Nick Johnston

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make it easier for businesses to claim compensation for lost business caused by public utilities who fail to complete works within specified times.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The gas, electricity and telecommunications industries are regulated, and their regulation is a reserved matter. The relevant regulatory regimes are currently being reformed by the Department of Trade and Industry with a view to further promoting consumer int…

26 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers below the rank on Inspector retired in each of the last four years, how many of these had completed thirty years or more service and how many retired on grounds of ill health.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information is shown in the table.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Retirals Below the Rank of Inspector</B><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="35%" VALIGN="TOP">&nbsp;</TD><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN=…

26 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will designate the upper Forth Estuary as a sea fish nursery area and ban all net fishing other than for salmon.

Answer · John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive currently has no plans at present to designate the upper Forth Estuary as a sea fish nursery area. My officials are consulting with the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency and with scientific advisers on current sea fishing practices i…

26 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is to review the cost to the public purse of police pensions issued on grounds of ill health.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Home Office is currently considering the outcome of a review of police pensions undertaken last year. The review had two main objectives; to modernise the police pension scheme; and to reform aspects of the existing arrangements for retirement on medical …

26 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to initiate to ensure that the interests and views of business are taken into account when bringing forward legislation.

Answer · Henry McLeish: We are committed to minimising the regulatory burdens on business. It is already the case that a Regulatory Impact Assessment must accompany any new legislation and any consultation papers on regulatory proposals that have an impact on business, charities or …

12 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of police officers who have retired in the last five years on ill health grounds suffered: (a) stress or mental illness; (b) injuries incurred while on duty, and (c) physical injuries not caused as a result of assault or accident at work.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information for Scotland is shown in the table below. Grampian Police have not been able to identify the number of retirals on the grounds of stress/mental illness. These are included in categories b and c. Strathclyde Police have only been abl…

12 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of the fact that the contract of Crawford Beveridge, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, is due to end in March 2001, how it will proceed with the recruitment of his successor, and how it will involve the Parliament in the process.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise is an employee of the Board and the recruitment of a successor to the present Chief Executive is a matter for Scottish Enterprise. Under the terms of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990 any appointment r…

12 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a single Scottish Fire Service would be more efficient and cost effective than the current structure.

Answer · Angus MacKay: There is at present no evidence on that point, but the current structure is under review and efficiency and cost-effectiveness will be important considerations in the evaluation of alternatives.

12 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it will give individuals to take action against local authorities which refuse to enforce planning regulations.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Planning authorities in Scotland have the primary reponsibility for taking whatever enforcement action may be necessary, in the public interest, in their administrative area.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Failure on the part of the planning authority to take enforcement …

12 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give community councils more responsibility in the development of local plans and strategic policy decisions.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive recognises the special role that Community Councils have in the planning system, and current research is examining the experience of Community Councils as statutory consultees on planning. The Report of the Commission on Local Governmen…

12 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review guidelines on the discretionary powers of local authority officials in planning, building control and environmental services.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: In terms of section&nbsp;56 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act&nbsp;1973, local authorities may arrange for the discharge of any of their functions by officers. Delegation schemes vary from authority to authority, and it is for each authority to give guid…

14 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether dates have been set for the commencement and completion of the replacement for the Kincardine Bridge, whether the costs of upgrading the A977 North of Kilbagie roundabout have been established, and what the potential economic benefits of these developments are to North West Fife.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: A preferred line for a new crossing of the Forth at Kincardine was announced in November 1998. Consultants are currently being appointed to take forward the complex issues of ecological, aesthetic and engineering design. Draft orders under the Roads (Scotla…

14 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will initiate measures to promote any economic benefits of fox-hunting to rural Scotland in the light of the proposed ban of fox-hunting in England and Wales.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I have no plans to do so.

14 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will initiate a study into the viability of re-opening a rail link between Perth and Edinburgh via Milnathort, Kinross, Kelty and Dunfermline and what effect the link would have on traffic density on the Forth Road Bridge.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no plans to commission a study on the re-opening of a railway from Perth to Edinburgh via Kinross.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>I understand that Fife Council has commissioned two transport studies relevant to the question. The Sout…

9 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to institute a study into the presence of pathogens in sewage at the time of removal from treatment works and the persistency of those pathogens once applied to land.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Research into these issues is being commissoned by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Environment Agency. The Scottish Executive will see the outcome of this work in due course.<FONT FACE="Arial, Helvetica" SIZE=2><P>The Scottish…

9 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish any studies which have been carried out to show the pathogen content of abattoir by-products and sewage, and whether it will publish any studies which have been done on the residues from contraceptive pills in sewage.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has not commissioned any studies in these areas. However, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, at the request of Scottish Office Ministers, recently carried out a comprehensive review of the current regimes controlling the dispos…