Chris Ballance

15 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on roads in the current financial year from budgets other than the core transport budget, including from European development funds.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: For financial year 2003-04 localauthorities estimate they will spend £289.583 million on roads*. There arecurrently 12 road projects totalling £11.889 million, with a lifespan ofbetween one and five years, being funded by European Structural Funds.</p><p>* So…

3 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many responses it received to its consultation paper on possible legislation to provide greater protection for hutters in Scotland and how many responses indicated that the proposed legislation would be difficult to implement and/or would have a negative impact on Scots property law.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Deputy First Ministerwrote to the Justice 1 Committee on 27 January with the results of theconsultation exercise. This information is available at pages 43-46 of the committee’spapers for its meeting on 4 February 2003 which is available at:</p><p><ahref=…

3 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of similar issues to those experienced by the Carbeth Hutters' Association in other locations, in particular in Lochgoilhead and Dumfries and Galloway.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Executive has receivedcorrespondence and information in relation to issues raised at Lochgoilhead. Weare not aware of any particular issues in relation to huts in Dumfries and Galloway.</p>

17 Sep 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the restructuring of the National Library of Scotland will involve the abolition of the Board of Trustees.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Board of Trustees will notbe abolished as part of the restructuring at the National Library of Scotland. Constitutionalissues will be addressed as part of the upcoming Policy and Financial ManagementReview (PFMR) of the National Library, the outcome of wh…

5 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it will give regarding the proposed programme of expenditure for upgrading trains and platforms on the Fife Circle rail line and its commitment in A Partnership for a Better Scotland that its spending on transport will reach #1 billion per year by the end of 2006, of whic…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is funding the procurement of 22 new trains, which will, amongst otherthings, improve services within the Fife Circle. We are also working inpartnership with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) on the platform lengtheningprojects to acc…

3 Sep 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still plans to reduce road traffic to 2001 levels by 2021.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive policy remains to strive tostabilise road traffic at 2001 levels by 2021, through investing in anintegrated package of measures - modernising and improving public transport,promoting alternative modes of transport to the private car and…

2 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to support student volunteering in the higher education sector and which organisation will be responsible for overseeing such support.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive has asked Volunteer Development Scotland to carry out a fundamentalreview of the Millennium Volunteers programme, which will include examinationof the future of volunteering programmes aimed at all young people includingstudents. The Sc…

27 Aug 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates that the opening night of the Scottish National Theatre will be.

Answer · Frank McAveety: We want avibrant theatre sector in Scotland.That’s why we have focussed on strengthening regional theatres in the previousyear. We are committed to supporting a National Theatre and the Executive willtake this forward in due course.</p>

18 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for implementing the recommendations of the report of the Cross-Party Working Group on Religious Hatred, Tackling Religious Hatred, and whether it will involve voluntary organisations, such as Nil by Mouth, in implementing these recommendations.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The working group's report supportedadjustment to the legal framework in relation to religious hatred. Provisions onoffences aggravated by religious prejudice were included in the Criminal Justice(Scotland) Act 2003 and came into effect on 27 June 2003.Nil by…

27 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of road improvements currently being undertaken on the A75 in Stranraer.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The cost of the road improvements recently carried out on the A75 London Road in Stranraer is £502,600.

12 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether building new roads leads to economic growth.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Theeconomic impact of building new roads is assessed on a case by case basis. Forall new schemes this is done according to the methodology set out in the Scottish transport appraisal guidance.</p>