Des McNulty

8 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10174 by Nicol Stephen on 27 September 2004, what information it has on what proportion of Network Rail’s spending will go towards the rail network in Scotland.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The cost of operating, maintaining and renewing the railway infrastructure is an operational matter for Network Rail.</p><p>The Office of the Rail Regulator determines Network Rail’s expenditure on a GB basis. Network Rail’s Business Plan contains information…

8 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1153 by Ross Finnie on 4 August 2003, what measures Scottish Water is taking to promote water efficiency to domestic and business customers.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Scottish Water is undertaking a number of measures to promote water efficiency. For household customers these include the production of leaflets relating to water efficiency in the home and garden, education packs for schools and localised water efficiency ca…

8 Oct 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1153 by Ross Finnie on 4 August 2003, what the results were of Scottish Water’s comprehensive evaluation of the impact and scale of leakage on the water network, broken down by area.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I have asked Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water, to reply. His response is as follows:</p><p>Improving leakage rates on the public water network is a long-term objective of Scottish Water and our evaluation of leakage on the network continues t…

15 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to improve cancer survival rates.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: <i>Cancer in ScotlandSustaining Change</i>, published in May 2004, sets out the strategic direction for improvements in cancer services over the next three years and beyond.</p><p>Statistics released in August 2004 show that over the last 25 years, five-year …

8 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the forthcoming Environmental Impact Assessment Bill will deliver a more accountable planning system.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The proposed Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Bill will ensure that all public plans, programmes and strategies likely to have significant environmental effects are subject to strategic environmental assessment.</p><p>It is proposed that public authorities…

31 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what freight facilities grants have been awarded in each year since 1998-99.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Freight Facilities Grant awards in Scotland since 1998-99:</p><p>1998-99</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Award</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Amount of Award</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Date Awarded</p> <…

31 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make its submission to the recent rail review public.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-10079 answered on 15 September 2004. All the answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: </p><p><a href="http://www…

31 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of public subsidy was to the ScotRail passenger franchise in each year since 1998-99 and what subsidy is forecast for the duration of the new passenger franchise.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The franchise payments received by ScotRail since 1998-99 are detailed in the following table.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p> </p> </td> <td> <p>1998-99</p> </td> <td> <p>1999-2000</p> </td> <td> …

31 Aug 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of operating, maintaining and renewing the railway infrastructure in each year since 1998-99 and what the forecast costs are for each year to 2008-09.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The cost of operating, maintaining and renewing the railway infrastructure is an operational matter for Network Rail.</p><p>Details of Network Rail’s previous and planned expenditure can be found in their Business Plans which are published annually and in the…

7 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether agreement has been reached in respect of the future of Scottish Opera.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Yes. We want to ensure that Scottishaudiences have the opportunity to enjoy the highest quality and widest range ofcultural experiences we can provide. Opera provision is a key part of the culturallandscape – and one which we want to retain.</p><p>Scottish Op…

2 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive where the Scottish Building Standards Agency will be located.

20 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its review of toll bridges will fully take into account economic and employment considerations and when the report of the review will be published.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I shall be making an announcementon these matters very shortly.</p>

28 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take following the judgement of Lord Bonomy in the Napier case concerning slopping out in prisons.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: We are considering LordBonomy’s judgement carefully including the possible grounds for appeal. In themeantime we will continue work to improve the prison estate, includinginvestment equivalent to around £1 million per week.</p>

10 Mar 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of the importance of music, physical education and drama teaching within schools.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The 5-14National Guidelines on Expressive Arts encourage schools to provide varied andstimulating experiences for pupils in all of these areas and I have recently announced that wewould like to see more teachers working in these areas.</p>

1 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many successful prosecutions there have been against operators of fishing vessels in the last five years in respect of actions in their capacity as operators of fishing vessels.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The number of successful prosecutions obtained in Scottish courts against either the master and/or the owners of fishing vessels for breaches of fishing regulations in the last five financial years was as follows:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=…

1 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed by (a) the Scottish fishing industry as fishermen, (b) the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency, (c) its Freshwater Fisheries and Aquaculture Division and (d) other public sector bodies involved in fisheries.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The number of persons employed in the Scottish sea fisheries catching sector during 2002 and persons employed in public sector bodies involved in fisheries during the financial year 2002-03 is shown in the following table.</p><p>Employment in the Sea Fisherie…

