Parliamentary questions
Chris Ballance
191 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money was granted to social enterprise furniture reuse projects last year under the landfill tax credit scheme and whether it expects this figure to be maintained under the Strategic Waste Fund: Community Sector (Temporary Support) Fund.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Information on the landfill tax credit scheme is not held centrally. ENTRUST, the regulator of the scheme, can provide information on grants awarded to Environmental Bodies registered under the scheme (<a href="http://www.entrust.org.uk/">www.entrust.org.uk</…
6 May 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to the recent Asthma UK report Living on a knife edge that highlights the serious impact asthma can have on people's lives and outline how its policies will enable people with asthma to receive the care that they need.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The report vividly demonstratesthe effects asthma can have on people’s lives and will helpfully inform policy developmentin this important field. Measures currently underway in Scotland, whichaddress asthma issues, include:</p><p>the new GP contract which inc…
29 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all highway capital projects (a) completed since 1999 and costing more than #1 million, showing the final cost of each project and (b) under construction with an estimated cost of more than #1 million, showing the estimated final cost of each project.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is as follows:</p><p>Capital Trunk Road Projects Completed Since 1999</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Projects Completed Since 1999</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Estimated Final Cost (…
29 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all transport capital projects (a) completed since 1999 and costing more than #1 million, showing the final cost of each project and (b) under construction with an estimated cost of more than #1 million, showing the estimated final cost of each project.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The following tables list those transport capital projects completed since 1999 (first table) and now under construction (second table) for which the Scottish Executive contribution exceeded £1 million. Other bodies (for example local authorities and Strathcl…
19 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what documentation it received from (a) Dumfries and Galloway Council and (b) Scottish Natural Heritage regarding the planning application for the development of a landfill site at Aucheninnes Moss.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: Dumfries and Galloway Council fulfilled their obligations to providethe Scottish ministers with copies of all documentation associated with their considerationof the case. This includes the planning application and relevant plans, committeepapers, any support…
15 Apr 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the principle reasons were for not calling in the planning application for the development of a landfill site at Aucheninnes Moss and, in particular, what consideration ministers gave to any (a) negative biodiversity impacts, (b) related mitigation measures proposed by the developers…
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Scottish ministers assessed the planning application against the provisions of the development plan and relevant national planning policies and were satisfied that there were no outstanding planning issues which would justify their intervention. Ministers…
14 Apr 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support a campaign for improved rail connections between Lanark and Edinburgh.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is committed to improvements to the Scottish rail network. Any proposed scheme should offer real benefits to passengers,represent value for money, and support the delivery of the Scottish Executive’s broader strategic objectives.</p>
17 Mar 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that Chardon LL mai'e has satisfied EU regulations concerning distinctness, uniformity and stability.
Answer · Allan Wilson: Yes. ChardonLL underwent testing in France in accordance with theinternationally recognised methods and the protocol adopted by the CommunityPlant Variety Office as required by the EU legislation.</p>
12 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many branch lines have been re-opened for passenger rail services in each year since 1970.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Since 1970, 12 lines or sectionsof line (which primarily had been used for freight services) have started to beused for new passenger services. Only one of these lines involved full re-instatement,requiring the laying of new track prior to its re-opening.</p>
9 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking in relation to Directive 2002/91/EC of the European Parliament and Council on energy conservation in buildings.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: We are part of the implementationgroup set up by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to identify the actionsrequired to meet the requirements of the directive.</p>
9 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has for re-using tyres once the ban on the disposal of whole tyres in landfill sites takes effect on 16 July 2004.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The ban on operators oflandfill sites accepting most whole used tyres took effect from 16 July 2003. It isfor the producer of used tyres to find ways other than landfill to dispose ofused tyres. Other ways can include re-use, material recovery to make newprod…
9 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children were injured or killed in accidents while cycling last year.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Statistics relating to thenumbers of child pedal cyclists who were killed or injured in road accidents inScotland in 2003 which were recorded by the Police will be published in June.</p><p>Figures for 1992 to 2002appear on page 17 of Road Accidents Scotland 2…
9 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that furnaces of the kind used by Blue Circle Cement at Dunbar are suitable for the safe incineration of tyres.
