Parliamentary questions

Des McNulty

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

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive approval from the European Commission to proceed with the CalMac ferry service tender.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Clyde and Hebridesferry services tendering process has been underway since October 2005 whenadvertisements were published in a range of outlets seeking expressions ofinterest in tendering for the contract. Following a pre-qualification process,invitations…

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what developer contribution has been factored into sharing the costs of delivering the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: None.

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated costs are associated with moving the International School of Aberdeen from the preferred route of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The compensation payableis not yet known but will be paid in accordance with relevant legislation and willbe assessed by the independent Valuation Office Agency.

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional cost is associated with the southern loop of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route to Stonehaven and what the benefit to cost ratio is of that element of the project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Fastlink betweenStonehaven and Cleanhill Junction is an integral part of the scheme as a whole.No separate cost estimate or benefit to cost ratio has been prepared for this sectionof the project.

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimate is of the cost of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and the benefit to cost ratio associated with the project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The cost estimate inheritedfrom the previous administration is in the range £295 million - £395 million.This is based on the risks as currently identified but we will continue tomonitor this in light of prevailing tender prices for roads contracts. Thefinal c…

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to providing financial support for ferry travel for people living and working in the Western Isles, similar to that available for air travel.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government iscommitted to commissioning a study into Road Equivalent Tariff as a mechanismfor reducing ferry fares. We will announce our plans for that study in duecourse.

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of interest was recorded when tenders were invited to provide a ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Fourteen expressions of interestwere received in respect of the 2005-06 Campbeltown and Ballycastle tendering process.Eight of these companies completed a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire, of whichfour met the pre-qualification criteria set and were invited to…

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of public subsidy would be required to provide a ferry service linking Campbeltown to Ballycastle.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The level of subsidy requiredwould depend on a range of factors, including the level of service that was specified,the availability of vessels suited to the route and fuel costs - an important elementin the running costs of the service.

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any discussions with Ferrovial about transport issues other than airport provision.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There have been no meetingsbetween the Scottish Executive and Ferrovial about transport issues other thanairport provision under the new administration.

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the relative benefit to cost ratios are of building a (a) tunnel and (b) bridge as a new Forth crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: On 26 June 2007 the Cabinet decided to pursue two crossing options (abridge at Corridor D just west of the existing bridge and a tunnel option at CorridorC) before making a decision on the preferred crossing in the autumn. The relativebenefit to cost ratios o…

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any discussions about funding methodologies with potential providers of a new Forth crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There have not beenany discussions about funding methodologies with potential providers of a new Forthcrossing.

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether options for a new Forth crossing which would involve tolls on the existing crossing continuing as an income stream to part-fund the costs of any new crossing are under active consideration.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Further work on fundingoptions for the crossing will take place over the summer to allow a decision tobe made in autumn 2007.

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with finance and construction companies regarding funding options for a new Forth crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There have been informaldiscussions with banks, Partnerships UK and both construction and consulting engineersas part of the Forth Replacement Crossing Study. These discussions have includeddiscussions about the construction methodology for the crossing, risk…

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a new Forth crossing would be part-funded by tolling its users.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Further work on funding optionsfor the crossing will take place over the summer to allow a decision to be madein autumn 2007.

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding mechanism will be used to cover the costs of building a new Forth crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Further work on fundingoptions for the crossing will take place over the summer to allow a decision tobe made in autumn 2007.

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what options for a new Forth crossing are under consideration.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: On 26 June 2007 the Cabinet decidedto pursue two crossing options (a bridge at Corridor D just west of the existingbridge and a tunnel option at Corridor C) before making a final decision on thepreferred crossing in the autumn. These options are set out more …

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the range of estimates for the cost of a new Forth crossing announced by the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change on 27 June 2007 (Official Report c. 1132) was given at 2016 prices and what element has been built in for inflation in each year from 2007-08 to 2016…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The cost estimateswhich I quoted in Parliament on 27 June 2007 were an estimateof likely outturn costs on completion of the crossing and emphasise the scale ofthis project. These estimates are based on an estimated construction inflation of5% year-on-year up …

2 Jul 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will commit funding for a new Forth crossing.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A decision on thepreferred crossing option and how it will be funded will be made in autumn 2007.Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area andcan be contacted if required.

