Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what higher education participation rate it believes is necessary to meet the 2007 SNP manifesto commitment of “widening access to higher and further education in Scotland encouraging and creating opportunities for people who may not have been able to access continuing education previousl…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We will continue totake action to promote further and higher education, and have already announcedsteps to remove the graduate endowment fee so that access to higher education isopen to those who have the ability rather than the ability to pay. However, we do…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in establishing a Scottish trust for public investment.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3600 on 4 September 2007. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for whichcan be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish students are currently studying at Scottish universities and what targets it has set to increase this number.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In 2005-06 there were157,480 Scottish domiciled students at Scottish higher education institutions. Inaddition, in the same year, there were 13,955 Scottish domiciled students studyingat the Open University.</p><p>I have not set anytargets as a policy to incr…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the value is of student debt in Scotland.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The total outstandingstudent loan debt from Scottish borrowers at the 31 March 2007 was £1,953,784,457. This figure is made up of £1,845,726,000of debt held by the Scottish Government and £108,058,457 of sold debt held by privatesector institutions.</p>
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it will set to encourage people from deprived areas to enter higher education.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-1493 on 24 July 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/wa.se…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to widen access to higher education.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Widening access tolifelong learning is a priority for the Scottish Government. We have already announcedthe intention to abolish the graduate endowment fee which has helped remove oneof the barriers faced by people in deciding whether or not to study at highe…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations have been conducted by Scottish Water in respect of the failed tests for trihalomethanes in the East Dunbartonshire Council area, referred to on page 47 of Drinking Water Quality in Scotland 2006.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: East Dunbartonshire is supplied from Milngavie water treatmentworks. The failed tests for trihalomethanes in 2006 were directly attributable tothe limited treatment at Milngavie water treatment works. Scottish Water is currentlyinvesting £120 million to impro…
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions are being taken by Scottish Water in response to the 14, 390 complaints in 2006 about discoloured water, shown in Table 3.6b of Drinking Water Quality in Scotland 2006.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Scottish Water hasbeen tasked by the Drinking Water Quality Regulator (DWQR) with improving drinkingwater quality at 39 treatment works across Scotland to address colour problems as part of the current capital investment programmewhich covers the period 2006 …
30 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that 1.07% of failed tests for lead in consumer tap samples, shown in Table 3.4c of Drinking Water Quality in Scotland 2006, is too high.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: Lead is not normallypresent in water leaving water treatment works but it can be dissolved from oldlead pipes that are sometimes present in older properties. Non-compliance withthe lead standard therefore reflects the presence of lead plumbing in older prope…
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd has been asked to maximise utilisation of its piers and harbours and, if so, what steps are being taken to achieve this.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: CaledonianMaritime Assets Ltd have been charged with developing the port infrastructureit owns in an efficient, economic and effective manner.</p>
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the fixed charges imposed by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd for harbour use are not published and whether this raises any competition issues under European maritime cabotage and competition rules.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The charges forthe use of the harbour facilities owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets arepublished and are available on request from each harbour office.</p>
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why charges levied for the use of Gourock pier are significantly higher than those levied for the use of Dunoon pier and whether this raises any competition issues under European maritime cabotage, state aid and competition rules.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The differentapproaches to charging adopted at Gourock and Dunoon Piers make meaningfulcomparisons difficult. However, the Scottish Government is content that theapproach taken at Gourock Pier does not raise any competition issues.</p>
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2274 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, what percentage of passengers using Gourock station are considered, in its interpretation of the HITRANS data, to be users of ferry services; what the evidential basis is for this interpretation, and whethe…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The HITRANS surveywas focussed on ferry users rather than users of Gourock station. It cannot thereforebe used, on its own, to derive estimates of the percentage of passengers using Gourockstation who are ferry users. It can be used to derive estimates of the…
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2276 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, whether, and if so how, withholding information on costs and revenues on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route can be deemed consistent with meeting requirements on Caledonian MacBrayne to seek commercial oppor…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I do not acceptthat there is any inconsistency between these issues.</p><p> </p>
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2276 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, on what grounds disclosure of information on costs and revenues on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route would substantially prejudice Caledonian MacBrayne’s commercial interest when private operators have to p…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Cowal Ferries Ltdcommended trading on 1 April this year as part of the restructuring of theformer Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd, and has since that date operated the Gourockto Dunoon ferry service. I can confirm that the company will publish its ownannual accounts…
