Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
21 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3306 by Ross Finnie on 3 November 2003, whether a community consultation was undertaken during the development of Scottish Water's sustainable development action plan and, if so, what method was used.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you.</p>
21 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3270 by Ross Finnie on 3 November 2003, what the five delivery models identified by Scottish Water were.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As my reply to question S2W-3270indicated, this is an operational matter for the Chief Executive of ScottishWater and I have asked him to write to you about this matter.</p>
21 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30767 by Ross Finnie on 12 November 2002, when it expects (a) construction and (b) commissioning of the new water plant at Milngavie reservoir to be completed.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operationalmatter for the Chief Executive of Scottish Water and I have asked him to writeto you about this matter.</p>
21 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3273 by Ross Finnie on 3 November 2003, what key performance indicators have been established by Scottish Water.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operationalmatter for the board of Scottish Water and I have asked them to write to youabout this matter.</p>
21 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3273 by Ross Finnie on 3 November 2003, what mechanism has been established for controlling the spend on delivering Scottish Water's capital programme.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive agreed thetotal level of investment required in Quality and Standards II, the revenuecaps for total charges and the borrowing levels. We then monitor ScottishWater’s expenditure (including capital spend) on a monthly basis against these.</p>
21 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3273 by Ross Finnie on 3 November 2003, whether the results of the benchmarking exercise of Scottish Water Solutions Ltd's projects against industry best practice will be made public.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As my answer to question S2W-3273indicated, this is an operational matter for the Chief Executive of ScottishWater and I have asked him to write to you about this matter.</p>
21 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3274 by Ross Finnie on 7 November 2003, whether the requirements in sections 50 and 51 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 will apply to Scottish Water Solutions Ltd.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Yes.</p>
21 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3274 by Ross Finnie on 7 November 2003, whether Scottish Water's consultation code, required under section 28 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, will apply to the activities of Scottish Water Solutions Ltd.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to S2W-4339 on 8 December 2003. 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/webapp/se…
21 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25452 by Ross Finnie on 10 May 2002, whether responsibility for completing the Katrine Water project will transfer to Scottish Water Solutions Ltd.
Answer · Ross Finnie: As my answer to question S1W-25452indicated, this is an operational matter for the Chief Executive of ScottishWater and I have asked him to write to you about this matter.</p>
21 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3369 by Ross Finnie on 5 November 2003, how long it took to issue the abatement notice and for Scottish Water to respond.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operationalmatter for the Chief Executive of Scottish Water and I have asked him to writeto you about this matter.</p><p>It is unlikely he will beable to comment about the timescale for issue of the abatement notice sincethis was the responsibility…
21 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3369 by Ross Finnie on 5 November 2003, whether it will provide details of the abatement notice.
Answer · Ross Finnie: No.</p><p>Abatement notices are servedby local authorities under section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.</p>
18 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision has been identified to deal with flooding affecting Clydebank; whether a range of options have been identified for this provision, and when decisions are likely to be taken to commit any necessary resources.
Answer · Allan Wilson: It is for the relevant localauthority, in this case West Dunbartonshire Council, to determine whetherprovision is required to deal with flooding in its area. However, I am awarethat local authorities in the catchment of the river Clyde arepresently investigat…
18 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive by how much it expects non-domestic water and sewerage bills to decrease following the introduction of competition into the sector, as referred to in the draft Water Services (Scotland) Bill, and whether some bills to small businesses could increase as a result of competition.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Under the proposals outlinedin the Executive’s consultation on the draft Water Services (Scotland)Bill, non-household charges will reflect the services that retailers offer tonon-household customers and customers’ willingness to pay for these services.</p>
18 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any further measures to ease the consequences of increases in water bills for business customers.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We await the outcome of thecurrent discussion between Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commissioneron the Scheme of Charges for 2004-05, which we expect to conclude in the nextmonth or so.</p>
18 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was made aware of the range of potential increases arising out of new arrangements for water bills.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Charges Scheme for2003-04 was agreed by Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commissioner withinthe revenue cap set by ministers. Only if there had not been agreement on the chargesscheme, and Scottish ministers had been called upon to decide on the annu…
5 Nov 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in establishing a Financial Services Strategy Group.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The first meeting of the Financial Services Strategy Group is now scheduled for 24 November 2003. I will chair the group, whose members are listed in the table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=595> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Name</p> </t…
29 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation is envisaged by the Water Industry Commissioner for the next strategic review of charges for water and sewerage services.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive will set theremit upon which the Water Industry Commissioner will undertake the nextstrategic review of water and sewerage charges. The remit will reflect theoutcome of the planned public consultation on the targets for quality andstandards to b…
16 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce any measures to assist water customers affected by increases in water bills.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The transitional household reductionscheme was set up to help households adjust to increased charges. It will cometo an end in March 2004. Issues of affordability for domestic customers willcontinue to be addressed through the link to council tax band and ass…
16 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the range will be of any increases arising from new water pricing arrangements.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The revenue cap set by ministersfor 2004-05 allows for an increase in total revenue of 4.6%, followed by adecrease the following year. Under the Water Industry (Scotland)Act 2002, it is for Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commissioner to agreethe annual…
16 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it received in regard to any potential impact of new pricing arrangements on water bills of business customers.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executivereceived advice from the Water Industry Commissioner in the Strategic Review ofCharges before setting the revenue caps for the years 2002 to 2006. The ChargesScheme for 2003-04 was agreed by Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commissi…
16 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will assist low income households pay water bills when the Transitional Water and Waste Water Charges Scheme ends on 31 March 2004.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The current transitionalscheme was set up to provide additional assistance to enable low income householdsadjust to increased water and wastewater charges. The main source of assistanceremains the link between domestic charges and the banding and discountarra…
16 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanism it will use to ensure that future strategic reviews of charges in the water industry will consider the capacity of Scottish Water to meet new demands, including projected new housing, commercial and industrial developments.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The quality and standardsprocess is the mechanism for dealing with such issues. The consultation whichwill follow the options identified by this process will include both theoptions for addressing development constraints and the impact on customercharges of p…
16 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for not capping increases in water bills for business customers.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Charges Scheme for2003-04 was agreed by Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commissioner withinthe revenue cap set by ministers. This scheme set the increases in charges todifferent groups of customers.</p>
15 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to report on the performance and integrity of National Statistics in Scotland.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I am pleased to announce thepublication of the Chief Statistician’s Annual Report for the year 2002-03. Thissets out progress on the development of statistics and on the performance of the Scottish Executive in relation to the principles and procedures set ou…
14 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets have been set by Scottish Water in relation to its voluntary severance programme.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Water.</p>
14 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water's voluntary severance programme has achieved its objectives
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Water.</p>
14 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how Scottish Water's rate of return of 7.3% in 2002-03 compares to other similar organisations in the UK and internationally.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The rate of return forEnglish and Welsh water and sewerage companies is published annually by OFWAT.Details may be found in the annual financial performance and expenditure reporton the website at <a href="http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/">http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/</a…
14 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees have left Scottish Water since its establishment.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Water.</p>
14 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees who have left Scottish Water since its establishment have subsequently taken up employment in companies associated with Scottish Water Solutions Ltd and its parent companies.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Water.</p>
14 Oct 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance Scottish Water will give to employees who leave the organisation over the next year.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Water.</p>