Kenny MacAskill

12 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how local loop unbundling will benefit the economy.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Local loop unbundling (LLU) can benefit the economy by being one of the delivery mechanisms for broadband access. LLU allows operators to offer "always on" higher speed services such as ADSL directly to business and residential customers in competit…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to have a representative in attendance at the meetings of the House of Lords committee inquiry into the Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre and, if not, how it plans to monitor the progress of the inquiry.

Answer · Colin Boyd: There are no plans to have a representative of the Scottish Executive attend the sessions of the House of Lords Committee. The findings of the committee will be considered by the Crown Office, with a view to determining whether any further action need be take…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences involving the (a) use, (b) presentation or (c) possession of imitation firearms there were in the City of Edinburgh in each year since 1997.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information is given in the table:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Crimes and offences recorded by the police in the City of Edinburgh in which an imitation firearms was alleged to have been used<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=415><TR><TD WIDT…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to restrict the manufacture, supply and ownership of imitation weapons.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Legislation on firearms is a reserved matter. The Government receives advice on firearms issues, including issues relating to replica and imitation firearms, which are defined in section 57(4) of the Firearms Act 1968, from the Firearms Consultative Committee…

11 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences involving the possession or use of knives there were in the City of Edinburgh in each year since 1997.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information concerning crimes involving the possession of a knife is given in the following table:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Crimes of possession of an offensive weapon recorded by the police in the City of Edinburgh<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDI…

7 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made regarding any possible reduction in grants for commercial vehicles under the Powershift programme from 60% to 40%.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has made no such representations.

7 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many petrol stations currently receive local authority funding to provide (a) liquid natural gas and (b) liquid petroleum gas, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: This information is not held centrally.

7 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many grants were made under the Powershift programme or related schemes to convert (a) private and (b) commercial vehicles to (i) liquid natural gas and (ii) liquid petroleum gas in each year since 1997, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The information required is set out in the table, provided by the Energy Saving Trust, which administers the Powershift programme in Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Executive.</FONT><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=1013><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" …

6 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of changing the name of visitscotland to VisitScotland and from which expenditure head the costs were met.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland. However, I understand that no cost was incurred.

5 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement on 7 August 2001 by the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and Gaelic of a #36 million funding package to improve tourist and visitor facilities in the Highlands and Islands, what the source is of the #24 million funding from the private sect…

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The source of the £24 million from the private sector will be the estimated 600 businesses who are expected to apply for assistance from the schemes over the next two-and-a-half years. Projects already approved total £6.1 million private sector contribution. …

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many college students (a) commenced, (b) completed and (c) passed courses in (i) printing, (ii) electronics, (iii) engineering and (iv) construction in each year since 1997.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Some of the information requested is not held centrally, including data on completions. Graduate data is not available for further education (FE) courses, or yet for higher education (HE) courses for the academic year 1999-2000.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The followin…

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what grants have been made under the Challenge Competition Fund to each local authority for closed circuit television in each year since 1997.

Answer · Iain Gray: Since 1997 the Lothian and Borders area has received the following funding for CCTV:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=351><TR><TD VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT=39><P ALIGN="RIGHT">Borders 1996-97 (£) </TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP" HE…

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what grants have been made under the Challenge Competition Fund to each local authority for closed circuit television in each year since 1997.

Answer · Iain Gray: Since 1997 Scottish local authority areas have received funding for CCTV from the Executive. The breakdown is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=604><TR><TD WIDTH="23%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">£000</FO…

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current coverage of (a) ultra high frequency digital and (b) analogue television is in terms of (i) land mass and (ii) percentage of population.

Answer · Allan Wilson: This is a matter for the Independent Television Commission. The information is not held centrally.

4 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy and timetable is in relation to expanding digital television coverage.

