Parliamentary questions

Des McNulty

1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what factors explain the threefold increase in subsidy paid to Northlink Ferries in the 2002-05 period.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The circumstances relating to the operation of the public service contract with NorthLink Orkney and Shetland Ferries Ltd were fully investigated by the Auditor General for Scotland and his report, as published in December 2005, is availableelectronically at …

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what volumes of additional carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions were attributable to the Air Discount Scheme in its first year of operation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: These data are notavailable. The Air Discount Scheme provides for discounted fares for individualscheme members travelling on existing scheduled flights, rather than subsidisingthe flights that they travel on.

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional passengers used the 10 airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd in the first year of operation of the Air Discount Scheme.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In the period May2005 to April 2006, a total of 1,168,021 passengers used Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd’s 10 airports. In the AirDiscount Scheme’s first year of operation, May 2006 to April 2007, this figurehad risen to 1,239,938, an increase of 6%.

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what modal shift was attributed to the Air Discount Scheme in its first year of operation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We do not currentlyhold definitive data on this.

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much Loganair received through the Air Discount Scheme in its first year of operation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Loganair receivedreimbursement of £3,570,719 for discounted tickets sold under the Air Discount Schemein the period May 2006 to April 2007.

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Air Discount Scheme cost in its first year of operation.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The total cost of the Air Discount Scheme from its launch in May 2006 to April 2007 was £4,962,504.

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish baseline information to show how each element of programmed efficiency saving within each ministerial portfolio is being delivered under its new efficiency programme that is expected to deliver at least 1.5% annual savings across the public sector.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3008 on 23 August 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/wa.s…

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set targets for each department or ministerial portfolio to allow detailed scrutiny of its new efficiency programme that is expected to deliver at least 1.5% annual savings across the public sector.

Answer · John Swinney: The final report onthe current efficiency programme will not be published until September 2008. Thedetail of the efficiency programme for 2008-11 will be announced following the conclusionof the 2007 Strategic Spending Review.

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with (a) HM Treasury and (b) the European Commission regarding possible funding mechanisms for the replacement Forth crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No discussions haveyet taken place with HM Treasury or the European Commission regarding possible fundingmechanisms for the replacement Forth Crossing.However, I can confirmthat preliminary discussions have been held with officials from the Department …

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the cumulative balance of end-year flexibility held at HM Treasury is earmarked to meet the costs of major transport projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: All pressures acrossthe Scottish Executive will be reviewed as part of the wider current Scottish ExecutiveSpending Review SSR07.

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the resources in the central unallocated provision is earmarked for major transport projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: All pressures acrossthe Scottish Executive will be reviewed as part of the wider current Scottish ExecutiveSpending Review SSR07.

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the increase in transport spending was in 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 relative to the 2004-05 budget and what proportion of this additional expenditure in each year was for construction costs of major transport projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The spendingplans for financial years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 were determined as aresult of the last Spending Review SSR04 and the spending plans for thesefinancial years were published in Building A Better Scotland: Spending Proposals 2…

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what significant diversions of planned spend within the transport budget in 2007-08 will result from the review of major transport projects conducted in June 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Budget Billfor 2007-08 Financial Year was laid before Scottish Ministers in January 2007,this outlines the spending plans voted by Parliament for the 2007-08 financialyear. The Annual Budget Cycle permits revisions to the Budget Bill, the firstbeing the A…

3 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive where, in the event of the introduction of an 18-week patient guarantee, legal liability in the event of any breach would reside.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2943 on 23 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.…

3 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether (a) ministers, (b) NHS boards or (c) hospitals are expected to be the guarantors in the event of the introduction of an individual 18-week patient guarantee.

Answer · Shona Robison: The government’s newaction plan for 2008-09 and beyond will include a new whole journey waiting timestarget of 18 weeks.We will also beginconsultation on a Patients’ Rights Bill and on our proposals for legally bindingwaiting times guarantees during th…

3 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its estimates of the costs of introducing an individual 18-week patient guarantee, whether prepared by officials or independent experts, will be made publicly available and, if so, when they are likely to be published.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2940 on 23 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.…

3 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have requested independent expert studies to investigate the practicalities and costs of introducing an individual 18-week patient guarantee.

3 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have requested officials to prepare estimates of the costs of introducing an individual 18-week patient guarantee.

