Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation with local residents will be undertaken by West of Scotland Water during the construction of the new Milngavie water treatment plant.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-22817 (26 February 2002), S1W-22386 (8 February 2002) and S1W-22910 (22 February 2002).<P>West of Scotland Water Authority's Chief Executive adds:<P>As Mr McNulty is aware, the Community Forum has now h…
14 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the surveys and assessments made concerning the energy consumption and costs of each site considered for the Loch Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a question for West of Scotland Water Authority and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:<P>This information is available in Annex D of the <I>Environmental Statement</I> in the Project's Planning Application, and wa…
14 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the tendering processes used in both stages 1 and 2 of the Loch Katrine Water Project; whether this process was in line with normal public sector tendering rules and procedures, and whether any savings could be made by re-tendering stage 2 of the project using a dif…
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a question for West of Scotland Water Authority and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The tendering process for the Katrine Water Project conformed to all public sector tendering rules and procedures.<P>An inde…
14 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has prosecuted West of Scotland Water for water pollution arising from any of its water treatment plants.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The information requested is not held centrally. The reporting of incidents to the Procurator Fiscal is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
13 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of health spending in the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust area is allocated to (a) the Clydebank area and (b) Milngavie.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22539 on 18 February 2002.
13 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the prevalence of coronary heart disease, cancer and strokes in (a) West Dunbartonshire and (b) East Dunbartonshire.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Responsibility at community level rests primarily with NHS boards. They are well aware of the Executive's commitment to promoting equity of access to all services, including primary prevention measures. The results of the national demonstration project in pri…
13 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how successful its initiatives have been in widening access to further and higher education services at institutions such as Clydebank College.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Indications are that the Executive's Programme for Government target of 40,000 additional annual college places is on course for achievement. The latest academic year for which complete figures are available, 1999-2000, showed a 3% increase in college enrolme…
13 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure that all school children achieve a high minimum standard of computer skills.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The National Grid for Learning (NGfL) programme in Scotland aims to deliver the infrastructure, learning material and training to ensure that all pupils and teachers have access to modern ICT facilities in order to develop their skills. Between 1999 and 2002,…
13 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements in numeracy and literacy have been made since 1999 for pupils at schools in Clydebank and Milngavie.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Relevant information on pupil attainment within the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework for the six publicly funded schools in Clydebank and Milngavie constituency is set out in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=604>…
13 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the fall in recorded crime in the Strathclyde Police force area in December 2001, what new initiatives will be introduced in 2002 in order to maintain this trend.
Answer · Richard Simpson: Local police force initiatives are the responsibility of the individual Chief Constable. The Strathclyde Police Spotlight Initiative on Safer Streets will continue until 31 March 2002. In addition, I understand that Strathclyde Police intend to concentrate on…
13 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set Strathclyde Police in respect of reducing the number of road accidents and how any such targets will be achieved.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Scottish police forces were set a number of jointly agreed national road safety targets in May 2001, to be achieved by 2003-04:<P>A reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured in road accidents by 18%.<P>A reduction in the number of children…
13 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards establishing the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and the Cairngorms National Park.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The draft Designation and Election Orders for the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park were tabled for Parliament's consideration on 26 February. <P>Ministers continue to consider the recommendations contained in the <I>Scottish Natural Heritage Report…
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what will happen to the eight members of West of Scotland Water's tourist office at Loch Katrine and the SS Walter Scott screw steamer following the commissioning of a new water treatment plant at Milngavie.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Tourism at Loch Katrine and the Katrine Water Project are not related.
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what impact any delays in the development approvals process would have on the costs of the Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water, and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Any delay in the approvals process will have an adverse financial impact on the Katrine water Project.<P>Planning was submitted to East…
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the construction of the works associated with the Katrine Water Project will commence and be completed.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water, and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The construction of the works associated with the Katrine Water Project cannot commence until East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) grants …
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the reasons for the decision by West of Scotland Water Authority to engage Stirling Water as contractor for the Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22821 on 20 February 2002.
