Parliamentary questions
Kenny MacAskill
2,611 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the role and remit of the Performance Audit Group is in the monitoring of the trunk road maintenance contracts; what its membership is; what its annual budget is, and whether any contractors or consultants have been employed by the group over the past year and, if so, what payments …
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Performance Audit Group's (PAG) role is to monitor and report on the technical, financial and quality management performance of the new trunk road Operating Companies. This is very similar to the role which PAG performed in respect of the previous trunk r…
17 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under what specified climatic conditions Amey Highways and BEAR (Scotland) Ltd are expected to grit trunk roads; what the amount of salt is per square metre with which they are expected to grit trunk roads and how this amount varies under different specified climatic conditions, and how …
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Winter Maintenance Plans have been drawn up by Amey Highways and BEAR (Scotland) Ltd. The detailed information requested can be found in copies of these plans which have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
14 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty's Government to seek an allocation for spending on transport initiatives in Scotland from the sale of registration plates and numbers and, if so, whether any allocations have been made and for what amounts.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No.
14 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current estimated cost is of providing a rail link to Edinburgh Airport and what assessment has been made of the usage of such a link and of its effect on the national and local economies.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive in association with British Airports Authority, Scottish Enterprise, the Strategic Rail Authority and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has recently commissioned Sinclair Knight Merz to undertake a study int…
14 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children left school in the City of Edinburgh area with literacy or numeracy problems in each year since 1997.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: There is no standard definition of "literacy and numeracy problems". Information on those leaving publicly funded schools in the City of Edinburgh who had not attained Standard Grade Mathematics and Standard Grade English in academic sessions 1997-98 and 1998…
14 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children left school in the City of Edinburgh area with no qualifications in each year since 1997.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is set out in the following table.<P><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=623><TR><TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER">Leavers from Publicly Funded Scho…
14 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it and VisitScotland have given to the effect on tourism and the economy of the level of landing charges on air links to and from Scotland.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with VisitScotland about a wide range of matters including the effect of air transport on tourism and the economy.
14 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, or plans to make, to the British Airports Authority and Scottish Airports Ltd regarding the economic impact of the level of landing charges at Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow Airports.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive and its agencies, Scottish Enterprise and VisitScotland, are in regular contact with Scottish Airports Ltd about a wide range of matters on the importance of transport for economic development.
13 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reports it has commissioned, received or is aware of having been carried out on the economic benefits of Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the local and national economies and whether it will publish any of these reports.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive has not commissioned any such reports, nor has it received any. Officials are aware of a study by Airports Council International, <I>Creating Employment and Prosperity in Europe</I>, published in September 1998, and a Scottish Enterpris…
13 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who attended the aviation summit on 3 December 2001 on its behalf and what action it intends to take in light of this summit.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I attended the summit. The discussion was useful in inputting views to the forthcoming Air Transport Consultation Document to be published in 2002. This will address the policy responses which the Executive will wish to consider to meet the aviation challenge…
13 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average weekly traffic flow has been on the A8000 annually since January 1997 and what the estimated average weekly traffic flows are annually until December 2006.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The A8000 is classified as a local road. This is therefore a matter for City of Edinburgh Council to address.
12 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it received the report by Steer Davies Gleave Evaluation of the Rural Transport Fund; what action has been taken to implement any of the report's recommendations, and, in particular, what action it has taken, or proposes to take, regarding the Rural Petrol Station Grant Scheme.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive received the Steer Davies Gleave evaluation of the Rural Transport Fund in January 2001. <P>The evaluation made a number of recommendations across a range of issues, and the Scottish Executive has responded by implementing a number of t…
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many speed cameras were located in Edinburgh in each year since 1997.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has funded three speed cameras on the trunk road network in the City of Edinburgh area, which were installed in 1997. Other cameras in Edinburgh are a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council.
