Parliamentary questions
Murray Tosh
706 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
14 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what provision its proposed Planning Bill will make for defining the boundaries of the proposed city regions; what role Scottish Ministers and the Parliament will have in defining such regions, and what provision it proposes for resolving disagreements between the city planning regions an…
Answer · Johann Lamont: Provisions relating to the determination of boundaries for strategic development plan areas are included in sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced in December. Section 4 empowers ministers to designate a group of planni…
14 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it will make in the forthcoming Planning Bill to safeguard the interests of councils who object to proposed development in an adjoining council, where such development might have an adverse effect on the objecting council, in respect of councils (a) within the same city reg…
Answer · Johann Lamont: The current requirements for an authority to notify a neighbouring authority of any planning application that is likely to affect land in that authority’s area will remain, regardless of whether the development is or is not in an area covered by a strategic d…
14 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will enforce the statutory duty it proposes to place on local authorities in the forthcoming Planning Bill to update their development plans every five years.
Answer · Johann Lamont: We will work in partnership with planning authorities to deliver the package of reforms and to support authorities where difficulties arise. Where serious failures occur, ministers will have powers in the Planning Bill to request information from planning aut…
14 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs of the additional enforcement powers and duties for local authorities to be introduced by the proposed Planning Bill will fall on local authorities, or whether planning fees will be adjusted to recover all or part of such additional costs; and, if it is the latter, to wh…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is for individual planning authorities to determine the allocation of resources for planning enforcement within their overall planning budgets. We intend to publish further research, currently under way, into local authorities’ resourcing requirements in l…
9 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to publish draft regulations to define major and local developments before Stage 3 consideration of the proposed Planning Bill.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: It is our intention to publish draft regulations defining the categories of major and local developments well before stage 3 consideration of the Planning etc (Scotland) Bill, which has now been introduced.</p>
9 Dec 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proposed second National Planning Framework will identify the need for wind farms which generate more than 50 megawatts of electricity and whether it will prescribe areas of search for wind farm development.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Spatial planning issues relating to wind farms will primarily be considered through the current review of <i>National Planning Policy Guideline 6: Renewable Energy. </i>The outcome of this work will be reflected in the second National Planning Framework.</p>
22 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what Housing Revenue Account (HRA) debts it has agreed to assume for local authorities which (a) have transferred their former housing stocks to community ownership and (b) are proceeding toward ballots of tenants with a view to transferring stock and, in each case, what former HRA debt h…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: HM Treasury provided the resources to redeem £1,064 million of residual HRA debt, owed to the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB), in respect of the three councils who transferred their housing stock to community ownership in 2003. Seven further councils have been…
11 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-9859 and S2W-11169 by Nicol Stephen on 17 September and 1 November 2004, whether it will publish a full, updated profile of major trunk roads works under way and planned.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I indicated in my reply to Fergus Ewing on 13 September 2005 (S2W-18471) that a summary of the progress and programme of major trunk road works will be published on the Scottish Executive website (under the section for Transport/Roads and Motorways/Trunk Road…
10 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements exist under the central heating programme, administered for it by the Eaga Partnership Ltd, for householders to install condensing boilers and whether it will take steps to encourage householders to install condensing boilers and to increase the allowance per household t…
Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>Householders, if they so wish, can install condensing boilers as an upgrade to the system provided under the Scottish Executive programme. A…
10 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many non-condensing boilers it has had installed in homes under the central heating programme, administered for it by the Eaga Partnership Ltd, and how many it expects to install between now and May 2007; what it estimates the additional cost to it would have been had it required the …
Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>Since the programme started in 2001, a total 33,992 non-condensing boilers have been installed. At this stage the types of boilers to be use…
10 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers high-efficiency condensing boilers to be a more cost-effective or energy-efficient way of running central heating systems; whether it plans to introduce measures to require condensing boilers in all new heating system installations, and, if so, what the timescales are…
Answer · Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:</p> <p>When compared with the level of efficiency for regular boilers required under the current Scottish building regulations, installation of con…
10 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all proposed planning consents notified to it or Historic Scotland by local authorities or developers or agents acting in partnership with, or for, local authorities in respect of the Executive’s schools PPP programme and whether the proposed consents have been called…
Answer · Johann Lamont: I should explain that responsibility for dealing with planning applications and planning matters generally rests initially with the planning authority. Scottish ministers would only consider intervening in the process, by calling in a planning application for…
10 Nov 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what resources, services, support or other benefits are available to Inverness and Stirling, as cities, which are not equally available to the cities of Paisley, Ayr, Dumfries and Perth.
