Parliamentary questions
Kenny MacAskill
2,611 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which Executive Agencies other than Scottish Courts Administration receive the service of police officers in a security and administrative role free of charge, what level of service is provided and what the reasons are for it being free of charge.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally. However, police authorities have the power under the Police (Scotland) Act 1967 to enter into agreements with other parties for services provided by the police and to set the terms.
24 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide liquefied petroleum gas outlets in rural areas other than in the Highlands and Islands.
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Executive's Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme provides a source of funding to rural petrol station proprietors to enable them to install LPG tanks and dispensers. Outwith the Highlands and Islands the scheme is administered by Scottish Enterprise through…
24 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the actual or estimated cost to Lothian and Borders Police of providing officers at Sheriff Courts within Lothian and Borders for safety and security has been on an annual basis since 1997.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally. The provision of officers at Sheriff Courts is an operational matter. It is therefore chief constables who decide on the level of resources to allocate.
24 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive what the estimated number is of major events or VIP or royal visits anticipated to the City of Edinburgh for the year from July 2000.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive is responsible for only a small proportion of the major events and VIP and Royal visits to Edinburgh each year and is therefore not in a position to provide the information sought.
24 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many consulates and related buildings in Edinburgh have required protection from Lothian and Borders police annually since 1997.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally. I understand that there are currently 35 countries represented in Edinburgh of which 12 have designated consulates within self-contained buildings. The protection of consulates is an operational matter for the Chief Con…
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been carried out or are planned into the possibility of reopening the Glenfarg stretch of the Edinburgh/Perth line together with the opening of an M90 park and ride station at Kinross or thereabouts.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I am unaware of any such study or of any plans to conduct one.
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been undertaken into the possibility of reopening the Glenfarg stretch on the Edinburgh/Perth line and whether it will publish these.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I am unaware of any such study.
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what direction and guidance it has given to the shadow Strategic Rail Authority regarding the Montrose - Usan single track stretch of rail both as part of the East Coast Main Line franchise and separately.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Under the provisions made in the UK Transport Bill introduced on 1 December 1999, the Scottish Ministers will be able to issue directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority for the franchise which provides passenger rail services that both start and…
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what was the modal split of the sums allocated from the Scottish Public Transport Fund annually since 1997.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer to my answer today to question S1W-9342. The modal split of projects being funded from the Public Transport Fund, its predecessor the Transport Challenge Fund and the South Fife Rail initiative from 1999-2000 is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 …
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much was carried over from the preceding year in terms of the sums allocated from the Scottish Public Transport Fund annually since 1997.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The resources from the Public Transport Fund form part of the local authority non-housing capital allocation provision with local authorities issued with consent under section 94 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. Carry forward of sums allocated fro…
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent from the sums allocated from the Scottish Public Transport Fund annually since 1997.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Public Transport Fund (PTF) commenced in 1999-2000. Table 1 sets out the sums allocated and the amount of consent used in respect of those projects supported under the first round of the fund. Projects receiving support from the second round of the PTF di…
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated annually for the Scottish Public Transport Fund since 1997.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Public Transport Fund was announced in the Scottish Transport White Paper. £30 million per year for three years from 1999-2000 has been made available. The allocations detailed below are those made to date from the PTF and include commitments from the pre…
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the number and anticipated number is of (a) visitors and (b) bed spaces in the City of Edinburgh over the years from 1997 to 2003.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The number of visitors to Edinburgh in each of the years 1997, 1998 and 1999 was approximately 2.4 million. Visitor numbers are expected to increase by 6% annually.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">In 1999, there were a total of 15,301 rooms available in serviced accommodat…
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out any research into the number of bed spaces in hotels and planned hotels in the City of Edinburgh and, if so, whether it can provide details of this research.
