Colin Campbell

5 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21838 by Lewis Macdonald on 28 January 2002, whether it will list the special roads on which Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR Scotland Ltd carry out litter clearing as part of their trunk road maintenance contracts.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The special roads in Scotland are as follows:<P>A1 (Old Craighall to east of Haddington)<P>A720 Edinburgh City Bypass (Old Craighall to East of Hermiston)<P>A80 (Junction 4 of M80 to Old Inns Junction at Cumbernauld)<P>Litter clearance is carried out by the o…

5 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the uniformed police (a) Establishmentlishment and (b) strength was and how many police probationers there were in each police force in each year from 1991 to 2001.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information is shown in the following table. Information on probationers is not held centrally.<P>Establishmentlishment and Strength by Force<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=604><TR><TD WIDTH="13%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" …

5 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21846 by Malcolm Chisholm on 29 January 2002, which elected representatives briefed the UK delegation to the EU Health Council meeting in Brussels on 15 November 2001 in relation to matters of interest to Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Specific discussions between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive are conducted on a confidential basis.

5 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21028 by Mr Jim Wallace on 22 January 2002, which topics each of the ministers spoke to when they led the UK delegation at the EU Council of Ministers on 8 June 2000, 12 February 2001 and 4 June 2001.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The detail of exchanges within EU Council of Ministers meetings is confidential. The agenda and conclusions of the relevant meetings are available on the Europa website, <A HREF="http://www.europa.eu.int">www.europa.eu.int</A>.

5 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21028 by Mr Jim Wallace on 22 January 2002, whether any of its representatives led on topics of major interest to Scotland at meetings of the EU Council before 8 June 2000.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21028 on 28 January 2002.

4 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Postal Services Commission in order to ensure the continued availability of postal services in rural areas in light of the commission's proposals for opening the market for postal services.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Consignia, post offices and postal services are reserved matters.<P>The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of the availability of postal services across Scotland. It is in regular contact with the Department of Trade & Industry and the Postal Servic…

15 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19994 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 December 2001, who briefed the UK delegation to the EU Health Council meeting in Brussels on 15 November 2001 on any matters of particular interest to Scotland and what any such matters were.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Briefing for these events is co-ordinated by the Department of Health in London with input as appropriate from devolved administrations. The details of discussions are confidential.

14 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether AMEY Highways Ltd and BEAR Scotland Ltd are responsible for clearing litter from trunk road verges, central reservations and roadsides under their contracts for management and maintenance of the trunk road network.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Amey Highways Ltd and BEAR Scotland Ltd carry out litter clearance on special roads and motorways under their contracts for management and maintenance of the trunk road network.<P>Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, responsibility for litter clearanc…

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any contingency plans to restore the responsibility for awards under the Scottish Studentship Scheme back to the Scottish Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) should the Arts and Humanities Research Board in Bristol be found to be placing postgraduate research and researche…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The work of the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB), since its creation a few years ago, has been broadly welcomed by the arts and humanities research community in Scotland as a body which is improving the standing of arts and humanities research and re…

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will monitor the performance of the Arts and Humanities Research Board in areas of Scottish interest and research.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21701.

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Studentship Scheme is being withdrawn and, if so, what procedures are in place to ensure that a fair proportion of the applications from Scotland benefit from the scheme administered by the Arts and Humanities Research Board.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21701.

10 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that all new applicants from Scottish residents or institutions will not be disadvantaged as a result of the transfer of the Scottish Studentship Scheme from the Students Awards Agency for Scotland to the Arts and Humanities Research Board in Bristol.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.

4 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21002 by Lewis MacDonald on 3 January 2002, whether it has had discussions with Her Majesty's Government concerning the restriction of rail freight through the Channel Tunnel that began on 7 November 2001 and its impact on Scotland and, if so, on wha…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Rail freight generally is a reserved matter, as are European railway services. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including freight services through the Channel Tunnel. Contact on this issue has cont…

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the investigation into possible rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports will include examination of light rail transport as an option, either running on light track or sharing main line track.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Our consultants are looking at all options and will recommend which ones would merit further investigation. At this stage of the process nothing has been ruled in or out.

