Des McNulty

11 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, any calculations were made of the economic, social and transport advantages and disadvantages of options closer to Aberdeen city centre compared with the Milltimber option and whether it will list any such calculations, broken…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Details of the economic, social and transport advantages and disadvantages on all considered options can be found in the STAG assessments which have been published on the project website. (<a href="http://www.awpr.co.uk/">www.awpr.co.uk</a>).</p>

11 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of detailed design and value engineering work on the Murtle option for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route; what reductions in cost were secured through this work, and whether any of this work will provide any benefit following the decision not to proceed with the Mu…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Prior to the announcement in December 2005 of the adoption of the Milltimber Brae and Fastlink, £12.2 million was spent on the design of the Murtle Route. £6.4 million of the £12.2 million spent related to sections of the Murtle route common to the current pr…

11 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is planned to take forward the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route as a PPP to allow the costs to be spread over the longer term and, if not, what funding option is currently favoured.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-656 on 20 September 2007. All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available on the Official Reports in the Parliament''s website <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meeti…

10 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider a 40% reduction in ferry fares for residents of the Isles of Arran and Cumbrae on the Clyde what the reasons are for its position.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10829 on 25 March 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/…

10 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what equivalent fares are charged by CalMac per mile, or part thereof, on each of its routes, for (a) foot passenger, (b) vehicle and driver and (c) freight transport.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The consultants are finalising the first phase of the study into road equivalent tariff (RET). The report will include details of current fares and potential RET fares for all ferry services subsidised by the Scottish Government.</p> <p >I will ensure that y…

10 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers it discriminatory that ferry fares on the Largs to Cumbrae route and Ardrossan to Brodick routes remain at current levels when the Scottish Government proposes to reduce fares and increase the public subsidy paid to CalMac to operate certain routes to the Western Isle…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10829 on 25 March 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/…

10 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the fares charged by CalMac for travel between Brodick to Ardrossan and between Cumbrae to Largs are fair.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10829 on 25 March 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/…

10 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the subsidisation of other CalMac routes by revenues from the fares charged on the CalMac ferry routes from Ardrossan to Brodick and Largs to Cumbrae.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Clyde and Hebrides ferry services (CHFS) are almost wholly funded by a mix of fares revenue and Scottish Government grant support through the Public Service Contract. The reduction in fares revenue on the road equivalent tariff (RET) pilot routes will be …

10 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when road equivalent tariff will be introduced on CalMac’s Clyde routes from Ardrossan to Brodick and Largs to Cumbrae.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10829 on 25 March 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/…

10 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce ferry fares on CalMac’s Clyde routes from Ardrossan to Brodick and Largs to Cumbrae for (a) foot passenger, (b) vehicle and driver and (c) freight transport.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government understand the genuine concerns from our remote and fragile communities about the affordability of ferry travel and the impact that has on island economies. That is why we are investigating road equivalent tariff as the basis for ferry…

6 Mar 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether legislation is needed to dissolve the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland in order for it to be amalgamated with the Public Transport Users’ Committee.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland was set up by statutory instrument. In order to dissolve the body a further instrument to revoke that instrument is required.</p>

28 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have been kept informed of discussions that have taken place between NHS Greater Glasgow, Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and other strategic partners regarding the benefits of the proposed Clyde Fastlink scheme in helping improve access to th…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, the lead partner in the consortium behind the Clyde Fastlink project, have been keeping ministers informed of on-going discussions between the various stakeholders including the health boards and the local authorities.</…

26 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8570 by Fiona Hyslop on 24 January 2008, when it expects to be able to provide the detailed cost calculations for the Kerelaw Independent Inquiry.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Further to Ms Hyslop's answer to question S3W-8570. I expect to be able to provide the detailed cost calculations within the next month.</p>

21 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth plans to take the decision about the Trump development in Aberdeenshire by himself, in private or by appointing a reporter to hear all the arguments in public.

Answer · John Swinney: Given the nature of the Menie Estate application and the considerable public interest it is important that the process to examine the issues is as efficient, transparent and inclusive as possible. For those reasons I have determined that there should be a Pub…

21 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the meetings between the First Minister and Donald Trump or his representatives since taking office, showing dates, locations and who was present.

Answer · John Swinney: The First Minister met with Donald Trump on 11 October 2007 whilst attending a GlobalScot dinner at Le Perigord restaurant in New York. Mr Trump was one of the 12 attendees at the dinner from the following organisations:</p> <p >Alexandria Real Estate, Royal…

8 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-02239 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 February 2008, what level or tonnage of emissions in 2011 would be consistent with the pathway towards reducing emissions by 80%.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: on 7 February 2008, what level or tonnage of emissions in 2011 would be consistent with the pathway towards reducing emissions by 80%.</a></p> <p align=right >(<a name=PQRef>S3W-09704</a>)</p> </div> <br clear=all > <p ><a name=MinisterName><b >Stewart …