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were convicted of assault on a police officer in Edinburgh in each year since 1997.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the following table.<P>Persons with a charge proved for assaulting a police officer<SUP>1</SUP>, Edinburgh<SUP>2</SUP>, 1997-2000<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=113><TR><TD WIDTH="42%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT F…
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new (a) public sector and (b) private sector homes will be constructed in Edinburgh in each of the next five years.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive does not forecast new housebuilding by local authority area. Edinburgh, West Lothian, Midlothian and East Lothian Councils are currently consulting on a draft structure plan covering the period 2000-15. The plan considers the need for n…
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are expected to move residence to Edinburgh over the next five years.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Registrar General for Scotland's 1998 based population projections assume that net migration (the balance between inflows and outflows) into Edinburgh City for the years 2000-01 to 2015-16 will be 950 people per year. Assumptions for the 2000 based popula…
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what policies it has to ensure that affordable accommodation is provided and built within Edinburgh.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 enhances the strategic planning role of local authorities by giving them new powers and duties to determine housing need in their areas and to develop strategies to meet that need. Development funding to assist with the provisi…
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) private sector houses, showing separately those built for rent and (b) public sector houses, broken down by (i) local authority and (ii) housing association, were built in Edinburgh in each year since 1997.
Answer · Iain Gray: The tables present separately (a) the total number of private sector new dwellings of that were completed in Edinburgh in each calendar year from 1997 to 2000, and (b) the total number of social sector dwellings that were completed in Edinburgh in each financ…
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that businesses in Edinburgh do not experience recruitment difficulties due to high housing costs.
Answer · Margaret Curran: We are not aware of any evidence to suggest that higher than average housing costs are causing significant recruitment difficulties for businesses in Edinburgh. Living costs are only one factor which can cause recruitment difficulties. Skills shortages can al…
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote and support guided busways.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has awarded £6.093 million from the Public Transport Fund to City of Edinburgh Council's West of Edinburgh Busways project. This project includes two sections of guided busway.<P>The promotion of guided busways schemes is a matter for i…
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many road accidents there have been which involved an uninsured driver in each year since 1997 (a) nationally and (b) broken down by either (i) local authority area or (ii) Sheriff Court, as appropriate.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatal road accidents there have been involving an uninsured driver in each year from 1997 to date (a) nationally and (b) broken down by either (i) local authority area or (ii) Sheriff Court, as appropriate.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally.
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking, or intends to take, to improve air links with Brussels following the collapse of Sabena.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive, in partnership with the Enterprise Networks, VisitScotland and the airport operators, continues to encourage the development of commercial and cost effective air services from Scotland to Brussels and other destinations for the benefit…
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, or plans to make, to the Strategic Rail Authority or the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions regarding direct access to the Channel Tunnel from Scotland.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including European and international rail services using the Channel Tunnel.
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many convictions there have been for driving without insurance annually since 1997 (a) nationally and (b) broken down by each Sheriff Court district.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the following table. <P>Offences of driving without insurance proved in court, 1997-2000<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=490><TR><TD WIDTH="48%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=13><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JU…
11 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was recovered by NHS Trusts or health boards from motorists following their admission to hospital for treatment following a road traffic accident in each year since 1997, broken down by health board area.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the Member to the answer given to question S1W-16138 on 15 June 2001.
6 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what si'e of budget and (b) how many (i) staff and (ii) non-departmental public bodies, indicating the location of the offices for these staff and bodies, each Minister is currently responsible for.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Details on Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) including budgets, staff numbers and office locations are contained in the annual publication <I>Public Bodies</I>. This document is considered the best means by which to present this type of information in a …
6 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the role and remit of the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport with regard to transport and training.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Transport and training are the responsibility of the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning. However, Executive ministers work closely together on all areas where there are cross-cutting issues.
6 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the role and remit of the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport with regard to VisitScotland and the British Tourist Authority.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport is responsible for setting strategic objectives for visitScotland. The Minister for Culture, Media and Sport within the UK Government has similar responsibility in respect of the British Tourist Authority. Westminst…
6 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to monitor the outcome of the campaign by VisitScotland to promote shopping holidays in Edinburgh and Glasgow; whether any such monitoring will include an analysis of the income generated by the promotion, including any increase in the tax revenue to Her Majesty's Treasu…
Answer · Mike Watson: Responsibility for devising, delivering and assessing marketing campaigns is an operational matter for VisitScotland. I look forward to receiving VisitScotland's assessment of this new and innovative campaign.