Parliamentary questions
Mr David Davidson
1,095 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs will be of rebadging Strathclyde Passenger Transport (a) rolling stock, (b) stations, (c) uniforms, (d) timetables, (e) notices, (f) tickets, (g) signage and (h) premises and which organisation will meet such costs.
Answer · Tavish Scott: We are not planning to incur any additional costs above existing First ScotRail franchise budgets in any change to SPT branding on rail.</p>
24 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what costs will accrue from the changed status of Strathclyde Passenger Transport.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Following the coming into force of the Transfer of Rail Functions To The Scottish Ministers Order 2005 on 28 November 2005 a number of staff have transferred from Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive to the Scottish Executive.</p> <p>There is likely to b…
24 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will explain its methodology for calculating efficiency savings in local government.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Improvement Service’s report on the development of a robust system for planning, monitoring and reporting local government savings is due to issue very soon. The report will contain a full statement of the methodology used in calculating the savings which…
24 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any guidance for local authorities in respect of improving council tax collection rates.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Institute of Revenue Rating and Valuation publish a best practice guide on council tax, which sets out good practice in the collection of council tax. In addition to this, the Scottish Executive has commiss…
24 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which local government services it considers are overstaffed, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Staffing of local government services is a matter for local authorities and will vary according to local circumstances and priorities. It is for local authorities to consider how the efficiency of their services can be improved, taking account of best working…
24 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown by (a) local authority and (b) activity of the local government efficiency savings, totalling £325 million, identified by the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The local government cash releasing efficiency savings comprise £8 million in police service, £25 million in the supporting people programme, £20 million from invest to save projects, £1.5 million in fire and rescue services and £168.3 million savings from ot…
24 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what areas of local government activity it considers can produce the £325 million efficiency savings referred to in the ministerial statement by the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform on 23 November 2005 (Official Report c. 20966).
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive considersthat there are many areas of activity in Local Government and in other public bodiesthat could deliver efficiency savings. These include: procurement; process redesign;shared services; application of IT; reduced absence; job re…
22 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates the total cost will be of the proposed Edinburgh tram lines One and Two.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20955 on 8 December 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webap…
22 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any financial contribution that it makes towards the Edinburgh tram lines One and Two will be linked to inflation.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-20955 on 8<sup> </sup>December 2005.<b> </b>All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.…
22 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial contribution it intends to make towards the Edinburgh tram lines One and Two.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The promoter’s current estimated cost for Edinburgh Tramlines One and Two, allowing for inflation is £634 million. The Scottish Executive has offered £375 million towards this total on receipt of a robust business case from the promoter. The Executive is curr…
16 Nov 2005 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to review the funding arrangements for further education colleges.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council has responsibility for allocating funds to further education colleges and promoting their efficiency and financial stability. As part of its responsibility the funding council regularly reviews funding…
15 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it stands by the statement by the then Minister for Transport on Good Morning Scotland on 10 December 2004 that “We have to make sure that, if we are forced by Europe, that we have the very best prospect possible of CalMac winning that tender”, in relation to the outcome of the Cl…
Answer · Tavish Scott: As owners of Caledonian MacBrayne Limited, ministers want to ensure that the company can competitively tender for the contract to operate the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services. However, the company cannot, and will not, be given any favourable treatment by th…
27 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions it attaches to the allocation of financial support through the Route Development Fund.
Answer · Tavish Scott: To qualify for Route DevelopmentFund (RDF) investment, each route must demonstrate that it can meet the fundamentalobjectives of the fund to improve connectivity with key business and inbound tourismmarkets.</p><p>Each route is appraised againsta wide range o…
27 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much financial support it has provided through the Route Development Fund since it was launched, broken down by route.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Since the inception of the RouteDevelopment Fund (RDF) in November 2002, a total of £1.6 million has been paid outin relation to new routes to 31 March 2005. The level of investment on an individual route basisis commercially confidential.</p>
27 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which individual routes and airlines have received financial support from the Route Development Fund since it was launched.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The information requested isprovided in the following table. A total of 31 routes have been supported sincethe inception of the Route Development Fund (RDF) by the Scottish Executive in November2002.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <…
27 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to make the provisions of the Licensing (Scotland) Bill apply equally to off-sales and on-sales premises.