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all current Social Inclusion Partnership Boards, giving the names of all board members and the sphere of interest of each member, for example, councillor or tenants' association representative.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Please see attached list of board members and sphere of interest of each member.<P>SIP Board Members<P>Alloa South &amp; East<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=444><TR><TD WIDTH="36%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Cllr…

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what appeals mechanism exists for organisations whose funding has been terminated by Social Inclusion Partnership Boards.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The question of which projects to fund, either initially or on a continued basis is one which is very much for Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) boards, who make these decisions in light of their own locally agreed strategy. Equally, decisions in relation to…

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the performance of Social Inclusion Partnership Boards is monitored.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The performance of Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) Boards is monitored as part of the overall Scottish Executive Monitoring Framework for Social Inclusion Partnerships. This includes a requirement on SIPs to produce Annual Reports for the Executive on thei…

20 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to whom Social Inclusion Partnership Boards are accountable.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) Boards are accountable to the SIP partners including the community, to the local authority (as grant recipient), to Communities Scotland and to Scottish ministers.

13 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19994 by Malcolm Chisholm on 11 December 2001, who briefed the UK delegation to the EU Health Council in Brussels on 15 November on matters in which Scotland has a particular interest.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Briefing for these events is co-ordinated by the Department of Health in London with input as appropriate from devolved administrations.

13 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been diagnosed as having Amyotorphic Lateral Sclerosis since 1991 to date and what percentage of those who are have been so diagnosed are veterans of the Gulf War.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the incidence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Motor Neurone Disease, in Scotland from 1991, broken down by age and sex, is given in the following tables.<P>Information on veterans of the Gulf War is not held by the Executi…

13 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20175 by Mr Jim Wallace on 5 December 2001, at which of the meetings of the EU Council of Ministers its representatives (a) spoke and (b) lead on topics, such as fishing, in which Scotland has the major interest in the United Kingdom.

Answer · Jim Wallace: As stated in my answer to question S1W-20175, Scottish ministers attend council meetings as members of the United Kingdom delegation and speak when appropriate. No separate record is kept of occasions when Scottish ministers have spoken. Scottish ministers at…

12 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government to achieve relaxation of the restrictions on freight train traffic imposed on the Channel Tunnel by SNCF on 7 November 2001.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Both rail freight and European and international rail services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of rail issues, including freight services.

12 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial cost there has been to Scottish firms as a result of SNCF's restriction on the number of trains passing through the Channel Tunnel since 7 November 2001.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not held centrally.

12 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional road transport has been generated in Scotland by SNCF's restriction on the number of freight trains passing through the Channel Tunnel since 7 November 2001.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not held centrally.

12 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction in rail freight transport has taken place between Scotland and Europe since the SNCF restricted the number of freight trains passing through the Channel Tunnel on 7 November 2001.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Rail freight is a reserved matter. I understand, however, that incoming rail freight to Great Britain using the Channel Tunnel has been less than one third of the level prior to 7 November. However, information on the impact on through traffic between Scotlan…

11 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19430 by Jackie Baillie on 25 November 2001, how many households have benefited from its central heating programme to date.

Answer · Iain Gray: Eaga have installed 208 central heating systems in the private sector and are on target to install 3,550 systems by 31 March. Information is currently being collected in the social rented sector. All indications show that local authorities and housing associa…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what average length of time elapses between (a) the submission of an application for, and (b) installation of, free central heating and insulation under its Central Heating Programme.

Answer · Iain Gray: For private sector households the average length of time is currently about eight weeks.

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place for people to apply for free central heating and insulation under its Central Heating Programme.

Answer · Iain Gray: A guide to the Central Heating Programme encouraging applications has been published for the private sector and widely distributed across Scotland. Eaga has also set up a freephone number for applications and enquiries. Further publicity material will be issu…

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the uniformed police (a) establishment and (b) average attendance is per shift in each division of each police force.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Information on police officer numbers at this level of detail is not held centrally.

6 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the uniformed police (a) establishment and (b) strength was in each division of each police force in each of the years 1991 to 2001 and what the population of each division area was in each year, giving details of any boundary changes.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Information on police officer numbers at this level of detail is not held centrally.