Murray Tosh

24 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will place a copy of the detailed Scottish Borders Railway Feasibility Study in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and whether it will issue copies of the comprehensive Summary Report to the relevant constituency and regional MSPs.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: A copy of the Scottish Borders Railway Feasibility Study has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The Summary Report of the study is being distributed to the relevant constituency and regional MSPs.

24 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to retain the existing A1 between Haddington and Dunbar as a trunk road once the new dual carriage way between Haddington and Dunbar has been completed.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: No. The proposals for the Expressway option to upgrade this section of the A1 do not alter the intention to detrunk the existing A1 between Haddington and Dunbar when the new dual carriageway special road is opened to traffic.

23 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the structure of Scotland's water authorities, in the light of the recent announcement regarding the water industry regulator's willingness to consider mergers of water companies in England and Wales.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive is aware of the possibility of mergers among the privatised water companies in England and Wales and has no plans for a review of the structure of the publicly owned water authorities in Scotland.

23 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to answer parliamentary question S1W-2735, lodged on 23 November 1999, and in view of this delay, whether, when it provides this answer, it will provide information relating to the number of substantive answers to parliamentary questions lodged before the end of December 1…

Answer · Tom McCabe: Questions S1W-657 and S1W-658 were answered by Sarah Boyack on 25 November 1999. We are currently investigating within our offices the number of parliamentary questions lodged before the end of December 1999 which have not yet received substantive answers, an…

23 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4229 by Sarah Boyack on 18 February 2000, whether it will put its response to the formal UK consultation process to (a) the Parliament and (b) the Transport and the Environment Committee for consideration and whether it will make representations to t…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Any representations made by the Scottish Executive to the UK Government in response to the proposed consultation which deal with reserved matters will invariably require to be made in confidence in the same way as representations received by the Scottish Exec…

23 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what response the National Roads Directorate has given to South Ayrshire Council in connection with the current planning application to develop housing at Coodham Estate, Symington, how this response differs from that given by the Scottish Office National Roads Directorate in 1998 to Plan…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive Road Network Management and Maintenance Division has recommended that a condition be attached to any consent given by South Ayrshire Council that no development shall take place at Coodham Estate until a scheme to close gaps in the cent…

22 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it contributed to Her Majesty's Government's representations to the European Commission in connection with the White Paper being prepared by the Commission on environmental liability, and whether it will publish any representations or comments it has made.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Yes the Executive did make representations and, in common with normal practice, it respects the confidentiality of the information exchanged.

22 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any concordat already agreed, or in the process of discussion between it and Her Majesty's Government, will allow it to discuss with Her Majesty's Government issues arising from low flying military aircraft.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Yes. A bilateral Concordat between the Scottish Executive and the Ministry of Defence was published on 9 December 1999. The Concordat sets out arrangements for exchange of information and consultation on all issues of mutual concern.

21 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why East Lothian Council did not receive a copy of its consultation paper on the Landfill Directive; what checks were made to ensure that all local authorities had received the consultation papers; which local authorities requested a time extension to enable them to respond to the consult…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: A copy of a consultation paper on instruments to implement the targets in the Landfill Directive was sent to the chief executive of each Scottish local authority on 17 November 1999, including East Lothian Council. The council has now responded and its commen…

14 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers safeguarded routes for proposed roads when assessing draft structure plans; whether it is therefore in a position to know which routes are safeguarded in all approved structure plans and whether the relevant structure plans have safeguarded the proposed M8 Baillieston…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: We consider all aspects of structure plans submitted for approval. Structure plans may safeguard routes for roads, but are not ordnance survey based. In planning terms, safeguarding of the line of a route referred to in a structure plan can only be achieved t…

11 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to fund the development of energy crops in Scotland.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme and the Scottish Rural Development Plan include measures to support the diversification of agriculture, including the growing of novel crops. These proposals are currently under negotiation with the Eur…

10 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, as a matter of courtesy, MPs are notified of Ministerial decisions on structure plans and local plans or to call in proposals by planning authorities to issue planning consents contrary to approved development plans and notifications of intention to develop by local authorities, …

Answer · Sarah Boyack: It has never been the practice automatically to notify MPs or MSPs of Ministerial decisions and there are no plans to introduce any such arrangements. Copies of letters announcing such decisions are, however, sent to Members who have made representations or h…

10 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to upgrade the A77 at Bogend Toll, Symington, its junction with the A78 junction, Sandyford Toll, Whitletts, and its junction with the A70, A713 and Doonholm Road, and whether indicative timescales exist for the implementation of any or all of these works.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The proposals referred to are among the candidates being considered for improvement in the next two years. We have yet to take decisions on the programme, including timescales.

