Phil Gallie

7 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it played in the appointment of Joan Aitken as Scottish Traffic Commissioner.

Answer · Iain Gray: A senior Scottish Executive official was a member of the selection panel which interviewed candidates for the post.

7 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contracts have been placed for the M77 extension between Malletsheugh and Fenwick.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-6539 on 27 February 2003, which is available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/search.htm">http://www.scottish.parliamen…

7 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial arrangements are now in place in respect of the M77 extension between Malletsheugh and Fenwick.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It is proposed to take forward the M77 extension as a joint PPP contract with the Glasgow Southern Orbital project. Scottish ministers, East Renfrewshire Council and South Lanarkshire Council, will each pay the charges due under the contract in predetermined …

7 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S10-06561 by Iain Gray on 6 March 2003, why it could not proceed on a design and construct fixed-cost, fixed-time, tender basis for the improvements on the southern section of the A77 and what experience it has of using such an approach.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34559 today. The majority of major trunk road projects are procured through design and construct contracts. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the se…

7 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-6561 by Iain Gray on 6 March 2003, why it could not proceed on a design and construct fixed-cost tender basis for the improvements on the southern section of the A77.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It would not be possible at this stage to define the scope of a potential fixed-cost, fixed-time contract. Contracts of this type involve higher tendering costs and longer tendering periods, and the decision as to which type of contract to employ on any schem…

7 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what target dates are currently under consideration for the issuing of contracts for the construction work necessary to carry out the improvements on the southern section of the A77 and what timescale it has set for completion of the improvements.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The dates of issue of contracts will be dependent on the time taken in the pre-contract stages, referred to in the answer given to question S1W-34557 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search f…

7 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-6561 by Iain Gray on 6 March 2003, how long the public consultation process will take after receipt of the successful preliminary design proposals for the A77 southern section improvements.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The duration of the public consultation period prior to the finalisation of the necessary statutory processes will depend on public reaction to proposals once they have been published.

7 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the tenders for the preliminary design of the A77 southern section improvements will be issued; what the closing date for receipt of such tenders will be, and how long it will take to scrutinise the tenders and decide upon the successful contractor.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive intend to procure the preliminary design of the improvements on the A77 southern section through a framework contract and have already initiated the tender process. Service providers wishing to bid for the work have until 28 March to in…

26 Feb 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any consideration was given to design and construct contracts for the road improvement schemes recently announced for the Ayr to Stranraer section of the A77.

Answer · Iain Gray: It is too soon to say how the construction of these schemes will be procured. However, the preliminary design will be undertaken through a framework design commission for which tenders will shortly be invited by the Scottish Executive Development Department. …

12 Feb 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reductions in decision-making powers it would experience if the current draft text of the new European constitution were adopted by the European Union.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The functions of Scottish ministers are set out in the Scotland Act 1998 and subordinate legislation under that act. There is currently little draft treaty text available from the Praesidium of the Convention on the Future of Europe on the division of compete…

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the International Labour Organisation unemployment figures were for (a) Scotland and (b) Ayrshire for the period May 1997 to May 2002 and what the current figure is.

Answer · Iain Gray: As of January 2003 the Office for National Statistics have advised that the 'International Labour Organisation (ILO) unemployment' figures are to be labelled 'unemployment' figures to emphasise that this is the official UK measure of unemployment. <P>(a) Scot…

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what reports on the A77 other than the Draft Route Action Plan Firm Strategy Report for the A77: Ayr to Stranraer have been requested, or prepared, by it or any other body.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The first phase report of a Port Approach Study on the A75 and A77 routes, commissioned by the Executive and conducted by consultants Mouchel, was finalised in November 2001 and was shared with members of the North Channel Partnership and South Ayrshire Counc…

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of the Draft Route Action Plan Firm Strategy Report for the A77: Ayr to Stranraer, submitted to the Scottish Office by South Ayrshire Council in 1997 at the Scottish Office's request and why the report has not been published.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The <I>Draft Route Action Plan Firm Strategy Report (RAP) for the A77: Ayr to Stranraer</I> was submitted to the then National Roads Directorate in 1997, but it has not been formally ratified and has, therefore, not been published. Several schemes arising fro…

5 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to reconcile the road priorities set out in the Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan with current plans to upgrade the Ayr to Stranraer section of the A77.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: As part of the development plan process, local authorities refer draft development plans, both structure and local, to the Scottish Executive for comments. Where there are concerns or potential conflicts between the plan proposals and the trunk road network t…

29 Jan 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements it has made to reduce the number of sea fishery officers as a result of the negotiated reduction in the si'e of the fishing fleet.

