Parliamentary questions

Des McNulty

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

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-10966 and S3W-10965 by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008, whether it will detail the protocol and established practice under which correspondence from the First Minister’s constituency office, dated 9 and 13 November 2007, marked as high importance …

Answer · Michael Russell: It is established practice for correspondence received in the First Minister''s private office, but which is not personally addressed to him, not to be shown to the First Minister or to be put on the ministerial correspondence system. In this context…

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9059 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, whether the exhibition of phase two of the Aviemore Highland Resort's development arranged by Mr Donald Macdonald for the First Minister during the SNP conference in Aviemore on 26 October 2008 was held at…

Answer · Michael Russell: This information is not held by the Scottish Government.

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10968 by Michael Russell on 11 April 2008, on what basis the Minister for Environment has stated that no member of the Scottish Government saw or was shown the exhibition of phase two of the Aviemore Highland Resort’s development arranged by Mr Donal…

Answer · Michael Russell: The answer was provided on the basis of consultation with Ministerial Private Offices.

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9059 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, whether matters of timescales in relation to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency’s (SEPA) independent statutory role in individual planning applications are operational matters for SEPA.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency has an independent statutory role in advising on individual planning applications and ministers have no locus to intervene in this process. However, ministers have a legitimate interest in the efficiency and effectiv…

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-10664 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, whether the Minister for Environment was aware of the £30,000 donated to the SNP by Mr Donald Macdonald of Aviemore Highland Resort prior to phoning the chief executive of the Scottish Environment Protect…

Answer · Michael Russell: As with all donations above £5,000, the donation was registered with the Electoral Commission and had been a matter of public record since 21 August 2007.

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9062 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, whether it considers that it was appropriate in the circumstances for the Minister for Environment to phone the chief executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to check that there were no mat…

Answer · Michael Russell: Yes.

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9054 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, which of the Scottish Government’s strategic priorities and objectives the Minister for Environment required the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to work to and be aware of when he discussed w…

Answer · Michael Russell: The approach was consistent with the Scottish Government''s objectives.

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9066 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, whether the advice received from officials included an explanation as to why Scottish Environment Protection Agency had withdrawn its objection to the Aviemore Highland Resort’s master plan planning applic…

Answer · Michael Russell: I am satisfied that the advice I received from officials covered all relevant issues.

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9066 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, whether the Minister for Environment had knowledge of Aviemore Highland Resort’s objection to Laurel Grant Ltd’s rival retail planning application on 7 December 2007 when he decided to contact the Scottish…

Answer · Michael Russell: No.

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9067 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, whether the Minister for Environment briefed his private secretary on the outcome of his discussion with the chief executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and, if so, whether that briefing …

Answer · Michael Russell: Yes.

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9066 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, for what reasons the Minister for Environment’s private secretary wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and the First Minister on 7 December 2007 informing them that the “Par…

Answer · Michael Russell: In light of the wide public interest at the time and the fact that urgent representations had been made by parliamentarians from four different parties expressing concern about the process and timetable for consideration of this development proposal by the pl…

19 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9066 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, whether the matters of process raised with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) were the same matters that were raised with the chief executive of SEPA by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affai…

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment had no contact with the Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on 30 November 2007.

15 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the savings to Scottish Water between 1 December 2008 and 31 December 2009 as a result of the reduction in VAT announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 November 2008 and whether any savings will be spent on infrastructure projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Water charges are zero rated for VAT purposes. There will therefore be no savings to Scottish Water as a result of the Chancellor''s announcement on 24 November 2008. A link to the relevant part of HM Revenue & Customs website is attached here fo…

15 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the reduction in the costs of transport projects in 2008-09 and 2009-10 stemming from the reduction in VAT announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 November 2008 and whether the savings will be spent on transport projects.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland officials are currently working on quantifying the possible savings and I will write to the member in due course.

