Parliamentary questions

Kenny MacAskill

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

5 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any measures it is considering to increase exclusion 'ones around genetically modified field crops.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive looks to the independent Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment to set detailed risk management conditions for individual consents to grow genetically modified crops in field conditions, this includes setting relevant isolati…

5 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to list the location and si'e of sites in Scotland currently used for the production of genetically modified foods, and when consent was given for trials in each site.

Answer · Susan Deacon: No genetically modified (GM) crops are currently grown in Scotland either for human consumption or for use as animal feed.There are, however, a number of small-scale GM plots in Scotland for research and development activities. Al…

1 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used to determine whether or not Highland Council should be given permission to erect signs in Gaelic across the whole of the local authority area.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The criteria used were road safety, the impact on the environment of large signs, the cost of replacing existing signs and whether there was a significant number of Gaelic speakers in the area concerned.Following useful discussion…

23 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any discussions which have taken place with Her Majesty's Treasury in connection with the reduction of the fuel duty escalator, and its social and economic impact in Scotland.

Answer · Donald Dewar: It is not in Scotland's interest for me to turn my private contacts with UK Government colleagues into public diplomacy by "sound bite". I can, however, assure Parliament that we have been second to none in standing up for Scotland's interests.

22 Sep 1999 · General Question

8 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Community Service Orders were imposed in Edinburgh over the last five years and, for each of those years, how many of these orders were (a) completed within the allotted time of one year, (b) subject to breach of community service proceedings and (c) completed but in a period of …

Answer · Jim Wallace: The total number of Community Service Orders imposed in Edinburgh Sheriff Court in the most recent five years for which data is available is given in the following table. The figures refer to the number of people for whom a Community Service Order was the mai…

7 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to detail (a) the costs incurred by Lothian and Edinburgh Enterprise Ltd (LEEL) in the acquisition and development of a site at Peffermill, Edinburgh for Brown Brothers; (b) any additional or ancillary costs incurred by LEEL in respect of the proposed move to the site; (c) any expenditure…

Answer · Henry McLeish: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. I will ask the Chairman of that organisation to write to Mr MacAskill.

7 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any measures to prohibit (a) injecting organic waste into land with field drains; (b) spreading organic waste outwith daylight hours, and (c) spreading organic waste on national heritage sites.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-1395.

7 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering any measures to restrict the types of organic waste currently spread on land.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-1395.

7 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is considering in order to protect land against environmental damage caused by spreading organic waste.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is currently assessing the responses to a recent public consultation exercise based on the recommendations of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's Strategic Review of Organic Waste Spread on Land. We hope to announce our conclus…

3 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether either it or the Scottish Office ever received any representations from Noel Ruddle's legal agents regarding accepting a conditional discharge and, if so, when such representations were received and why this option was refused.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The answer to this question is covered by S1W-1354.

3 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Office initiated an intention to consider emergency legislation in relation to mental health following the House of Lords decision in the case of Alexander Reid and, if so, whether the intention was communicated to Alexander Reid's legal representatives.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive cannot provide information about the actions of the previous administration.

3 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of any meetings, exchanges or correspondence (including the dates of such exchanges, the subject matter discussed and the terms of any advice given) which took place between Dr White, the responsible medical officer for Noel Ruddle and (a) the psychiatric adviser to the…

Answer · Jim Wallace: On 2 September 1999 the Lord Advocate and I gave Parliament a full account of the significant events in relation to Mr Ruddle's appeal. The additional details sought would mean disclosing confidential medical and legal advice which I am not prepared to do.

2 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review ports and rail freight facilities grants in Scotland; whether it will extend freight facilities grants to shipping, and how those plans would interact with an east coast ferry port for Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The rail Freight Facilities Grant scheme is executively devolved to Scottish Ministers. At present, there are no plans to review the scheme, for which £6.1 million per annum has been allocated for the next three years.The U.K. Gov…

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether similar funding to that made available to First Group Plc for the implementation of the "Overground" network in Glasgow on an annual or start-up basis has been offered to other bus operators, and if so, to provide details of these offers.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No funds have been provided by the Scottish Executive to bus operators. However, a number of local authorities were awarded additional capital allocations from the first round of the Public Transport Fund towards the cost of developing bus priority measures.

