David Mundell

26 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has in determining whether the National Anthem or any other national song is formally played at public events.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive hasno role in these matters. Arrangements for the selection and playing of tunesat public events are a matter for the organisers of the event.</p>

14 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has carried out into the inter-relationship between the benefit system and the potential extension of free personal care to under-65s with specified medical conditions.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive has alwaysbeen clear that issues affecting other care groups are not merely an extensionof those for older people<b>. </b>These are complex needs which need to belooked at in more detail and would impact more directly on reserved matterssuch as …

12 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many boundary disputes remain unresolved between AMEY Highways Ltd and local authorities in the South of Scotland.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any unresolved disputes between AMEY Highways Ltd andlocal authorities in the South of Scotland.</p>

12 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact of the introduction of NHS24 has been on the operation of the ambulance service in Ayrshire.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS24 has been operationalin the Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board area since May 2003, dealing with callsfrom the public as well as handling out of hours calls on behalf of GPs. In theperiod immediately after its introduction, there was a significant increase int…

11 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to establish a pedestrian crossing on the A68 in Lauder.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has commissioned Amey Highways Ltd to carry out an engineeringassessment to determine if a pedestrian crossing is justified on the A68 inLauder.</p>

3 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce legislation to amend the defamation laws as suggested in petition PE578 to the Parliament.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Petition PE578 invites the Scottish Parliament to consider extending absolute privilege to children andother vulnerable people reporting abuse to an appropriate authority.</p><p>At present, any person,including the alleged victim, who reports such matters to …

3 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of the A82 Tarbet to Crianlarich Route Action Plan.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: A commission to undertake theA82 Route Action Plan was recently awarded to Scott Wilson Scotland Ltd. A starton the study work is imminent.</p>

29 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the current River Nith commissioners are and what discussions it has had with them on the proposed new cycle bridge over the Nith at Dumfries.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The proposed new bridge isthe responsibility of Dumfries and Galloway Council, who are required toconsult interested bodies under section 75 (3) of the Roads (Scotland) Act1984.</p><p>The Scottish Executive has had no discussions with Nith river commissioners…

3 Sep 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances the flying of a national flag would breach any of the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regulations 1984.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: Those regulations (asamended) provide for the control of the display of advertisements in Scotland.The regulations specify the types of advertisement that are exempt fromcontrol, those that may be displayed with “deemed consent” and those whichrequire to be t…

27 Aug 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what the policy of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is on the employment or placement of people with learning difficulties.

Answer · Duncan McNeil: The Scottish Parliamentary CorporateBody (SPCB) does not have a formal policy on the employment of people with learningdifficulties. The SPCB recruits on the basis of fair and open competition. However,officials are actively working towards the SPCB becoming …

27 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would be to it of extending the availability of broadband beyond the level currently planned by telecommunications companies.

Answer · Jim Wallace: There are already a number ofScottish Executive initiatives aimed at extending the availability of broadbandbeyond the level planned by the commercial market. The latest measures under ournew broadband initiative have funding of up to £24 million.</p>

27 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any legal or regulatory differences between Scotland and Northern Ireland which would prevent it adopting a policy similar to the Northern Ireland Executive on the introduction of 100% broadband coverage.

Answer · Jim Wallace: No. The Executive also has apolicy aim and strategy for pervasive and affordable broadband coverage in Scotland. Weare taking forward a number of activities to achieve this.</p>

27 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding its tender process for the introduction of 100% broadband coverage in Northern Ireland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is in discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on a wide rangeof matters, including broadband.</p>

27 Aug 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the economic impact of increased water charges on small businesses in the south of Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has not made such an assessment. However, the Water Industry Commissioner provided an economic assessment for Scotland as a whole in the Strategic Charges Review, following which ministers set the revenue cap forScottish Water and decid…

21 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the proposals by Amey Highways Ltd to increase the number of winter maintenance patrols on the A76 and A701.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has asked Amey Highways Ltd to prepare a business case for introducingwinter maintenance patrols on the A76 and A701. The Executive will considerAmey’s proposals and make a decision based on the merits of the case before the2003-04 wint…

