Parliamentary questions
Murray Tosh
706 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the M74 Northern Extension sufficiently meets its strategic roads assessment criteria to be allowed to progress in its current form.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer Mr Tosh to my answer to question S1W-3762.
17 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise on proposals for exemptions for flights from airports in the Scottish Highlands and Islands from Air Passenger Duty; whether it supported such proposals based on low population density; whether it expressed an opinion on the tre…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive was not included in HM Customs and Excise's formal consultation exercise on Air Passenger Duty. The Executive is very well aware of the vital importance of lifeline air services to the economic and social wellbeing of the Highlands &…
14 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport and the Environment advised relevant council leaders when she met them on 21 December 1999 that the Executive believes that they should make any scheme revisions to the proposed M74 Northern Extension.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive's position on the M74 Northern Extension was set out in my statement to Parliament on 4 November and in the report on the Strategic Roads Review which was published on the same day. As I explained on 13 January, in response to S1O-917, disc…
12 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3423 by Sarah Boyack on 16 December 1999, whether this answer confirms that the entire final costs of the proposed Public Private Partnerships for the M77 Fenwick to Malletsheugh motorway extension will be paid for from the Scottish Consolidated Fund.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: A Public Private Partnership approach to the procurement of the M77 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh will be pursued provided that this approach demonstrates value for money. The entire costs of the procurement would then be paid from the Scottish Consolidate…
12 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3423 by Sarah Boyack on 16 December 1999, whether it will publicise the criteria which it will use to determine whether the proposed Public Private Partnerships for the M77 Fenwick to Malletsheugh motorway extension demonstrate value for money.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Since 24 June 1999 it has been Scottish Executive policy to make Full Business Cases for all central Government public/private partnerships publicly available.
12 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-498 by Sarah Boyack on 4 November 1999, whether it is working on proposals for charges on householders for the uplift of domestic refuse.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No. <I>The National Waste Strategy: Scotland</I> recommended that householders should be made aware of the costs of dealing with their waste and that local authorities should be required to identify collection and disposal charges separately on council tax bi…
11 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether inland waterways freight facilities grant (IWFFG) is treated as a separate budget allocation from the freight facilities grant, whether executive devolution exists in the administration of IWFFG, whether the Scottish Executive has control of the criteria by which awards of IWFFG a…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Freight Facilities Grant (FFG) for inland waterways is drawn from the same budget allocation available for railway projects. This amounts to £18.3 million for the three years between 1999-2000 and 2001-02. Inland waterways are a devolved matter and the Scotti…
11 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-97 by Sarah Boyack on 30 June 1999, what targets it has set for recycling aggregates; what action it has taken to ensure that adopted Structure Plans have identified 10-year supplies of aggregates, and what it plans to do to ensure that an adequate s…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: As my nswer of 30 June indicated, research is currently being undertaken to gather information on recycling activity to inform consideration of the need for future targets. Structure Plans are examined at various stages by the Scottish Executive to ensure the…
11 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings it has had with representatives of aggregates and quarrying interests in connection with the proposed aggregates tax and what representations it has made as a consequence of any such meetings to Her Majesty's Government about the potential impact of an aggregates tax in Scot…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No such meetings have taken place.
10 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its review of the planning system will bring forward proposals to prevent or control the implementation of "begun developments" either in general where significant time periods have elapsed between development beginning and the implementation of subsequent phases of development, o…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no current plans to amend planning legislation in the way suggested.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>In circumstances where a planning authority anticipates problems of the sort outlined it is open to that authority to serve a completio…
10 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it last surveyed the availability of aggregates in Scotland, and when it expects to issue its findings.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Survey of Aggregate Working in Scotland is carried out every four years. The last published results, for the year 1993, were issued in 1995. The most recent survey covered the year 1997 but a relatively poor response rate from aggregate producers, coupled…
10 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it maintains a central register of all waste-incineration facilities in Scotland, and of the quantities and categories of materials sent annually for incineration.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive does not maintain a central register of waste incineration facilities in Scotland or records of the quantities and categories of materials sent annually for incineration. Waste incinerators in Scotland are regulated by the Scottish Envi…
10 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it has responded to the request from Scottish Border Council for an additional housing revenue account borrowing consent of #250,000.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish Borders Council's request for additional housing capital consent will be considered shortly, along with the representations made by other councils, when it becomes clearer if resources are available for supplementary allocations this financial year.
10 Jan 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-803 by Sarah Boyack on 9 December 1999, whether the rail passenger transport scheme is the only fund controlled by the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority which can be used to fund investment in new railway infrastructure in Scotland, what resources are …
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority administers the Rail Passenger Partnership (RPP) scheme and the Infrastructure Investment Fund (IIF) on a GB-wide basis. RPP is available for new or enhanced local and regional rail services that are not commercially viable…
20 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1201 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 10 September 1999, whether it will identify the bodies being consulted about the employment and training opportunities arising from New Housing Partnerships, identify a web site address for the consultation document and …
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Consultations to date have involved a range of bodies including Scottish Homes, Scottish Enterprise and local authorities. Consultations have been informal and no consultation document has been issued.