27 Sep 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a shortfall in the local government finance settlement in respect of the financing of children¿s services.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Recent reports of a shortfallin the local government finance settlement in respect of children’s services weremisleading. Those reports were based on incomplete information and an over-simplificationof the local government finance position. Ensuring that chil…

13 Sep 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much investment is planned for schools and college facilities in the Clydebank and Milngavie parliamentary constituency between 2006 and 2010.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive does nothold information centrally on planned investment in schools facilities as this isthe responsibility of individual local authorities. However, you may wish to note that both East and WestDunbartonshire councils are each taking fo…

21 Jul 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the special advisers currently in post are appointed by the (a) First Minister and (b) Deputy First Minister; what the pay bands for such advisers are for 2006-07; how many advisers are in each band, and what the total cost was of employing its special advisers in 2005-06.

Answer · Tom McCabe: There are nine SpecialAdvisers appointed by the First Minister and three appointed by the DeputyFirst Minister.<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=688> <thead> <tr> <td width=340 valign=top> Appointed by First Minister </td>…

9 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its employability framework.

Answer · Allan Wilson: I am pleased to announce thepublication today of Workforce Plus; an Employability Framework for Scotland. The framework asserts the Executive’sbelief that, for most people and their families, work is the surest way of raisingand sustainin…

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-9490 by Hugh Henry on 30 March 2006, how many mesothelioma cases are currently being progressed and how many asbestos-related cases not involving a diagnosis of mesothelioma remain outstanding in Scottish courts, broken down according to whether the …

Answer · Hugh Henry: As at 14 June, there were 32cases involving a diagnosis of mesothelioma outstanding in the Court of Sessionand 384 other asbestos related cases. The court does not have a breakdown accordingto the pursuer’s place of residence.

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been undertaken to estimate the number of people who may suffer from mesothelioma in the next (a) 5, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years living in (i) island, (ii) rural and (iii) urban communities.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I am not aware of any studiesinto the expected incidence of mesothelioma broken down by island, rural or urbancommunities in Scotland.However, the Health and SafetyExecutive have conducted a study into expected mortality from mesothelioma in Great Brit…

8 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients diagnosed with mesothelioma live in (a) island, (b) rural and (c) urban communities.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Cancer Registryrecords 913 patients who were diagnosed with mesothelioma in the five year period1999-2003. Their distribution among the areas specified is:(a) Island communities,six(b) Rural areas, 125(c) Urban areas, 788.

6 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the audit reports on local sports facilities will be published; what the lessons to be learnt from the audits are, and how the issues they identify will be addressed.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The National Audit of Scotland’s Sports Facilities summary report is being published by sportscotland today and can be accessed on sportscotland’swebsite at: <a href="http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/">www.sportscotland.org.u…

6 Jun 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it plans to take to improve arrangements for regulating and scrutinising devolved public services in Scotland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive has decided toundertake a review of the current arrangements for scrutiny and regulation in Scotland, meaningthe inspection, regulation, audit, and procedures for formal external investigationof complaints relating to devolved public services in…

3 May 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it will take forward its commitment to publishing a renewed policy statement on architecture, which it announced earlier this year in Scotland’s Culture, its response to the Cultural Commission report on its review of culture in Scotland.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: <a name="se_IndexHeading"></a>Education Department Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive <a name=QuestionText>howit will take forward its commitment to publishing a renewed policy statement onarchitecture, wh…

22 Mar 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how quickly cases of compensation for mesothelioma suffers are now being dealt with by the Scottish courts following changes to the handling of such cases; how many mesothelioma cases are currently being progresses and how many asbestos-related cases not involving a diagnosis of mesotheli…

Answer · Hugh Henry: In cases of mesothelioma, thewaiting period in the Court of Session from the lodging of defences to allocationof proof is currently 46 weeks – within the period of 12/13 months recommended byLord Coulsfield.There are currently 88 mesotheliomarelated ca…

22 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to meet the targets set to reduce alcohol consumption by adults and children.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We are investing nearly £12 millionin each of 2005-06 and 2006-07 to fund alcohol-related prevention, allocation andtreatment services. Under Delivering for Health, we will require every NHS boardto show in their forward planning what they will do to reduce a…