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it provided to First Group PLC for the implementation of their "Overground" network in Glasgow in respect of both start-up funding and annual contributions for the next 5 financial years.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No funds were provided from the Scottish Executive to First Group plc. However, Glasgow City Council and West Dunbartonshire Council were awarded additional capital allocations from the first round of the Public Transport Fund totalling £6.05 million over the…

26 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of its power to give grants for rail services, what representations it intends to make to Her Majesty's Government in order to ensure that Scotland has adequate independent representation on the Strategic Rail Authority.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The G.B. Railways Bill, introduced on 7th July, will give statutory authority to the new Strategic Rail Authority. The Scottish Executive, the Scotland Office and the U.K. Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions are in regular contact …

26 Aug 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of its power to give grants for rail services, what representations it intends to make to Her Majesty's Government in order to ensure that Scotland has adequate independent representation on the Strategic Rail Authority.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The G.B. Railways Bill, introduced on 7th July, will give statutory authority to the new Strategic Rail Authority . The Scottish Executive, the Scotland Office and the U.K. Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions are in regular contac…

9 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change the current accommodation arrangements for immigration and asylum detainees within the Scottish prison service, and what representations it has made, or intends to make, to Her Majesty's Government regarding the detention of such detainees.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Prison Service holds those persons detained in Scotland under Immigration Legislation as a service on behalf of the Home Office. At any one time only a very small number are detained in Scotland. The majority are held at HM Remand Institution Lon…

6 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce strategic environmental assessment for government programmes, as outlined in the Partnership for Scotland document, and if so, whether these proposals will include measures to ensure that the Parliament will be able t…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer Mr MacAskill to the reply I provided to Question S1W-825.

6 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific proposals it has to implement the initiative to introduce strategic environmental assessment for government programmes, as outlined in the Partnership for Scotland document.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: We will announce our plans for implementing strategic environmental assessment in government programmes in due course. We expect that they will be linked to our commitment to the integration of sustainable development into all policies and have regard to the …

6 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional measures are being put in place for accident and emergency cover in Edinburgh's Hospitals over the millennium, and what additional staff cover will be made available over this period.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Lothian Health Board is planning a range of measures for accident and emergency cover in Edinburgh's Hospitals over the millennium period.Medical staffing levels are planned to approximately double between 24 December to …

3 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question SW1-292 by Susan Deacon on 29 July 1999, to specify the projected income from charges under the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999 and to which budget such income will be allocated.

Answer · Susan Deacon: It is estimated that the new charging arrangements will eventually increase road traffic accident income to the NHS in Scotland to around £10 million per annum. The previous arrangements saw only £1 million per annum being recouped.<FONT FACE="Arial…

3 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question SW1-292 by Susan Deacon on 29 July 1999, whether any discussions took place with representatives of motoring and insurance organisations in regard to the increase in charges under the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Act 1999 and, if so, to provide details of …

Answer · Susan Deacon: Meetings and correspondence to discuss the proposed changes took place with a range of organisations including the Association of British Insurers (ABI), representatives from the smaller Insurance Companies, and the Motor Insurance Bureau.T…

30 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the targets that have been set for Scotland to reduce greenhouse gases, and how progress towards these targets will be monitored in relation to Scotland's contribution to UK targets.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No specific target has been set for Scotland. I am keen, however, that we should play a full part in meeting the UK target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% of the 1990 figure by the period 2008-2012.The UK Government,…

30 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the volume of green-house gas emissions that have been produced in Scotland (a) as a whole and (b) from each economic sector, in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: These figures are not available. In conjunction with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, the Department of the Environment (NI) and the Welsh Assembly, we have, however, let a research contract to disaggregate UK emissions of greenho…

28 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide details of the locations of each of the new roadside camera sensor stations which are proposed, operational or under construction in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Roadside digital imaging sensors are presently being erected adjacent to some sections of Scottish trunk road network by Trafficmaster plc under the terms of a licence granted by The Scottish Office. These sensors will be used by Trafficmaster plc to provide …

28 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the cost of the new network of roadside camera sensor stations in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Roadside digital imaging sensors are being provided and installed on some sections of the Scottish trunk road network by Trafficmaster plc at no cost to the Scottish Executive.These sensors will be used by Trafficmaster plc to pro…

27 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made or intends to make any representations to the Secretary of State for Transport, Environment and the Regions in regard to his decision under the Merchant Shipping Act 1985 to prohibit the MV Greenpeace from entering UK territorial waters, including waters surrounding Sc…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No. Matters concerning maritime safety and the international law of the sea are reserved to the UK Government.

27 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the amount of public money made available for capital expenditure to each of the airports in Scotland for each financial year since 1994/1995.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The amount of money made available by The Scottish Office for capital expenditure at airports in Scotland since 1994-95 is as follows:£000's<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=607><TR><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="14%" VA…