Former Member of the Scottish Parliament

Chris Ballance

Unknown party

At a glance Chris Ballance was a Member of the Scottish Parliament.

Questions191 tabled

Chris Ballance has tabled 191 questions in the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planned special protection area for the protection of certain bird species in… 22 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planned special protection area for the protection of certain bird species in Muirkirk and North Lowther Upland, proposed by Scottish Natural Heritage, has been classified by the Executive and proposed for integration into the European system of special protected areas and, if so, when, and how, such classification was published.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop · 10 Mar 2008

I met the Association of Scotland's Colleges (ASC) and the Principals' Forum on 13 December 2007 and explained the proposals for the taskforce at that meeting. I also expect to discuss the work of the taskforce with ASC at the next Further and Higher Education Roundtable in March.>

To ask the Scottish Executive in what specific ways the arts have been placed at the centre of the work of each of its … 7 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what specific ways the arts have been placed at the centre of the work of each of its departments.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson · 16 Mar 2007

The significant contributionof arts and culture in delivering ministerial objectives across the Scottish Executiveis evidenced by key Executive strategies such as People and Place: RegenerationPolicy Statement, the National Planning Framework for Scotland and All Our Futures:Planning for a Scotland with an Ageing Population.Scottish ministers and theirofficials from across the Executive meet regularly to ensure cultural activity continuesto be central to policy delivery. We are currently producing a report of key culturalinitiatives which each portfolio delivered during 2006. This is due to be publishedonline by the end of March 2007.

To ask the Scottish Executive when the strategy for the Scots language promised in Scotland’s Culture: Scottish Executi… 7 Mar 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the strategy for the Scots language promised in Scotland’s Culture: Scottish Executive Response on the Cultural Review will be published.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson · 19 Mar 2007

In the Partnership Agreementof 2003, and as also referred to in the above policy document, Scottish ministersgave the commitment to publish a national languages strategy which will celebrateand promote the rich diversity of languages currently spoken in Scotland, includingScots.A draft version of A Strategyfor Scotland’s Languages is currently available for public consultation. Theconsultation period is due to end on 19 March 2007, after which we will publisha final version of the strategy that takes account of the responses received.

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on school population is estimated to be per 100 houses of new housing dev… 28 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact on school population is estimated to be per 100 houses of new housing developments.

Answer · Hugh Henry · 12 Mar 2007

The relationship between newhousing developments and school populations is best assessed locally and will belikely to vary according to the nature and location of the developments.

To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure will be for assessing bids for coastal and marine national park status… 28 Feb 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure will be for assessing bids for coastal and marine national park status and what the projected timescale is for assessments.

Answer · Ross Finnie · 12 Mar 2007

The report on the responses tothe Executive’s consultation on Scotland’s first Coastal and Marine National Parkwas published on 1 March 2007.The report shows strong support,in principle, for a coastal and marine national Park to be established in Scotland. Theconsultation has, however, also raised some serious concerns.No decisions have yet been made.We will seek to address the issues arising from the consultation, and I plan tomake a further announcement on the way forward during March.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an audit of library buildings to assess whether there is adequa… 28 Feb 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an audit of library buildings to assess whether there is adequate library provision in appropriate, well-sited buildings.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson · 8 Mar 2007

Local authorities have a statutoryduty to secure the provision of adequate library facilities for all persons residentin their area. The adequacy of library buildings is therefore a matter for localauthorities as part of their estates management programme.The Executive is funding a newPublic Library Quality Improvement Matrix which will be launched very soon. Thematrix is designed to be used by local authorities as a self-evaluation tool encouragingcontinuous improvement in public library services.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will accept any regional transport strategy which plans to increase road traff… 31 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will accept any regional transport strategy which plans to increase road traffic growth.

Answer · Tavish Scott · 12 Feb 2007

The Scottish Executive issuedguidance on the preparation of regional transport strategies. Each regional transportstrategy is expected to take account of the three strategic outcomes of the NationalTransport Strategy: improving journey times and connections; reducing emissions,and improving the quality, accessibility and affordability of public transport.Regional transport strategieswill be viewed holistically against these outcomes and against their support forpromoting economic growth and sustainable development.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it requires regional transport partnerships to produce transport strategies which… 31 Jan 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it requires regional transport partnerships to produce transport strategies which work towards road traffic stabilisation.

Answer · Tavish Scott · 2 Mar 2007

The National TransportStrategy (NTS) retained the traffic stabilisation target. A more sophisticatedapproach will be taken to tackling traffic growth by focusing on meaningfuloutcomes in a number of areas, including emissions, congestion, and how manypeople are choosing walking and cycling as an alternative to the car. the Scottish Executive therefore expects regional transport partnerships to makeexplicit references to the aspirational target and to how they will worktowards these associated outcomes in their regions.The NTS also commits the Scottish Executive to drawing up a carbon balance sheet, which is intended toillustrate the impact of our transport policies and projects which have asignificant carbon impact, whether positive or negative.

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Motions lodged103 lodged

8 Mar 2007	Creative Scotland	17 sig.
1 Mar 2007	Westminster Vote on Trident	26 sig.
21 Feb 2007	Dialogue on Tibet	18 sig.
26 Jan 2007	Closure of the Parliament to the Public	15 sig.
25 Jan 2007	Depleted Uranium Weapons	19 sig.
8 Dec 2006	"Euro-trashed" Campaign	13 sig.

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Seat & career1 seat held

South of Scotland (region) Regional MSP · Dissolution 1 May 2003 – 2 Apr 2007

Source: this MSP's profile on parliament.scot.

Source: this MSP's official Scottish Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.