Parliamentary questions

David Mundell

955 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

21 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements to Anglo-Scottish sleeper services were specified in the new ScotRail franchise agreement.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Under the terms of thefranchise agreement, the new operator is required to submit for approval aprogramme of improvements for the Anglo-Scottish sleeper services within sixmonths of the franchise commencement date. These improvements are to be fullyimplemente…

15 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of total transport expenditure it expects to invest in (a) roads, (b) railways, (c) bus services and (d) other transport schemes in each of the next three years.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The funding allocated to Transport Portfolio was published in the Draft Budget 2005-06, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 34133) The following table represents the percentage funding allocated to specific mo…

13 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to develop commuter ferry services between Fife and Edinburgh.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Fife Council, City of Edinburgh Council, Forth Estuary Transport Authority and Forth Ports have commissioned an initial study into Options for a Cross ForthPassenger Service. The Scottish Executive has no current plans to develop commuter ferry services betwe…

13 Sep 2004 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive has any plans for a national police force.

Answer · Jack McConnell: We reviewed the existing eight force structure in 2000 and concluded that there was not a case for moving to a single force. However, we are reforming the structure of common police services and are introducing efficiencies that will concentrate resources to …

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what duties in respect of the delivery of transport policy will be the responsibility of (a) the new national transport agency, (b) local transport agencies and (c) the Minister for Transport.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: As an executive agency within the Scottish Executive, the proposed national transport agency will exercise such transport powers and discharge such responsibilities on behalf of Scottish ministers, as Scottish ministers choose to delegate to it. Consideration…

7 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements in journey times between Edinburgh and Glasgow it has secured under the new ScotRail franchise.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The new franchise agreement is based on the current level of service. However, the delivery of a reliable and regular service between Edinburgh and Glasgow will be underpinned by a tougher performance regime in the new franchise agreement and our investment i…

7 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is monitoring the use made by local authorities of the provisions within the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 since it came into force.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We are currently in the process of evaluating the effectiveness of the provisions contained in the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 with the assistance of a small Working Group comprising local authority officers including a representative from COSLA. A survey…

2 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements to on-board facilities it has secured for rail services between (a) Edinburgh and Glasgow and (b) Aberdeen and Inverness under the ScotRail franchise.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: On-board catering services under the new ScotRail franchise will be subject to a stringent performance regime whereby failures in standards will attract financial penalties for the franchisee. A similar provision does not exist under the current franchise.</p…

11 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions there have been under the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 since it came into force.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Statistics covering court proceedings concluded in the period since the 2003 act came into force are not yet available.

6 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any part of the south of Scotland has been designated a mountainous region by the European Union and, if so, what implications this has financially and environmentally for farmers in the area.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The European Union has not designated any part of the south of Scotland as a mountainous region. On 14 July 2004, the Commission of the European Communities published a proposal for the European Union’s rural development policy which will cover the period 200…

25 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in establishing out-of-hours GP services in rural Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The new GMS contract allows most GP practices to transfer responsibility for out-of-hours care to their NHS board, who must have alternative arrangements for the provision of these services in place by the end of December 2004.NHS boards are currently …

25 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action VisitScotland is taking to promote country sports tourism.

Answer · Frank McAveety: VisitScotland fully recognisesthe value of country sports to the tourism industry in rural Scotland. Itactively promotes Scotland as an ideal destination to undertake a wide range ofthese activities against the backdrop of the natural beauty of our countrysid…

25 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering adopting a beef national envelope under Common Agricultural Policy reform proposals.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I can confirm that consideration is being given to the introduction of a beef national envelope. Options have been discussed with stakeholders. The Executive hopes to be in a position to make an announcement shortly.

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-1997 by Allan Wilson on 22 April 2004, what byelaws will require to be enacted in relation to the Border Esk and what the procedure for enacting them will be.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scotland Act 1998 (BorderRivers) Order 1999 makes provisions for management of salmon and freshwater fisheriesprincipally in relation to the River Esk.Byelaws will be required to addressa number of fisheries management issues, including regulation …

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce rod licenses on the River Tweed.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has no plans at the moment for introducing rod licences on the River Tweedor any other Scottish rivers.

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a complaints procedure for dealing with administrative errors made in the Court of Session.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Complaints made to the Courtof Session regarding the conduct of Scottish Court Service (SCS) staff may be dealtwith under the SCS Complaints procedure. This is detailed in SCS guidance leafletentitled “how to make a complaint”. Copies are available from the S…

30 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for remedying administrative errors in the operation of the Court of Session.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The conduct of court actionsin the Court of Session, is a matter for the presiding judge.

14 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Environment Agency in respect of the agency's proposals to introduce rod licenses on the River Esk.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Officialsfrom the Scottish Executive, DEFRA andthe Environment Agency have met recently to discuss the proposed fishery managementplan for the Border Esk, which includes proposed new byelaws. The proposedintroduction of rod licences is related to the introduc…

17 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for diabetic eye screening.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: TheExecutive is working with NHS boards to provide diabetic retinopathy screeningto all people with diabetes by March 2006.

13 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional funding has been allocated to Transport Initiatives Edinburgh to fund a study trip to Lyon and, if so, how much has been allocated and from which budget.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There has been no additionalfunding allocated to Transport Initiatives Edinburgh to fund a study trip to Lyon.

11 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will allocate further funding to cover any additional capital costs, should the capital cost of Edinburgh's tram lines 1 and 2 exceed the #375 million it has currently allocated.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive committed £375million to Edinburgh’s tram network last March. Any additional funding isa matter for Transport Initiatives Edinburgh and Edinburgh City Council.

10 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the cost of replacing the bridge at the Crawfordjohn junction on the A76 between Kirkconnel and Sanquhar to allow a two-way flow of traffic and, if so, what the cost would be.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has not made an assessment of the cost of replacing the bridge at theCrawfordjohn Junction on the A76 between Kirkconnel and Sanquhar.

10 Feb 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it cost to replace traffic lights at the bridge at the Crawfordjohn Junction on the A76 between Kirkconnel and Sanquhar.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The cost of the recent replacement of the traffic lights at the bridge at the Crawfordjohn Junction onthe A76 between Kirkconnel and Sanquhar was £27,800.

26 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it is making to Her Majesty's Government with regard to the possible devolution of further decisions on public transport to the Executive.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with UK Government on a wide range of issues,including the review which was announced by the Secretary of State forTransport in his statement to the House of Commons on 19 January 2004.

26 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact Her Majesty's Government's review of the railways will have on the Executive's plans to set up a transport agency.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with UK Government on a wide range of issues,including the review of the railways. We remain committed to delivering our partnershipagreement commitment to bring forward proposals for a new Scottish transportagency…

26 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that it is involved in Her Majesty's Government's review of the railways.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with UK Government on a wide range of issues,including the review of the railways. The Executive willplay a full role in the review.

16 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive where the proposed new transport agency will be located.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Ministers will, in thenormal manner, review the location of the proposed national transport agency indue course.

14 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is responsible for any part of the ancillary works in relation to the upgrade of the A74 from Gretna to Carlisle.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: No.

14 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government regarding the upgrade of the A74 from Gretna to Carlisle.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive is in regularcontact with Her Majesty's Government on a range of transport issues in England withimplications for Scotland, including construction of the M6 from Carlisle toGuards Mill at Gretna.

14 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its action plan for the social economy.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: We are developing the actionplan and hope to make an announcement shortly.