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been undertaken to examine the impact of the elimination of Erskine Bridge tolls on congestion on other Clyde crossings.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive has notconducted any studies into the potential impact of removing tolls at Erskine.</p>

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in respect of any review of Erskine Bridge tolls.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive is committed toreviewing existing bridge tolls in Scotland. That review will include consideration of Erskine Bridgetolls.</p>

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it estimates that total expenditure on maintenance of the Erskine Bridge will total more that #1.1 billion over the next 90 years.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The need for maintenance isidentified from inspections. This enables maintenance to be planned on arational basis. Most major maintenance does not follow a fixed cycle and it is thereforenot possible to predict accurately the maintenance costs over a 90 year …

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what long-term expenditure is projected for maintenance of the Erskine Bridge.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: A £4 million strengtheningand upgrading programme commenced in 2002 and is expected to be completed in2005. In addition to routine maintenance works, long term expenditure plans areset in the light of regular inspections of the bridge. Such work is likely toi…

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which companies received payments for the provision of services in relation to the Erskine Bridge in each of the last three years.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested isas follows:</p><p>Alliance &amp; Leicester Building Society</p><p>Amey Highways </p><p>APCOA Parking (UK) Ltd</p><p>Astron</p><p>Audit Scotland</p><p>C Spencer Ltd</p><p>Data Controls</p><p>David Smith (Fabricators)Ltd</p><p>Fibafo…

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were paid to Amey Highways Ltd for the management and operation of the Erskine Bridge last year and what costs were paid to local authorities for maintenance and upkeep of those access roads to the bridge for which they are responsible.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The total paid to AmeyHighways for the management and maintenance of the Erskine Bridge in2002-03 was £461,650. Funding for local roads and bridges forms part of thegeneral Local Government Finance Settlement.</p>

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual costs are to its Development Department of monitoring the implementation of the Erskine Bridge Tolls Act 1968 and the Erskine Bridge Tolls Act 2001.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Costs vary year on year. Theestimated cost in 2002-03 was £34,719.</p>

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the #13,712,663 accumulated surplus identified in the Erskine Bridge accounts for 2000-01 is consistent with section 4(2) of the Erskine Bridge Tolls Act 1968.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Yes. Audit Scotland havecertified that the 2000-2001 accounts were properly prepared in accordance withErskine Bridge Tolls Act 1968.</p>

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what costs are payable annually to APCOA Parking (UK) Ltd for the collection of tolls at the Erskine Bridge and what percentage of tolls collected is received by the company as a fee.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Costs vary year on yearunder the terms of the toll collection contract. Costs in the current year willbe £555,594 excluding VAT. These costs represent an agreed management fee undercontract and are not calculated as a percentage of tolls collected.</p>

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of collecting the Erskine Bridge tolls was in each of the last three years.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-5883 on 12 February 2004. All answers 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/…

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the operating costs of the Erskine Bridge were in each of the last three years.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested isdetailed in the Erskine Bridge Accounts 2000-2001, 2001-02 and 2002-03, copiesof which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre, Bib. numbers24147, 25778 and 30370 respectively.</p>

30 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much, and what percentage, of money collected from tolls on the Erskine Bridge was diverted to matters not directly concerned with the management of the bridge in each of the last three years.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Receipts from tollscollected at Erskine Bridge, along with expenditure related to the bridges, areincluded in the Executive’s main transport programme. Latest expenditure isdetailed in the Erskine Bridge accounts 2002-03 a copy of which is available inthe Par…

17 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4238 by Ross Finnie on 3 December 2003, whether the situation, whereby Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commissioner agree on a charging scheme but ministers do not seek a detailed assessment of the impact on customers, is consistent with minist…

Answer · Ross Finnie: Yes, it is consistent. Ministers set the strategicdirection for charges for the period 2002-06, setting the maximum level ofrevenue that can be collected and the principles that charges should beharmonised across Scotland and reflect the costs of provision. S…

12 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still intends to require (a) all new adult care homes to meet the standards for en suite facilities and (b) an end to shared rooms in 2007 and how many care home places it estimates will be lost as a result of such requirements.

Answer · Tom McCabe: There are no plans to alterthe requirements in the National Care Standards for the provision of en suitefacilities in all newly built adult care homes and the offer of single rooms inexisting care homes, to those who want them, by 2007. There is some flexibil…