Questions · Murray Tosh

1 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2810 by Mr Alasdair Morrison on 25 November 1999, whether it will allow Scottish Enterprise to contribute directly from its own annual budget to a procurement and funding process developed by City of Glasgow and South Lanarkshire Councils.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Detailed consideration of this project would, in the first instance, be a matter for Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise companies. If Scottish Enterprise decided to contribute to the M74 project at a level above their delegated authority, the propos…

1 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many letters it has received from MSPs to date; how long on average it has taken to answer each letter; how many letters are still to receive substantive answers, and how much it costs to answer each letter, using the same means of analysis as is used to assess the average cost of eac…

Answer · Tom McCabe: I apologise for the delay in providing the answer to this question which arose because of an administrative error. We are reviewing procedures to minimise the risk of such errors in future.Between 1 July and 31 December, Ministers replied t…

1 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will project a target date for completing work on the 91 bridges identified in Travel Choices for Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: A programme to reassess 58 of the 91 bridges that failed the first level assessment is in progress. To date 18 structures have been redetermined as adequate with 20 confirmed failures. Reassessment of the remainder is expected to be complete by the middle of …

1 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has collated about the condition of bridges on non-trunk roads; whether it intends to ensure that grant-aided expenditure allocations to local authorities provide them with sufficient resources to bring these bridges up to the required standard, and when it expects tha…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive receives the results of surveys conducted by the Society of Chief Officers of Transportation in Scotland (which represents the 32 local authorities) of Councils' bridge assessment and strengthening programmes.<…

1 Dec 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will conduct a further review of strategic roads and transport corridors.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The recently completed strategic roads review examined the schemes inherited in May 1997. The Executive has no plans for a further review. We will be concentrating our efforts on delivering the five schemes and the corridor studies announced on 4 November.<FO…

23 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates being in a position to issue substantive answers to parliamentary questions S1W-657 and S1W-658, lodged on 22 July, how many substantive answers to parliamentary questions by all MSPs remain outstanding from those lodged before the end of July, August and September and…

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-4675.

18 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is prepared in principle to allow a consortium of private interests to construct the M74 link considered in the recent Strategic Roads Review, and whether it would allow Scottish Enterprise to assist in funding the M74 link from its own annual budgets.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: When Sarah Boyack announced the conclusions of the Strategic Roads Review, she indicated that the M74 Northern Extension would be promoted by the City of Glasgow and South Lanarkshire Councils. It is for these Councils to develop proposals for the procurement…

17 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional staff have been engaged and what unbudgeted staffing costs have been incurred since May 1999 in connection with answering parliamentary questions.

Answer · Tom McCabe: More than 3,300 parliamentary questions have been lodged since May. This is about three times the comparable total for the previous year.The Scottish Executive's expenditure plans for 1998-99 and 1999-2000 provided for an increase…

17 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated cost will be to its own budget in the event that each of the local authority PFI/PPP road schemes currently under negotiation is allowed to proceed.

Answer · Jack McConnell: There will be no additional cost to the Scottish Executive budget.

17 Nov 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make decisions on each of the local authority PFI/PPP road schemes currently under negotiation.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is not currently in negotiations with the two local authorities who are leading the projects. Level Playing Field Support will be given provided that in each case a contract is signed before 31 March 2002 and the project is approved as …

17 Nov 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is prepared in principle to allow a consortium of private interests to construct the M74 link considered in the recent Strategic Roads Review, and whether it would allow Scottish Enterprise to assist in funding the M74 link from its own annual budgets.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: When Sarah Boyack announced the conclusions of the Strategic Roads Review, she indicated that the M74 Northern Extension would be promoted by the City of Glasgow and South Lanarkshire Councils. It is for these Councils to develop proposals for the procuremen…

15 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has powers to give or seek compensation to fishermen for loss of earnings during the period between the ban on nephrops fishing in the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Division IIa (EC Zone) and North Sea (EC Zone) and any European Union decision to relea…

Answer · John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive has full responsibility for matters relating to fisheries in Scotland. The Executive does not believe that compensation would be appropriate where the exhaustion of quotas make it necessary to close fisheries.

15 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the European Union for an emergency decision on increasing the nephrops quota in 1999 by a further 2000 tonnes in the International Council for Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Division IIa (EC Zone) and North Sea (EC Zone).

Answer · John Home Robertson: EU Regulations permit Member States to apply for an increase in certain fish quotas if 75% of the EU quota has been utilised before 31 October. In the case of the quota for north sea nephrops, this position has been exceeded in the current year and the Scotti…

7 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to de-trunk any part of the A68.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no plans to detrunk any part of the A68.

