Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of road vehicles have air bags installed.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Governmenthas no functions in relation to vehicle safety standards.</p>
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of road deaths in each of the last four years occurred on roads for which (a) it is responsible and (b) local authorities are responsible.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: For the years up to2005, the information requested can be obtained from the figures which appear inthe “Scotland” totals in table 36 of<i>Road Accidents Scotland 2005</i>, published by the Scottish Executive in November2006, which is available in the Scottish…
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of road deaths in each of the last four years occurred on (a) urban and (b) rural roads.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requestedcan be obtained from the figures which appear in table 23 of <i>Road Accidents Scotland2005</i> (published by the Scottish Executive in November 2006, this gives figuresfor 1995 to 2005, inclusive) and table 6 of <i>Key 2006 Road Acci…
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funds it has committed to promote a greater understanding of the dangers while driving of (a) not wearing a seatbelt, (b) fatigue, (c) speeding, (d) running a red light at an intersection, (e) being under the influence of alcohol and (f) being under the influence of drugs.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Information is notavailable in the format requested.</p><p>The Scottish Governmenthas committed £410,000 for road safety media in 2007-08. A further £488,329 hasbeen allocated for safety camera related publicity on speeding and red light running.</p><p>The go…
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the proportion of road deaths that can be attributed to (a) not wearing seatbelts, (b) fatigue, (c) speeding, (d) running a red light at an intersection, (e) being under the influence of alcohol and (f) being under the influence of drugs.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Data about injuryroad accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Governmentusing the Stats 19 statistical report form, the specification for which was expandedwith effect from the start of 2005 to collect information about the factors …
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its officials are employed to deal with matters related to road safety.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are currently18 officials (expressed as full time equivalents) engaged in a wide range of roadsafety activities.</p>
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a clear and comprehensive risk management strategy is in place for the Waverley railway line project and whether ministers, or a designated person, are responsible to the Parliament for ensuring that this condition of funding is met.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The promoter is activelyaddressing the ministerial funding condition of ensuring that a clear and comprehensiverisk management strategy is in place, and has appointed a designated person responsiblefor ensuring that this condition of funding is being met.</p>
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the assumptions underlying the business case for the Waverley railway line continue to hold, in light of disparities between housing projections in strategic planning documents submitted by Scottish Borders Council and housing growth projections included in the c…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotlandis continuing a due-diligence review of the Borders railway as it prepares to takeon the role of Authorised Undertaker for the railway, a role that it is assumingat the behest of the previous administration. Until this exercise is complete, …
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide any additional resources beyond the total amount currently committed to meet the shortfall in the funding package for the Waverley railway line.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As announced in mystatement to Parliament the Scottish Government’s commitment towards the Waverley railway line is £115 million in 2002 prices.</p>
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive by how much the funding package proposed by the Waverley Railway Partnership is insufficient to deliver the project and whether Scottish Borders Council and Midlothian Council, working with developers, are responsible for filling the funding gap.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotlandis continuing a due-diligence review of the Borders railway as it prepares to takeon the role of Authorised Undertaker for the railway, a role that it is assumingat the behest of the previous administration.</p><p>The Scottish Government’sco…
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what figures were used in calculating the present value of (a) benefits and (b) costs to determine the benefit to cost ratio for the completion of the M8 motorway between Baillieston and Newhouse, giving the respective values concerned, and whether these figures represent current assessme…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The most recent economicassessment for the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse indicates a present value of benefitsat £11,630.3 million with a present value of costs of £163.9 million. These willbe updated following the next reassessment of the scheme estimate.</p>
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what figures were used in calculating the present value of (a) benefits and (b) costs to determine the benefit to cost ratio for the M74 extension, giving the respective values concerned, and whether these figures represent current assessments of benefits and costs.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The most recent economicassessment for the M74 Completion indicates a present value of benefits at £2,298.8million with a present value of costs at £300.3 million. These will be updated followingthe next reassessment of the scheme estimate.</p>
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what figures were used in calculating the present value of (a) benefits and (b) costs to determine the benefit to cost ratio for the Waverley railway line to Tweedbank, giving the respective values concerned, and whether these figures represent current assessments of benefits and costs.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The figures used incalculating the present value of (a) benefits and (b) costs to determine the benefitto cost ratio for the Waverley railway line to Tweedbank can be found in the Promoter’sOutline Business Case which can be accessed at the following website:…
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what figures were used in calculating the present value of (a) benefits and (b) costs to determine the benefit to cost ratio for the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link, giving the respective values concerned, and whether these figures represent current assessments of benefits and costs.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The followingtable identifies the values used to calculate the 2.16 Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR)for the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link (EARL). The figures in the table were includedin the Design Development Appraisal (DDA) from December 2005. All values are expresse…
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what figures were used in calculating the present value of (a) benefits and (b) costs to determine the benefit to cost ratio for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, giving the respective values concerned, and whether these figures represent current assessments of benefits and costs.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The most recent economicassessment for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route indicates apresent value of benefits at £1,950.7 million with a present value of costs at £407.6million. These will be updated following the next reassessment of the scheme estimate…
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which major transport projects have had a STAG appraisal since September 2003 and on what date each project was appraised.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3891 on 14 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
3 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which major transport projects have been considered for funding or approval since September 2003 without having a STAG appraisal.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No major transportproject has been considered for approval or funding since September 2003 withoutthe appropriate appraisal being in place.</p>
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any services provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde or the voluntary sector that are aimed at improving health and addressing health inequalities in West Dunbartonshire and are being considered for discontinuation.
