Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used to justify the revision to the terms of the revenue-sharing scheme between it and First Scotrail.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the ministerial statement which can be found in column 7712 in the <i >Official Report</i> of Thursday 17 April 2008. The <i >Official Report</i> can be found at: </p> <p ><a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialRep…
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the target revenue figure which has to be reached before the revenue sharing scheme between the Executive and First Scotrail takes effect.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer to the ministerial statement I gave to the Parliament on 17 April 2008.</p> <p >Details of the revenue sharing scheme between the Scottish Government and First ScotRail are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.</p>
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish full details of the additional services contained in the three-year extension to the Scotrail franchise.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is given in the <i >ScotRail Franchise Amendment Agreement</i>, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45544).</p>
11 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the strategic directions and guidance applicable for the three-year extension to the Scotrail franchise.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The franchise contract is let and managed by Scottish ministers through Transport Scotland. There are no directions and guidance applicable to its extension.</p>
7 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has received regarding the advantages and disadvantages for Glasgow 2014 of extending the rail franchise agreement.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The franchise extension has secured £1 million of additional services and secured the franchisee''s involvement in the planning and delivery of rail services which will form a crucial component of the transport support for the games.</p>
7 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the decision to extend the rail franchise without a consultative process is consistent with the national transport strategy.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11683 on 23 April 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…
7 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps were taken to renegotiate some of the terms of the rail franchise as part of the negotiations leading to the extension of the franchise and what the substantive changes are.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The revenue share provisions in the contract have been re-set and a profit cap inserted for the first time. Benchmarks have been tightened and a range of new initiatives have been secured for best value and over £70 million has been captured for re-investment…
7 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that all its obligations have been met under the general and specific requirements of the disability equality duty to consult representatives of disability organisations over the decision to extend the current rail franchise
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11683 on 23 April 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…
7 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the way in which the decision to extend the current franchise agreement with First Scotrail was arrived at was in line with undertakings given by ministers regarding consultation with stakeholders, including organisations representing passengers and rail employees.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11683 on 23 April 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…
7 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation there was with stakeholders, including organisations representing passengers and rail employees, prior to the announcement of the decision to extend the current franchise agreement with First Scotrail
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The extension was the activation of a contractual provision which has existed since the franchise was let, following extensive consultation and competition in 2004.</p> <p >The extension was granted in furtherance of the key objectives of the <i >National Tr…
7 Apr 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date its decision to extend the current franchise agreement with First Scotrail was published on (a) its and (b) Transport Scotland’s website.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A press release was issued and published on the Transport Scotland website on 3 April 2008. A link to the Transport Scotland website is available through the Scottish Government internet site at <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport">http://www…
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies into road equivalent tariffs have been commissioned using public funds in the last five years, also showing which have been published.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a study into road equivalent tariff (RET). Details of that study will be published in due course. I understand that no such studies had been undertaken by the previous administration.</p> <p >We are not aware …
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was allocated to West Dumbartonshire from the Fairer Scotland Fund in (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09 and how much will be allocated in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11, also showing the real-terms annual percentage changes.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF) was introduced on 1 April 2008, and replaced seven previous funding streams. This was, in part, in response to a recommendation by the previous administration''s Finance Committee to simplify and better co-ordinate funding strea…
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much grant aided expenditure (GAE) was awarded to West Dumbartonshire Council in 2008-09 and what the comparative figure would have been if the GAE had been increased in line with the average annual increase across all local authorities.