15 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the number of affordable houses that it will be able to commit to build between 1 December 2008 and 31 December 2009 and how many additional houses will be built as a result of reduced costs stemming from the reduction in VAT announced by the Chancellor of the Exch…

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: Decisions on the 2009-10 Affordable Housing Investment Programme are still to be taken so we have not yet estimated the number of approvals likely between 1 December 2008 and 31 December 2009. For new build, VAT is payable only on professional fees and the s…

15 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates that the reduction in VAT announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 November 2008 will save local authorities between 1 December 2008 and 31 December 2009 and whether that amount was taken into account in the announcement on the local government settlement m…

Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government has made no estimation of the savings to local authorities as a result of the reduction in VAT nor did we take the reduction of VAT into account in the calculation of the 2009-10 local government finance settlement. Section 33 of the V…

15 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates that the reduction in VAT announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 November 2008 will save NHS Scotland between 1 December 2008 and 31 December 2009, also broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: There are a number of changes to the VAT rules that impact on NHS Scotland beyond the temporary savings resulting from the reduction to the standard rate of VAT. It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the overall impact resulting from these cha…

12 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any meetings between Scottish ministers, accompanied by civil servants other than ministerial private secretaries, and representatives of the Scottish Green Party to discuss policy matters since May 2007, also showing the (a) dates of the meetings, (b) topics discusse…

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The following table lists any meetings between Scottish ministers and the Scottish Green Party to discuss policy matters since May 2007. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 > <thead> <tr > <td valign=top > Minister</p…

12 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any meetings between civil servants and representatives of the Scottish Green Party to discuss policy matters since May 2007 at which Scottish ministers were not present, also showing the (a) dates of the meetings, (b) topics discussed and (c) departments represented.

Answer · Bruce Crawford: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

11 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who, other than civil servants, is involved in considering applications to the Climate Challenge Fund and what the locus or role is of each person involved.

Answer · Michael Russell: The Climate Challenge Fund is administered on the Scottish Government''s behalf by Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB), which provides advice and support and acts as a single point of contact for community groups. KSB supports community groups in developi…

11 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what budget the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland will be given to allow it to carry out its work programme and undertake research.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The budget for Transport Strategy and Innovation provides running cost support for the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland, Passengers'' View Scotland, the regional transport partnerships and support for innovative transport solutions. The budget for 2…

11 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the convener and members of the new Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland will be given freedom to set their own agenda and work programme and, if so, what experienced staff they will have to support this.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS) is an advisory non-departmental public body and is able to determine its own priorities. It is supported by a secretariat which is based within the Scottish Government''s Transport Strategy Team. I intend …

11 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the convener and members of the new Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland will be inducted and assisted to take over from the previous committee.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The new members of the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland have all been informed that an induction day will be held in due course. As well as initial training, they will be made aware of governance issues in relation to non-departmental public bodies …

11 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are being made for the first meeting of the new Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A meeting is expected to be held in late January 2009 subject to members'' availability.

11 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when an announcement will be made on the appointment of the convener and members of the new Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government recently completed an appointment round, and announced the appointment of the new convener and six new members of the Mobility and Access Committee on 19 December 2008. The appointments will run for a three year period commencing on 1 …

5 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether agreement has been reached regarding the financial contribution to the cost of the planned replacement of the main expansion joints of the Forth Road Bridge; whether a preferred bidder has been appointed; when the works will be carried out; what the Scottish Government’s contribut…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Following the announcement on 10 December about our future strategy for the Forth crossing, we will be exploring with the Forth Estuary Transport Authority options for the timing, costs and extent of the works to replace the expansion joints.

5 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Jacobs Babtie is involved in both environmental evaluation of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and in preliminary design work connected to the project.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes.

5 Dec 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of legal representation and consultants fees will be to Transport Scotland in connection with the public inquiry into the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: These costs are not yet available as the public local inquiry is still on-going.

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which housing associations in East and West Dunbartonshire will share in the £4.1 million to fund land purchase by housing associations for future developments, announced on 26 November 2008; how much these housing associations will receive, and on which developments the money is to be sp…

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The details of the projects approved in East and West Dunbartonshire being funded from the £4.1 million announced for land purchases from the £9 million second tranche of accelerated funding announced on 26 November 2008 are as follows: <table border=1…

27 Nov 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether approval of the planning application put forward by Aviemore resorts hotels in the absence of a satisfactory flood risk assessment would, in the opinion of (a) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and (b) the Chief Planner, have been in breach of the provisions of Scottish P…

Answer · Michael Russell: The planning application referred to was at all times a matter for the Cairngorms National Park Authority to determine. As the application was not notified to Scottish ministers it would be inappropriate to comment on the details.