Parliamentary questions

Des McNulty

1,840 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of car journeys are under one mile.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Household Survey Travel Diary collects information on the proportion of car journeys less than one mile. Results are shown in the following table: Table 1: Proportion of Car Journeys Under One Mile <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cel…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the core paths in local authority plans are new paths.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-20980 on 26 February 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/App…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many kilometres of core paths have been planned by local authorities.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 requires the 32 local authorities and the two National Park authorities to draw up a system of core paths sufficient to give the public reasonable access throughout their area. This work is not yet complete for all access a…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects funded by the Climate Challenge Fund contained an element encouraging walking.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: In the first year of the Climate Challenge Fund 56 projects across Scotland have been awarded funds to reduce their carbon emissions. Their details are listed on the Climate Challenge Fund website <a href="http://www.infoscotland.co.uk/climatechallengefund">w…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Household Survey collects information on the percentage of children walking to school from 1999 onwards. Results for pupils aged 4-11 are shown in the following table: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td v…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the health and wellbeing budget is spent on encouraging walking.

Answer · Shona Robison: We are funding Paths to Health with £3 million from 2008 to 2011 through the physical activity part of the health and wellbeing budget. The Scottish Government''s Take Life On communications campaign promotes the health and mental wellbeing …

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of people meets the recommended levels of physical activity through walking.

Answer · Shona Robison: The official source of statistics on physical activity is the Scottish Health Survey. The most recent results currently available are for 2003, although the survey is in the field again now and results for 2008 will be available in September 2009 and annually…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of people meets the recommended levels of physical activity.

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much walking tourism contributes to the economy.

Answer · Jim Mather: VisitScotland figures for 2007 show that where walking was the main purpose of a visit to Scotland, it generated £244 million for the Scottish economy. Moreover, a high number of visitors enjoy walking more generally as part of a wider trip to Scotland. Where…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of visitors to Scotland take part in walking activities.

Answer · Jim Mather: In 2007 there were almost 16 million visitor trips to Scotland, 5.3 million of which enjoyed walking as part of their trip. So, almost one third of visitors to Scotland participate in walking activities of some kind during their stay, with a value of £1.3 bil…

13 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much VisitScotland spent on the promotion of (a) walking, (b) cycling, (c) golf and (d) wildlife tourism in the last 12 months.

Answer · Jim Mather: VisitScotland''s marketing budget for 2007-08 was £29.5 million. This includes spend on the promotion of activities such as walking, cycling, golf and wildlife tourism. Their marketing is based on sophisticated market research which identifies what the consum…

12 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland will hold in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 and how these figures compare with the number of meetings that it held in previous years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In 2008-09, the Mobility and Access Committee held two meetings of its main committee. The first of these, which took place in July 2008, was the final meeting of MACS in its previous incarnation. The second one took place on 20 January 2009. This was the ini…

12 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the budget for Transport Strategy and Innovation in 2009-10 the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland will receive.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In 2009-10, the budget for the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) will be part of the wider budget for Transport Strategy and Innovation. The MACS budget provides running cost support for the committee. The Transport Strategy and Innovation Bud…

12 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much will be allocated to the budget for Transport Strategy and Innovation in 2009-10 and what organisations it will support.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: £8.6 million will be allocated to the Transport Strategy and Innovation Budget in 2009-10. As well as supporting the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland, it will support the Regional Transport Partnerships, Innovative Transport Solutions, and Passenger…

12 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland has received in each year since it was established in 2002.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: From 2002-03 until 2004-05, the Mobility and Access Committee Scotland (MACS) was allocated the following budgets: 2002-03 - £100,000. 2003-04 - £200,000. 2004-05 - £200,000. From 2005-06 until 2007-08, MACS received fundin…

12 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-18835 and S3W-20234 by Stewart Stevenson on 8 January 2009 and 10 February 2009 respectively, what percentage of the £6.6 million budget for Transport Strategy and Innovation the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland will receive in 2008-09.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In 2008-09, the budget for the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) is part of the wider Transport Strategy and Innovation budget. The Transport Strategy and Innovation Budget is a Level 3 figure. Current Scottish Government Finance Guidelines ar…

