Parliamentary questions
Kenny MacAskill
2,611 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
6 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18674 by Colin Boyd QC on 1 February 2002, how many cases relating to a contravention of section 5 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 were reported to the Procurators Fiscal in the City of Edinburgh and how many were dealt with by (a) a warning letter, …
Answer · Colin Boyd: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service does not collect statistical information broken down by reference to particular crimes or offences. To provide the information requested it will be necessary to prepare and run a special computer programme. This …
1 Feb 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16175 by Angus MacKay on 20 June 2001, how many businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak have now (a) applied for and (b) received hardship relief in relation to non-domestic rates, broken down by local authority area.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The number of businesses in each local authority area, who were awarded hardship relief as at 30 November 2001, is shown in the following table. The information on the number of applications is not held centrally.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDT…
30 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Sport for Life scheme operates in Scotland and, if so, through what mechanism the scheme operates, what the eligibility criteria are and how many awards have been made and how much was awarded in each instance since 1997.
Answer · Elaine Murray: Sport for Life is not currently in operation in Scotland. The scheme is a distance learning course funded by the Learning and Skills Council and open to anyone over 16, leading to an accredited qualification. Its introduction in Scotland would be a matter for…
30 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Borders rail line could be converted to light rail as suggested by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning in an interview with Radio Scotland on 16 January 2002; what investigations, including technical investigations, it has carried out into this possibi…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: In principle, the Borders railway could operate either light or heavy rail. However, the decision as to which option is to be operated will be a matter for the working group, led by Scottish Borders Council, which is responsible for taking forward the project.
29 Jan 2002 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer how many responses were received following the survey of MSPs and their staff in respect of the operation of the Parliament travel contract by Carlson Wagonlit; what comments were made in their responses and, in particular, whether they were favourable, and what action is now proposed in …
Answer · David Steel: Only eight responses were received following the survey of MSPs, their staff and Parliament staff. Four of the responses were favourable, but this level of response cannot be considered to be a representative sample. Comments were made regarding the delivery …
29 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the effect a tourism tax would have on tourism numbers and the industry in general.
Answer · Mike Watson: None.
29 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what conditions and criteria were set for (a) the use of and (b) the management of the funding awarded to the City of Edinburgh Council's West of Edinburgh Busways project; what checks were in place to ensure that the funds were used and managed in accordance with such conditions and cri…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The conditions that apply to Public Transport Fund projects starting in 2002-03 including City of Edinburgh Council's West of Edinburgh Busways project are set out in Circular DD3/2001. This is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18647…
25 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-20928 by Ms Margaret Curren on 7 January 2002, how much development funding to assist with the provision of affordable housing in Edinburgh was made available in each year since 1996-97, and will be made available in 2002-03, and whether it will give…
Answer · Iain Gray: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:<P>The following table sets out the development funding made available through Scottish Homes, and now Communities Scotland, for the provision of afford…
25 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available to basketball clubs through (a) the Sportsmatch programme and (b) Awards for All Scotland scheme; why these schemes operate differently to similar schemes in England and how much funding has been awarded by each scheme in each year since 1997.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The Sportsmatch and Awards for All Programmes are open grants programmes. Applications to both programmes, from whatever sport are considered on their individual merits.<P>The Sportsmatch Programme is operated in England, Scotland and Wales in a similar fashi…
25 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what government schemes are available to fund basketball clubs; how these schemes operate including whether applicants to the schemes are required to find match funding, and how much financial assistance has been given for the promotion of basketball in each year since 1997.
Answer · Elaine Murray: <B>Sport</B>scotland operates a number of programmes through the Lottery Sports Fund which are shaped around the needs of sport in Scotland as set out in <I>Sport 21</I> and reflected in the lottery strategy Levelling the Playing Field. These programmes are a…
24 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by (a) Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and (b) any other organisation on marketing Inverness Airport to travellers in each year since 1997.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The amounts spent on marketing Inverness Airport to travellers are as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=604><TR><TD WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="13%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">1997-98</FO…
24 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there have been for assault to severe injury at Edinburgh sheriff court in each year since 1997.
Answer · Jim Wallace: Assault to severe injury is included under the category of serious assault within the SEJD classification of crimes and offences. The available information is given in the following table. Data for 2001 are not yet available.<P>Persons with a charge proved in…
24 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there have been for theft by housebreaking at Edinburgh sheriff court in each year since 1997.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the following table. Data for 2001 are not yet available.<P>Persons with a charge proved in Edinburgh sheriff court where the main offence was housebreaking, 1997-2000<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=217><T…
24 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Strategic Rail Authority regarding the transfer of three Eurostar trains which were intended to provide a service from Scotland but have now been removed to the London-Leeds line.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of issues including the train operations on the East Coast Main Line.
