Parliamentary questions
Murray Tosh
706 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1415 by Henry McLeish on 10 October 1999, whether it will consider endorsing or promoting all or any of the said devices as part of its strategy for reducing emissions from motor vehicles to improve air quality.
Answer · Henry McLeish: No.
24 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-662 by Susan Deacon on 11 October 1999, whether health boards will be asked to absorb revenue costs to them of flouridating water supplies, including their share of capital costs, insofar as they are not met by the Executive, or whether their budgets…
Answer · Susan Deacon: This will be determined at the appropriate time as part of the Executive's wider consideration of fluoridation issues.
24 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-661 by Susan Deacon on 28 September 1999, whether arrangements for public consultation have now been established and what weight will be attached to local opinion polls or any other form of specifically local consultation in reaching final decisions …
Answer · Susan Deacon: I refer to my answer of 14 April 2000 to Mrs Scanlon's question S1W-3922.
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6319 by Mr Tom McCabe on 9 May 2000, when it will provide a substantive answer to S1W-2963, lodged on 3 December 1999 and which was not answered on 25 January 2000 as stated in the answer to S1W-6319.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: With apologies for any confusion caused, PQ S1W-2963 was answered on 19 May.
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those conservation areas in respect of which Article 4 directions to withdraw permitted development rights for telecommunications developments have been issued; whether it has the power to remove permitted development rights for telecommunications developments in all …
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The list below contains details from our records on Article 4 directions. The list contains directions, approved for conservation areas, which include restrictions on permitted development rights for telecommunications development. Our records prior to 1992, …
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has obtained any assessment of the anticipated timescale for implementation of physical works arising from third generation telecommunications licenses from the Department of Trade and Industry.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer Mr Tosh to the answer I gave to question S1W-6966.
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale will be for the introduction of any primary legislation which will be required following the Minister for Transport and the Environment's remarks about planning controls for telecommunications developments in the Parliament on 11 May 2000.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: We do not, at present, see a need for primary legislation to deal with this issue.
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures it will require to follow to remove permitted development rights in general for telecommunications developments.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The type of changes we envisage will require secondary legislation in the form of an amendment to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992.
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the 10% capacity reduction proposed for the UK in adjustments to the Multi Annual Guidance Programme and what implications any such reductions will have on Scotland's fishing industry.
Answer · John Home Robertson: The Commission's proposals would require further substantial cuts in the UK fishing fleet, including notably the Scottish pelagic fleet, by end 2002.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">We support the conservation aims of the Multi-Annual Guidance Programmes but we do not beli…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it takes after the implementation of bus lanes supported by Transport Challenge Funding to ensure that congestion has been reduced, that performance targets have been met and that bus lanes are fully used.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The evaluation of a project after its completion is an important part of any project. However, it is a matter for local authorities to monitor the effects of the projects for which they are responsible. The guidance issued to local authorities inviting bids t…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many awards of Transport Challenge Funding have been made, committed or offered to local authorities for projects which include dedicated bus lanes; what procedures it uses to ensure that such projects will reduce congestion, and whether it sets performance targets for local authority…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: So far 11 projects which include dedicated bus lanes have been awarded funding from the Public Transport Fund. In addition, a further two projects were awarded funding from the previous Government's Transport Challenge Fund. When a bid is received an assessme…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the finding in the Transport Research Laboratory's report to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions that reserving road space for bus lanes contributes to congestion has any implications for its proposed Integrated Transport Bill.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No. The Integrated Transport (Scotland) Bill, will reinforce the message that tackling congestion requires a comprehensive integrated transport strategy with local authorities and public transport operators working together to complement each others strengths…
18 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the sample si'e and distribution used in Dr Neil Campbell's research for the Cancer Research Campaign were sufficient to validate his research findings; what action it proposes to take to identify the causes of, and determine remedies for, higher cancer mortality rates for residen…
Answer · Susan Deacon: It is not appropriate for me to comment on the research methodology adopted by other organisations or specific individuals.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Scottish Executive's commitment to reduce deaths from cancer and the action required to meet this target are clea…
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will survey local authorities' views on the handling of housing benefit fraud by the police, Procurators Fiscal and the courts.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish local authorities administer housing benefit in Scotland on behalf of the Department of Social Security which has responsibility for policy on housing benefit including the prevention of fraud. The issues raised are therefore reserved to the UK Parli…
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any variations in practice among Procurators Fiscal in the prosecution of housing benefit fraud and, if so, what action it is taking to address such variations.
Answer · Colin Boyd: There are no variations in practice among Procurators Fiscal in the prosecution of housing benefit fraud though variations in the content of reports made to Procurators Fiscal undoubtedly lead to variations as to outcome as Procurators Fiscal apply the usual …
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance is given to Procurators Fiscal about the prosecution of housing benefit fraud and whether it monitors decisions by Procurators Fiscal to prosecute or not in cases of alleged housing benefit fraud.
