Parliamentary questions

Des McNulty

1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether on 4 December 2007 the Scottish Environment Protection Agency agreed to the contents of a letter in which it gave its consent to the approval of the planning application put forward by Aviemore resort hotels in the absence of a satisfactory flood risk assessment; whether this lett…

Answer · Michael Russell: This is an operational issue for SEPA, and I have asked the Chief Executive, Campbell Gemmell, to write to you.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since 27 November 2007 the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has contacted the chief executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or any other official or board member of SEPA in relation to any live planning application; what …

Answer · Michael Russell: The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment acting in his ministerial capacity has had no such contacts.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9066 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, on how many occasions since 7 December 2007 (a) the Minister for Environment or (b) any other minister has contacted the chief executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) or any other of…

Answer · Michael Russell: Neither the Minister for Environment nor any other Scottish Government minister acting in their ministerial capacity has had any such contacts.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-09480 by Michael Russell on 28 February 2008, which special advisers telephoned the communications officer for Mr Macdonald’s company on 9 January, 23 January and 7 February; whether a record was kept of these telephone conversations, and what was de…

Answer · Michael Russell: There is no record of which special advisers spoke to the Communications Officer for Mr MacDonald''s company.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to discuss the outcome of the Aviemore resort hotels masterplan planning application that was considered by Cairngorm National Park Authority in December 2007; who attended these …

Answer · Michael Russell: There have been no meetings or subsequent discussions between the Scottish Government and SEPA on these issues.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10965 by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008, whether the correspondence and enclosures from Mr Macdonald that “were not shown to the First Minister” were forwarded to or drawn to the attention of any special advisor, government official or other minist…

Answer · Michael Russell: The correspondence and enclosures were not forwarded to or drawn to the attention of any special advisor, government official or other ministers. The only officials to see the correspondence were the assistant private secretary with responsibility fo…

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who represented the Cairngorms National Park Authority and Highland Council at the meeting involving the Minister for Community Safety in Aviemore on 26 October 2007 and whether any officials were present.

Answer · John Swinney: As this meeting was attended in a constituency capacity, no records are held by the Scottish Government.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice was given to ministers regarding their attendance at or participation in a meeting held at the SNP party conference with representatives from Aviemore resort hotels.

Answer · Michael Russell: Guidance for ministers regarding their engagement with planning matters is set out at section 8 of the Scottish Ministerial Code. The code, which is available on the Scottish Government website, can be accessed through the following link: <a href="h…

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Water Industry Commission has a role in assessing the amount set aside from the funding available to Scottish Water for the remuneration of its executive directors.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No. The Water Industry Commission determines the overall cost of delivering Ministers'' objectives for the water industry in Scotland over a regulatory period. In doing so it considers the overall staffing costs appropriate to a company of Scottish Water''s s…

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Water Industry Commission has a role in setting or monitoring the criteria used to determine the remuneration of Scottish Water executive directors.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No. The criteria for director''s remuneration were agreed between Scottish Water''s Board and the previous administration in 2006. Insofar as the bonus element is concerned the board has regard to the Water Industry Commission''s monitoring and reporting of S…

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for setting Scottish Water the targets for customer satisfaction, call handling and the number of written complaints, which are used to assist in determining the directors’ salaries.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: These targets are set by Scottish Water''s Board in agreement with its regulator, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland. Bonuses are paid only in the event of outperformance of the set targets.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last benchmarked the salaries of Scottish Water’s directors against organisations of similar size and complexity.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Benchmarking was carried out in 2006 on their behalf by Scottish Water''s advisers and formed part of the board''s and the previous administration''s consideration and agreement of the directors'' remuneration framework for 2006-10.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how an executive director’s personal performance, which is used to determine 15% of his or her salary, is assessed; how the assessment is conducted, and whether guidance is provided by ministers.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for Scottish Water''s Board to determine within the remuneration framework for directors for 2006-10 agreed in 2006 with the previous administration.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Government pay guidance applies to executive directors of Scottish Water and, if not, what its reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. The executive directors of Scottish Water are subject to Scottish Government pay policy for senior public appointments.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a 34% increase in salary for an executive director of Scottish Water is consistent with Scottish Government pay guidance.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The level of remuneration packages for Scottish Water''s Directors is a matter for Scottish Water''s Board to determine within the remuneration framework agreed with the previous administration in 2006. As part of that framework annual increases in basic sala…

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers were involved in the decision to increase from 20% the percentage of salary paid in bonus to executive directors of Scottish Water and, if so, when ministers were involved and to what percentage the level of salary bonus has been increased.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The current framework agreement for Scottish Water Directors'' remuneration for the 2006-10 regulatory period includes a potential annual bonus of up to 40% of basic salary. This framework was agreed in 2006 with the previous administration. The framework for…

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers were asked if they approved the £342,555 contractual sum associated with pension top-up arrangements paid to Dr Jon Hargreaves on his resignation as chief executive of Scottish Water in November 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No. Dr Hargreaves'' terms and conditions on his appointment as Chief Executive of Scottish Water from April 2002, including his pension entitlements, were approved at the time of his appointment.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the remunerations advisers are for Scottish Water.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: That is a matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the chief executive to respond to you directly.