20 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has full power to determine the criteria set out for the award of freight facilities grant and track access grant, or whether the said criteria are determined by another body.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: As announced by Henry McLeish in the House of Commons on 31 March 1998, the devolution settlement for railways includes the executive devolution of responsibility, within the GB policy framework, for the administration of Freight Facilities Grants and Tr…
20 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether money raised in fines on rail operations in Scotland is or will be retained by it or paid to the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Franchising Director, part of the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority, operates a GB-wide Incentive Payment regime which rewards good performance by train operating companies and penalises poor performance. All penalty payments received by the Franchising Dir…
20 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will have the right to nominate any members to the Board of the Strategic Rail Authority and whether there will be any representatives of Scottish passengers or rail freight users on the Board.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Under proposals in the UK Transport Bill members of the Strategic Rail Authority will be appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in consultation with the Chairman of the Authority. The Deputy Prime Minister announced…
20 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish any directions and guidance it gives to the Strategic Rail Authority.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Under proposals in the UK Transport bill those who issue directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority will be required to publish them. The Scottish Ministers will therefore publish their directions and guidance for the passenger rail services that…
20 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be able to require the Strategic Rail Authority to lay before the Scottish Parliament an annual report on its activities, its income and expenditure, and its existing and future strategies, in relation to rail services in Scotland, including those beginning and ending in S…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Under the Executive Devolution Order that came into effect on 1 July 1999 the Franchising Director is required to lay an annual report before the Scottish Parliament. Under the UK Transport Bill the Strategic Rail Authority will assume the functions of the Fr…
20 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make the Strategic Rail Authority a statutory consultee for local authorities and other planning bodies (a) when structure and local plans are being prepared and (b) when relevant planning applications are under consideration.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Executive has no plans to make specific statutory provision for the Strategic Rail Authority to be consulted in such circumstances.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>There are no specified statutory consultees in the development planning process. However, exist…
20 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made, or intends to make, representations against proposals in the Railways Bill, or any subsequent Transport Bill, which permit the Strategic Rail Authority to disregard directions and guidance relating to the provision of passenger rail services in Scotland given by Scott…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: As announced by Henry McLeish in the House of Commons on 31 March 1998, the devolution settlement for railways includes the executive devolution of responsibility, within the GB policy framework, for the issuing of directions and guidance to the Strategic Rai…
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by Mr Jack McConnell on local government finance on 8 December 1999, whether the #15 million held back from the total allocations will be given as specific grant to the successful councils and treated as an increase in the said councils' indicative spending guide…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The arrangements for allocating the £15 million which has been released within the settlement are still under consideration and a further announcement will be made in due course.
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by Mr Jack McConnell on local government finance on 8 December 1999, whether indicative spending guidelines will operate in 2000-01 in the same way as they did in 1999-2000 and whether it will outline the action it proposes to take, if any, in relation to council…
Answer · Jack McConnell: Expenditure guidelines will operate in 2000-01 in the same way as they did in 1999-2000. I expect local authorities to budget within guideline. Where any authority exceeds its guideline, I shall consider all the relevant factors at the time before deciding wh…
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by Mr Jack McConnell on local government finance on 8 December 1999, whether it will publicise the criteria for allocating the #15 million held back from the total allocation for discussion between the Confederation of Scottish Local Authorities and the Deputy Mi…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The criteria for allocating the £15 million are under consideration and will be announced in due course. No restrictions have been applied on which councils might be eligible to benefit from these resources.
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by Mr Jack McConnell on local government finance on 8 December 1999, whether it will estimate the share in respect of each council of the #15 million held back from the total allocations and indicate whether the #15 million will affect councils' indicative spendi…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The £15 million has been released within the settlement following a revision to the estimated costs to local authorities of loan and leasing charges for next year. The £15 million has been disregarded for the purposes of calculating councils' spending guideli…
15 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2875 by Sarah Boyack on 14 December 1999, whether it will identify the eighteen bridges determined as adequate, the twenty confirmed failures, and the twenty bridges still being re-assessed; what assessment it intends to make of the thirty-three brid…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The 18 bridges determined as adequate are:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">A77 London Road</TD><TD WIDTH="33%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">A87 Lon Na H'Iolainn</TD><…
15 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive by how much the Scottish Block Grant will be augmented in future years as a result of the statement made on 13 December 1999 by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and, further to the answers to questions S1O-705 and S1O-764 by Donald Dewar on 25 November…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I understand that the statement by the Secretary of State for the Environment Transport and the Regions related to how he intended to use existing budgets. Future levels of expenditure in England will be determined in the forthcoming Spending Review now unde…
13 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidance equivalent to Guidance on Airport Transport Forums and Airport Surface Access Strategies issued by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and, if so, when.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish guidance on Airport Transport Forums and Airport Surface Access Strategies will be produced this year following consideration of the findings of the Scottish Airports and Air Services Study.
10 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all of the land required for the projected M77 extension from Malletsheugh to Fenwick has been acquired, whether any land is currently subjected to compulsory purchase or whether any land is being acquired by negotiations, subject to conditions, including time delays in acquisitio…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The land for the M77 extension between Fenwick and Malletsheugh has not yet been purchased.<B> </B>Three Compulsory Purchase Orders to acquire most of the land for the scheme were made at the end of last year. Subject to the satisfactory completion of the sta…