Des McNulty

26 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures will be taken by Scottish Water in the next two years to meet the revenue cap identified in the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland's Strategic Review of Charges 2002-06.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The revenue caps set by ministers for 2003-04 and 2005-06 determines the maximum amount of income that may be raised by Scottish Water through charges. Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commissioner are responsible for setting individual charges for custo…

26 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water is making adequate progress towards achieving the efficiency savings identified in the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland's Strategic Review of Charges 2002-06.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish Water's progress in its first year and in the first year of the review period can only be determined once audited accounts are available. The Water Industry Commissioner will review performance in his next cost and performance report.

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reduction in running costs would be if Scottish Water reduced its water leakage levels from mains pipes to the average of (a) English and (b) Welsh water companies.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>While Scottish Water has reliable estimates of leakage and the impact on costs for certain areas, an overall estimate of the level of cost savings made…

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of Scottish Water's planned new investment would not be required if it reduced its water leakage levels from mains pipes to the average of (a) English and (b) Welsh water companies.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Most of Scottish Water's investment at this time is focussed on meeting statutory requirements for drinking water quality and sewage treatment and this…

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much water would be saved per day if Scottish Water reduced its water leakage levels from mains pipes to the average of (a) English and (b) Welsh water companies.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Due to the uncertainty of estimating current levels of leakage, Scottish Water is unable to confirm a leakage estimate that is as reliable as those in …

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what attempts Scottish Water has made to reduce water leakage from mains pipes.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Between 2002 and 2006, Scottish Water is replacing in excess of 3,000 kilometres of water mains and this work is prioritised across Scotland to ensure …

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what modelling has been undertaken to quantify cost savings that could be made if significant reductions in water leakage from mains pipes were made.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>As part of its area water strategies, Scottish Water considers all options for an area and this includes the impact of reducing leakage. If these strat…

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate of water leakage from Scottish Water's water mains pipes is and what information it has on what the leakage rates are for (a) English and (b) Welsh water companies.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Due to the uncertainty in estimating current levels of leakage in Scotland, Scottish Water is unable to confirm a leakage estimate that is as reliable …

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made by Scottish Water in implementing the consultation code required under section 28 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Section 28 of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 requires Scottish Water to consult each of the Water Customer Consultation Panels about its consultation code prior to it seeking ministers' approval of the code.<P>Scottish Water has prepared a draft code …

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any sustainable urban drainage systems have been transferred to Scottish Water under the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Before any sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) can be transferred to Scottish Water, under the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003, ministers need to make enabling regulations under section 30 of the act. <P>These regulations are te…

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what major capital projects will be completed by Scottish Water in each of the next two years.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply. His response is as follows:<P>Between April 2003 and March 2005 approximately 700 projects (including major projects) will be completed, with additional smaller projects also being de…

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of Scottish Water's water and sewerage mains network was mapped when Scottish Water came into existence and how much it has spent, and will spend, in each year from 2002-03 to 2005-06 on mapping the remainder of the network.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to reply. His response is as follows:<P>Approximately 95% of Scottish Water's water and sewerage mains network was mapped when Scottish Water came into existence on 1 April 2001. This informati…

25 Jun 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what cost savings would accrue to Scottish Water if a 10% reduction in per capita demand was achieved through mains leakage reduction or any other means.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>While Scottish Water has reliable estimates of leakage and the impact on costs for certain areas, an overall estimate of the level of cost savings made…

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was (a) consulted on, (b) informed of or (c) approved Scottish Water's call centre proposals.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The decision to consolidate call centres is an operational decision for Scottish Water and is designed to deliver more cost-effective services to customers.

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs will be lost in (a) Glasgow and (b) Dundee if Scottish Water's plan to consolidate its call centres is implemented.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. Scottish Water is tasked with delivering a more effective and efficient service to its customers. To achieve this Scottish Water is reorganising itself and aims to consolidate key functions at five key sites i…

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the wider economic and environmental benefits and disadvantages would be of any centralised Scottish Water customer call centre in Edinburgh.

Answer · Ross Finnie: It is for Scottish Water to decide where and how it can deliver cost-effective services to its customers.

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any proposal by Scottish Water to consolidate its customer call centres in Edinburgh would be consistent with the Executive's policy to disperse public sector jobs from Edinburgh.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Executive is committed to the dispersal objectives of the relocation policy. Location decisions have been taken by Scottish Water in the context of a much larger reorganisation of business functions across the whole of Scotland.

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a comparison can be provided between the costs of consolidating Scottish Water's call centres and the costs of the current operation.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water.

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken with (a) trade unions and staff, (b) the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland and (c) the Water Customer Consultation Panels about Scottish Water's call centre proposals.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The decision was taken by Scottish Water in consultation with its staff and trade unions. Scottish Water is not required to consult either the Water Industry Commissioner or the Water Customer Consultation Panels on such a matter.

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what cost-benefit analysis underpinned Scottish Water's call centre proposals and whether information on such analysis is publicly available.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The decision to consolidate the current three call centres is an operational matter for Scottish Water. Scottish Water is required to ensure that its proposals are appraised and that decisions taken represent the best value for money for its customers.

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of the three call centres currently operated by Scottish Water is considered the most efficient and on what basis this view was reached.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The efficiency of individual units within Scottish Water is an operational matter.

29 May 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water has any plans to close its customer call centres in Glasgow and Dundee and consolidate provision in Edinburgh.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. It decided on 28 May 2003 to locate its consolidated customer call centre at Fairmilehead, Edinburgh.

13 Nov 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how all stakeholders will derive benefit from the ending of the two-tier workforce in new public private partnerships.

Answer · Andy Kerr: As the Deputy First Minister said in his response to you on 14 November, workers will all be treated on an equal basis, which must be good for employee morale. That will in turn benefit the public in terms of the quality services that are delivered. The proto…

17 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long a water treatment plant with the same specifications as that proposed for Milngavie would take to build.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>A water treatment plant with the same specification as that proposed for Milngavie would take approximately three years to build but commissioning and …

17 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the specified lifespan is of the filter media proposed for the Milngavie water treatment plant.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The filters proposed for the treatment plant at Milngavie are dual media with sand and anthracite. It is estimated that about 1% to 5% of the anthracit…

17 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what design elements of the new Milngavie water treatment plant mitigate against any bypass of the filters due to a flooding incident.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>It is assumed that this question is to ask whether the filters will perform as effectively when challenged by raw water quality which is poorer due to …

17 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of flooding the new Milngavie water treatment plant has been designed to cope with.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows: <P>It is assumed that this question refers to surface water run-off during storm events, which can lead to a deterioration of raw water quality. The plan…

17 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the peak turbity and colour loadings occurring in the source waters for the Balmore and new Milngavie water treatment plants are.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of Scottish Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The historical raw water quality data indicates a maximum turbidity of 2.9 FTU and a maximum colour of 23 degrees Hazen. The plant has been designed to…

10 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22091 by Mr Jim Wallace on 8 February 2002, whether it has assessed the effectiveness of nominating a judge specifically to oversee asbestos-related legal cases with a view to expediting their progress.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Lord Mackay of Drumadoon was nominated to oversee the procedural progress of asbestos related actions in December 2001. As of 28 October 2002 procedural hearings have been held in 330 such actions. In 21% of these cases, the court has been notified that the a…

10 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what programmes it is implementing to encourage waste producers to take a more environmentally responsible approach to the disposal and re-use of waste.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The National Waste Strategy: Scotland provides a framework for moving towards sustainable waste management. The 11 draft Area Waste Plans, being developed as part of the strategy, outline the measures which will be taken to encourage waste reduction, reuse an…