Questions · David Mundell

21 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether an audit of the Dumfries and Galloway Structure Plan against national planning policy guidelines has been undertaken and, if so, what was the outcome, specifically in relation to the waste management and mineral sections.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: In approving the Dumfries and Galloway Structure Plan on 10 December, the Scottish Ministers took full account of all relevant national planning policy guidelines.In relation to minerals the Scottish Ministers were content that a detailed m…

17 Dec 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what is the legal status of the Register of Members' Interests which appears on the Scottish Parliament web site.

Answer · David Steel: Article 3(6) of the Scotland Act 1998 (Transitory and Transitional Provisions) (Members' Interests) Order 1999 provides that the Register is to be printed and published by the Clerk in such manner as the Parliament may determine. On 2 July 1999 the Parliament…

17 Dec 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Register of Members' Interests on the Scottish Parliament web site is updated contemporaneously with the register held in the chamber office.

Answer · David Steel: Yes. As updates to the Register of Members' Interests held in loose-leaf form in the Chamber Office are inserted in the Register, they are sent by e-mail to the staff of the Scottish Parliament web site. The relevant pages of the Register on the web site are …

15 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that a feasibility study is conducted into the re-opening of the railway station at Beattock, Dumfriesshire.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Under the terms of the devolution settlement for railways announced on 31 March 1998, now incorporated in the UK Transport Bill introduced on 1 December 1999, the Scottish Ministers will be able to issue directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority…

14 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Benefits Agency and the Post Office about the consequences which the introduction of a system of payment of pensions and other benefits by automated bank transfer could have on the viability of rural sub post offices in Scotland.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government across a range of issues, including those relating to the Post Office. The UK Government has indicated its commitment to maintaining a network of post offices throughout the coun…

7 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines, if any, it has issued to its employees on meeting with MSPs.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Guidance on meeting with MSPs was issued to Scottish Executive staff in September. The guidance is called Guidance on Contacts with Members of the Scottish Parliament and has been placed on the Scottish Executive Intranet.

25 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps within its powers it is taking to make it easier to work from home for those people who wish to do so.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Studies into home working, including pilot exercises, have been undertaken by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, with the aim of demonstrating these benefits. The Scottish Executive supports staff in working from home where the nature o…

25 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what support it intends to give to the "Scottish Dig" at Saqqara in Egypt, given Scotland's rich tradition in Egyptology.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The National Museums of Scotland (NMS) have a field team working at Saqqara and have been funding this project to the level of approximately £5,000 per annum since 1994-95. The NMS hope to continue funding for a further five years.

24 Nov 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps within its powers it is taking to make it easier to work from home for those people who wish to do so.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Studies into home working, including pilot exercises, have been undertaken by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, with the aim of demonstrating these benefits. The Scottish Executive supports staff in working from home where the nature…

23 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Railtrack about their engineering practices on the West Coast Main Line with a view to facilitating an early morning rail service from Lockerbie to Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: This is an operational matter for Virgin Trains and Railtrack. I understand that Virgin Trains, however, has made a formal request to Railtrack to accommodate a service from Lockerbie that would arrive in Edinburgh before 09:30.

9 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued any planning guidelines on the siting of "drive-thru" fast food restaurants adjacent to school premises.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: There is no Scottish Executive guidance on this specific issue.

9 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any statistics which it holds on the number of road traffic accidents which have occurred within the vicinity of 'drive-thru' fast food restaurants.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: This information is not available. The kinds of statistical information that have been collected for many years about road accidents in which one or more people are reported injured are shown in the example form on pages 128 to 130 of "Road Accidents Scotland…

30 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to support the contribution of the proposed Greenbank day care centre and associated housing in Langholm, Dumfriesshire to its social inclusion strategy and to strengthening the local community.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: A decision on the funding for this project, including the housing element, is for Dumfries and Galloway Council, in collaboration with its strategic community care planning partners, such as Scottish Homes.

