Parliamentary questions
David Mundell
955 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many miles of (a) motorway, (b) trunk road and (c) non-trunk road dual carriageway there are in each local authority area.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is given in Tables 5.1 and 5.2 of <I>Scottish Transport Statistics</I>, a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 15770).
16 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost each local authority to remove abandoned vehicles in the current year and how much it cost in each of the last three years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The information requested is not held centrally.
16 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to address any increase in the number of deliberate vehicle fires.
Answer · Richard Simpson: A recent Joint Thematic Inspection carried out by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland and HM Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland - <I>Fire: Raising the Standard</I> - recommends that forces, brigades and local authorities work together to address …
16 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the travel line providing integrated travel information will be operational.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The basic journey planning information service provided by Traveline Scotland became operational on 3 January 2001. It currently handles in the region of 5,000 calls per week and a series of improvements to the service are planned over the next 10 months to g…
16 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the role of Transport Direct is.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Transport Direct is envisaged as a comprehensive national public transport information service available on the internet, digital TV and public access terminals. It will allow people to plan their journeys and compare routes and prices. It will ultimately cov…
14 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for completion of the Rural Community Gateway website.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Work is under way on the development of the Rural Community Gateway website, and we hope to be able to launch it early in 2003. The website will be evaluated following its first year of operation.
10 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why it is the responsibility of business to be aware of local public transport options and needs as referred to in objective 2.2 of its Tourism Framework for Action 2002-05.
Answer · Mike Watson: One of the key objectives of the framework document is to assist businesses to identify actions that they can take, in order to provide a better standard of service to their customers. An example of improved service is the readily available provision of infor…
10 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to encourage business to appropriately price and process bookings from tourists in euros as referred to in objective 2.3 of its Tourism Framework for Action 2002-05.
Answer · Mike Watson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25789 today. VisitScotland is a member of the Scottish Euro Forum.
10 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work it is carrying out to attract major cultural and sporting events to Scotland as referred to in objective 2.4 of its Tourism Framework for Action 2002-05.
Answer · Mike Watson: The Executive has established a Major Events Steering Group to take forward this work. This includes VisitScotland, <B>sport</B>scotland, the Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Glasgow and Edinburgh cities and COS…
10 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how Highlands and Islands Enterprise plans to promote and provide opportunities for managers of tourism businesses to develop their business leadership skills as referred to in objective 1.1 of its Tourism Framework for Action 2002-05.
Answer · Mike Watson: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
10 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the definition is of new tourism as referred to in objective 1.2 of its Tourism Framework for Action 2002-05.
Answer · Mike Watson: During 2000 and 2001, Scottish Enterprise worked with industry and public sector partners to apply the cluster approach to the development of tourism in Scotland. The key outcome of this work was an industry-led vision and strategy, under the title "New …
10 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which research programmes and best practice case studies it uses when analysing tourists and tourism activity as referred to in objective 1.3 of its Tourism Framework for Action 2002-05.
Answer · Mike Watson: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland.
10 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans local authorities have to make sign-posting in rural areas adequate in order to meet the needs of local residents and visitors as referred to in objective 2.1 of its Tourism Framework for Action 2002-05.
Answer · Mike Watson: This is a matter for local authorities, who are best placed to consider the needs of local residents and visitors.<P>SODD Circular 27/1995 "Tourist Signposting", which is available on the Scottish Executive website, gives advice to local authorities…
10 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to enhance the status of tourism as referred to in its Tourism Framework for Action 2002-05, specifically with regard to the construction industry.
Answer · Mike Watson: VisitScotland is developing a communication strategy, "Tourism is everyone's business". One of the purposes of this work will be to raise the awareness of the importance of tourism to Scotland among other industries whose work affects or contributes…
10 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to inform tourists of their best direct access options when planning transport routes to Scotland as referred to in objective 3.2 of its Tourism Framework for Action 2002-05.
Answer · Mike Watson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25789.
