Parliamentary questions
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
566 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Sep 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will ensure that immediate steps are taken to remove graffiti from the Parliament's buildings.
Answer · David Steel: The SPCB has cleaning contracts in place for the Parliamentary complex which specifically incorporate arrangements for the removal of graffiti. When incidents arise, immediate steps are taken to mobilise the relevant contractor to remove the offending graffit…
2 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many miles of dual carriageway in Scotland lack central reservation safety barriers and whether it will install such barriers with a view to reducing accidents and loss of life.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: 12 miles, on the A77 around Kilmarnock. <P>Subject to the availability of funding, safety fencing will be installed by 2000/01.
1 Sep 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many miles of dual carriageway in Scotland lack central reservation safety barriers and whether it will install such barriers with a view to reducing accidents and loss of life.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: 12 miles, on the A77 around Kilmarnock. <P>Subject to the availability of funding, safety fencing will be installed by 2000/01.
31 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the latest information as to the total Scottish Block Grant for 2000-2001, and what are the estimates for future years.
Answer · Jack McConnell: As published in the Departmental Report <I>Serving Scotland's Needs</I>, Cm 4215, the Total Budget for Scotland for 2000-01 is £16,691 million. For 2001-02 the Total Budget is £17,428 million. No Budget has been set for 2002-03 or subsequent years.
19 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up to date plans and timescales are for the upgrading of the A8000.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Proposals for an off-line upgrading of the A8000 to dual motorway standard are being considered in the Strategic Roads Review. I plan to report to Parliament on the Review shortly.<FONT SIZE=2>
19 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has monitored the build up in traffic on the western perimeter of Edinburgh, whether it has put together a package of measures to address it and, if so, what these measures are.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive monitors traffic volumes across the Scottish road network and is responsible for the motorway and trunk road network. Responsibility for local roads rests with the appropriate local authority. The Scottish Executive is: considering prop…
9 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any person domiciled in Scotland who commits murder abroad and is sent back to Scotland will be subject to the licence provisions which attach to all those imprisoned for murder in Scotland and, if not, whether appropriate legislation will be introduced.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Under the terms of the International Convention On The Transfer of Sentenced Persons and other bi-lateral agreements, the enforcement of the sentence on a person who is sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in a foreign jurisdiction and who is transferred…
9 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-608 by Henry McLeish on 3 August, whether the Quigley Committee will report to the Scottish Parliament, the Westminster Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales and whether the Scottish Executive's response will be subject to the consultation w…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Quigley Committee will report to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales, Scottish Ministers and the Department of Education for Northern Ireland. The Committee's report will be placed in…
29 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any implications for its block grant arising from the cost of the 26 rooms of accommodation being acquired for the Secretary of State for Scotland and, if so, what consultations it has had with Her Majesty's Government on the use of the rooms and in particular on the use…
Answer · Donald Dewar: Under the terms of the Statement of Funding Policy published by HM Treasury on 31 March 1999, the Secretary of State for Scotland is voted provision by the UK Government in respect of the expenses of his Department, including any grants which he makes to…
28 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its civil servants will be transferred to the Scotland Office and, if so, how many.
Answer · Donald Dewar: Civil servants from the Scottish Executive are being loaned to the Scotland Office rather than being transferred. Those staff involved will have a guaranteed right of return to the Executive once the 3-year loan period has expired. The number of civil serva…
28 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the estimated cost, if any, to its block grant of (a) extra civil servants being employed by the Secretary of State for Scotland and (b) providing office accommodation for those civil servants.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to his question S1W-745.
28 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the total estimated cost, if any, to its block grant of the Secretary of State's planned official residence and offices in Scotland.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to his question S1W-745.
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all the rooms in Bute House, Charlotte Square are being utilised and, if so, for what purposes.
Answer · Donald Dewar: Bute House has served as the official residence of, successively, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the First Minister. Its rooms continue to be used to fulfil that role through, for example, the provision of accommodation and facilities to receive and…
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Bute House, Charlotte Square is occupied currently and, if so, by whom.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to his other question (00637).
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the terms are of the bequest of Bute House, Charlotte Square and whether any restrictions on the use of the House were incorporated in the bequest.
