Parliamentary questions
Fergus Ewing
2,894 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding levels of fuel tax in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The level of fuel tax is a reserved matter. The Executive has regular discussions with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including fuel duty. Scottish ministers will continue to ensure that Scotland’s interests are placed firmly on the agenda in Wh…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding bingo.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive has been and continues to be in regular discussion with the UK Government regarding the proposed new gambling legislation and the implications for Scotland. </p><p>The Scottish Parliament has now agreed that the relevant provisions in the Gambli…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the provision of a new sports centre for Grantown-on-Spey; whether it will provide assistance to sports centres in rural parts of Scotland; what arrangements it makes regarding access for children to sports centres, and whether there is a national policy on access for …
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Executive fully supports the development of the new sports centre for Grantown-on-Spey and is delighted that the project has been awarded funding of £300,000 from <b>sport</b>scotland’s lottery-funded Building for Sport programme.</p><p>Local authorities …
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a ministerial statement following completion of the consultation process in respect of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: No this is not normal procedure for such projects. We look forward to receiving a copy of the Consultation Report from Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd when it is published.</p>
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a ministerial statement following completion of the consultation process in respect of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: No, this is not normal procedure for such projects. We have been advised by Strathclyde Passenger Transport that the Consultation Exercise for the Glasgow Airport Rail link does not conclude until 28 February 2005. The Scottish Executive looks forward to rece…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the performance of BEAR Scotland Ltd in relation to road maintenance of trunk roads has been satisfactory and whether the working practices of BEAR Scotland Ltd, including drivers' hours and conditions, are sufficient, and acceptable, for the carrying out of their functions in…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: BEAR Scotland Ltd’s performance on trunk road maintenance, which is monitored by the independent Performance Audit Group, has been generally satisfactory. Following an audit by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, it is understood that the Traffic Commis…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide recognition for rural general hospitals; how it will ensure that there are hospitals located outwith Scotland's cities that provide 24 hour acute services in the long term, and what measures it will take in respect of recruitment training practice to meet …
Answer · Andy Kerr: Hospitals in rural areas, including district general hospitals and community hospitals, make an important contribution to the well-being of populations in these areas. Maintaining high quality services in rural hospitals provides a number of challenges to NHS…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the creation of a new building for Lochaber High School.
Answer · Peter Peacock: It is for The Highland Council to decide on the priorities for the provision of new schools in their area, within the resources available to them. These resources include the financial support we have offered the council for a schools PPP project with a capit…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Project ATLAS has been a successful use of public funding and if so, whether it will identify the benefits which have been derived from it.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive’s broadband strategy is facilitating the rollout and uptake of broadband technology across Scotland. Project ATLAS fits within this overall strategy but is led and funded by Scottish Enterprise. Issues about use of public funding and th…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will expedite the publication of the route action plan for the A82.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are taking forward the work on the A82 Route Action Plan as a matter of priority. I expect the study to report in October of this year, and the findings will be made public as soon as possible thereafter.</p>
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to dual the A9.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: We are continuing to develop our proposals to extend the dual carriageway at Crubenmore by around 2km at a cost of £5.4 million and to provide 4km of additional overtaking opportunities between Kincraig and Dalraddy at a cost of £4.3 million. I expect to publ…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote shinty; in particular, whether it has any plans to support the establishment of shinty as an internationally-recognised sport with its own federation and, if not, how the sport can achieve such recognition.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: As the governing body for the sport, the Camanachd Association is responsible for promoting shinty. One of the targets in the Association’s Development Plan is to promote shinty and its cultural history to as broad an audience as is possible. It is for the as…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replicate Operation Youth Advantage, operated by the army in conjunction with the Northern Constabulary and Grampian Police; whether it considers that schemes which provide diversionary experience for younger people, with a residential course including physical exerci…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is fully committed to effectively addressing youth crime. As indicated in the answers to questions S2W-2071 (on 5 September 2003), S2W-679 (on 17 June 2003) and S1W-32193 (on 12 December 2002). All answers to written parliamentary ques…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of children who have the opportunity, through school-organised trips, to participate in outdoor activity and whether it considers that National Park boards should play a role in facilitating such activity.