29 Sep 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to support the contribution of the proposed Greenbank day care centre and associated housing in Langholm, Dumfriesshire to its social inclusion strategy and to strengthening the local community.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: A decision on the funding for this project, including the housing element, is for Dumfries and Galloway Council, in collaboration with its strategic community care planning partners, such as Scottish Homes.

23 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken, following the completion of the M74 from Gretna to Beattock Summit, to address the impact on Dumfries and Galloway council of having now to maintain the landscaped areas along the length of the former A74.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Within the local government finance settlement, allowances for road maintenance and associated costs are distributed on a basis agreed following consultation with local authorities.

22 Sep 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken, following the completion of the M74 from Gretna to Beattock Summit, to address the impact on Dumfries and Galloway council of having now to maintain the landscaped areas along the length of the former A74.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Within the local government finance settlement, allowances for road maintenance and associated costs are distributed on a basis agreed following consultation with local authorities.

8 Sep 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is aware that some residents of Dumfries and Galloway are unable to receive live broadcasts of the Parliament on BBC2 Scotland and whether it will take this issue up with the BBC.

Answer · David Steel: I am aware that viewers in some parts of Scotland are unable to receive certain programmes on BBC2 Scotland. While this is not a matter which the Corporate Body can rectify, I shall raise the matter with the BBC.

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to grant the application by the Federation of Small Businesses for the setting up of an inquiry under Section 211 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973 into the manner and consequences of the divestment or "externalisation" of 11 residential homes formerly run by…

Answer · Iain Gray: We have written to the Federation indicating appropriate approaches. In relation to claims that individuals are being denied their right of choice of home it is open to the individuals or their representatives to raise the issue through the Social Service Dep…

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of schemes identified in the A7 Route Action Plan, their cost and progress in their implementation.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The schemes identified in the A7 Route Action Plan (RAP) are as follows:-<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=668><TR><TD WIDTH="53%" VALIGN="TOP">Scheme</TD><TD WIDTH="13%" VALIGN="TOP">Cost</TD><T…

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of schemes identified in the A76 Route Action Plan, their cost and progress in their implementation.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The A76 Route Action Plan identified six overtaking opportunity schemes which are listed below. Currently two schemes, Crossroads (east Ayrshire) and Gateside (Dumfries and Galloway), are being prepared and draft orders will be published later this year. Prog…

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any locations in Dumfries and Galloway are under consideration for the site of the new Scottish Headquarters of the Food Standards Agency.

Answer · Susan Deacon: A decision to select Aberdeen for the location of the Agency in Scotland has been made and was announced on 5 October. This decision was made after careful consideration of a wide range of factors including transport links, accessibility to Ministers, MSPs an…

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that signposting for the town of Annan is adequate from the M74 motorway and the A75 trunk road, and in particular from the Dumfries by-pass.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Annan is signposted on the M74, A75 and Dumfries Bypass in accordance with the national guidelines contained in The Design and Use of Directional Informatory Signs manual.

19 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to encourage Her Majesty's Government to proceed with the upgrade to motorway status of the A74 from Gretna to Carlisle.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Following the 1997/98 review of the trunk road programme in England it was decided that lower cost options should be investigated for upgrading the A74 to motorway between Carlisle and Guardsmill. A study of options is in progress and a report is expected in …

25 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it intends to take to tackle the problems that feudal rights of pre-emption, in relation to properties gifted for educational and social purposes, are causing local authorities and others now that those properties are no longer used for their original purposes.

Answer · Jim Wallace: We announced on 30 June our intention to legislate to abolish the feudal system substantially along the lines recommended by the Scottish Law Commission in its recent report (Scot Law Com 168). This report recommends that the rights of superiors should be ab…

3 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for marking the official opening of the Scottish Parliament in the south of Scotland.

Answer · Donald Dewar: A wide range of organisations were involved in the Opening Ceremony, including school children from every constituency in Scotland. Plans to mark the opening of the Parliament in particular areas of Scotland were matters for local decision.