Parliamentary questions

Murray Tosh

706 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

9 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is monitoring Her Majesty's Government's pilot schemes for the establishment of Arms Length Housing Companies to increase investment in local authority housing; whether it intends to commission any research on the use of Arms Length Housing Companies, and whether it plans to id…

Answer · Margaret Curran: A number of councils in England are in the process of setting up arms length housing management companies to support capital investment in council housing. There are currently no plans to establish such companies in Scotland.

9 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is monitoring Her Majesty's Government's pilot schemes for the use of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) to increase investment in local authority housing; whether it intends to commission any research on the use of the PFI, and whether it plans to identify any pilot schemes …

Answer · Margaret Curran: A small number of HRA PFI Pathfinder schemes have been set up in England, however, there are no plans to set up similar schemes in Scotland. One of the key elements of the Executive's housing policy is the promotion of community ownership. With PFI models it …

9 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the extent was of any addition to the Scottish Assigned Budget for 2000-01 arising from negotiations with the Department of Work and Pensions and based on calculations of rent rebate payments and average rent levels in Scotland in that financial year.

Answer · Andy Kerr: No adjustment was made to the Scottish Assigned Budget in 2000-01. We expect to receive shortly the agreement of Treasury and the Department of Work and Pensions to the adjustments in respect of 2000-01 and 2001-02, and I will announce the relevant sums when …

7 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill on existing legislation on deer or any other species whose conservation or control is regulated by statute.

Answer · Ross Finnie: As with any new Bill, Scottish Executive lawyers have checked the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill for potential impacts on other legislation in order that any consequential amendments may be brought forward if necessary.

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to create the new legal mechanism proposed in paragraphs 7.7 and 7.8.3 of The Use and Effectiveness of Planning Agreements by Colin Buchanan & Partners with Dundas & Wilson and Robert Turley Associates and commissioned by its Central Research Unit.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has no such plans at present. The recommendations of the research report The Use and Effectiveness of Planning Agreements are still under consideration. The creation of such a mechanism would require primary legislation.

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to amend sections 37 or 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 following the publication of The Use and Effectiveness of Planning Agreements by Colin Buchanan & Partners with Dundas & Wilson and Robert Turley Associates and commissioned by its Central R…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has no such plans at present. The recommendations of the research report The Use and Effectiveness of Planning Agreements are still under consideration. Such amendments would require primary legislation.

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replace Scottish Office Development Department circular 12/1996, to update the guidance on best practice in the use and content of planning agreements and to provide guidance on the specimen wording of such agreements.

12 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13198 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 9 February 2001, whether it intends to proceed by primary or secondary legislation to incorporate the EC Landfill Directive into law and whether it will set out its timetable for consultation, the publication of the legis…

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive intends to proceed by secondary legislation to implement the technical and operational aspects of the EC Landfill Directive 99/31/EC into law. An initial public consultation on these issues was completed earlier this year and the Execut…

2 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue a revised version of the table published in SPICe Research Paper 01/13 to show capital works on the Erskine Bridge, as well as the maintenance costs and toll income, as advised by Lewis Macdonald in the Parliament on 6 September 2001 (Official Report, col. 2307).

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The information requested is set out in the Erskine Bridge Accounts, which are presented to Parliament each year.

2 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the Minister for Transport and Planning cancelled her meeting in early August with Councillor Andrew Hill of South Ayrshire Council to discuss road improvements at Maybole and around Turnberry, whether an alternative date for the meeting has been arranged and, if so, when and where t…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I had hoped to visit South Ayrshire, at the invitation of Councillor Hill, earlier in the year to look at the problems arising from timber traffic on rural roads in the area. However, this visit had to be postponed due to other diary pressures. I will now be …

2 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take on the areas for further investigation of changes to the operation of compulsory purchase, and possible legislation, as recommended in the Review of Compulsory Purchase and Land Compensation prepared by its Central Research Unit.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-3788 on 20 September 2001. Detailed proposals have still to be worked up and it is therefore too early to comment.

2 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it proposes to take on the short-term changes to the operation of compulsory purchase within the existing legislative framework, as recommended in the report Review of Compulsory Purchase and Land Compensation prepared by its Central Research Unit.

2 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) whether it is within the competence of a local authority to acquire land compulsorily, to sell it to a developer under a "back-to-back" agreement; (b) whether it is aware of, and will provide details of any circumstances in which such an agreement has been made.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 it is competent for a local authority to acquire land compulsorily and for someone else to undertake the development.We do not hold details of agreements entered into between local aut…

2 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) whether housing land audits are a statutory or recommended component of structure and local planning, (b) how frequently housing land audits should be carried out, (c) whether it monitors the performance of local authorities in auditing the Established or Effective Land Supply and (d)…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There is no statutory requirement for planning authorities to conduct housing land audits. Planning Advice Note 38 Structure Plans: Housing Land Requirements, however, sets out the Scottish Executive's advice in relation to auditing the eff…

2 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a plan exists for life-cycle maintenance on the Erskine Bridge and, if so, what capital works are envisaged within the period of any such plan.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The need and timing of the maintenance required to the bridge is identified by the Operating Company through the inspection regime set out in the Maintenance Manual. These works will then be prioritised and programmed. The next major works …

12 Sep 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements it is seeking in reviewing compulsory purchase powers and what its position is in relation to proposals for the establishment of a centrally-funded agency to support authorities in the exercise of compulsory purchase powers.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We have been participating in the review of the law and practice of compulsory purchase, compensation and related matters, aimed at making the whole process fairer, more efficient and more effective, which is led by the Department of Transport, Local Governme…

30 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Annex 3 of Travel Choices for Scotland: Strategic Roads Review, whether it has received recommendations from its Inquiry Reporters Unit in relation to the A1 Haddington to Dunbar Draft Order Scheme, whether a decision letter has been issued and what the terms of any suc…

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The recommendations of the Inquiry Reporters Unit were received in 1997. The A1 Haddington to Dunbar Draft Order Scheme was considered in the Strategic Roads Review and on 4 November 1999 I announced our decision to proceed with the alternative "Expressw…

8 Aug 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make any changes to planning procedures comparable to those announced for England by the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on 20 July 2001 following the consultation paper, Streamlining the processing of Major Projects Through the Plann…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We have no plans to introduce new procedures similar to those announced for England. The Inquiry Procedure Rules that were introduced in 1997 and amended in 1998 have allowed for more prompt and effective handling of planning inquiries in Scotland.We conti…

30 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the remarks made by the Minister for Environment and Rural Development regarding market collapse in industries affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak at the meeting of the Transport and Environment Committee on 9 May 2001 (Official Report, col. 1795), what strategies …

Answer · Ross Finnie: The most important step in tackling the effects of foot-and-mouth disease was to eradicate the disease as quickly as possible so that recovery measures could be introduced. The last reported case in Scotland was on 30 May, since when we have been able to remo…

30 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made to date by the ministerial sub-committee set up to examine the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and address the issues arising; when the sub-committee expects to announce definitive and comprehensive policy and resource decisions in connection with…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Ministerial Committee on Rural Development Sub-Group on Impacts of Foot-and-Mouth Disease has met on a regular basis over the past few months to review progress of the impact assessment work and to discuss action required to relieve immediate hardship and…

30 Jul 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from the Road Haulage Association regarding compensation in connection with the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, what interim response it has given to any such representations and when it expects to issue a definitive response.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Scottish Executive officials have twice met with representatives of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) since the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis; the last occasion being on 11 June when the RHA submitted detailed evidence in support of hau…