Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
26 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Katrine Water Project, whether West of Scotland Water's preferred option required untreated water to be pumped above the level at which it originated at Loch Katrine.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. The response is as follows:<P>The water in Loch Katrine originates from a number of lochs which form a complex combined catchment system. Loch Katrine is the lowest point of this system wi…
26 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Katrine Water Project, what the cost of acquiring land will be for the new holding reservoir at Bankell farm.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. The response is as follows:<P>Unfortunately I am unable to give an answer to this question as disclosure may prejudice the current land negotiations.
26 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the excess capacity of the proposed new Milngavie water treatment plant will be following completion of the Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22819 on 20 February 2002.
26 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current daily water consumption is of water from Balmore water treatment plant and Milngavie water treatment plant and by how much this will increase following completion of the proposed new Milngavie water treatment plant.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The current consumption of water at Balmore water treatment works is approximately 220 megalitres per day. The consumption of water at Milngavie water treatme…
26 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will give to plans to rejuvenate the banks of the River Clyde in Clydebank by transforming the former John Brown shipbuilding site into a film studio.
Answer · Elaine Murray: Scottish Screen is working with the property managers on the site, to assess the feasibility of creating permanent build space and production offices for the film and television industry in Clydebank.
26 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to reinstate a regular bus service between Clydebank and Milngavie and whether such a service would be eligible for funding from the Public Transport Fund.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It is for the relevant local transport authority to secure the provision of any public passenger transport services which are considered necessary but are not provided on a commercial basis. Subsidy for the provision of such services is not eligible for fundi…
26 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has introduced in order to reduce water consumption and what forecasts have been made of average per capita water consumption by residents of (a) Greater Glasgow, (b) Edinburgh, (c) Perth, (d) Aberdeen, (e) Inverness, (f) the Western Isles and (g) Orkney and Shetland in 1…
Answer · Ross Finnie: Measures to reduce water consumption include informing water authorities that applications for new Water Orders or amendments to existing Water Orders for the abstraction of water for public water supplies will not be approved unless they can demonstrate that…
26 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average per capita water consumption is of residents in (a) Greater Glasgow, (b) Edinburgh, (c) Perth, (d) Aberdeen, (e) Inverness, (f) the Western Isles and (g) Orkney and Shetland.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Detailed studies would be required to produce the information being sought. However, information relating to domestic water consumption in general in Scotland is given in the publication <I>Using Water in the Home in Scotland. Domestic Water Consumption Study…
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any former employees of (a) West of Scotland Water and (b) East of Scotland Water have been employed by Stirling Water in the last 18 months and whether any such employees have complied with those terms of their civil service contract which may affect their subsequent actions.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This information is not held centrally.
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what due diligence tests were carried out by West of Scotland Water before any decisions were made concerning the tendering process for the Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's response is:<P>I refer you to the answers given to questions S1W-22821 (on 20 February 2002), S1W-22907 (on 22 February 2002), S1W-23119 (on 5 March 2002) and to my reply to his letter of 15 N…
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22085 by Ross Finnie on 4 February 2002, in relation to the Community Forum, (a) who its members are and how they were selected, (b) how often the forum will meet, (c) what its remit is and (d) what commitment West of Scotland Water has made to addre…
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's reply is:<P>(a) West of Scotland Water has set up the Community Forum to promote understanding of the project during the construction phase through the community councils, local groups and to …
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what environmental regulation and approval processes apply to the extraction of water for drinking water purposes from (a) Loch Lomond and (b) Loch Katrine.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The abstraction of water for public water supplies, from these sources, is governed by the following legislation:<P>1. Glasgow Corporation Consolidation (Water, Transport and Markets) Order 1964. This act specifies conditions and compensation flows. <P>2. The…
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs are of providing treated water from (a) Loch Katrine and (b) Loch Lomond per megalitre of water treated.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's reply is:<P>These costs are not comparable, as the water supplied from each of the lochs is not treated to the same standards.
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the dimensions are of the proposed new Milngavie water treatment plant.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's reply is:<P>This information is contained within the planning application submission to East Dunbartonshire Council. The overall dimensions for the water treatment works are as follows:<P>The …
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action West of Scotland Water will take to ameliorate the impact of noise on recreational users of the Milngavie reservoir during construction and after construction of the water treatment plant.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's reply is:<P>I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22386 on 8 February 2002, and specifically to pages 2-20 to 2-21 of the Environmental Statement, which is available for inspe…
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is per capita in the current financial year of providing (a) water supply and (b) sewerage services to residents of (i) Greater Glasgow, (ii) Edinburgh, (iii) Perth, (iv) Aberdeen, (v) Inverness, (vi) the Western Isles and (vii) Orkney and Shetland.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The information requested is not available in the form requested. Scottish Water will develop and introduce monitoring information systems, to provide this type of information over the next few years.