Answer · Colin Boyd: Procurators Fiscal are instructed that proceedings in respect of any offence must only be instituted where there is sufficient admissible evidence both that a crime was committed and that the accused committed it. They must also be satisfied that prosecution …
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the up-to-date position in respect of the answer given to question S1W-102 by Sarah Boyack on 30 June 1999.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: We aim to implement the new contaminated land regime in July, subject to the parliamentary process. The draft statutory guidance was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 25 May. Subject to parliamentary approval, we expect to promulgate the new regime by is…
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will estimate the costs of implementing contaminated land legislation within the allocation to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for 2000-01 and 2001-02 in table 7.15 of its publication Investing in You.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) estimates that it will incur operating costs amounting to £430,000 in 2000-01 and £440,000 in 2001-02 in carrying out its responsibilities under the new contaminated land regime. This equates to approximately …
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will identify estimates for the cost of access built into the allocation for Scottish Natural Heritage and national parks in table 7.14 of its publication Investing in You.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The estimates for the cost of access built into the allocation for Scottish Natural Heritage in table 7.14 of <I>Investing in You</I> are £4 million in 1999-2000, £5 million in 2000-01 and £8.5 million in 2001-02.
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the #24.4 million estimated cost of the Caledonian MacBrayne subsidy identified in table 7.1 of the publication Investing in You can be reconciled with the #28.4 million estimate identified in table 7.7, both in relation to 1999-2000.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The figure of £28.4 million shown in Table 7.7 of the publication <I>Investing in You</I> is the voted estimated provision for Caledonian MacBrayne as set out in the Supply Estimates for 1999-2000. The voted provision comprises the requirement for capita…
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the financial allocation for electronic tolling and other innovations associated with the proposed Integrated Transport Bill in 2000-01 and 2001-02.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: DETR is currently tendering for a contract for the UK trials of electronic tolling technology - the DIRECTS (Demonstration of Interoperable Road User End to End Charging and Telematics Systems) project. Consequently all financial information regarding this pr…
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail further the commitments for the A720 inherited from Lothian Regional Council, as identified on page 96 of Investing in You, and quantify the level of these commitments for the period from 1998-99 to 2001-02.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Following the trunking of the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass on 1 April 1996, the Secretary of State, in accordance with section 112 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, became liable for payment of principal, interest and management fees on a portion of a £49 milli…
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed expenditure on the Kingston Bridge in Glasgow, noted in page 95 of Investing in You, will allow the complete re-opening of the bridge.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Following the completion of the Kingston Bridge Phase 1 Strengthening contract in December 2000 the existing traffic restrictions on the bridge will no longer be required.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The ongoing programme of refurbishment works to the complex of approa…
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the figure for receipts shown in table 7.2 of its publication, Investing in You, whether it will identify the principal constituent components and, in particular, identify receipts from Erskine Bridge tolls and appropriations in aid.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The words "receipts" and "appropriations in aid" as used in <I>Investing In You</I> are synonymous. The breakdown is set out in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=597><TR><TD WIDTH="26%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPA…
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the statement on Caledonian MacBrayne by Sarah Boyack on 27 April 2000 is consistent with table 7.1 of its publication Investing in You which shows a decline in Caledonian MacBrayne's support from #24.4 million in 1999-2000 to #18.5 million in the next two financial years.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The figure of £18.5 million for 2000-01 and 2001-02 represents the planned provision as agreed in the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) in respect of Caledonian MacBrayne's External Finance Limit. The equivalent CSR provision for 1999-2000 was £23.6 mi…
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the statement by the Minister for Transport and the Environment on 8 March that water charges in Scotland are "still lower than those of the comparable water authorities" in England and Wales, whether it will publish the comparable figures for the Scottish Water Authori…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The figures requested are detailed in the table below. This shows that, in both the East of Scotland Water Authority and West of Scotland Water Authority areas, average combined domestic bills for the year 2000-01 are lower than any in England and Wales. The …
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the study commissioned from the University of Newcastle by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions into motorists' driving habits and their awareness of public transport alternatives and, if so, whether the research has any implications for its …
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is aware of this research project and will study its detailed findings with interest in the context of raising awareness of alternative modes of travel. However, the Integrated Transport Bill and the Executive's wider transport policies…
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will update the traffic flow measurements for the A7 illustrated in its 1994 leaflet, Hawick to the Border, in the light of (a) growth in traffic levels since then, (b) the completion of the southern sections of the M74 and (c) alterations to the status of the A68 south of the …
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The traffic flow figures for the A7 shown in the 1994 brochure <I>A7 Route Action Plan-Hawick to the Border</I> were derived as part of a large scale traffic study and current figures are not available in that format. However, the Scottish Executive records t…
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Borders Council has considered traffic calming or road stopping measures in Selkirk in the evaluation of the A7 Route Action Plan.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Consideration is being given to traffic calming measures within Selkirk as part of the A6091/A7 Route Action Plan study.
15 May 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a viable route has now been identified for the proposed Selkirk bypass which will take into account current road design standards.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The A6091/A7 Route Action Plan study has considered several alignments for a Selkirk bypass. However, the preliminary assessment of a Selkirk bypass option indicated that any benefits accrued are outweighed by the high construction costs.