Answer · John Swinney: Under the terms of the concordat with local government, the Scottish Government no longer uses grant aided expenditure provision to indicate the government''s spending priorities.</p>
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was allocated to West Dumbartonshire from the Supporting People Fund in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2007-08 and what the percentage difference is in real terms.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: West Dunbartonshire Council was allocated £14.355 million of Supporting People grant in 2007-08. From 1 April 2008, the Supporting People baseline was transferred in its entirely into the financial settlement for each local authority, and is therefore no lon…
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact a 40% reduction in ferry fares for residents of Cumbrae, Arran, Mull and Islay would have on the economies of these islands.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The current study into Road Equivalent Study is considering the impact of a reduction in fares for all categories of passengers. The Scottish Government believes that is the way to stimulate economies in rural communities served by ferries. The suggestion to …
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average incomes are on (a) Cumbrae, (b) Islay, (c) Mull and (d) the Western Isles.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We only hold figures at local authority level therefore I am unable to provide the average incomes for (a) Cumbrae, (b) Islay or (c) Mull. The average weekly income in (d) the Western Isles in 2007 was £445.20. The source of this information is the 2007 Annua…
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost per mile is for (a) passengers, (b) average sized passenger cars and (c) large commercial vehicles on ferry routes to (i) Arran and Cumbrae, (ii) Islay and Mull and (iii) the Western Isles.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The first phase of the report of the study into road equivalent tariff is currently being finalised. The report will include details of the cost per mile for (a) passengers, (b) average-sized passenger cars and (c) large commercial vehicles on ferry routes to…
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether employment or economic development considerations regarding the planning application from Laurel Grant Ltd to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Ref 06/431/CP) were put forward by ministers, or officials, as material considerations to the planning authority, or other public b…
Answer · Michael Russell: No. The Scottish Government neither intervened nor influenced the outcome of the Laurel Grant planning application. Determination of the application was at all times an issue for the Cairngorms National Park Authority.</p>
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministerial intervention secured an earlier response from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or a speedier decision regarding the planning application from Aviemore Highland Resorts Ltd (Ref 07/445/CP) when compared with timescales for the handling of other similar applica…
Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Government neither intervened nor influenced the outcome of the Aviemore Highland Resort or Laurel Grant planning applications. In the case of Aviemore Highland Resort planning applications ministers responded to representations by seeking reassu…
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minister sought to intervene in support of the planning application from Laurel Grant Ltd to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Ref 06/431/CP) to secure an earlier decision or to expedite the handling of this application by any agency under the direction of the Scottish G…
Answer · Michael Russell: No.</p>
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date (a) ministers and (b) planning officials were made aware of planning application from Laurel Grant Ltd to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Ref 06/431/CP) which could only be implemented with the co-operation of Aviemore Highland Resort, specifying the dates on which ea…
Answer · Michael Russell: Government planning officials, as part of their territorial liaison responsibilities, were aware in December 2007 that the Laurel Grant Ltd application, among others, was to be considered by the Cairngorm National Park Authority on 11 January 2008. Laurel Gra…
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how a request from the First Minister to ask for his views on a development application to be drawn to the attention of planning officials is handled where the application is not in the First Minister’s constituency and what safeguards are in place to ensure that the normal procedures and…
Answer · Michael Russell: Scottish Government ministers are acutely aware of their planning responsibilities and discharge their functions fairly and responsibly having regard to the Scottish Ministerial Code and all relevant planning legislation.</p> <p >Paragraphs 6.7 - 6.12 of the…
25 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister has asked for his views to be notified to officials in respect of any development applications under planning legislation since his appointment and, if so, how, in what way, on how many occasions and in respect of which application.
Answer · Michael Russell: The First Minister has done so on one occasion, when he received representations from MSPs relating to the handling of planning applications made by Aviemore Highland Resorts Ltd. A note of the discussion between the First Minister and the Minister for Enviro…
20 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10758 by Stewart Stevenson on 20 March 2008, from what date the proposal to dissolve the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland in order for it to be amalgamated with the Public Transport Users’ Committee will take effect.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is planned that the Mobility and Accessibility Committee for Scotland would be dissolved with effect from 30 June 2008 to allow for the amalgamation with the Public Transport Users'' Committee for Scotland to take place on 1 July 2008.</p>
14 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10525 by Stewart Stevenson on 13 March 2008, when the Strategic Transport Project Review will commence; when the outcome will be known, and how it will be reported to the Parliament.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review commenced in August 2006 and the indicative transport investment plan arising from this review will be announced later this year.</p>
14 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning approvals will be necessary by 2010 to meet the criteria for consents for housing development set by it as one of the conditions of funding for the Waverley railway project.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Details of the number of planning approvals and housing developments required to meet the funding conditions set for the Waverley Railway project can be found in the development plans for both Midlothian and Scottish Borders councils.</p> <p >Finalised Midl…
11 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any revised costings for the proposed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route; if so, whether these show that there have been any financial savings from the original estimated costs and, if not, whether any revised costings will be produced and made available prior to th…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The cost estimate for the scheme is £295 million to £395 million. This is based on the risks currently identified but we will continue to monitor this in light of prevailing tender prices for roads contracts.</p>
11 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the additional cost of proceeding with the Milltimber option for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route compared with the Murtle option favoured by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-2518 on 23 August 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/…
11 Mar 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the published cost estimates for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route have been reduced through refinements in the detailed design of the preferred option and, if so, by how much and what the impact has been on the benefit-to-cost ratio.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The cost estimate for the scheme is £295 million to £395 million, with a benefit to cost ratio of approximately 5:1. This is based on the risks currently identified but we will continue to monitor this in light of prevailing tender prices for roads contracts.…