Answer · Shona Robison: I am not aware ofany such services, provided by these organisations, being considered for discontinuation.The services provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the voluntary sectorare matters for them to determine in conjunction with local community plan…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve local mental health services in (a) Clydebank and (b) Bearsden and Milngavie.
Answer · Shona Robison: We continue towork with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, as well as thelocal authorities, voluntarysector and other partners, to deliver on a range of policies and initiatives.These include delivery of the14 specific and timetabled commitments and three HEAT ta…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve local services for older people in (a) Clydebank and (b) Bearsden and Milngavie.
Answer · Shona Robison: When I spoke at the Scottish Pensioner’s Forum Annual Conference in June, I set out my commitment towork with local agencies to improve services and support for older people, in particularfor those in need. I have already confirmed that individual funding for…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve local community services in (a) Clydebank and (b) Bearsden and Milngavie.
Answer · Shona Robison: The planning and provisionof primary and community based health care services in Clydebank, Bearsden and Milngavie is a matter for the East and West DunbartonshireCommunity Health Partnerships (CHPs) within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.</p><p>Each CHP in Sco…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve local primary care in (a) Clydebank and (b) Bearsden and Milngavie.
Answer · Shona Robison: The planning and provisionof primary and community based healthcare services in Clydebank, Bearsden and Milngavie is a matter for the East and West DunbartonshireCommunity Health Partnerships (CHPs) within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.</p><p>Each CHP in Scot…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether future funding for tackling deprivation in West Dunbartonshire will represent a real terms increase or decrease.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentwill decide on future funding for tackling deprivation as part of the spending reviewprocess.</p>
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what new initiatives it has considered for tackling deprivation in West Dunbartonshire.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentis considering its approach to tackling deprivation across Scotland in the context of the spending review. Specific measureswhich will make a positive contribution, such as health checks in schools and pilotingfree school meals for all …
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in place to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease in West Dunbartonshire to the Scottish average or below.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the incidenceof coronary heart disease (CHD) at council level area are produced by InformationServices Division of NHS National Services Scotland and can be viewed at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/oct06_IC3.xls">http://www.isdsco…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce the incidence of cancer in West Dunbartonshire to the Scottish average or below and what the cost of any additional measures will be.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The increasing incidenceof cancer across Scotland was predicted in <i>Cancer Scenarios, </i>publishedby the Scottish Executive in 2001. While incidence is rising, but not as rapidlyas predicted in 2001, at the same time the death rate from cancer is going dow…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in place to reduce the incidence of strokes in West Dunbartonshire.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The West DunbartonshireCommunity Health Partnership is instituting a number of measures, in both the shortand long term, to reduce the incidence of stroke in its population, many of themlinked to its status as a Wave 2 ‘”Keep Well” area. These include a range…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what practical measures it will take to reduce the incidence of myocardial infarction in West Dunbartonshire to the Scottish average or below.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Data on the incidenceof acute myocardial infarction at council level area are produced by InformationServices Division of NHS National Services Scotland and can be viewed at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/oct06_IC4.xls">http://www.isdscot…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has in place to reduce the incidence of diseases of the digestive system in West Dunbartonshire to the Scottish average or below.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: Poor nutritional intakeand low levels of physical activity can have an impact on the incidence of diseasesof the digestive system. Tackling these in West Dunbartonshire is a matter for the Community Health Partnership(CHP) in the first instance.</p><p>A numbe…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what practical measures it will take to reduce the incidence of alcoholic liver disease in West Dunbartonshire to the Scottish average or below.
Answer · Shona Robison: The ScottishGovernment is committed to tackling alcohol problems in Scotland. Over £10 millionwas made available to NHS boards in Scotland in 2007-08 specifically to tackle alcoholproblems in their area, in addition to their general financial allocations. Gre…