Answer · George Lyon: The provisions of the Licensing (Scotland) Bill will apply equally to all premises, except where the provision is specifically drafted to apply to only on-sale or off-sale premises.</p>
27 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances a third party right of appeal in planning might be instituted.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The introduction of a third partyright of appeal in planning would require primary legislation.</p><p>The White Paper <i>Modernisingthe Planning System </i>sets out (section 5.3.4) the Executive’s reasons for notproposing a third party right of appeal in plan…
27 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make sustainable development a mandatory requirement of the planning system when the proposed Planning Bill is introduced.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The proposals in the White Paper<i>Modernising the Planning System</i> will increase the opportunities for the planningsystem to play its role in delivering sustainable development. We are currentlyconsidering the content of the Planning Bill, which we intend…
27 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will examine the recent report by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, Meeting the Standard: A Thematic Inspection of the Scottish Crime Recording Standard, which indicates that Grampian Police has a low resolution rate on reported crime; whether the same reporting procedur…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Crime RecordingStandard was introduced in April 2004 and has been applied by all forces, includingGrampian. Figures collected by the Scottish Executive show that crime clear-up ratesfor Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray are below the Scottis…
27 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response would be to a business case being made by Scottish Opera for funding for it to perform in Aberdeen.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Scottish Opera is required tooperate within the resources made available by the Scottish Executive to the ScottishArts Council. I understand that planning is underway for the 2006-07 season andthat Scottish Opera hopes to be able to mount main-scale opera in …
27 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any approaches from Scottish Opera seeking funding for it to perform in Aberdeen.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: No. The provision of public fundingfor opera performance is a matter, on the one hand, for the Scottish Arts Counciland, on the other, for the relevant local authorities. The Scottish Executive expectsnational companies such as Scottish Opera to serve the who…
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which trade bodies the Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Service Reform and Parliamentary Business was referring to during his evidence to the Local Government and Transport Committee on 27 September 2005 (Official Report c. 2895) as having made representations to him on amendment 174 t…
Answer · George Lyon: This issue was discussed by the Expert Reference Group established in May 2004 to work with the Scottish Executive. This group was set up to share information and expertise to assist the development of a range of detailed issues, including procedural issues r…
7 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which trade bodies the Deputy Minister for Finance, Public Service Reform and Parliamentary Business was referring to during his evidence to the Local Government and Transport Committee on 3 October 2005 as being supportive of the Executive's proposal to use the maximum capacity of premis…
Answer · George Lyon: The issue of maximum capacity has been discussed by members of the National Licensing Forum.</p> <p>However, comments made by individual members of the forum are non-attributable.</p>
5 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made, or intends to make, representations to Her Majesty's Government and Ofgem in respect of the impact of rising electricity prices on Scottish industry under the New Electricity Trading Arrangements which has resulted in it being stated that prices have risen from £15 pe…
Answer · Allan Wilson: Rising energy prices are very largely a result of global and UK market forces. UK electricity markets are regulated by Ofgem.</p> <p>Ofgem has stated that the introduction of the British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements (BETTA) which started …
5 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to strengthen the role of community councils.
Answer · George Lyon: We are currently undertaking a review of community councils and a discussion paper will issue shortly.</p>
5 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will seek parliamentary time to debate council tax reform.
Answer · George Lyon: In the debate on council tax in the Parliament on 14 April 2005 (on Motion S2M-2693), the (then) Deputy Minister for Finance and Local Government Reform said that the Executive had established an independent review of local government finance and that it woul…
5 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reform the council tax system.
Answer · George Lyon: The Executive has accepted that there is a need to review the performance of the present council tax system in Scotland. That is why we established an independent review of local government finance to undertake a detailed and comprehensive investigation into …
5 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any correspondence it has issued to local authorities or to COSLA in respect of increases in council tax.
Answer · George Lyon: The Scottish Executive already publishes formal correspondence issued to COSLA and to councils on financial matters, including the council tax. An example is Finance Circular No. 08/2004, issued to COSLA and to all councils by the Executive’s Finance and Cent…
3 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18594 by Tavish Scott on 15 September 2005, what estimate it has made of the lifespan of the Forth Road Bridge.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The operation and managementof the Forth Road Bridge, including any assessment of the bridge’s remaining lifespan,is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA).</p>
3 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18594 by Tavish Scott on 15 September 2005, when it envisages that a replacement for the Forth Road Bridge will be required.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The operation and management of the Forth Road Bridge, including any assessment of when, or whether a replacement crossing would be required, is a matter for the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) in the first instance. Ministers have previously made it…