10 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the implications of the Competition Act 1998 for Scotland's water authorities.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive published its consultation paper <I>Managing Change in the Water Industry</I> on 15 June. The paper sets out the Executive's proposals for responding to increased competition in the Scottish water sector, including that encouraged by the Competi…

9 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-870 by Donald Dewar on 24 August 1999, what monitoring each department carries out to ensure compliance with the target timescale for responding to letters from MSPs; what overall monitoring takes place, and what procedures exist for MSPs, where targ…

Answer · Tom McCabe: All Departments of the Scottish Executive have systems in place to monitor performance against targets for all letters due for a ministerial reply. This includes letters from MSPs. Departments also report performance formally through a parliamentary answer.<F…

8 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in pursuing the award of a grant from the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority to assist in upgrading the Kilmarnock-Glasgow railway and whether it will allow the A77/M77 upgrade to proceed on schedule, even in the event of any slippage in the upgrading of the railw…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The upgrading of the Kilmarnock-Glasgow railway line is not the subject of an application for an award of grant from the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority. However, I understand that Railtrack have concluded a feasibility study on behalf of Strathclyde Passenge…

8 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to assess future movement and modal shares on key transport corridors, and whether it expects Scottish transport programmes to meet UK targets for a 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2010.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The multi-modal corridor studies planned for the A8 and A80 will assess the future movement and modal share in each corridor. In addition, the recently completed <I>Route Profiles</I> provide a comprehensive and detailed summary of travel patterns and trends …

8 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a timetable for the completion of each multi-modal corridor study announced in the Strategic Roads Review and whether it plans to publish an action plan to achieve the accident reduction targets indicated in the Review.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Following advertisement in early January, we expect to appoint consultants to undertake the scoping study shortly. This phase of the corridor study is likely to take some three to four months. Subsequent timing is dependent on the findings of that study. Our …

8 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2310 by Sarah Boyack on 1 February 2000, whether (a) it will produce a revised table to show how much public sector investment has been funded to date in Scotland's rail network from sources other than the Scottish Block and how much investment is an…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The rail network is in the private sector. Investment in the network is funded in various ways, including direct funding from the public sector and charges paid by train operators who are themselves supported by the public sector. The table below shows the am…

8 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the review of Scottish airports and air services presently being undertaken by Environmental Resources Management, whether it will provide a list of all those bodies and organisations consulted and whether it will consult the Parliament before the review is …

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Airports and Air Services Study is expected to be submitted to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Scottish Executive by the end of February. An extensive consultation exercise has been undertaken including over 3…

1 Feb 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-659 by Sarah Boyack on 15 September 1999, whether it will post notices of compulsory purchase orders, statutory notices regarding structure and local plans, and other public notices, on its website or, alternatively, whether it will issue supplements…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Legislation currently provides a statutory framework for the publication of notices by means of press advertisements and individual notification. It would be for those with statutory responsibility for the notice to consider whether there is a need, in additi…

28 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has had from aggregates and quarrying interests in Scotland in connection with the proposed aggregates tax, and what representations it has made as a consequence to Her Majesty's Government about the potential impact of an aggregates tax in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: To date, the Executive has received representations from or on behalf of twelve parties with an aggregates or quarrying interest. The Executive is in touch with HM Government on a wide range of issues, including the issue of aggregates taxation.

28 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with representatives of aggregates and quarrying interests in connection with proposals for an Aggregates Working Party to take an overview of local authority practice in 'oning sufficient sites to ensure long term supplies of aggregates.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I discussed this issue at a meeting with the Quarry Products Association, the main trade organisation for the industry, on 10 September 1999.

27 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2858 by Sarah Boyack on 12 January 2000, when and by whom the decision to abandon the Crossrail project was made; whether it made a unilateral decision to withdraw its support from Crossrail, and whether it has advised the promoters of Crossrail, inc…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I can confirm that a feasibility study on Glasgow Cross Rail was completed in 1995 by Railtrack on behalf of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority. I understand it is still being evaluated by the authority. The Scottish Executive has made no unilateral de…

25 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it was possible for Chris Mullin MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in a letter of 11 January 2000 to the secretary of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport Consultative Committee, to refer to Sarah Boyack's answer to q…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Question S1W-2922 tabled by Mr Ian Welsh referred to the Scottish Airports and Air services Study which is currently being undertaken jointly by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and the Scottish Executive. A draft response to th…

25 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any outstanding parliamentary questions lodged by Ian Welsh and whether these will still be answered and published.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Any outstanding parliamentary questions lodged by Ian Welsh were treated as withdrawn following his resignation.

25 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the Minister for Transport and the Environment, in her answer to question S1O-803 on 9 December 1999, did not advise the Parliament of the existence of the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority's Infrastructure Funds or of the budget available over a three year period under the Rail Passeng…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Infrastructure Investment Fund has yet to be launched by the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority. This is awaiting the outcome of the Rail Regulator's review of Railtrack's track access charging regime, expected to report this summer. Consequently no applicat…

21 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will (a) state the value of the capital receipt to the health service for the sale of the County Hospital, Ayr and (b) the total of security and other property costs incurred in respect of the hospital between the final closure of the hospital and conclusion of missives for its…

Answer · Susan Deacon: Ayr County Hospital was sold for £501,000. Costs for security and maintenance between the date of closure and the final disposal of the property totalled £567,419.

21 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still intends to construct a pedestrian footbridge across the A77 at Hansel Village, Symington.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has included the scheme to provide a pedestrian footbridge across the A77 at Hansel Village, Symington within the trunk road programme for the next two years. Construction will be subject to the availability of funding and other competi…

20 Jan 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will (a) estimate the total cost of freight facilities grant applications currently under consideration and (b) state the total available resources; whether it intends to seek additional resources and, if not, how it intends to prioritise existing resources in order to achieve …

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is currently assessing nine applications for Freight Facilities Grant. All applications are subject to a rigorous economic appraisal. Since this appraisal has yet to be completed for these nine applications it is not possible to give re…