Parliamentary questions
Mr Duncan Hamilton
494 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
12 Mar 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports full implementation of the recommendations in the report of the Scottish Charity Law Commission including recommendations to modernise charity law and create a new definition of "public benefit", an independent regulator, a transparent register of charities and a singl…
Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is given in the Scottish Executive's response to the report of the Scottish Charity Law Review Commission published on 16 December 2002, a copy of which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 25562).
12 Mar 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the development of Oban Airport.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Argyll and Bute Council are currently examining options for extending air services in Argyll and Bute as part of the current review of aviation policy underpinning the white paper <I>The Future Development o…
24 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its definition is of "value for public money" in respect of the Glasgow to Barra air link, as referred to by the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning in the debate on the Glasgow to Barra air link on 15 January 2003 (Official Report, c 17011).
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Value for public money is defined by means of a financial appraisal which takes account of the benefits of the Glasgow to Barra air service compared to its associated costs. This must be placed in the context of overall transport provision to Barra and the wi…
14 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken a transport economic efficiency report looking specifically at the key benefits of the development of infrastructure such as airports and, if so, whether it will place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The consultation document <I>The Future Development of Air Transport in Scotland</I> includes a detailed assessment of the impact of forecast passenger growth on airports throughout Scotland, including the impact on economic growth. The document is available …
14 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an objective appraisal under the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance has been conducted for the Glasgow to Barra air link and, if so, whether it will place a copy in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No.
21 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it regards Bute, Muck, Eigg and Skye as islands.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Yes.
15 Jan 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total annual cost is of its subsidy to public service obligation routes, broken down by route.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The amount of subsidy paid for each individual route on which public service obligations have been imposed by the Scottish Executive is commercially confidential.
10 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct Caledonian MacBrayne to meet representatives of Argyll and Bute Council to discuss safety issues surrounding the Ali Cat ferry on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Caledonian MacBrayne met representatives of Argyll and Bute Council to discuss operational issues in respect of the Ali Cat on 10 and 17 December.
10 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why there is no relief vessel for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route when a vessel breaks down.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The question relates to an operational matter for Caledonian MacBrayne Limited and should therefore be addressed to the Managing Director of the company.
10 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why Caledonian MacBrayne did not produce a costed analysis of the roll-on/roll-off option for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route in the light of the Deloitte and Touche report in 2001.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Deloitte Touche Report, which was published in 2000, rather than 2001, itself provides a detailed analysis of a number of options for Gourock Dunoon, including a roll-on/roll-off option suggested by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. In addition, an Addendum was p…
10 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to replace the Ali Cat ferry on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route when the charter finishes on 3 April 2003.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The question relates to an operational matter for Caledonian MacBrayne Limited and should therefore be addressed to the Managing Director of the company.
10 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports Caledonian MacBrayne continuing to run a ferry service from Gourock to Dunoon.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Yes.
22 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the level of toxins in scallops can fluctuate on a daily and weekly basis.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: Once scallops have fed on toxic phytoplankton and their flesh has become toxic the level will not fluctuate. Levels will, however, continue to accumulate while the animal feeds on the toxic phytoplankton. <P>In the absence of these species the scallop will be…
22 Nov 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what rationale is used to decide the length of time between tests for amnesic shellfish poisoning levels in any given designated area.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: The testing for amnesic shellfish poison levels in any given area is determined by assessment of risk.<P>The criteria for this risk assessment includes whether the area is capable of being exploited and is subject to active harvesting, the pattern of previous…
31 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place a copy of the tender pack for the passenger-only vessel on the Gourock to Dunoon route in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31068 on 13 November 2002. 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.u…
30 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Glasgow to Barra air link is subject to a public service obligation for one year only and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The air service between Barra and Glasgow will be tendered on a one-year basis from 1 April 2003. There have been significant transport developments in the Western Isles including the provision of an enhanced ferry service on the Sound of Barra next year. Ten…
30 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the new passenger-only vehicle has been chartered for the Gourock to Dunoon route before the consultation process in regard to Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd has been completed.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd's decision to provide some of its services between Gourock and Dunoon using a passenger-only, rather than a passenger and vehicle, vessel is a matter for the company because only the passenger element of the Gourock to Dunoon service …
30 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will initiate a detailed investigation into the level and standard of service being provided by Argyll and Clyde NHS Board with particular regard to any delayed referrals and financial mismanagement.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: On 26 September I announced the despatch of an expert support team to tackle long-standing managerial problems in the running of the health service in Argyll and Clyde.<P>In setting up the expert support team, the Executive and NHS Board Chair, John Mullin, a…
30 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 will come into force.
Answer · Richard Simpson: We will bring forward the commencement order in due course. As indicated in the answer given to question S1W-19447 on 12 November 2001, the Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 is the first part of our programme of property law reform, and we w…
30 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which of its representatives spoke at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 14-15 October 2002 in Luxembourg.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish ministers attend Council meetings as members of the UK delegation. The Concordat on co-ordination of European Union policy issues provides that in appropriate cases the leader of the delegation can agree to Scottish ministers speaking for the UK in C…
30 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the negotiations commenced to bring the Ali Cat ferry to the Gourock to Dunoon route.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31068 today. 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/webapp/searc…
30 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for how long the new Ali Cat ferry on the Gourock to Dunoon route has been chartered.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31068 today. 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/webapp/searc…
30 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the top speed is of the new Ali Cat ferry on the Gourock to Dunoon route.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31068 today. 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/webapp/searc…
30 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the winter timetable for Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd ferry routes was late in being published this year and, if so, what the reasons are for this.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31068 today. 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/webapp/searc…
30 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive for what capacity the new Ali Cat ferry on the Gourock to Dunoon route has been certified.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-31068 today. 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/webapp/searc…
30 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the passenger capacity is of the new Ali Cat ferry on the Gourock to Dunoon route.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The question relates to an operational matter for Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd and should therefore be addressed to the Managing Director of the company.
30 Oct 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry route.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A draft Service Specification was issued to key local interests in Kintyre and around Ballycastle on 11 October. I would expect to receive responses to that consultation by Monday of next week.
23 Oct 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to reverse the population decline in the Western Isles.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We are committed to tackling the causes of population decline in the Western Isles, and throughout rural Scotland, through initiatives to support rural economic development, tackle social exclusion and improve access to services. In the Western Isles, Highlan…
15 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what help it is giving Argyll and Bute Council with regard to setting up mental health clubhouses similar to Scotia House in Glasgow.
Answer · Mary Mulligan: It is for Argyll and Bute Council to consider whether the setting up of mental health clubhouses similar to Scotia House in Glasgow is appropriate to meet the needs of their area. Support for mental health projects in the community is given through Mental Ill…
14 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to upgrade the A82 and when any upgrading will be completed.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The current maintenance programme for the A82 includes over £1.6 million in maintenance works and improvement measures over the course of the year. This includes provision of new lay-bys at Abriachan and Temple Pier, a new footway between Invermoriston and Da…