Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-94 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 May 2007, what additional information can be provided about its plans to further the use of micro generation and low and zero carbon technologies.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr.Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency, toanswer. His response is as follows:</p><p>The constitutionof an expert panel that will meet this September has been announced. Revisionsto the energy standards in Scot…
13 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-94 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 May 2007, what additional information can be provided about its plans to achieve a significant cut in expected carbon emissions from new buildings and what scale of reduction ministers would regard as significant.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr.Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency, toanswer. His response is as follows:</p><p>The constitutionof an expert panel that will meet this September has been announced. Revisionsto the energy standards in Scot…
13 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-94 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 May 2007, what additional information can be provided about its plans to develop and promote a strategy for achieving net zero carbon buildings.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr.Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency, toanswer. His response is as follows:</p><p>The constitutionof an Expert Panel that will meet this September has been announced. Revisionsto the energy standards in Scot…
13 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration will be given to locating the Glasgow city-region strategic development planning authority in Clydebank.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Strategic DevelopmentPlan Authorities (SDPAs) are not proposed to be freestanding corporate bodies, butwill consist of a joint committee of members representing the constituent planningauthorities.</p><p>The current consultationpaper on statutory guidance for…
13 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there should be a presumption that organisations newly established by it or the Scottish Parliament should normally be located in areas that have high levels of deprivation.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2952 on 14 August 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.s…
13 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether previously agreed criteria for the relocation of civil service jobs, endorsed by the Scottish Parliament’s Finance Committee, are still being applied.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2952 on 14 August 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.s…
13 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will be appropriate to make an announcement concerning the future arrangements for the relocation of civil service jobs.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2952 on 14 August 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.s…
13 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement the recommendation of the Finance Committee in its 6th Report, 2004 (Session 2) - Relocation of Public Sector Jobs to instruct each department, agency or non-departmental public body that has not been through a relocation in the past five years to prepare a repor…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2952 on 14 August 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.s…
13 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are committed to a relocation policy that promotes the relocation of civil service jobs to areas that have high levels of deprivation.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2952 on 14 August 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.s…
13 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration is being given to relocating civil service jobs to Clydebank.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2952 on 14 August 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.s…
13 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what standard was being referred to in the commitment that “every new home and office built in Scotland will be of the highest standard” expressed in a 2006 SNP press release, entitled It’s Time for a Greener Scotland, and what practical steps ministers have taken to progress this commitm…
13 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what was meant by a commitment “to benchmark our building standards against the best in Europe” expressed in a 2006 SNP press release, entitled It’s Time for a Greener Scotland, and what practical steps ministers have taken to progress this commitment.
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2534 by Stewart Maxwell on 9 August 2007, how ministers will ensure that the people of West Dunbartonshire are not disadvantaged because of lack of investment in housing pending decisions on the future management of council housing stock.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>It is recognised that West Dunbartonshire Council willnot be in a position to reach a decision on the future management of its housingstock un…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2534 by Stewart Maxwell on 9 August 2007, how ministers will ensure that investment in the refurbishment and renovation of existing housing in Clydebank, and in replacing obsolete or obsolescent housing in the town, is made available so that Clydeban…
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked AngelinaFoster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Discussions are currentlytaking place between Communities Scotland and West Dunbartonshire Council to identifyunsuitable and low demand housing …
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2534 by Stewart Maxwell on 9 August 2007, how ministers will ensure that there is adequate provision of new rented and homestake housing to meet the needs of Clydebank and how this will be reflected in the spending priorities of Communities Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Communities Scotland is working with West Dunbartonshire Council, RegisteredSocial Landlords and other partners to develop a medium-term Strat…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2534 by Stewart Maxwell on 9 August 2007, how ministers will take account of the identified risk that West Dunbartonshire will be unable to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015 in setting their spending priorities for the next spending …
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: It is for West DunbartonshireCouncil rather than ministers to manage any risks identified in its standard deliveryplan and to determine how best to fund the investment required to meet the ScottishHousing Quality Standard. Communities Scotland continues to pr…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2534 by Stewart Maxwell on 9 August 2007, when ministers expect to receive a standard delivery plan from West Dunbartonshire Council and what steps are being taken to assist the council in finalising its proposals.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: West Dunbartonshire Council is expected to submit its StandardDelivery Plan (SDP) in December 2007. The SDP should set out how the council willbring its housing stock up to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by the 2015target date. Communities Scotland wil…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers accept responsibility for ensuring that the Scottish Housing Quality Standard is met by 2015 throughout Scotland.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmenthas the responsibility for setting the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and settingthe timetable for completion. However, it is for individual social landlords throughoutScotland to ensure that it is met in full by 2015.</p>
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what Scottish Water’s annual energy bill is and what plans are in place to reduce its energy consumption.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As this is anoperational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked the chief executive toreply to your enquiry directly.</p>
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets have been set by Scottish Water to reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to the Executive’s climate change objectives.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As this is anoperational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked the chief executive toreply to your enquiry directly.</p>
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would be of action “to remove the barriers which impede investment in water and sewerage infrastructure where this is necessary”, as referred to in the SNP’s 2007 manifesto, and how this will be funded.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-2585 on 22 August 2007. All answers to parliamentary quesations areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.Scottish Parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search"…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take “to remove the barriers which impede investment in water and sewerage infrastructure where this is necessary”, as referred to in the SNP’s 2007 manifesto.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-2585 on 22 August 2007. All answers to parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search">…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where any “inadequate water and sewerage capacity is currently restricting new housing developments”, as referred to in the SNP’s 2007 manifesto.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This informationis published and updated on an annual basis by Scottish Water. The currentdocument, titled <i>Strategic Asset Capacity and Development Plan 2007-08</i>is available on their website at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scottishwater.co.uk/portal/page/p…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-97 by Stewart Stevenson on 1 June 2007, what objectives it wishes Scottish Water to deliver in relation to financial management.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water isrequired to deliver the objectives set within the financial limits – that iscustomer charges and lending from Ministers – determined by the Water IndustryCommission. These figures may be obtained from the Commission’s <i>Final Determination</…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-97 by Stewart Stevenson on 1 June 2007, what objectives it wishes Scottish Water to deliver in relation to improved environmental protection.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-3150 on 4 September 2007. All answers on written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-97 by Stewart Stevenson on 1 June 2007, what objectives it wishes Scottish Water to deliver in relation to improved trade waste disposal.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-3150 on 4 September 2007. All answers on written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-97 by Stewart Stevenson on 1 June 2007, what objectives it wishes Scottish Water to deliver in relation to improved delivery of sewerage services.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-3150 on 4 September 2007. All answers on written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-97 by Stewart Stevenson on 1 June 2007, what objectives it wishes Scottish Water to deliver in relation to improved delivery of drinking water.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-3150 on 4 September 2007. All answers on written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…
10 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-97 by Stewart Stevenson on 1 June 2007, what objectives it wishes Scottish Water to deliver in relation to improved customer service.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requestedis given in the <i>Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 – The Scottish Water (Objectivesfor 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2010) Directions 2005</i>, a copy of which is availablein the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 38213…
9 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the context of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth’s statement on the objectives of the Audit Scotland review when he said “My priority is to protect the Scottish taxpayer and ensure that any major transport project is value for money, delivering real bene…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The M74 project iscurrently being tendered. We expect to award the contract later this year but willonly do so if the bid demonstrates value for money benchmarked against an independentcost comparator.</p>