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it can give to Scottish filmmakers wanting to use the former John Brown's shipyard on the Clyde as a location for films or a film studio.
Answer · Elaine Murray: Scottish Screen is working with the property managers to market the site as a production base for film and television companies. One company is currently using it for their production offices while filming on location.
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide functioning and accurate electronic information boards at key railway interchanges throughout the Strathclyde Passenger Transport area.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The functioning and accuracy of electronic information boards at key railway interchanges in the Strathclyde area, is an operational matter for ScotRail, in conjunction with Railtrack and the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive. <P>However, railway infr…
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce overall journey times by reducing missed connections at key rail interchanges throughout the Strathclyde Passenger Transport area.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Strategic Rail Study, commissioned by the Scottish Executive in July 2001, is currently looking at the likely costs and benefits of potential improvements to passenger railway services, operating in central and north-east Scotland. This includes …
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve connections between Glasgow Queen Street rail station, Buchanan Street underground station, Glasgow Central rail station and Buchanan Street bus station.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The development of local transport initiatives, including proposals to improve connections between different modes of public transport, is a matter for the relevant local authority, or in this case, the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive. However, the …
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to deliver integrated ticketing between the various train operating companies, bus and coach companies and ferry companies throughout Scotland.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is participating fully in the development of the Transport Direct Initiative. Transport Direct is a UK national project which aims to deliver integrated traveller information and ticketing across all modes of travel. <P>The Transport (S…
21 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when integrated public transport information for the whole of Scotland will be available online.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Traveline Scotland aim to extend their existing telephone service offering integrated public transport information for the whole of Scotland to include delivery through the Internet by 31 December 2002. This will make integrated information about all modes of…
18 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13597 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 15 March 2001, whether it will detail what improvements have been or will be undertaken by West of Scotland Water, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or other agencies to minimise combined sewer overflows and upgr…
Answer · Ross Finnie: West of Scotland Water Authority schemes completed since 1996 which will have improved water quality in the River Clyde are as follows: <P>Allers Sewage Treatment Works (STW) Outfall Sewer<P>Daldowie STW Phases III and IV<P>Helensburgh STW Secondary Treatment…
18 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what success there has been in reducing pollution levels of sewage, rubbish and other sources in the River Clyde and what plans there are to further improve water quality.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Clyde has been improving year on year since the 1970s, in terms of the chemical and biological indicators in the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's (SEPA) classification schemes. Migratory salmon now regularly return to the Cart, Kelvin and Clyde sy…
18 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to conserve and enhance the Milngavie reservoirs and their surroundings.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I have asked the Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The plans for the new Water Treatment Works at Milngavie take into account the need to conserve and enhance the existing reservoirs. For example, no above gro…
18 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action, in addition to the creation of the national park, is being taken to conserve and enhance Loch Lomond and its surroundings.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The information requested is not held centrally. I am aware, however, of a number of initiatives, including the Loch Lomond Catchment Plan, being progressed by Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and others; the Millennium Forest…
14 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the risk is of contamination (a) of the existing water supply from earthmoving and construction works during the construction stages of the Loch Katrine Water Project and (b) by chemicals/diesel leakage into the water supply when the project is completed.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Question (a) is a matter for West of Scotland Water and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:<P>All construction activities for the new Milngavie Water Treatment Works will be carried out in a planned, methodical way with ev…
14 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how effective the consultation by West of Scotland Water with members of the local community, including the Friends of Milngavie Reservoir, has been during the exhibition of the proposals for the Loch Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22910. Given that the Planning Application for the Katrine Water Project is currently under consideration by East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC), it is not appropriate for me or West of Scotland Water Autho…
14 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage has given any opinion concerning the environmental impact of the proposed new Milngavie reservoir; whether it will detail any such opinion, and what consideration it has given and response it has made to any such opinion.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is essentially a matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. I understand that East Dunbartonshire Council, as planning authority, is presently giving consideration to a planning application and Environmental Statement submitted by the West of Scotland Water A…
14 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland has given any opinion concerning the environmental impact of the proposed new Milngavie reservoir; whether it will detail any such opinion, and what consideration it has given and response it has made to any such opinion.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Water Industry Commissioner is responsible for promoting the interests of all customers through the economic regulation of the water industry. He has no role in the consideration of the Environmental Statements for individual projects.