Answer · Allan Wilson: This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The information requested is not heldcentrally.</p>
4 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, or plans to make, to ensure that funding is secured for the promised upgrade of the west coast mainline north of Crewe.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a wide rangeof issues, including the upgrade of the west coast main line.</p>
3 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what practical measures are being taken by Communities Scotland to assist East Lothian Council in improving their services to homeless people, in light of the recent inspection report on the council.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is asfollows:</p><p>Scottish ministers actingthrough Communities Scotland have requested that East Lothian Council producean improvement plan, setting out how it …
2 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contracts regarding sewage sludge disposal are currently out to tender.
Answer · Allan Wilson: This is an operational matter for the Chief Executive of Scottish Water and I have asked him to write to you about this matter.</p>
16 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new train carriages have been (a) ordered and (b) introduced in each year since 1960.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Information prior to May 1997 is not held centrally. After that date, the ScotRail franchise has benefited from the delivery of 222 new train carriages. The table shows how many new train carriages have been (a) ordered and (b) introduced.</p><table border=1 …
16 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many railway stations have (a) opened and (b) reopened in each year since 1970.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Sixty nine stations have been opened or reopened since 1970.</p>
10 Feb 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission a study into the additional costs of funding separate infrastructures for Catholic and non-denominational schools and whether it will make a ministerial statement on the matter.
Answer · Peter Peacock: We have no plans tocommission such a study. We have made clear our support for denominationalschools for as long as parents wish that choice.</p>
28 Jan 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support the development of an integrated transport system.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are actively developingan integrated transport system in Scotland. We are investing in public transport projects thatimprove integration and interchange between different services and modes oftransport. We are improving travel information through Traveline…
27 Jan 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent under the Public Transport Fund in each year since 1999, broken down by local authority area; how much of the fund is unspent in each such area, broken down by project, and whether there are any deadlines or requirements for allocations under the fund to be spent.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The following table showsthe awards given under the Public Transport Fund to each local authority ineach of the last four years. These took the form of additional capitalallocations under section 94 of the Local Government (Scotland)Act 1973. As stated in ans…
14 Jan 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how its assessment of the business case for the Borders railway is progressing.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The initial business casewas received on 4 November 2003. Following an initial analysis, further informationwas requested from the Waverley railway partnership. That information was receivedon 2 December 2003 and is now being considered.</p>
16 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of the Scottish Enterprise International Advisory Board event at Turnberry Hotel that commenced on 30 November 2003.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise.</p>
16 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any analysis has been made of travellers using air routes subsidised by the Interim Route Development Fund in respect of social class and reasons for travelling and, if so, what the results were of any such analysis.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The first new direct servicewhich was subject to investment from the Interim Route Development Fund (IRDF)began at the end of March 2003. Any evaluation of the new routes will be basedon a full year of operation to enable a reasonable and objective analysis o…
16 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many air routes subsidised under the Interim Route Development Fund have encouraged more inward visits to Scotland than outward visits from Scotland.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Interim RouteDevelopment Fund (IRDF) can invest in new direct air routes which improvebusiness connectivity, enhance inward investment prospects and encouragein-bound tourism. All new routes, on which offers of investment have been made,have been evaluate…
16 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the breakdown is of its planned expenditure on public transport in each year from 2003-04 to 2006-07, detailing all projects of over #10 million.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The capital costs ofprojects depend on the prices achieved through tendering and these are affectedby both the market at the time and the type of contract awarded. It may be sometime before tendering exercises begin for a number of the projects proposed in <i…
16 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3105 by Cathy Jamieson on 29 October 2003, how that answer is consistent with the commitment in A Partnership for a Better Scotland to take strong action to reduce environmental crime through strengthening the enforcement of environmental law includi…
Answer · Allan Wilson: It should not be inferredfrom the Minister for Justice’s response to question S2W-3105 that we haveruled out the establishment of environmental courts. We are currentlyconsidering a range of options for addressing this partnership agreement commitment.</p><p>…
8 Dec 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what public funding is available for research and development into underwater turbine electricity generation.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Public funding for marine renewables technologies, including tidal technologies, is available under theNew and Renewable Energy Programme (NREP), administered by the DTI. Since 1999,the programme has committed in excess of £15 million to research and developm…
3 Dec 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the cost of the M74 extension has risen from #245 million in 2001 to between #375 and #500 million at present.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The presentestimate now takes account of inflation up to the completion of the scheme in2008. It also includes an allowance for dealing with more extensivecontamination along the route and increased land and compensation costs.</p>
27 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to support and fund volunteering within further and higher education institutions through providing funding strategies similar to those currently implemented in England through the Higher Education Funding Council.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-2328. 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/search_wa">htt…