Answer · Peter Peacock: I want more young people to experience the far reaching benefits and opportunities which outdoor activities can bring, and school organised excursions provide an important means of encouraging that. I have asked Learning and Teaching Scotland to take forward …
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports Lochaber's bid to become the outdoor capital of the United Kingdom.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: As part of its “Active” marketing brand, VisitScotland aims to promote Scotland as the outdoor capital of Europe, and I welcome industry initiatives which help to highlight the range and quality of outdoor activities that Scotland has to offer. The Lochaber i…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support will be provided for the Mountain Bike World Cup in Fort William in 2007, and from which sources, and whether there will be one person or group who will be taking charge of co-ordinating the public sector role in maximising the benefits of this event for Scotland an…
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: A number of partners have beenidentified as investors in the 2007 World Mountain Bike Championships to be stagedin Fort William. EventScotland (£207,000), VisitScotland (£50,000) <b>sport</b>scotland(£50,000), Highland Council (£50,000) and UK Sport (£250,000…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any part of the funding spent on quality assurance schemes within VisitScotland would be more effectively deployed in marketing, in particular through increasing funding for Events Scotland.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: High-quality in every aspectof Scottish tourism is vital to ensure that the expectations of our visitors arefulfilled during their visits to Scotland. That is why the Executive has given VisitScotland anadditional £3 million over two years to work with the to…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a ministerial statement in respect of how many redundancies it expects there to be as a result of the restructuring of Area Tourist Boards and, if not, which positions will be made redundant and whether there will be compulsory redundancies.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotland recently issueda proposed organisational structure for the new tourism network to all Area TouristBoards (ATB) and VisitScotland staff, which included an initial analysis of thecurrent number of posts in the ATBs and VisitScotland (1,062), and a…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a ministerial statement regarding the future viability, without further public funding, of eTourism Limited.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: Visitscotland.com continues toact as a highly-effective shop window for Scottish tourism. The joint venture continuesto generate significant business for the tourism industry in Scotland, with over£23 million worth of business generated since its inception. <…
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still able to fund all its transport commitments and, if not, which commitments will not be met.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Yes.</p>
11 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will not make a ministerial statement or lodge a motion for debate on the future of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services and, in particular, the issue of tendering and whether tendering is necessary, until such time as there has been a reasonable opportunity for those MSPs wh…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: During the parliamentary debate on ferry services on 8 December 2004, the Parliament expressed concerns regarding the tendering process. I agreed to discuss these concerns with the European Commission and raised this issue with the European Transport Commissi…
10 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-12308 by Lewis Macdonald on 2 December 2004, why the period of 30 years is used in comparing the relative cost of lease and purchase of the new Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) headquarters to be built in Inverness when the required life span of the b…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The period of 30 years adoptedfor the appraisal is appropriate since it matches the rental period specified inthe Invitation To Tender documentation issued to developers. This is consistentwith the guidance on economic appraisals published by HM Treasury in t…
10 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the report dated September 2004 by Turner and Townsend, project management consultants for Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), evaluating the four tenders received for the new SNH headquarters in Inverness.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: This is an operationalmatter which is the responsibility of Scottish Natural Heritage.</p>
10 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on concessionary travel on 22 December 2004, whether it will provide detailed estimates in respect of the cost of the concessionary travel scheme for (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: As indicated in my statement, the maximum payment for the national free bus scheme for older and disabled people will be £159 million in 2006-07 and £163 million in 2007‑08. Actual expenditure within that cap will depend on the number of concessionary p…
10 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on concessionary travel on 22 December 2004, how much the proposed smart card scheme will cost.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Current estimates indicate that the cost of providing appropriate bus infrastructure to support the use of Smartcards for concessionary travel will be in the region of £9 million.</p>
10 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what costs will be incurred as a result of any failure to tender the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services; how any such costs are calculated, and what information it has on any costs being incurred by other EU member states in respect of lifeline ferry services in areas where opportunities …
Answer · Nicol Stephen: If the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services were not tendered and the European Court of Justice were subsequently to find that such an action was in breach of EU rules the consequences could be severe. In particular, following on from sucha ruling, the Commissio…
10 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to obtain agreement from the European Union to any alternative proposals to tendering the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: During the parliamentary debate on ferry services on 8 December 2004 the Parliament expressed concerns regarding the tendering process. I agreed to discuss these concerns with the European Commission and raised this issue with the European Transport Commissio…
10 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of the tender process of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services, showing costs of any external consultants to be used.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer to the response to S2W-13266 on 24 January 2005 in relation to the cost of the work carried out to the end of January 2005 in connection with the EU requirements in relation to the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.</p><p>There is no formal estimate o…
10 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost has been of work carried out in connection with the tendering of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services, showing the cost of civil servants' time and other costs, such as costs of consultants and advisers.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The breakdown of direct costs incurred by the Executive (to end January 2005) in connection with the EU requirements in relation to the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services is set out in the table below. It does not include the cost of senior officials in Transp…
10 Jan 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the legal advice it received in relation to whether EU law or rules require the tendering of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services proposed by Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services: Service Specification - A Consultation Paper and what the reasons are for its positio…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive does not normally disclose legal advice which it receives.</p><p>In any event, I raised the issue of the requirement to tender with the European Transport Commissioner, M. Barrot, when I met him in Brussels on 9 December. Following that meeting …