12 Aug 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how businesses in the south of Scotland will directly benefit from its Broadband Pathfinder project.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Pathfinder Projects areaimed at broadband service provision for the public sector. Potentially, thesupplier’s investment in broadband infrastructure in the South of ScotlandPathfinder area may also result in broadband being made available to businessand t…

24 Jul 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the planned improvements to the A75.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Further to the answer to question S1W-30886 on 19 November 2002 and subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures the current position on the A75 planned improvements is:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0> <tr> <td> <p>Cair…

23 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it, or any of its agencies or non-departmental public bodies have used the construction management method of procurement and, if so, what the client, project and (a) expected and (b) actual timescales for, and costs of, delivery were in each case.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The construction management procurement route is suited to large, complex projects where aspects of the briefing and design are incomplete at the commencement of site works. No projects of this nature, using this procurement route, have been completed in rece…

19 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-6679 by Ross Finnie on 20 March 2003, what progress has been made in developing a national disposal scheme for fallen stock.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Following further negotiations with industry organisations, the other devolved administrations and DEFRA a revised financial framework has been agreed and an announcement was made on 24 July that a UK-wide national scheme would be set-up. This will be adminis…

19 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-699 by Ross Finnie on 17 June 2003, whether it will support locating offices in Scotland of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and, if so, in what locations.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Location of any offices in Scotland will be a matter for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to determine once it has been established.

19 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2F-84 by Mr Jack McConnell on 12 June 2003, how many responses it has received to its consultation on a long-term solution for the management of radioactive waste and when the consultation will be completed.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive received 25 responses to the consultation document <I>Managing Radioactive Waste Safely: proposals for developing a policy for managing solid radioactive waste in the UK</I>, which ran from 12 September 2001 to 12 March 2002. The consultation wa…

19 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the economic impact on the south of Scotland of any planned changes to the Common Agricultural Policy.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Agreement on CAP Reform was reached at the Agriculture Council on 26 June. The agreement includes flexibility to shape elements of the reform package within Scotland. Over the coming months, the Executive will be considering the economic impact of the availab…

12 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Dumfries and Galloway Council about the timetable for the construction of the new footbridge at Lockerbie Station and when the project will be completed.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive is in regular contact with Dumfries and Galloway Council about progress on the construction of a new disabled access footbridge at Lockerbie rail station, for which funding has already been allocated in 2003-04.

12 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the results are of its investigation into the impact on local authorities of disaggregation of the trunk road maintenance contracts.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25119 on 30 April 2002, further to which my officials are continuing to meet with the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation Scotland (SCOTS) quarterly. SCOTS has not given any indication that the tr…

10 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long it will extend the current ScotRail franchise beyond the expiry date of 31 March 2004 and what the cost implications are of doing so.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Strategic Rail Authority has advised that an extension to the current franchise is likely to enable mobilisation of the new franchise. The current franchise agreement allows for an extension on non-negotiable terms of up to seven four-week periods (approx…

9 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received about the likely (a) start and (b) completion date of works to upgrade the A74 from Gretna to Carlisle to motorway status.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I understand that contractors have been appointed to take this project forward and their consultants are now working on the detailed design of the route. Details will be published by the end of this year and, subject to satisfactory completion of statutory pr…

9 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government about the siting in Scotland of offices of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has regular discussions with the UK Government on a number of issues, including the establishment of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

9 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government, the North West Development Agency and any other body about the future of Carlisle Airport and what assessment has been made of the economic impact on the south of Scotland of any proposed daily return air services between the airp…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive has had discussions with the UK Government about the future of Carlisle Airport, and also with the owners of the airport about their plans for its development. No discussions have been held with the North West Development Agency. There has been …

9 Jun 2003 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Executive will regard as the "resolution of waste management issues", as referred to in A Partnership for a Better Scotland, before supporting the building of new nuclear power stations.

Answer · Jack McConnell: No decisions can be taken until we have fully considered and evaluated the outcome of the current consultation on a long-term solution for the management of radioactive waste.

3 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the consequences are of a local authority not electing a convener within the legally specified period.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The election of the convenor of the authority is a matter for individual local councils.