Answer · Tom McCabe: A mix of private and public resources, services, support and other benefits are available to all communities across Scotland, including cities. Comprehensive information on the make-up of this mix is not held centrally.</p>
5 Oct 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to paragraph 21 of Planning Advice Note 74: Affordable Housing, whether it will outline the current and proposed procedures which govern the disposal of land for affordable housing by public bodies, including itself, on a favourable basis; whether it is making representati…
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Housing PolicyStatement published by the Executive in March emphasised our commitment to thebetter use of surplus public sector land for affordable housing. Thiscommitment is being taken forward in a number of ways.</p><p>Scottish Executive land …
21 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the changes to Scots planning law made by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, following the agreement by this Parliament of a relevant Sewel motion, will be re-stated in its proposed Planning Bill, in order to consolidate law on planning and to allow further scrutiny an…
Answer · Johann Lamont: The amendments to Scots Planning law contained in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 will not appear in the bill. The provisions in the proposed Planning Bill, will, where necessary, take account of the provisions introduced by the 2004 act.</p>
20 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out (a) the detailed timetable for the study it is to commission on the key features of the Ayrshire economy, (b) the circumstances in which improved connectivity might lead to improved economic performance in Ayrshire and (c) the specific improvements required to Ayrs…
Answer · Johann Lamont: The study will concern what scope there may be for improving connectivity within and beyond Ayrshire, including with the central belt, which would support economic development and regeneration. As part of the study, consideration will be given to the general …
22 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-9567 by Mr Frank McAveety on 10 August 2004, when it expects to receive the report on Caisteal Tioram’s current structural condition and the statement of its cultural significance from Historic Scotland and whether it intends to publish both rep…
Answer · Frank McAveety: I expect to receive the current structural condition report and the statement of cultural significance by the end of October. I will send a copy of these reports to the owner and to relevant stakeholder groups. I will also place copies in Parliament’s Referen…
15 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-6813 by Nicol Stephen on 5 April 2004, what (a) track and signalling and (b) station incremental output statements are currently being prepared jointly by it and the Strategic Rail Authority for possible future implementation.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: None. The development and approval of such schemes remains a matter for the Strategic Rail Authority.</p>
15 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-6813 by Nicol Stephen on 5 April 2004, what (a) track and signalling and (b) station incremental output statements have been funded in part by the Executive in each year since the inception of the Strategic Rail Authority's Incremental Output Stateme…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: In January 2002 the Strategic Rail Authority set out a number of enhancements across the GB rail network which could be supported through their Incremental Output Statement programme.</p><p>The Scottish Executive jointly funded a package of platform lengtheni…
15 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-10105 by Nicol Stephen on 13 September 2004, what role Argyll and Bute Council plays in relation to current work being undertaken for the Executive in connection with the A82 Route Action Plan (RAP) and what targets have been set for the completion o…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Argyll and Bute Council are the local roads authority for a significant part of the area through which the A82 passes and are a consultee in the preparation of the Route Action Plan Study. </p><p>The study is to be completed by October 2005. Thereafter, ident…
15 Sep 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a consultation paper on a new public records strategy and whether it will legislate in this session to make statutory provision for effective record-keeping by public bodies and to provide for effective audit of local archive policies and practices.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to question S2W-3740 answered on 30 October 2003, in which I announced that the Scottish Executive is developing a Scottish Public Records Strategy looking at these issues, amongst others, and that there would be a formal consultation exerc…
23 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what role it gives to local authorities in the preparation of route action plans for trunk roads within their areas.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Where councils are not acting as our agents for the preparation of Route Action Plans, they are treated as consultees to ensure that proper account is taken of local needs as well those of trunk road traffic in identifying improvements.</p>
23 Aug 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which landfill sites are licensed to take contaminated waste and, of these, which are also licensed to take non-hazardous waste.
Answer · Ross Finnie: This information is not held centrally. The licensing of landfill sites is an operational matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.</p>
4 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to the development of housing for key workers in rural areas.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive provides on-going funding for affordable housing to meet a range of general and special needs through the Communities Scotland development programme. The percentage share of this programme allocated to rural areas is at an historic high: £65 mil…
4 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water will be able to honour the undertaking given by its predecessor in 1994 to the Secretary of State for Scotland under section 76 of the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 to comply by 2005 with the European Drinking Water Directive.
Answer · Ross Finnie: In relation to Milngavie water treatment works, Scottish Water has put in place a number of temporary measures to minimise the risk of non-compliance with the European Drinking Water Directive. Planning delays mean that the new treatment works, which will rep…
4 Jun 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the finances of NHS Argyll and Clyde to be balanced.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: NHS Argyll and Clyde are due to submit revised five year financial plans by the end of June. These are expected to show the board returning to in-year financial balance by financial year 2007-08.</p>
17 Mar 2004 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure local authority compliance with the Scottish Housing Quality Standard announced by the Minister for Communities on 4 February 2004.
Answer · Margaret Curran: A list of50 registered social landlords (RSLs) has been identified for possibleinspection in 2004-05. Details of this list have been lodged in the Parliament’s reference centre (Bib. number 31921). From this list around 35RSLs will be selected for inspection.…
8 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) track and signalling and (b) station incremental output statements have been implemented in Scotland in each year since the inception of the Incremental Output Statement programme, showing, where possible, the actual or estimated costs of each scheme provided by it, the Strategi…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The development and approvalof such schemes is a matter for the SRA. The Scottish Executive is in regularcontact with the SRA on a wide range of issues, including the progress of theirincremental output statement schemes.</p>
5 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new-build housing units were completed in the social rented sector in each local authority area in each of the last five years and how many completions are expected on the same basis this year.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The numbers of new build dwellingsfor the social rented sector completed between 1998-99 and 2002-03 are shown inthe following table. Data on completions for 2003-04 will be available in July 2004.</p><p>House Building Completions in the Social Rented Sector:…
5 Mar 2004 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been made available through Communities Scotland for new-build housing in the social rented sector in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area, and how much has been made available provisionally on the same basis this year.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The table shows the amount of funding that has been made availablethrough Communities Scotland for social rented sector housing in each of the…