Answer · Donald Dewar: All rights interests and liabilities relating to Bute House and belonging to a Minister of the Crown were transferred to Scottish Ministers by virtue of paragraph 3 of The Transfer of Property etc. (Scottish Ministers) Order 1999.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Scottish M…
20 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has for public sector Ombudsmen, whether it plans a review of all Ombudsmen's functions as is happening in England, and whether it will take account of the models in Eire and Northern Ireland.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Section 91 of the Scotland Act 1998 requires the Scottish Parliament to make provision for the investigation of complaints of maladministration against the Scottish Executive. Until the necessary Act of the Scottish Parliament can be passed, the Scotland Act …
20 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Fee Support Review Committee under Sir George Quigley will report and make recommendations on the effects of the decision that English, Welsh and Northern Irish students pay #1,000 more for attending a four-year degree course than Scottish and other European Union studen…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Committee chaired by Sir George Quigley is required by statute to report not later than 1 April, 2000. The Quigley Committee covers only one aspect of the review being carried out by the independent Committee of Inquiry on Student Finance in Scotland. T…
20 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what are the most up-to-date plans for the premises used by Scotland's Law Officers in Whitehall and whether these will be available as the key location to further the Scottish Executive's interests in relation to law and justice matters within Whitehall.
Answer · Andrew Hardie: The premises at 2 Carlton Gardens in London were formerly used by the Scottish Law Officers and their Legal Secretariat, and were vacated as from 2 July this year. No future use of Carlton Gardens by the Scottish Executive is planned.<P>Scottish Law Officers…
20 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what are the most up-to-date plans for enabling the Executive to use Dover House as the flagship location to further Scottish interests in Whitehall and which rooms have been allocated for use by Scotland's First Minister and other Ministers.
Answer · Donald Dewar: Dover House is the principal office building of the Secretary of State for Scotland and his Department, the Scotland Office. The Scotland Office provides space in Dover House for Ministers and officials of the Scottish Executive who have business in London.
25 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to consider the widespread demand for a review of accident and emergency services in the Edinburgh area before the accident and emergency unit at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh moves to Little France, more than doubling the distance from north and west Edinburgh and L…
Answer · Susan Deacon: The configuration of accident and emergency services in Edinburgh is a matter for Lothian Health Board. Ministers have received reassurances that the provision is appropriate. Accessibility of accident and emergency services will be an ongoing priority for …
24 Jun 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to consider the widespread demand for a review of accident and emergency services in the Edinburgh area before the accident and emergency unit at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh moves to Little France, more than doubling the distance from north and west Edinburgh and L…
Answer · Susan Deacon: The configuration of accident and emergency services in Edinburgh is a matter for Lothian Health Board. Ministers have received reassurances that the provision is appropriate. Accessibility of accident and emergency services will be an ongoing priority for …
21 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policy it intends to operate towards providing official sites for travelling people in Edinburgh and other parts of Scotland, whether it intends to provide grant assistance to establish such sites, and whether it intends to provide information as to the approximate number of unoffi…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Since 1971, the Scottish Office has made grants available to enable local authorities to provide official sites for Travelling People. Councils, including Edinburgh, were advised early in 1997 that the grant scheme was being wound up, having been successful …
16 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers Scottish Ministers and local authorities will have to set speed limits outside schools in Scotland and what plans it has for road safety in relation to school children.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Most schools are situated adjacent to local roads. Local authorities have power to set speed limits outside schools (and elsewhere) on local roads. In particular, local authorities have the freedom to set 20 mph limits where they consider them to be appropria…
10 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish a disability task force to develop a co-ordinated strategy to remove unnecessary barriers preventing people with a disability from enjoying an independent and fulfilled life.
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Government set up a Disability Rights Task Force in 1997 to report on how to secure comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people. Their report is expected later this year. One of their early recommendations was to set up a Disability R…
8 Jun 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish a disability task force to develop a co-ordinated strategy to remove unnecessary barriers preventing people with a disability from enjoying an independent and fulfilled life
Answer · Susan Deacon: The Government set up a Disability Rights Task Force in 1997 to report on how to secure comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people. Their report is expected later this year. One of their early recommendations was to set up a Disability R…
25 May 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how and when will the legislative programme be laid out.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I shall announce the Scottish Executive's legislative programme on Wednesday 16 June.