10 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to encourage business to subscribe to the emerging Scottish tourism brand in order to improve the consistency of the national marketing message as referred to in objective 1.1 of its Tourism Framework for Action 2002-05.
Answer · Mike Watson: VisitScotland will do this in a number of ways: by direct communication with businesses; through the area tourist boards and the tourism trade associations, and through other channels such as the dedicated trade website Scotexchange.net.
10 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision on the planning application referred to it by Dumfries and Galloway Council for the conversion of the proposed Visitor Centre into retail space by Gretna Gateway Outlet Village.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The planning application was received by the Scottish ministers on 2 May 2002 and is currently under consideration. The target for deciding whether a case should be called in for determination by the Scottish ministers is that 80% should be decided within 28 …
9 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what permanent measures have been put in place to monitor the future impact of the foot-and-mouth disease burial site at Birkshaw on the local environment and specifically on the River Annan.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25708.
9 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis has been made of the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease burial site at Birkshaw on the local environment and specifically on the River Annan.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The site used for burial of carcasses was the subject of risk assessment by all the relevant authorities before it was constructed to ensure that it was suitable in terms of its hydrology, geology and topography. Since the site was identified, the surrounding…
8 May 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the work of the Digital Scotland pathfinder projects will lead to improved broadband access for businesses in rural areas.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Aggregated procurement is a new approach to telecoms procurement and the two pathfinder projects will be the first test. The aim of the projects is to secure an affordable solution for the Public sector. By bundling demand in this way it is hoped that this wi…
3 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the recent letter from Mr Watrett of Dumfries to the First Minister in connection with the planning system.
Answer · Margaret Curran: A reply issued from the Chief Inquiry Reporter on 10 May 2002.
3 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the effectiveness of the SCOOT traffic management system deployed in Dumfries town centre; if so, what the results of this evaluation were and, if not, what plans it has to carry out or commission any such evaluation.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No. The SCOOT traffic management system deployed in Dumfries town centre is not on the trunk road network and it is the responsibility of the local road authority to monitor and assess its effectiveness.
3 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out or commissioned any independent audit of the effectiveness of town centre traffic management arrangements instigated by local authorities and, if not, how it monitors such arrangements.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No. It is the responsibility of local authorities to monitor and assess the effectiveness of their traffic management arrangements.
3 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has carried out or commissioned into the effectiveness of bus lanes in speeding up traffic flows in town centres.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive commissioned the study<I> A Comparative Evaluation of Greenways and Conventional Bus Lanes</I> in 1999 and the report was published in 2000. The report is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 6476).
3 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what national guidelines exist on the installation of traffic lights in towns and, in particular, on the maximum number of sets of traffic lights practicable within a defined area.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: General advice on traffic signalled junctions is contained in the <I>Design Manual for Roads and Bridges</I>, in <I>Local Transport Notes</I> and in Traffic Advisory Leaflets. <P>For pedestrian crossings guidance suggests a minimum spacing of 100 metres to ad…
3 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) males and (b) females have gained permanent employment as a result of the modern apprenticeship scheme.
Answer · Iain Gray: All Modern Apprentices (MAs) must have employed status to participate in the MA programme.
3 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of the people undertaking modern apprenticeships are (a) male and (b) female.
Answer · Iain Gray: There are currently 23,281 modern apprentices in training of which 16,105 (69%) are male and 7,127 (31%) female.
2 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it promotes best practice in town centre traffic management.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Guidance on best practice for traffic management, and other road-related issues, is contained within the <I>Design Manual for Roads and Bridges</I> published by HMSO. The guidance and advice contained within this series of documents has been agreed and publis…
1 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of the leaflet promoting the completion of the M74.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The cost of designing and printing the leaflet was £13,220.
1 May 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements are planned to the Freight Facilities Grants scheme in the light of statements in the recent report by MDS Transmodal, which it commissioned, regarding taxpayers' value for money.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We will carefully consider the recommendations within the report to ensure that an integrated and sustainable freight transport system continues to be developed for Scotland.