Answer · Henry McLeish: A study has been commissioned by Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board to determine the provision of accommodation in the area. The purpose is to provide information on market trends for potential developers to enable them to make informed decisions on accommo…
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote transport links between Scotland and the Faroe Islands and whether it will categorise any plans it has by mode of transport.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive welcomes any development of commercial air or sea services between Scotland and the Faroes which provide economic or social links. The promotion of these links is primarily a matter for the transport operators involved.
22 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to promote Aberdeen as a centre of expertise for the oil industry and, if so, what these are.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive is currently discussing the suggestion for an oil and gas Centre of Excellence with a number of interested parties, including Scottish Enterprise and the Department of Trade and Industry's Aberdeen Office. Any firm proposals that emerge…
21 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the mileage rates payable to staff and users in each non-departmental public body where these are available on an annual basis since 1997, and for which non-departmental public bodies these details are not available.
Answer · Jack McConnell: This information is not held centrally.
21 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the mileage rates payable to staff and users in each Executive department or agency where these are available on an annual basis since 1997, and for which departments or agencies these details are not available.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The mileage rates payable to staff from April 1997 are as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Scottish Executive<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="11%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="14%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=1><P AL…
21 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice the Executive has given to its government agencies regarding mileage rates payable to staff.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive provides advice to the following agencies on the mileage rates payable and on when these rates change following negotiations with the Inland Revenue:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Scottish Agri…
21 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mileage costs have been incurred by or on behalf of the Scottish Legal Aid Board since 1997 on an annual basis.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Legal Aid Board does not currently record separately mileage costs incurred by staff, solicitors, counsel and professional witnesses.
21 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of what directions, guidance or representations it has made to the shadow strategic rail authority regarding the upgrading of the rail line between Ayr and Mauchline.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Under the provisions made in the UK Transport Bill, introduced on 1 December 1999, the Scottish Ministers will be able to issue directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) for passenger rail services that begin and end in Scotland (effective…
21 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what European funding is available in total for roads in Scotland; what level of European funding is available in respect of which roads, and what representations and applications have been made regarding European funding for roads.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Of the new Structural Fund Programmes for the 2000-06 Programming period, only the Highlands & Islands Special Transitional Programme provides support for strategic investments in communications and infrastructure, including roads and bridges. No specific…
21 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it or other organisations acting on its behalf have taken to market Scotland as a golf tourism destination.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I draw Mr MacAskill's attention to the <I>National Strategy for Golf Tourism</I>, published by the Executive and the Scottish Tourist Board in July 2000. Copies are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
21 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent since 1997 on promoting Scotland at the annual International Tourist Board travel fair in Berlin and what input it had to any such promotion.
Answer · Henry McLeish: This is a matter for the Scottish Tourist Board. The information requested is not held centrally.
21 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given the Scottish Tourist Board and the British Tourist Authority any instructions or input regarding the marketing of Scotland in Austria, what funding it has provided to these bodies for this purpose and how much they have spent on any such marketing.
Answer · Henry McLeish: No. This is a matter for the Scottish Tourist Board and the British Tourist Authority. The information requested is not held centrally.
21 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Tourist Board and the British Tourist Authority have spent on marketing Scotland in Vienna since the opening of the direct flight by Tyrolean Airlines.
Answer · Henry McLeish: This is a matter for the Scottish Tourist Board and the British Tourist Authority. The information requested is not held centrally.
21 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it intends to make in connection with the maintenance of a direct flight from Edinburgh to Vienna.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: None. This is a commercial matter for the airlines concerned.
15 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Glasgow Prestwick International has ever been asked to tender or apply to tender for public service obligation air routes.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No.
15 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedure airports must follow to apply to be considered for public service obligation air routes.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Airport operators can discuss the imposition of public service obligations (PSOs) on air routes with the relevant local authorities. It is for local authorities to approach the Scottish Executive with an economically and socially necessary case for a new PSO …
14 Aug 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a breakdown of the current modal forms of access to its office at Victoria Quay.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer I gave on 22 November 1999 to question S1W-1943.