Parliamentary questions
Des McNulty
1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
25 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list and cost all projects being undertaken by (a) North of Scotland Water, (b) East of Scotland Water and (c) West of Scotland Water to comply with the provisions of the drinking water quality directive 80/778/EEC.
Answer · Ross Finnie: North of Scotland Water Authority and West of Scotland Water Authority have both given Scottish ministers an undertaking to carry out improvement works, to comply with the provisions of the new Drinking Water Directive 98/78/EC. There is currently no drinking…
25 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it plans to give to West Dunbartonshire Council's Lord Provost's Appeal for the centenary of Clydebank Town Hall.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Revenue grant provided to local authorities is largely unhypothecated and is available for councils to spend on the whole range of council services. The Scottish Executive has no plans to provide additional financial assistance for the Clydebank Town Hall App…
25 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set each of the three water authorities under the Scottish Climate Change Programme to reduce the use of energy, waste and water.
Answer · Ross Finnie: None.<P>The Scottish Climate Change Programme recognised the need for the water authorities to integrate climate change issues into their business strategies and to take account of climate change in future investment programmes. <I>Water Quality and Standards…
25 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to increase teacher numbers, provide teachers with improved career paths and enhance students' grades in East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: In 2001 the Scottish Executive mounted the first ever major national teacher recruitment advertising campaign, with the twin objectives of improving the public perception of teaching as a worthwhile and rewarding career and increasing the number of talented p…
25 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6585 by Susan Deacon on 22 August 2000, whether it will give a progress report on the steps it is taking to respond to the projected shortage of junior doctors.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The number of junior doctors, defined as doctors in training, required in the short, medium and long term is affected by a variety of major factors, making for a very complex situation.<P>In the short term, in response to the requirements of the European Work…
25 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7250 by Henry McLeish on 8 June 2000, what impact its employment initiatives have had on the claimant unemployment rate in West Dunbartonshire since May 1999.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Employment is a reserved issue. Through UK Government and Scottish Executive employment initiatives, for example New Deal 18-24 and Training for Work, the claimant unemployment rate has dropped by 14% in West Dunbartonshire since May 1999.
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the development application and the environment statement for the Milngavie to Larkhall rail extension will be finalised.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Orders confirmed by the UK Parliament in 1994 authorised development in connection with the Larkhall to Milngavie rail link, and empowered the British Railways Board to construct works and purchase land. Prior to this confirmation, an Environmental Statement …
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it has taken, or plans to take, to preserve the heritage of Craigmaddie and Mugdock Reservoirs, whose tunnel entrances, retaining wall and bridge are Category B listed.
Answer · Mike Watson: I have asked Graeme Munro, Chief Executive of Historic Scotland to answer. His response is as follows: <P>Action to protect listed structures, such as those parts of Craigmaddie and Mugdock Reservoirs, may be taken under powers set out in the Planning (Listed…
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any reduction in costs associated with the option chosen for the Katrine Water Project (potential development areas 3 and 8) compared with the option ruled out (potential development areas 13 and 15).
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>Different criteria than those used to select the scheme design options were used to identify the Potential Development Areas (PDA's). T…
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the preferred option for the Katrine Water Project compares to the other options in relation to (a) energy consumption and CO2 emissions and (b) maintenance of pumping infrastructure and other pipework.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's response is:<P>(a) Energy consumption is one of many environmental criteria considered in the selection of the preferred option for the Katrine Water Project. Question S1W-22092 (answered on 4…
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used by the West of Scotland Water Authority to shortlist the potential development areas for the Katrine Water Project and why the study area was not extended beyond Milngavie in the west and Balmore treatment works in the east.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's response is:<P>The criteria used to short list the potential development areas for the Katrine Water Project are detailed in Table D6.2 of the Environmental Statement for the project, together…
22 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of the construction of the proposed water treatment plant and associated works for each of the 16 potential development areas considered by the West of Scotland Water Authority as part of the Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water. The Chief Executive's response is:<P>For each potential development area, a number of scheme options exist around the treatment plant and associated works. These options include, inter alia, various configurations …
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration was given to any impact on levels of (a) usage of energy and (b) greenhouse gas emissions in the appraisal of alternatives for the Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive's response is as follows:<P>Annual energy usage and resultant carbon dioxide emissions were considered for all options as part of the option appraisal and selection process. The relati…
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology was used by West of Scotland Water in order to determine the best environmental option for the Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive's response is as follows:<P>West of Scotland Water commissioned an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Katrine Water Project. This was undertaken by Environmental Resources M…
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many asbestos-related court cases were outstanding at the date of Lord Mackay of Drumadoon's appointment; how many surviving asbestos sufferers are expected to access the court processes following his appointment, and what judicial resources will be allocated in order to ensure that …