5 Feb 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture last met representatives of the creative industries.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: I regularly meet with a wide range of representatives involved in the 13 creative industries “ for example in the last month I have met representatives involved in design, architecture, film, music, performing arts, TV and radio. I have also met with organisa…

4 Feb 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a Cycle to Work Scheme in all government organisations in order to encourage cycling and set a precedent for good environmental practice among employers.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There are plans to introduce a Cycle to Work Scheme for Scottish Government staff. Details of the scheme will be announced in early March.

4 Feb 2009 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, further to the answer to question S3W-12579 by Alex Johnstone on 6 May 2008, whether the scoping exercise on what was involved in setting up a Cycle to Work Scheme has been completed and, if so, whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body plans to implement this …

Answer · Alex Johnstone: We are currently carrying out some research into what would be involved in setting up a Cycle to Work Scheme. The results of this scoping exercise will be available in April, when a decision will be taken on whether to develop and implement a scheme and, if …

29 Jan 2009 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce its decision on the Beauly to Denny power line application.

Answer · Jim Mather: The Beauly Denny public inquiry, the largest in Scotland since devolution, with public meetings being held at Perth, Inverness, Newtonmore, and Stirling during the course of 2007. The inquiry reporters are currently preparing their report, which is expected t…

28 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18835 by Stewart Stevenson on 8 January 2009, how much funding the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) will receive from the 2008-09 budget and how this compares with the funding that MACS has received in the past.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-18835 on 8 January 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <a href="http://www.scottish.parliame…

28 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-18831 by Stewart Stevenson on 8 January 2009, whether it will be re-advertising for new members of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland in order to make the further appointments expected.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland will be advertising for new members in order to make further appointments. MACS recently commenced discussions with the Scottish Government''s Public Appointments Unit and the Office of the Commissioner for Publi…

28 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recent announcements by rail companies, Network Rail and the Office of Rail Regulation, what steps it is taking to protect train lines and services.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: First ScotRail operates the services specified in its Franchise Agreement with Scottish ministers. First ScotRail is contracted under the terms of this agreement to continue to provide these services. Network Rail is required under the terms of its …

28 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the redundancies announced by rail company DB Schenker, previously the English Welsh and Scottish Railway Ltd, will have an impact on employment in the rail industry and freight services in Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government does not hold information on this matter.

28 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 22% efficiency savings required by the Office of Rail Regulation and the announcement by Network Rail to defer 28% of planned track renewals across the United Kingdom will have an impact on track renewals, inspection and maintenance programmes in Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Network Rail''s acceptance of the Office of Rail Regulation''s Final Determination for the delivery of Scottish Ministers'' High Level Output Specification for Control Period 4 (CP4 April 2009 “ March 2014) was announced on Thursday 5 February 2009. Transport…

22 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to secure the appropriate possessions to allow the connection of the Borders line with the main network and what steps are still needed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: An appropriate delivery plan is being agreed with Network Rail to secure connection arrangements.

22 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the design capacity of the Borders railway project is sufficient to meet the peak-period patronage projections.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Borders railway project has been designed to ensure that sufficient capacity has been allowed for peak-period patronage based on current patronage predictions.

22 Jan 2009 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest patronage predictions are for the Borders railway project and on what these predictions are based.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Borders railway project has a predicted patronage of approximately 1.4 million single journeys, or 700,000 return journeys, in its opening year. This is based on the average of two previous independent studies into the expected demand for a journey time o…

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister was first made aware of the potential loss of 300 jobs at Aviemore Highland Resort and what immediate action he took on being informed.

Answer · Michael Russell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9480 on 28 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps…

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10966 by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008, whether the assistant private secretary sought advice from senior officials, ministers or special advisors on how the items of correspondence received from the First Minister’s constituency office manager, m…

Answer · Michael Russell: As the correspondence was handled in line with established practice, no advice was sought by the assistant private secretary.