M77 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh could commence in 2002 on the basis of current programme considerations. This is the same programme that I announced following the Strategic Roads Review. It is too soon to provide a more definite estim…
8 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government or Scottish Power on the possibility of increasing the nuclear electric power generation capacity in Scotland.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has regular discussions with the Department of Trade and Industry and the energy industry on a wide range of matters.
8 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to privatise water authorities.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: No.
8 Nov 2000 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the potential impact on Scotland's environment of any plans to make mixed oxide fuel for overseas customers at Sellafield.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including environmental issues relating to Sellafield.
7 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2461 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 2 November 2000, when the review of the exemptions in the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 commenced; when the review will be concluded, and which organisations it intends to consult on this issue.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: A number of concerns have been expressed about the exemptions in the Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994. In particular the sixth report by the House of Commons Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee in June 1998 raised concerns …
7 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2461 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 2 November 2000, which organisations were consulted with regard to the recommendations of the Strategic Review of Organic Waste Spread on Land; when consultation on the review commenced; how the consultation process was pr…
Answer · Sam Galbraith: A list of the organisations directly consulted on recommendations in the Strategic Review of Organic Waste Spread on Land was enclosed with the public consultation paper when it was issued. (A copy is available from the Parliament's Reference Centre.) Consult…
7 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds or grant schemes currently exist to support public transport and how much funding is available under each such scheme in (a) 2000-01, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2002-03.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The funds or grant schemes to support public transport and the amount of funding available in 2000-01 are set out in the table below. With regard to funding in 2001-02 and 2002-03 I refer Mr Crawford to my answer to question S1W-10953.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Furth…
7 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the funding allocated to (a) the Freight Facilities Grant Scheme, (b) the Track Access Grant Scheme, (c) the Public Transport Fund, (d) Rail Passenger Partnership Funding, (e) the Infrastructure Investment Fund and (f) the Rural Community Transport Grant Scheme for (i) 2000-01…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The funding committed is detailed in the table below:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="56%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="RIGHT">2000-01 <P ALIGN="RIGHT">(£ million)</TD><TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN=…
7 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding is allocated to the Rural Community Transport Grant Scheme for 2000-01.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: A total of £1.514 million is allocated to the Rural Community Transport Grant Scheme for 2000-01. This figure includes funding which was carried forward from 1999-2000 to allow payment of invoices in relation to committed projects which were not presented for…
7 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be allocated to (a) the Freight Facilities Grant Scheme, (b) the Track Access Grant Scheme, (c) the Public Transport Fund, (d) Rail Passenger Partnership Funding, (e) the Infrastructure Investment Fund and (f) the Rural Community Transport Grant Scheme in (i) 2001-0…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Details of the allocations for these schemes for 2001-02 are as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Freight Facilities Grant Scheme - £6.136 million<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Track Access Grant Scheme - £1 million<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Public Transport Fund - £40 million<P ALIGN=…
1 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it had to the remit of the study into the long-term effects of chemicals in the environment being carried out by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution; whether it intends to make any submission to the Commission on this issue, and whether it will make any submission p…
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Following consultation with a number of bodies including the Scottish Executive, the Royal Commission has drawn up a preliminary list of the broad topics it intends to cover in this study. It is now seeking to identify the issues and areas it would be most ap…
31 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what road safety improvements are being or will be made on the A84/A85 and whether it will attend any public meeting held to address this issue.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Details of safety improvement schemes programmed for the current financial year on the A84 Stirling to Lochearnhead and A85 Perth to Oban trunk roads are as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">A84 Callander - new 30mph speed limit, Village Gateway signing, "Touca…
31 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to conduct a capacity audit of the rail network.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: We have no plans at present to conduct a capacity audit of the rail network in Scotland.
30 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2748 by Sarah Boyack on 29 August 2000, whether it will make available the detailed briefings received from ScotRail, Railtrack, Virgin Trains and Great North Eastern Railways outlining the further safety measures the companies intend to introduce on…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The briefings referred to were given in the form of oral presentations during the course of several informal meetings held in November 1999.