Answer · Allan Wilson: There is a UK-wide strategy to extend digital television coverage. The switch-over from the analogue signal is planned to take place between 2006 and 2010; this requires that viewers who can receive analogue television now must be able to receive the main fre…

24 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce any emergency and/or amending legislation to allow quality contracts to be invoked quicker than would otherwise be the case in Edinburgh in view of the current situation there.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No. The Executive has already brought forward new powers under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 which enable local authorities to make Quality Contract schemes. As my answer to S1W-17794 makes clear, the timescale for progressing a Quality Contract proposal …

24 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the shortest possible timescale is within which a quality contract scheme for bus operation could be implemented in Edinburgh following a request for such a scheme from the local authority.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 provides for a Quality Contract to come into operation not earlier than six months from the date the contract was let, or an earlier date if that is specified in the proposed Quality Contract scheme. A proposed Quality Contra…

24 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take regarding FirstGroup's recent changes in relation to its bus services in Edinburgh.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Traffic Commissioner is responsible for ensuring that local bus services are operated under the terms of the Transport Act 1985 and associated regulations. In addition, the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 provides powers for local authorities to make Qualit…

24 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current situation in terms of competition on routes between FirstGroup and Lothian Buses is in the best interests of public transport services and fare paying passengers in Edinburgh.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive has not made an assessment of the competition on routes between First Group and Lothian Buses in Edinburgh. It is for the City of Edinburgh Council to develop its Local Transport Strategy and other relevant general policies in the light of publi…

24 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary schools there are in Scotland, broken down by local authority, and how many of these have offered technological studies to certificate level on an annual basis since 1997.

Answer · Jack McConnell: According to the 2000 census, there are 449 secondary schools in Scotland. The distribution across each local authority is shown in the table. In 2000, 228 schools offered technological studies at Standard Grade, Intermediate 1 and 2, Higher Grade and Certifi…

16 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the sums expended and committed to date from the #10 million allocated to the Motorola task force.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I announced in Parliament on 25 April that the Executive would set aside up to £10 million to fund measures which may be required by the closure of Motorola's Bathgate plant. <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">To date, funding has been called on to deliver the activities det…

16 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been in contact with the Civil Aviation Authority, airports or the operator regarding the Inverness to Gatwick air route and, if so, whether it has received any assurances regarding the maintenance of the route.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive meets airport operators including the operator of Inverness Airport, as well as airlines, on a regular basis to discuss a variety of issues including the Inverness-Gatwick route. The Executive has had no contact with the Civil Aviation …

16 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to have a public service obligation placed on the Inverness to Gatwick air route and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The imposition of a public service obligation on a cross-border air service is a matter for the UK Government. The Scottish Executive will, however, continue to work with Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on how best the Inverness-Gatwick …

9 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources have been or will be made available to assist in the creation of a direct air link from Edinburgh to the USA.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: No additional resources are being made available by the Scottish Executive for the establishment of any direct air service between Edinburgh and the USA. However, a meeting was held with visitscotland and Scottish Enterprise on 3 August to agree a package whi…

9 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources will be made available to the City of Edinburgh Council for an alternative strategy to the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme; when any such resources will be available, and whether any special conditions will be attached in respect of any such resources.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The City of Edinburgh Council has applied for funding for part of its alternative strategy to the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme from the fourth round of the Public Transport Fund.<FONT SIZE=2><P>I expect to make announcements on all bids to this roun…

9 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources will be made available to market Scotland in Ireland as a holiday destination in view of increased flights and reduced fares between them.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The funding available to VisitScotland has been almost doubled since February 2000. It is for VisitScotland to decide its marketing priorities.

9 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a two-year extension of the GNER franchise for the east coast main line is in the best interests of Scotland and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to S1W-17492.

9 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what infrastructure improvements are specified or anticipated to take place on the east coast main line within Scotland during the period of the two-year extension to the GNER franchise.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Strategic Rail Authority envisage that benefits during the two-year extension to the GNER franchise will concentrate on better performance, rolling stock and passenger facilities throughout the East Coast Main Line.

9 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place between it, the Strategic Rail Authority and Her Majesty's Government regarding the two-year extension to the existing GNER franchise for the east coast main line.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) and Her Majesty's Government on a wide range of matters, including cross-border franchises.<P>Under the Transport Act 2000, the Scottish ministers can give statutory Advice t…

9 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget is for the marketing in Ireland of Scotland as a holiday destination for summer, autumn and winter 2001.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland. The information is not held centrally.