Answer · Jim Wallace: As at 20 December 2001 there were in the region of 450 asbestos related cases on-going in the Court of Session. During January 2002, Lord Mackay has conducted procedural hearings in a selection of cases, with a view to identifying any issues that might have a…
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average length of time taken to complete asbestos related court cases is and what estimates have been made of any reduction in the length of time taken following the appointment of Lord Mackay of Drumadoon in respect of such cases.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not readily available. The nomination of Lord Mackay of Drumadoon to oversee the procedural aspects of these actions, and particularly to focus the attention of parties on the matters which may be barring or delaying settlement or…
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the water management and farm management improvements undertaken by the West of Scotland Water Authority in response to recommendations made by the Scottish Agricultural College in its detailed risk assessment study of the Loch Katrine catchment and the aque…
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive's response is as follows:<P>Water management practices have been changed within the Loch Katrine catchments. Loch Arklet and Glen Finglas are only used when possible contamination risk…
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of any increase in traffic flows along local roads and the A81 during the construction phase of proposed works at Milngavie and Baldernock in connection with the Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The A81 is a local road and as such the responsibility of East Dunbartonshire and Stirling Councils as the local roads authorities for the sections of the road that lie within their areas. This is therefore a matter for the councils to address.
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the analytical matrix was for the site selection process for the Katrine Water Project.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive's response is as follows:<P>A large number of different criteria were used to consider all of the selected sites. For each criterion, the sites were measured or assessed so that they c…
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action the West of Scotland Water Authority will take to liaise with the local community during preparatory works for the proposed water treatment plant at Milngavie.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive's response is as follows:<P>West of Scotland Water has been extremely proactive in its liaison with the local community regarding the Katrine Water Project - both in the consultations …
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people make recreational use of the walkways around Mugdock and Craigmaddie reservoirs each year and how many people are expected to visit these reservoirs each year following the construction of the new Milngavie water treatment plant.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This is a matter for West of Scotland Water Authority. The Chief Executive's response is as follows:<P>West of Scotland Water commissioned a survey of visitors to the reservoirs at Milngavie over a four-day period in August 2001. This showed that some 3,250 r…
28 Nov 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the report by the Auditor General for Scotland, The new trunk road contracts, and what action it plans to take as a result.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I welcome the Auditor General's authoritative report which he agreed to undertake at my predecessor's invitation earlier this year. In particular, his conclusion that overall the department implemented these large and important contract competitions fairly, p…
7 Nov 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve standards of urban design.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I shall be launching the Executive's policy statement <I>Designing Places</I> tomorrow.
29 Oct 2001 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what action is being taken by the Scottish Executive to protect vulnerable communities from the effects of climate change and, in particular, from flooding.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Executive has published a significant amount of research into the likely effects of climate change in Scotland. Most recently, research into <I>Potential Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change in Scotland </I>was published last month. This research will…
22 Oct 2001 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what progress is being made in improving and expanding public transport at a local level.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Sarah Boyack announced the biggest single investment in public transport across Scotland on Monday awarding over £75 million to 26 projects. This follows an extra £100 million spent in three previous rounds of the Public Transport Fund and demonstrates the Ex…
20 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it currently gives to hospices per hospice bed and what its estimate is of the cost to the NHS per bed of providing hospice beds itself.
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is not possible to isolate the funding which relates purely to bed provision. Information on the costs of the specialist palliative care provided by NHSScotland is not available centrally.
18 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is addressing any recruitment difficulties arising from the image of the manufacturing industry.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is hosting a campaign called Make<I> </I>it<I> </I>in<I> </I>Scotland<I>, </I>which will challenge young people's perceptions of the manufacturing industry and better inform career choices. At the core of the campaign is a series of loc…
17 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review policy on the relationship between the NHS and the hospice movement.
Answer · Susan Deacon: We welcome the close partnership between the NHS and the hospice movement in Scotland. The totality of specialist palliative care provision is currently being reviewed as part of the implementation of the Scottish Cancer Plan. That work will take account of t…
17 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines it gives to NHS funding bodies about the level of support that should be given to hospices.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Arrangements for the funding of adult voluntary hospices remain as set out in Management Executive Letter (1994)104.
17 Sep 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the costs of running hospices was met by (a) grants and (b) charitable donations in each of the past 10 years.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Since 1995-96, the earliest year for which figures are readily available, the total percentage of revenue funding provided to adult voluntary hospices in Scotland by health boards and through charitable donations is as follows.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELL…