Parliamentary questions

Kenny MacAskill

2,611 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

31 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines, rules or regulations are in place for the (a) operation of elections to and (b) creation of written constitutions for social inclusion partnerships.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Herresponse is as follows.Issues of SIP governance area matter for local decision and as such the Executive has made no prescriptionon how such matters should op…

30 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what submissions it has received and what proposals it has regarding the rail service to Dunbar in respect of both the East Coast Mainline and the Scotrail franchise.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Rail services to Dunbar areprovided by Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) under the East Coast Main Linefranchise (ECML). The Scottish Executive has not received any detailed project proposals fora local rail service to Dunbar either under the ECML or ScotRai…

30 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding any increase in the use of coaches for public transport as a result of changes brought in by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the cost implications of any such increase change; what financial assistance will be made available to coach operators …

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive does not haveany information regarding any increase in the use of coaches for publictransport as a result of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).The DDA is a reserved matterand it is not the responsibility of the Executive to help pro…

29 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4716 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 12 April 2000, what costs were incurred by each local authority in respect of school transport in each year since 1998.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The information requested isset out in the following table. 2001-02 is the latest financial year for whichinformation is available.Net Revenue Expenditure by LocalAuthorities on School Transport(£000 at Outturn Prices)<table border=1 cellspa…

17 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much (a) is currently spent and (b) will be spent from 1 April 2004, on security at each airport operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited; what additional security measures are planned for each airport, and at what cost, expressed also per passenger

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The security costs at Highlands andIslands Airports Ltd (HIAL) are as follows:<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> Airport </td> <td> 2003-04 Forecast Cost </td> <td…

16 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is with regard to the Scottish Qualifications Authority's programme on English for speakers of other languages and what the timescale is for implementing the programme in the (a) school, (b) further education and (c) higher education sector.

Answer · Peter Peacock: This is a matter for the ScottishQualifications Authority.

14 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected costs are for (a) staffing and (b) establishing the headquarters of Transport Scotland; what the projected staffing complement is, and how many staff are anticipated to be (i) transferred and (ii) seconded to Transport Scotland from (1) the Executive's transport depart…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: We have yet to come to fullconclusions on the powers and responsibilities to be exercised by Transport Scotland andits relationships with other transport bodies in Scotland. Those decisions, oncemade, will permit consideration of its staffing and costs. The r…

14 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding or other support will be made available to Smyril Line, Forth Ports plc and any other appropriate organisation seeking to create a ferry link between Lerwick, Rosyth and Norway.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: No organisations haveapproached the Scottish Executive seeking funding or support for such a service.Otherwise, I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3445. Allanswers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite…

14 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding or other support will be made available to Northlink Ferries, Forth Ports plc and any other appropriate organisation seeking to create a ferry link between the Northern Isles, Aberdeen and Rosyth.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: No organisations haveapproached the Scottish Executive seeking funding or support for such a service. Ifthey were to do so, we would consider with them what support we might be ableto offer taking into account the funding sources and constraints mentioned in …

14 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to promote a second direct ferry link with the continent from Rosyth and, if so, what funding or other support will be made available for any such link.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: A Partnership for aBetter Scotland commits the Executive to improving Scotland'sferry links to mainland Europe. The objective will be to identify operators willingto offer services on a commercial basis taking into account the support available.…

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much expenditure has been incurred on fuel duty rebate and bus service operators grant in each year since 1997.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Fuel duty rebate wasreplaced by bus services operators grant in 2002. The information sought is asfollows.Expenditure on Bus ServiceOperators Grant/Bus Fuel Duty<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> Financial Year </td> …

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many, and what percentage of, civil service jobs there are in (a) Edinburgh, (b) Glasgow, (c) Aberdeen, (d) Dundee and (e) Inverness.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The majority of civil servantsin Scotland are employed by UK Departments. Detailed informationon the location of staff employed by other government departments is, however, notheld centrally.The information in thefollowing table is based on the full-ti…

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil service jobs have been, or are due to be, relocated from Edinburgh.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Since 1999, approximately 500civil service posts in the Scottish administration have been, or are due to be,relocated from Edinburgh across Scotland.

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many bus journeys have been undertaken by schools for educational, social and recreational purposes in each year since 1997.

Answer · Peter Peacock: This information is not heldcentrally.

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school children travelled to school by (i) dedicated school bus and (ii) public transport in each year since 1997.

Answer · Peter Peacock: This information is not heldcentrally.

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on any increase in costs affecting the hire of buses by schools for educational purposes.

Answer · Peter Peacock: No such information is heldcentrally.

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is on facilitating the hire of buses by schools for educational, social or recreational purposes.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Schools and educationauthorities are themselves responsible for the hiring of buses for these purposes.The Scottish Executive has received no specific representations aboutfacilitating such hires.

9 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement (a) it, (b) the Strategic Rail Authority, (c) Network Rail, (d) Transport Initiatives Edinburgh, (e) the City of Edinburgh Council and (f) Transport Scotland will have in the construction of a rail route to Edinburgh Airport.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive, Strategic Rail Authority, Network Rail, Transport InitiativesEdinburgh, and the City of Edinburgh Council are all involved in theprocess of developing a rail link to Edinburgh airport, including through membership of projectSteering a…

6 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff employed by VisitScotland are involved in marketing Scotland in Canada; where such staff are located, and whether any premises are utilised or occupied in Canada.

Answer · Frank McAveety: This is an operationalmatter for VisitScotland. However, the VisitScotland long haul team, whichcovers North America as well as other long haul tourism markets, is basedin Edinburgh. VisitBritain has an office in Toronto andVisitScotland staff utilise this wh…

6 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much VisitScotland has spent marketing Scotland in Canada in each year since 1997; what form of media has been used, and how much it will spend in the next three years.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Although this is anoperational matter for VisitScotland, I can confirm that the following amountshave been spent by VisitScotland in promoting Scotland in the Canadiantourism market:<table class=MsoTableGrid border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0> <tr> <td…

6 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the roles and remits are of VisitScotland and VisitBritain in marketing Scotland in Canada.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Although this is anoperational matter for VisitScotland, I am informed that VisitScotland shareresponsibility for the promotion of Scotland in the Canadian market with VisitBritain. A team ofstaff based in VisitBritain’s Toronto office carries out a full prog…

3 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much relocation of VisitScotland will cost; what criteria will be applied when choosing a new site, and to what extent access to international air links will affect the choice of site.

Answer · Frank McAveety: A decision on the locationof the VisitScotland headquarters has yet to be reached. All options beingconsidered will be fully costed and this will be one of the factors taken intoaccount in the final decision. Other criteria will include the impact on theopera…

3 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it, or VisitScotland, has had with trade union and employee representatives regarding the dispersal of jobs; what support has been obtained from such representatives for dispersal, and to what extent the views of such representatives will be taken into account.

Answer · Frank McAveety: Both staff and trade unionrepresentatives have been kept fully informed and involved in the location review.The views of all stakeholders form part of the overall appraisal process.

1 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve access to Edinburgh Airport and the site of the new Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters at Gogarburn; what information, including costing, is available regarding an access route to the sites from the M8 east of the M9 exit, and what the reasons are for the po…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Access to Edinburghairport and the west of Edinburgh will be improved through provision of the EdinburghAirport Rail Link, and the west Edinburgh tram. We have committed funds to both in order thatthe necessary Parliamentary powers to construct may be secured…

1 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the fuel costs for each fire brigade have been in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Hugh Henry: This information is not heldcentrally.

1 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the fuel costs for ambulance services in each health board area have been in each year since 1997.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The ambulance service doesnot collect this information by health board area, but by operating divisionwithin its service. Health board area boundaries are not relevant to the ambulanceservice as they provide a national service.Ambulances also get moved…

1 Oct 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the fuel costs for each police force have been in each year since 1997.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally.

1 Oct 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to address fuel costs in rural areas.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive acknowledges thatthe high-cost of petrol and diesel fuel in rural areas is of considerable concernto many people. Fuel duty and how it is levied is a matter for the UK Government.However, since 1999 the Executive has provided more than £32 milli…

19 Sep 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) procurement policy is for travel by members and staff on parliamentary business and whether the SPCB has any plans to review this policy.

Answer · Duncan McNeil: The Travel Management contractcurrently in place was awarded in collaboration with the Scottish Executive. Thisdecision was taken on economic grounds, given the usage of the Scottish Executivein comparison to the Parliament, which would inf…

19 Sep 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body considered a direct flight from Scotland, in particular from Glasgow Prestwick to Girona, for the recent parliamentary delegation to Catalonia and what the reasons were for not using the Prestwick to Girona route.

Answer · Andrew Welsh: A number of options forflights were considered in arranging travel for the parliamentary delegation toCatalonia, including the direct flight from Glasgow Prestwick to Girona. Indeciding parliamentary travel arrangements account is taken of price, travelarrang…