24 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many mortgage repossessions orders were granted in Edinburgh sheriff court in each year since 1997.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The recorded figures for the number of mortgage repossession orders granted in Edinburgh sheriff court since 1997 are shown in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=236><TR><TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><…
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated costs will be of the construction of rail links to Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport and who will be responsible for these costs.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A study has been commissioned to identify and appraise the options at Edinburgh and Glasgow. The appraisal work will involve detailed engineering studies. Until that work is complete and a preferred option identified any estimates would be purely speculative.…
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects that construction of a rail link to Edinburgh Airport will commence.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We have commissioned a detailed economic and engineering study into rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh Airports. The report is expected in September. Dependant on the outcome of that study, it will be for the local authority and/or for example BAA, which own…
21 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many reports were submitted to the Lothian and Borders Regional Procurator Fiscal regarding assaults upon a police officer; how many such reports were proceeded with by the service of a complaint or petition, and how many such reports resulted in a conviction, all in each year since 1…
Answer · Elish Angiolini: Serious assaults on police officers are prosecuted at common law and cannot be distinguished in the records from serious assaults on other persons. Less serious assaults on police officers are prosecuted under section 41(1) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 b…
18 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it made to the Strategic Rail Authority to seek its agreement for the inclusion of particular rail projects in the authority's strategic plan; what timescales it sought for the completion of any such rail project, and whether any such projects were included within the…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive was in contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a number of issues during the preparation of the authority's strategic plan, including the inclusion of particular rail projects and the timescales for delivery of those projects.
18 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the meeting between the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning and the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Strategic Rail Authority's strategic plan will be amended to confirm that airport links to Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport will go ahea…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) intends to carry out an annual revision of their strategic plan. This is to take account of changes in the industry, the outcomes of various studies currently under way, the emerging Joint Transport Studies, and the response…
18 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many referrals were made alleging that a child aged between eight and 12 had committed a criminal offence in Edinburgh to (a) the Reporter to the Children's Panel and (b) the Procurator Fiscal; how many of these referrals were subsequently prosecuted (i) at court and (ii) at a Childre…
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Between 1997 and 2000 two children aged between eight and 12 were proceeded against in Edinburgh courts. In one case a plea of not guilty was accepted and in the other the child was detained.<P>Operational statistics for children's hearings are a matter for t…
16 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children left schools in Edinburgh with no qualifications in a foreign language in each year since 1997.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the number and percentage of pupils that left publicly funded schools in the City of Edinburgh education authority in 1997-98 and 1998-99, who had not attained a Standard Grade qualification in a foreign language.<TABLE BORDER CELLSP…
16 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils at schools in Edinburgh took an examination in a foreign language and how many, and what percentage, passed in each year since 1997, broken down by language.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The following table shows the number of pupils in publicly funded schools in the City of Edinburgh education authority who (a) sat and (b) passed a foreign language examination:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=604><TR><TD WIDTH="27%" VALIGN="TO…
15 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will promote Rosyth as a ferry port for Edinburgh following the announcement of the continental ferry.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The promotion of Rosyth as a ferry port is a matter for the port authority and the ferry operator of the new service to Europe. VisitScotland is also working in partnership with transport providers, including this new service, to promote tourism opportunities…
15 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take to initiate sea routes to Scandinavia and the Baltic.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive recognises the benefits that may result from additional transport links with Europe. We are not aware of any current proposals to introduce commercial ferry services to Scandinavia or the Baltic, but we would encourage ferry operators t…
15 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) regarding charter flight supplements charged on holiday flights from Scotland and what action it proposes to take in light of the decision given by the OFT in its report on the matter, Scottish Flight Supplements.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has made no representations to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) regarding supplements on charter flights from Scotland. The Executive has no plans to take action specifically in light of the OFT's recent findings.
15 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it envisages the operation of Quality Contract Schemes for buses in order to ensure an equitable tender process.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 sets out the tendering requirements. The Executive has also issued comprehensive guidance on Part 2 (Bus Services) of the act. It is for local transport authorities to ensure that Quality Contracts awarded comply fully with a…
15 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made regarding any possibility of Consignia ceasing to use rail freight in Scotland given the possible impact on the road transport system.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The decision whether to continue using rail freight is a commercial matter for Consignia. In accordance with the Scottish Executive's policy of encouraging the use of rail for freight movements, I hope Consignia continue to use rail. The Executive, however, h…
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what representations it has made regarding on-going speed restrictions for rail freight in Scotland and (b) when, and to whom, any such representations were made.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The imposition of speed restrictions on the railway network is an operational matter for Railtrack. The Scottish Executive has no direct locus or powers to intervene.
11 Jan 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-20742 by Mike Watson on 20 December 2001, whether it will make any representations to Her Majesty's Treasury seeking additional funds in the event of the campaign by VisitScotland to promote shopping holidays in Edinburgh and Glasgow generating incre…
Answer · Mike Watson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues.