Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 May 2008 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that any truth and reconciliation process for dealing with the legacy of historic child abuse in Scotland should involve hearings about cases of abuse that have been previously been subject to the time bar and whether victims should be entitled to support in meeting t…
Answer · Adam Ingram: I put forward the proposal to consider introducing a truth and reconciliation approach in a statement to parliament on 7 February 2008. Public consultation will take place on this during the summer and will inform decisions in relation to time bar and legal r…
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11249 by Michael Russell on 22 April 2008, on what occasions ministers discussed the Laurel Grant Ltd planning application.
Answer · Michael Russell: Ministers have not discussed the Laurel Grant planning application. Determination of the application was a matter for the Cairngorms National Park Authority.</p>
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11249 by Michael Russell on 22 April 2008, what advice or information was given to ministers by government planning officials, as part of their territorial planning responsibilities on receipt of Laurel Grant Ltd’s letter to ministers on 5 February 2…
Answer · Michael Russell: The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism received background briefing for the meeting on 21 February with representatives from Laurel Grant Ltd.</p>
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11249 by Michael Russell on 22 April 2008, what advice or information government planning officials imparted to ministers on first learning of the Laurel Grant Ltd application, as part of their territorial planning responsibilities.
Answer · Michael Russell: No advice was provided to ministers, there having been no representation or concerns raised with the Scottish Government on the issue.</p>
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11249 by Michael Russell on 22 April 2008, what advice or information government planning officials imparted to the Cairngorms National Park Authority on learning of the Laurel Grant Ltd application and its prospective integration within the Aviemore…
Answer · Michael Russell: No information or advice was sought or given.</p>
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11249 by Michael Russell on 22 April 2008, what advice or information was received by government planning officials, as part of their territorial liaison responsibilities, from the Cairngorms National Park Authority in relation to their handling of t…
Answer · Michael Russell: The information received from the Park Authority, which was not specific to the Laurel Grant application, was the relevant agenda and supporting papers for the planning committee of 14 December. No advice was received or given and at the time no representatio…
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11249 by Michael Russell on 22 April 2008, which government planning officials knew of the Laurel Grant Ltd application, scheduled to be heard by the Cairngorms National Park Authority on the 11 January 2008, as part of their territorial liaison resp…
Answer · Michael Russell: The planning officials were John McNairney and Steve Dowell.</p>
8 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11249 by Michael Russell on 22 April 2008, when in December 2007 government planning officials learned that the Laurel Grant Ltd application was to be considered by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
Answer · Michael Russell: Government planning officials, through their routine planning liaison responsibilities, received in early December, the agenda for the Cairngorms National Park Authority''s meeting on 14 December. This referred to a number of proposed development applications…
7 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Public Transport Users Committee for Scotland was expected to play in representing the interests of ferry passengers and whether Passengers’ View Scotland will continue to play a role in that regard.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is open to the Public Transport Users Committee for Scotland, which operates under the name of Passengers'' View Scotland, to consider the interests of ferry passengers within the context of its remit.</p>
7 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish all guidance given to the Scottish appointee member of Passenger Focus.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information the member has requested is given in <i >Terms and Conditions for Appointment to the Board of the Rail Passengers Council </i>a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45603).</p> <p >In addit…
7 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met with representatives of Passenger Focus.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I last met with representatives of Passenger Focus on Wednesday 14 May 2008.</p>
7 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the appointment of the new convenor of the Public Transport Users Committee for Scotland, now Passengers’ View Scotland, was decided.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This was a ministerial decision made in accordance with guidance from the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland.</p>
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what total subsidy has been provided for (a) revenue and (b) capital costs for ferry services in each year from 1999-2000 to the latest year for which figures are available and what the percentage increase is in each year for (i) revenue, (ii) capital and (iii) overall total subsidies.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member as soon as the information is available and a copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45569).</p>
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its most up to date estimate is of the total financial support given to (a) Caledonian MacBrayne and (b) NorthLink in 2007-08.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-12583 on 14 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
1 May 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what subsidy has been provided to (a) Caledonian MacBrayne and (b) NorthLink and its predecessor in each year from 1999-2000 to the latest year for which figures are available.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The tables below list the basic subsidy payments made to Caledonian MacBrayne, CalMac Ferries Ltd, P&O Scottish Ferries Ltd, NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd and NorthLink Ferries Ltd. The figures do not include capital expenditure.</p> <p >Tabl…
30 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much transport expenditure there was in each parliamentary constituency in each of the last five years, also expressed on a per capita basis.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.</p>