8 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-2239 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 February 2008, how its performance in reaching the percentage target it has set itself for reduction in emissions by 2011 will be measured.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: on 7 February 2008, how its performance in reaching the percentage target it has set itself for reduction in emissions by 2011 will be measured.</a></p> <p align=right >(<a name=PQRef>S3W-09703</a>)</p> </div> <br clear=all > <p ><a name=MinisterName><b…

8 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-2239 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 February 2008, what percentage target it has set itself for reduction in emissions by 2011.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: on 7 February 2008, what percentage target it has set itself for reduction in emissions by 2011.</a></p> <p align=right >(<a name=PQRef>S3W-09702</a>)</p> </div> <br clear=all > <p ><a name=MinisterName><b >Stewart Stevenson In the Government Economic S…

5 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister, his private office officials or any of his special advisers have had any contact by telephone or email with Mr Donald Macdonald or representatives of his company and, if so, what the dates of any such conversations or exchanges were, whether any matter referred…

Answer · Michael Russell: The only contacts are as follows:</p> <p >A letter addressed to the First Minister from Mr Macdonald, dated 23 October 2007, was received by his constituency office in Inverurie on 24 October 2007 and passed to his Private Office by e-mail on 29 October 200…

5 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister, his private office officials or any of his special advisers have met Mr Donald Macdonald or representatives of his company and, if so, what the dates of any such meetings were, whether any matter referred to in the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr M…

Answer · Michael Russell: With regard to the First Minister and ministers, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9043 on 25 February 2008. None of the First Minister''s Private Office officials or any of his special advisers has met Mr Donald Macdonald or representatives o…

4 Feb 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister, his private office officials or any of his special advisors have met or had any contact by telephone or email with the Cairngorms National Park Authority regarding any matter referred to in the planning application in Aviemore in which Mr Donald Macdonald had a…

Answer · Michael Russell: No</p>

30 Jan 2008 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what policy steps it will take to reduce Scotland¿s carbon emissions between now and 2011; how its performance will be measured, and whether it expects to achieve any reduction within that timescale.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We are committed to taking earlyaction on climate change.</p><p>We have allocated significantadditional funds for measures which will reduce Scotland’s carbon emissions. Theseinclude £34.8 million to support a range of sustainable development and climatechang…

16 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of the inquiry being led by Mr Eddie Frizzell into what went wrong at Kerelaw school.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government will share equally the costs of the Kerelaw IndependentInquiry. The detailed cost calculations are not yet completed.</p>

16 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how and where survivors of historic in-care and institutional abuse can access the appropriate services that they require to help them to recover from the effects of the physical and psychological damage caused by such abuse; when specific proposals for survivors of historic in-care and i…

Answer · Adam Ingram: A range of national andlocal services are available to provide support to survivors of in-care andinstitutional abuse. I will announce proposals for improving the supportavailable to survivors in due course. I refer the member to the answer to questionS3W-729…

10 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how the Scapa Flow Container Transhipment Facility, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as potential national developments in the second National Planning Framework, will contribute to or impact on the 80% greenho…

Answer · John Swinney: No. The projectswhich are designated as national developments such as the Scapa Flow Container TranshipmentFacility are considered to be essential to the delivery of the spatial strategyset out in the second National Planning Framework discussion draft. The h…

10 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how enhanced access to the Grangemouth Freight Hub, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as potential national developments in the second National Planning Framework, will contribute to or impact on the 80% greenho…

Answer · John Swinney: No. The projectswhich are designated as national developments such as the Grangemouth Freight Hubare considered to be essential to the delivery of the spatial strategy set out inthe second National Planning Framework discussion draft. The high-level environme…

10 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how the Rosyth International Container Terminal, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as potential national developments in the second National Planning Framework, will contribute to or impact on the 80% greenhouse…

Answer · John Swinney: No. The projectswhich are designated as national developments such as the Rosyth International ContainerTerminal are considered to be essential to the delivery of the spatial strategyset out in the second National Planning Framework discussion draft. The high…

10 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how the replacement Forth crossing, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as potential national developments in the second National Planning Framework, will contribute to or impact on the 80% greenhouse gas reductio…

Answer · John Swinney: No. The projectswhich are designated as national developments such as the Forth Replacement Crossingare considered to be essential to the delivery of the spatial strategy set out inthe second National Planning Framework discussion draft. The high-level enviro…

10 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will commission an independent assessment of how the enhancements to Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, included in the nine infrastructure projects identified as potential national developments in the second National Planning Framework, will contribute to or impact on the 80% gre…

Answer · John Swinney: No. The projects which are designatedas national developments such as the Glasgow and Edinburghairport enhancements are considered to be essential to the delivery of the spatialstrategy set out in the second National Planning Framework discussion draft. Thehi…

5 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism, with or without officials, met Mr Donald Macdonald of Aviemore Highland Resort or representatives of Macdonald Hotels at any time between his appointment as a minister and his meeting with representatives of Macdonald Hotels, the Ca…

Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19043 on 25 February 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/App…