7 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-668 on 26 August 1999, whether it will provide updated details on External Finance Limits for Water Authorities in the light of the statement on its expenditure made by the Minister for Finance on 6 October 1999.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The proposed allocations of external finance for the water industry for 2000-01 and 2001-02 are £216.9m and £218.0m respectively. These allocations, and the External Finance Limits (EFLs) for each Authority, can be confirmed only after the Budget Bill is pass…

7 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-664 on 20 August 1999, whether it will provide updated details on its projected expenditure on transport in the light of the statement on its expenditure plans made by the Minister for Finance on 6 October 1999.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The updated information is shown below.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=652><TR><TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="12%" VALIGN="TOP">1995-96</TD><TD WIDTH="10%" VA…

5 Oct 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government with regard to the implications for Scotland of the proposed agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Food and Drink Federation on energy reduction measures, as an alternative to energy taxation, and whether any such r…

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Her Majesty's Government across a range of matters, including those relating to the climate change levy and the agreements being negotiated on reductions in energy consumption by the Trade Associations represe…

30 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Ministers will be able either to take final decisions themselves relating to the current review of Sheriff Court provision in Lothian and Borders, or to ensure that any final decisions take fully into account implications for the operational costs of all relevant agencies.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The review of Sheriff Court provision in Lothian and Borders is being undertaken by Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson who is consulting interested parties on a number of proposals. Any recommendations from the review which affect Court boundaries will be sub…

29 Sep 1999 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Ministers will be able either to take final decisions themselves relating to the current review of Sheriff Court provision in Lothian and Borders, or to ensure that any final decisions take fully into account implications for the operational costs of all relevant agencie…

Answer · Jim Wallace: The review of Sheriff Court provision in Lothian and Borders is being undertaken by Sheriff Principal Gordon Nicholson who is consulting interested parties on a number of proposals. Any recommendations from the review which affect Court boundaries will be su…

22 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will (a) identify the costs incurred to date through Blight Notices in respect of each project included in its Strategic Roads Review and (b) estimate the potential total cost of Blight Notices in respect of each project.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: A total of £430,642 has been paid in compensation and related legal and valuation costs in settlement of two Blight Notices which were served on the Department in relation to the A78 Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenson bypass. There are no outstanding Blight N…

22 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to compensate Glasgow City Council and South Lanarkshire Council for the costs of Blight Notices served in respect of the proposed M74 extension.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: This scheme is currently the responsibility of Glasgow and South Lanark Councils. The future status of this road is being considered in the Strategic Roads Review and The Executive can give no undertaking on future arrangements for blight costs until a decisi…

7 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide an estimate of the capital value of the trunk road and motorway network in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: At 1 April 1999 the capital value of the trunk road and motorway network in Scotland was estimated as being £7.9bn.

7 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what works are programmed for the Kingston Bridge on the M8, what plans it has to repair the bridge, and when it expects the bridge to be restored to full operation.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: A major contract to address Kingston Bridge's structural problems is in progress. The works include strengthening of the centre and side spans of the deck, demolition and reconstruction of the main supports, and restoring the articulation of the bridge. This …

7 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what money has been paid from motoring penalties collected in Scotland to Her Majesty's Treasury in each of the last three years; what plans it has to secure hypothecation of such money for road and other specific projects in Scotland, and what proportion of income from motoring penalties…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Revenue from all motoring penalties in Scotland was £10.897 million in 1996-97, £11.660 million in 1997-98 and £12.306 million in 1998-99. These amounts accrued to the Exchequer.Consideration is being given to the possibility of u…

7 Sep 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned, or intends to commission research into the Fuelmaster device, developed by Andy Guy and John McFarlane, to reduce emissions from petrol-driven vehicles.

Answer · Henry McLeish: A number of companies market similar devices to the "Fuelmaster". The UK Government's Energy Technology Support Unit (ETSU) evaluates these products on an ongoing basis, and the makers of "Fuelmaster" should contact the Unit to have their product evaluated, i…

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of New Housing Partnerships on employment in the building trades, what plans it has to ensure that locally provided training is available to meet additional demand for skilled labour in each local authority area, and what adjustments it will permi…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is consulting relevant bodies on the employment and training opportunities arising from New Housing Partnerships.

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding the impact of energy taxes on the costs and competitiveness of high energy using Scottish industries, and what response it has had to these representations.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government across a range of issues, including those relating to the proposals for a climate change levy.

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has made of the potential impact of energy taxes on the costs and competitiveness of high energy using Scottish industries.

Answer · Henry McLeish: I am aware that concerns have been expressed about the impact of the UK Government's proposals for a climate change levy on particular areas and sectors. I am keeping this matter under close review.

27 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has responded, or intends to respond, or whether it intends to ask the Scottish Parliament to respond, to the Home Office Review of Fixed Penalty Levels for Motoring Offences.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive did not respond to this public consultation exercise, whose closing date was 23 July. Road Traffic law, including fixed penalties, is a matter mainly reserved to Westminster. In these circumstances the Executive has no plans to seek the…

22 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to increase the number of designated bathing beaches in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no proposals at present to increase the number of identified bathing waters in Scotland. As recently as February 1999 an additional 37 identified bathing waters were designated in Scotland. Ho…