11 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has contingency plans in case of disruption resulting from industrial action by employees of Scottish Water and, if so, what those plans involve.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you directly about this.

11 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given to Scottish Water over the level of pay increases for staff and whether that advice indicates that it is acceptable for senior executives in Scottish Water to have large percentage increases compared to the majority of those employed in the industry.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We agreed with Scottish Water a staff pay remit for 2008-09 compliant with the Scottish Government''s policy on public sector pay. Scottish Water implemented the maximum pay award within that remit. Senior directors'' remuneration for 2008-09 has yet to b…

11 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to the board of Scottish Water to the effect that all employees in the water industry should be rewarded in the same way for achieving efficiency savings over the last two years and in future years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No. Remuneration is a matter for Scottish Water to agree with its workforce in accordance with the Scottish Government''s policy for public sector pay. As part of the remuneration packages for both senior executives and staff, Scottish Water operates non-cons…

11 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what way its rules regarding pay prevent Scottish Water from using efficiency savings to top up its pay offer to employees in the same way as local government.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water, like other Scottish public corporations and non-departmental public bodies in Scotland, is subject to the Scottish Government''s policy on public sector pay. The pay award implemented recently by Scottish Water was approved under the policy fo…

11 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by what percentage the remuneration of the chief executive of Scottish Water has increased relative to that received by his predecessor in 2006-07.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water''s current chief executive was appointed on 25 March 2008 at a basic annual salary of £263,000 with a potential annual performance bonus of up to 40% and a long-term incentive package. The amount of bonus will be determined after the end of the…

11 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by how much the remuneration of the (a) chair, (b) asset management director and (c) commercial director of Scottish Water has increased in the last two years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is given on page 29 of Scottish Water''s annual report and accounts for 2007-08, Delivering Best Ever Value For Our Customers, published by Scottish Water earlier this year, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parli…

31 Oct 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date in November 2008 it expects to publish the strategic transport projects review.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is expected that there will be an announcement in Parliament on the outcome of the strategic transport projects review before the end of the year, with a date yet to be determined.

30 Oct 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what efforts are being made to identify and quantify any risk to the national companies arising from withdrawal of commercial sponsorship for productions as a result of upheaval in the financial sector.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: All the National Performing companies, as independent charitable companies, are responsible for monitoring and managing their income from a variety of sources. The risk of losing commercial income is regularly assessed by the companies'' boards. The Scottish …

30 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16170 by John Swinney on 23 September 2008, how it will break down the nature and extent of representations submitted by members of the public, including support for different options, to inform its decision regarding the planning application by Trum…

Answer · John Swinney: Legitimate public concern or support expressed on relevant planning matters will be taken into account in the decision-making process. Once the planning decision is made the report of the public local inquiry will be published on the Scottish Governm…

12 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Sir Angus Grossart will be entitled to (a) receive remuneration or (b) claim expenses in connection with his role as chair of the Scottish Futures Trust and, if so, how much has been budgeted for these expenditures for (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10.

Answer · John Swinney: The Chair of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) is entitled to receive remuneration in line with the limits set by the government for such fees. The remuneration set for this post is just over £15,000 a year. However Sir Angus Grossart, following his appointmen…

10 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the reporter’s report and recommendations following the public local inquiry into the planning application by Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, for a development at the Menie Estate, Aberdeenshire, and whether receipt of the report, if not its contents, …

Answer · John Swinney: We expect to receive the report of the public local inquiry during the autumn. We will advise Parliament and will make an announcement through the Scottish Government''s website when the report of the inquiry is submitted by the reporters.

10 Sep 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many representations it has received, either directly or via Aberdeenshire Council, in relation to the planning application by Trump International Golf Links, Scotland, for a development at the Menie Estate, Aberdeenshire, and how many (a) were supportive, (b) requested that the devel…

Answer · John Swinney: We received correspondence from approximately 4,800 people prior to the public local inquiry into the planning application for the Menie Estate, and have received around 1,600 pieces of correspondence following the close of the inquiry. We do not hold the inf…