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation was undertaken by West of Scotland Water before it determined its preferred option for the location of a new water treatment plant as part of the Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water, and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The preferred option became a firm proposal when the planning application was submitted. Prior to this Katrine Water Project was very p…
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis West of Scotland Water considers the construction of a new water treatment plant at Milngavie to be the best value solution for the Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-22387 (8 February 2002), S1W-22134 (5 February 2002), S1W-22133 (5 February 2002), S1W-22086 (4 February 2002) and S1W-22155 (11 February 2002).
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the highest point above ground will be of the proposed new water treatment plant at Milngavie.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water, and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The highest point of the proposed new treatment works at Milngavie is the roof above the lime storage silo at the north end of the trea…
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail and cost the alternatives to the construction of a new water treatment plant at Milngavie as part of the Katrine Water Project submitted by (a) Trossach Water, (b) Balfour Beatty et.al., (c) Craigmaddie Water and (d) Alfred McAlpine et.al.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water, and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond. His response is as follows:<P>I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-22821 on 20 February 2002. The consortia tendering for the Katrine Water Project…
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have visited the National Museum of Scotland since April 2001.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The National Museums of Scotland (NMS) collect visitors numbers as a matter or routine. Visitor figures for each museum within the NMS estate since April 2001 are set out in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=585><TR><TD WIDTH…
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is being given to West Dunbartonshire Council to improve its rate of collection of rent from council-owned housing.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The collection of council house rents is a matter for individual local authorities.
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is being given to West Dunbartonshire Council to improve its council tax collection rates.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Following from the work of the joint "It Pays to Pay" Working Group, we have introduced legislative changes to allow all councils to start collecting council tax earlier and to take action more quickly when people fall into arrears. Good practice gu…
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how successful it has been in assisting with the establishment of credit unions and what is being done to ensure that existing credit unions, such as those in Dalmuir, Dunbartonshire and East Clydebank, continue to trade successfully.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive will assist the development of the credit union movement in Scotland through the implementation of the action plan "Unlocking the Potential". £1.5 million of new resources are available over this and the next two years to help implemen…
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the projects being undertaken by (a) North of Scotland Water Authority, (b) East of Scotland Water Authority and (c) West of Scotland Water Authority to comply with the provisions of the EU urban wastewater treatment directive (91/272/EEC) subsequently amended by Comm…
Answer · Ross Finnie: The list of projects which are currently under way, and their costs, is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 20557).
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18229 by Susan Deacon on 15 October 2001, what initiatives will be undertaken in 2002 to strengthen the relationship between the NHS and the hospice movement.
Answer · Hugh Henry: We welcome the close partnership which exists in Scotland between the NHS and the hospice movement, as it ensures that a comprehensive range of services is in place in response to patients' needs. We will continue to encourage hospices and the NHS to work tog…
8 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to enhance the provision of greenspace in East and West Dunbartonshire.
Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive recently approved Scottish Natural Heritage's business case for their "Greenspace for Communities" initiative. This will allow Scottish Natural Heritage, the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Greenspace Trust, and other organisations i…
6 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on its plans for protecting the water environment.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I am publishing today a consultation paper: <I>The Future for Scotland's Waters: Proposals for Legislation</I>. I am placing copies in the Parliament's Reference Centre. I am also placing an analysis of the responses to our first consultation paper, <I>Rivers…
6 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all five bidders who responded to the invitation to bid for the Katrine Water Project proposed the construction of a new water treatment plant at Milngavie.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West Of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's response is as follows:<P>In their tender returns to West of Scotland Water, none of the bidders made any specific proposals to construct a water treatment plant at Milngavie since they were n…
6 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the full environmental statement submitted by the West of Scotland Water Authority in connection with its proposed new water treatment plant at Milngavie should be made available for public inspection on the Water Authority's website and whether such electronic access should be m…
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's response is as follows:<P>It would not be practical to place an electronic copy of the full Environmental Statement from the planning application for the Katrine Water Project on the authority…