Parliamentary questions
Murray Tosh
706 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16407 by Mr Jim Wallace on 3 July 2001, where the 10,000 Gaelic translations of the census form questions were held during the census period; what steps were taken to advertise their availability; how many requests were made for copies, and what has …
Answer · Jim Wallace: 4,500 Gaelic translation leaflets were distributed around Scotland's 22 Census Areas, broadly in proportion to the numbers of Gaelic speakers in each area. Some 3,500 were retained at Census HQ to meet any demand coming to the centre and a further 2,000 were…
23 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-16539 and S1W-16540 by Sarah Boyack on 6 July 2001, whether such planning applications included applications for road construction consent; whether any proposals by local authorities to grant consent were notifiable to it as planning applications o…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: None of the planning applications referred to in the answers to questions SIW-16539 and SIW-16540 related to planning applications for road construction consent. Road construction consents are not notifiable to the Scottish Executive and therefore the Executi…
23 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16578 by Allan Wilson on 9 July 2001, what targets it has set Historic Scotland in relation to taking additional properties within the care of the Scottish ministers and what properties have been taken into care since 1 July 1999.
Answer · Allan Wilson: No targets have been set for taking additional properties into care. Each case is judged on its merits. Since 1 July 1999 the following properties have been taken into care:<P>Iona: Abbey <P>Iona: Nunnery<P>Kisimul Castle, Barra<P>Lindsay Aisle, Angus
23 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it monitors the proportion of capital expenditure spent on renewable energy schemes which are sourced from Scotland, the rest of the United Kingdom and other countries and what its strategy is to increase the proportion sourced from Scottish-based suppliers.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: No such monitoring is carried out. Our proposals to introduce a new Renewables Obligation (Scotland) on all licensed suppliers to significantly increase the amount of electricity supplied from renewable sources is already creating a real demand for new renewa…
23 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what use it makes of renewable sources of heat and energy in its offices and what advice, guidance or instruction it gives to non-departmental public bodies, Executive agencies, local authorities and other public sector bodies on the use of renewable sources of heat and energy in their pr…
Answer · Angus MacKay: The current contract for electricity with Scottish Southern Energy was put in place on 1 July 2000. The terms of the contract require the production of electricity from new renewable sources, which enables supplies to be exempt from Climate Change Levy. Under…
23 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who currently has lead ministerial responsibility for the promotion of renewable energy and who currently chairs the Energy/Environment Liaison Group.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I am the Minister with lead responsibility for promotion of renewable energy in Scotland, and I chair the Executive's cross-cutting Energy Environment Group.
23 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Railtrack's proposals to develop the Waverley Station require any statutory consents or clearances within its areas of responsibility and, if so, whether any such consents and clearances have been granted.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Railtrack has already secured the necessary Parliamentary powers to raise the roof height of Waverley Station. I understand that the next stage is for the company to prepare detailed design plans and then to seek Planning Permission from the City of Edinburgh…
19 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the present railway regulatory regime is in the best interests of the railway industry and its customers in Scotland and whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government to rationalise the regulatory regime.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to the railway regulatory regime. However, the Executive is in regular contact with the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions on a wide range of issues relating to railways.
19 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what effect it anticipates extending the existing rail franchise for two years only will have on its strategy for increased investment on the East Coast Main Line and what proposed investment in rail services it expects to be deferred now that the existing franchise has been extended for …
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive can give non-binding Advice to the Strategic Rail Authority in advance of any new East Coast Main Line franchise, but does not contribute to investment on that line.
19 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still its policy, as set out in section 1.5 of Strategic Priorities for Scotland's Passenger Railway, that existing rail franchises should be replaced as quickly as possible with 15-20 year franchises to maximise private sector investment; whether its current intention is to…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: My first priority for railways is the re-letting of the Scottish passenger railway franchise on or before 30 March 2004 when the current contract with ScotRail expires. I intend to issue Directions and Guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority for the next Sco…
19 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions before his recent announcement that Her Majesty's Government favours renewing existing rail franchises for short periods of time only; what its response was to any such consultation, and whe…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions on a wide range of issues, including rail franchising. Directions and Guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority for the next Scottish passenger rail…
19 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest estimates are of all payments from the Scottish Office and the Scottish Assigned Budget to support the passenger railway network during each year of the current rail passenger transport franchises.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The table below shows the amount of public sector funding going into, or contributing towards, the rail network in Scotland and which comes from the Scottish Assigned Budget during each year of the current Scottish passenger rail franchise.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">…
19 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4255 by Sarah Boyack on 25 April 2000, whether it will provide an updated table to show the amount of public sector funding going into or contributing towards the rail network in Scotland which comes from sources outside the Scottish Assigned Budget.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The table below shows the amount of public sector funding going into, or contributing towards, the rail network in Scotland and which comes from sources outside the Assigned Budget.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><P>Public Funding of Scottish Rail Network from Outwith Ass…
19 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6859 by Sarah Boyack on 7 June 2000, whether it will provide an update for the current financial year of the average combined domestic water and sewerage bills.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The average combined domestic water and sewerage bill for the current financial year for each of the three Water Authorities and for the comparable water companies in England and Wales are as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=…
19 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase resources for the Rural Stewardship Scheme in future financial years.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Agri-environment expenditure is planned to increase year on year up to £37m in 2006.