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2278 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, how leakage of subsidy from passenger-only customers to those travelling with vehicles is prevented when the vessel involved also conveys commercial vehicles and private cars and their passengers.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I am satisfied thatthe vehicle element of the current Cowal Ferries Ltd service on the Gourock to Dunoonroute does not generate an additional subsidy requirement. Indeed, the revenue fromvehicles carried exceeds the additional costs involved in running a vehi…
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2278 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, how accounting for the subsidy for this service can be made more transparent in the relevant returns from the operating company and the Executive.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Further to the restructuringof the former Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd that took effect from 1 October 2006 as partof the preparations for the tendering of Clyde and Hebrides ferry services, I canconfirm that David MacBrayne Ltd has established a new subsidiary w…
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2278 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, whether the European Commission has advised that it is inconsistent with European maritime cabotage, state aid and competition rules to have a foot-passenger only public service obligation when the vessel i…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Discussions betweenthe Scottish Government and the European Commission are generally considered tobe confidential. The ScottishGovernment is currently examining the options that are available for the Gourockto Dunoon route and we shall announce our plans for …
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2278 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, whether the 624,700 passengers who travelled on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route in 2005 all qualified for subsidy under European maritime cabotage, state aid and competition rules.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Cowal Ferries Ltd,a subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd, operates the Gourock-Dunoon ferry serviceon behalf of the Scottish Government. Subsidy is provided by the Scottish Governmentto Cowal Ferries Ltd, rather than to individual passengers, to cover the provi…
23 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive at which meeting of its Cabinet the decision was taken to proceed with the tendering process for ferry services between the mainland and the west coast islands currently provided by CalMac.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Early in itslifetime, the new administration concluded that the quickest and most effectiveway of putting in place the contract for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services that European law requiredwas to complete the tendering process which, by that stage, was…
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to ensuring that every newly built home and office will be of the highest standard, as set out in a 2006 SNP press release entitled It’s Time for a Greener Scotland, and, if so, what standard it will apply and what practical steps ministers have taken to progress s…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer.His response is as follows:</p><p>The agency are currentlyworking to the 2007 SNP manifesto commitments “It’s time to move forward”. The aimsare broadly …
20 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to benchmarking building standards against the best in Europe, as set out in a 2006 SNP press release entitled It’s Time for a Greener Scotland, and, if so, what practical steps ministers have taken to progress such a commitment.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr PaulStollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer.His response is as follows:</p><p>The agency are currentlyworking to the 2007 SNP manifesto commitments “It’s time to move forward”. The aimsare consiste…
17 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish this year's estimate of the size of Scotland's transport carbon footprint.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Carbon emissions fromall sources, including transport, are published annually in <i>Greenhouse Gas Inventoriesfor England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland </i>(GHGI). The most recent publicationcovers emissions between 1990 and 2004, a copy of which is a…
15 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost will be to it of conducting a referendum under the provisions of the draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill and whether it will itemise this expenditure.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The 1997 devolution referendum would cost around £6.5 million in 2007 prices. As the provisions of the draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill are similar, the cost is likely also to be similar.</p>
15 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost will be to it of preparing the draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There was no additionalcost to the government in preparing the draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill. The billwas prepared by Scottish Government officials as part of their normal duties.</p>
15 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff hours were spent on preparing Choosing Scotland's Future: A National Conversation.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: A number of officialswere involved in preparing <i>Choosing Scotland’s Future</i> as part of their normalduties. Information on the number of staff hours spent on preparing the documentis not available.</p>
15 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of (a) preparing and (b) publishing Choosing Scotland's Future: A National Conversation.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: <i>Choosing </i><i>Scotland</i><i>’s Future</i> was prepared by officials as part of their normal duties,and there was no additional cost. The cost of producing and translating the documentis around £35,000 (including the web version, the design, printing and…
15 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether advice was sought from the Electoral Commission concerning the intelligibility of the proposed referendum question in the draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3327 on 12 September 2007. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
15 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which bodies or individuals were consulted in relation to developing Schedule 1 to the draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The draft Bill wasprepared within the Scottish Government for consultation as part of the nationalconversation.</p>
15 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what statutory instruments it envisages will be necessary under paragraph 11(1) of Schedule 2 to the draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The draft bill illustratesthe form that legislation could take to provide for a referendum for the questionposed. The government has not considered the detailed statutory instruments thatmight be made under the powers in the bill in the event of it passing in…