Answer · Shona Robison: On 28 June 2007, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing announcedour intention to develop and publish by the end of this year a refreshed actionplan to implement the principles for health care policy and delivery that were outlinedin the Kerr report. …

3 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the costs of preparing for and implementing the waiting list targets announced in 2004 which are due to take full effect in December 2007.

Answer · Shona Robison: NHSScotland is makingexcellent progress towards delivery of the waiting times targets announced in 2004and scheduled to come into effect at the end of 2007. This is bringing benefitsto patients across Scotland. However, we believe that performance improvement…

3 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what service provision in Ayrshire and Arran is to be discontinued, delayed or otherwise affected as a result of the NHS board being required to meet the additional cost of retaining accident and emergency services at Ayr Hospital.

Answer · Shona Robison: As outlined in theCabinet Secretary’s statement in the Chamber on 6 June 2007, we have instructed the board of NHS Ayrshire and Arran to review their original plans and to produce revisedproposals that will enable accident and emergency services to continue a…

3 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are satisfied that due process was followed by the relevant NHS boards in putting forward their original proposals regarding accident and emergency services in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.

Answer · Shona Robison: Consideration of theprocess for the original proposals was a matter for the previous administration.As the Cabinet Secretary said in her statement on 6 June 2007, we believe that thedecisions to close the accident and emergency departments at Monklands Hospit…

3 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Dr Andrew Walker, chair of the independent panel, will be asked to consider the original as well as the revised proposals and carry out a full option appraisal as part of his review of proposals regarding accident and emergency services in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire.

Answer · Shona Robison: The Cabinet Secretaryfor Health and Wellbeing has asked NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Lanarkshire to provide revised proposals that will see accidentand emergency services continue at their main hospital sites. As such, the proposalswhich the boards submit f…

3 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what service provision in Lanarkshire is to be discontinued, delayed or otherwise affected as a result of the NHS board being required to meet the additional cost of retaining accident and emergency services at Monklands Hospital.

Answer · Shona Robison: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2932 on 27 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.…

3 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has been given of the additional cost of retaining accident and emergency services at Monklands Hospital above the estimated cost of implementing the original proposal.

Answer · Shona Robison: As outlined in theCabinet Secretary’s statement in the Chamber on 6 June 2007, we have instructed the board of NHS Lanarkshire to reviewtheir original plans and to produce revised proposals that will enable accidentand emergency services to continue at the th…

2 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate has been made of the anticipated impact on tender prices for major transport projects of (a) slippage and (b) limited competition resulting from the coincidence of tendering and construction start dates.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Estimates for projectsare based on the latest available information. We continue to monitor estimatesin the light of prevailing tender prices for construction contracts.

2 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers are aware of any analysis that combines, in a regional and national economic development context, an appraisal of airport-related investment and the investment that is required to sustain surface access to each of the three central Scotland airports and whether it consid…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Future Developmentof Air Transport in the UK: Scotland, publishedin July 2002, provided an analysis of the economic impact of airport developmentin Scotland in the context of establishing a UK-wide policyframework for the development of air …

2 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what annual contribution will be required from the Scottish Executive in each year until 2012-13 for each major transport project if each project proceeds on time and within budget and what total contribution will be required for all transport projects in each of these years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Spending plansare set during biennial spending reviews, with the last year of one spendingreview becoming the first year of the next. Spending Review 2004 revised plansfor 2005-06 and set new plans for 2006-07 and 2007-08.Work on thecurrent Spending Re…

2 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether potential engineering risks associated with the (a) Edinburgh Trams project, (b) Edinburgh Airport Rail Link and (c) Waverley rail line have been fully scoped and, if so, what conclusions have been arrived at.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Engineering risksfor these projects have been assessed as part of the normal risk assessment processesof Transport Scotland. The conclusions were reflected in the minister’stransport statement of 27 June 2007.

2 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether potential land acquisition and compensation issues associated with the (a) M74 extension and (b) Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route have been fully scoped and, if so, what conclusions have been arrived at.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We have secured thepowers through the Compulsory Purchase Order, which was made on 24 March 2005, to acquire all of the land for the M74 Completion scheme.Acquisition of that land is almost complete. Compensation has been paid in the majorityof cases.L…

2 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering altering the STAG appraisal process, under which transport projects are considered on a scheme-by-scheme basis, to include comparison and prioritisation on the basis of overt macro-economic testing and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executivehas no plans to include a prioritisation mechanism within the Scottish TransportAppraisal Guidance (STAG). Transport Scotland is currentlyundertaking a refresh of STAG, with the new guidance document and supplementarytechnical database e…