19 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications under the Rural Stewardship Scheme were made in the current financial year to its Environment and Rural Affairs Department; what this year's budget provision is; what the estimated total cost of all the applications is; how the applications will be prioritised, and …
Answer · Ross Finnie: The number of applications submitted for approval this year is 476. These applications have a total cost of £28.5m. The total agri-environment budget for the current financial year is £30m, subject to sterling/euro currency fluctuations. As set out in the sch…
17 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9098 by John Home Robertson on 7 September 2000, how it will ensure, under its finalised Scottish Forestry Strategy, that the Forestry Commission exercises effective controls to ensure necessary clearance of naturally regenerating woodland which coul…
Answer · Rhona Brankin: For the Forestry Commission's own forests, Forest Enterprise has agreed management plans with Historic Scotland for all scheduled ancient monuments on the Commission's land. Each plan contains a programme for positive management, including regular monitoring …
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12758 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 21 February 2001, whether the working group's report in relation to the research report The General Permitted Development Order and Related Mechanisms has now been completed.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: No. The report will be published on completion, and a news release will be issued to highlight the main conclusions.
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12745 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 21 February 2001, how MSPs might be made aware of, and enabled to scrutini'e, the advice given by the Lord Advocate to Procurators Fiscal in relation to planning enforcement.
Answer · Neil Davidson: In common with all communications between Ministers and their officials, communications between the Lord Advocate and Procurators Fiscal are confidential.
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12515 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 30 January 2001, whether it is now able to issue a definition of the public interest groups who may be granted rights to act under the European Commission White Paper on Environmental Liability.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The Commission issued a working document on 25 July, outlining the principles on which the proposed Directive on environmental liability could be based. This does not refer to "Public interest groups", but rather to "Qualified entities in the field of environ…
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12509 by Sarah Boyack on 17 May 2001, whether the discussions with Skye Bridge Limited have now taken place and, if so, what the outcome was.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: These discussions have not yet taken place. As stated in the response to question S1W-12509, the issue will be raised when we next negotiate with Skye Bridge Ltd on matters affecting the concession.
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12508 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 30 January 2001, whether it is now able to state how work towards future surveys of aggregate working can be progressed.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Executive has commissioned research on the need to review national planning policy guidance for minerals in Scotland. This is considering a number of issues that will be relevant to the collecting, collating and publishing of aggregates data. The findings…
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12505 by Sarah Boyack on 30 January 2001, whether, following the receipt of the full business case for the Larkhall to Milngavie rail route project, it is now able to give a definitive answer to question S1W-12505.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-14515.
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12504 by Sarah Boyack on 30 January 2001, what the outcome was of the four Freight Facilities Grant applications which were under review at that date.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The 4 applications remain under review. One of the applicants was given a provisional offer of grant but the applicant subsequently changed the costing involved in the project and the application is being reconsidered. Another of the applications is being p…
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12503 by Sarah Boyack on 30 January 2001, what the outcome was of the three Freight Facilities Grant applications which remained under review at that date.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The 3 applications concerned remain under consideration.
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12502 by Sarah Boyack on 30 January 2001, whether it will now publish the estimates provided by local authorities in their statutory road traffic reduction reports.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: A summary of the Executive's response to the local authorities' statutory road traffic reduction reports will be included in the Transport Delivery Plan for Scotland, to be published in the autumn. The full report will be published as a follow-up document to …
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12500 by Sarah Boyack on 30 January 2001, whether the draft Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance has now been issued.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance was issued as a draft consultation document on 30 July 2001. A copy has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12368 by Jackie Baillie on 23 January 2001, whether the working group studying the employment and inclusion implications of housing investment has now reported and, if so, where the report may be obtained, what its recommendations are and what action…
Answer · Jackie Baillie: The housing and employment working group is now completing its report and intends to hold a seminar in September at which the report will be considered.
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10474 by Sarah Boyack on 6 November 2000, whether the scoping exercise to identify an appropriate methodology to forecast traffic growth in Scotland has been completed and, if so, whether it has now made a decision on the most appropriate way forward…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The work is ongoing and the Executive expects to report on progress in the Transport Delivery Plan.
16 Jul 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9277 by Sarah Boyack on 11 September 2000, whether it is now able to report on Historic Scotland's review of ways of recognising and protecting Scotland's battlefield sites, and whether the position paper referred to in the answer to question S1W-927…
Answer · Allan Wilson: We have concluded that a register of battlefield sites would be a useful resource. My officials in Historic Scotland are engaged in discussions with possible partners in the academic, local government and voluntary sectors regarding the creation of a register…