30 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much transport expenditure there was in each local authority area in each of the last five years, also expressed on a per capita basis.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-32679 on 29 March 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…
30 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-32685 by Tom McCabe on 30 March 2007, what level of funding was provided to each local authority from 1999-2000 to 2006-07 showing average percentage changes over the whole period, also expressed on per capita basis and as national averages, alongsid…
Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is shown in the following table.</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td width=143 nowrap rowspan=2 valign=bottom > <p align=left > </p> </td> <td width=227 nowrap colspan=3 valign=…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways the proposed change involving the closure of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland will lead to improvements in mobility for disabled people.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Bringing together the Public Transport Users'' Committee for Scotland and the Mobility Access Committee for Scotland into a high-level single body will mainstream disability and accessibility issues. This move will reinforce positively the ability of disabled…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the remit proposed for Passengers’ View Scotland will include all the responsibilities previously undertaken by the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. The enlarged Passengers'' Views Scotland will act in the interests and concerns of disabled people. It will represent the interests of all public transport users in Scotland and will mainstream disability and accessibility issues.</p>
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the research budgets were for the (a) Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland and (b) Public Transport Users’ Committee for Scotland in 2007-08 and what research budget has been set aside for Passengers’ View Scotland in 2008-09.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There is no individual research budget for the Public Transport Users'' Committee (PTUC). It is for the PTUC to determine its research needs and submit a business case for research on an individual basis. Each case will be assessed on its merits and considere…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which statutory body will advise ministers on policy interventions to assist in enhancing mobility for people with disabilities following the proposed closure of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Public Transport Users'' Committee for Scotland which operates under the name of Passengers'' View Scotland (PVS), is the statutory body which represents the interests of all transport users in Scotland. It will advise ministers on all mobility and access…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which statutory body will advise ministers on community transport for disabled people following the proposed closure of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Public Transport Users'' Committee for Scotland (PTUC), which operates under the name of Passengers'' View Scotland, is the statutory body which represents the interests of all transport users in Scotland. It will advise ministers on all mobility and acce…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which statutory body will advise ministers on demand responsive transport for disabled people following the proposed closure of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Public Transport Users'' Committee for Scotland (PTUC), which operates under the name of Passengers'' View Scotland (PVS), is the statutory body which represents the interests of all transport users in Scotland. It will advise ministers on all mobility an…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the remit of Passengers’ View Scotland includes advising ministers on (a) disability badge schemes, (b) taxicard schemes for disabled people and (c) non-scheduled services used by disabled people
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Mobility and Accessibility Committee for Scotland (MACS) currently advises on these issues. Following amalgamation, Passengers'' View Scotland will provide advice to ministers on the broad range of issues which affect disabled travellers.</p>
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Passengers’ View Scotland is expected to take over the remit of statutory adviser to Scottish Ministers on the incorporation of the interests of disabled people into transport policy and whether its remit will include all elements of the remit formerly fulfilled by the Mobility an…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. Passengers'' View Scotland represents the interests of all transport users.</p> <p >In keeping with the principles of efficient government, the remit of Passengers'' View Scotland is continually under review.</p>
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the work of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland will be recorded and followed through when the committee ceases to function.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The work of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) is available through their website.</p> <p >It is the intention that once the proposed amalgamation with the Public Transport Users'' Committee for Scotland (PTUC) has taken place, the MACS we…
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action was taken to pursue any of the recommendations and outstanding work priorities following the winding up of the Rail Passenger Committee (Scotland) in 2005.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As successor to the eight regional Rail Passengers'' Committees, this is a matter for Passenger Focus to consider in the context of its remit.</p>
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it envisages for Passengers’ View Scotland in monitoring and commenting on the performance of the Scotrail franchise on a regular basis.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for Passengers'' View Scotland to consider in the context of its remit and the expectation that it will work in close partnership with Passenger Focus to ensure that there is no duplication of responsibilities.</p>
29 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements of particular interest to disabled people have been secured under the agreement to extend the Scotrail franchise.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is given in the ScotRail Franchise Amendment Agreement, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45544).</p>