Answer · Ross Finnie: No arrangements have been made to reduce the number of sea fishery officers in Scotland. The need remains to regulate fisheries effectively, in the interests of sustainability and meeting our legal obligations. Enforcement resources remain, however, under con…

27 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what success it had in respect of celebrating 2002 as the year of Robert Burns and what financial or other support it made available to events held in connection with this celebration.

Answer · Elaine Murray: The Executive's support for promoting the legacy of Robert Burns has involved various initiatives and is not limited to a single year. Ministers announced early in 2002 the commitment of £300,000 to develop a raft of projects to celebrate the life and works o…

27 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what payments (a) have been applied for, (b) are under consideration and (c) have been made to each local authority under the Strategic Waste Fund in the current financial year and what the projected level of take-up of funding is for the remainder of this financial year.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-32238 on 4 December 2002 and S1W-33419 on 3 February 2003, which set out detail of funding awarded for this financial year from the Strategic Waste Fund (SWF), totalling £11,099,300. <P>Moray, Aberdeen …

27 Jan 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to the Strategic Waste Fund in (a) 2002-03 and (b) 2003-04.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24884 on 30 July 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/we…

13 Jan 2003 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what steps the Scottish Executive has taken to ensure that there is adequate fire service cover, in the event of the firefighters withdrawing their labour again.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The contingency arrangements for emergency fire cover that operated satisfactorily during the two previous strikes will be used in the event of further industrial action.<P>However, I am sure that everyone in Scotland would join me in urging for a negotiated …

25 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the adoption of roadsides and roundabouts on the trunk road network by commercial enterprises and private interests for maintenance purposes.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is at the early stages of considering the potential for sponsorship schemes on the trunk road network as a way of generating additional revenue for enhanced landscaping and maintenance. However, safety is our primary concern and we will…

25 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received an offer from West Sound Radio that would provide free maintenance of roundabouts to a high standard on the A77.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Yes. The Scottish Executive did receive a proposal from West Sound Radio suggesting that it would pay for landscape works on the roundabouts in exchange for signs which, we understand, would carry information about the radio station and also road safety messa…

25 Nov 2002 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Executive has made of the implications for the temporary jobs market of EU legislation to give temporary workers the same employment rights as permanent employees.

Answer · Jack McConnell: We are in regular contact with the DTI on a wide range of issues including the European Commission's proposals for a new Directive.

11 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will expand its campaign that highlights the health risks associated with tobacco smoking to include any increased health risks arising from smoking cannabis.

Answer · Richard Simpson: The Executive has helped to fund the publication of an updated version the <I>Fags &amp; Hash</I> leaflet, prepared in partnership by Action on Smoking and Health Scotland, the Scottish Drugs Forum, the Health Education Board for Scotland and the West Lothian…

11 Nov 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it will give to the recent research by the British Lung Foundation stating that smoking cannabis carries a seven to one higher degree of risk than smoking ordinary tobacco cigarettes.

Answer · Richard Simpson: We were aware, prior to publication of the British Lung Foundation study, that cannabis carries potentially serious health risks, including risks posed by levels of carcinogenic tars, gases and chemicals which exceed those found in tobacco. <P>As part of our …

24 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in which five years from 1992-93 to 2001-02 spending on new and improved social housing was lowest.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Spending on new and improved social housing was lowest in the following five years - 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

24 Oct 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in which five years from 1992-93 to 2001-02 spending on new and improved social housing was highest and what the average spending level on new and improved housing was for these years.

Answer · Margaret Curran: I have asked Mr Bob Millar, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:<P>Spending on new and improved social housing was highest in the following five years - 1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96 and 2001-02 with the average…

25 Sep 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy of free personal care for elderly people is being implemented nationally in line with its expectations.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Scottish Executive believes that there has been a fair and consistent implementation across Scotland. Chair of the Implementation Steering Group, Alexis Jay, is receiving regular feedback from local authorities and the overall picture is very positive.

11 Sep 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what increase on current traffic flows is built into the traffic flow design figures for the proposed Glasgow southern orbital junction with the M77.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The present and predicted hourly traffic volumes in the year 2020, taken as the design year for this scheme, were given in the answers to questions S1W-28403 and S1W-28404 on 10 September 2002. North of the proposed junction with the Glasgow Southern Orbital …

5 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25845 by Iain Gray on 27 May 2002, what its current plans are in respect of replacing the individual learning account scheme.

Answer · Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-28428 on 11 September 2002.

5 Sep 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many learning providers under the individual learning account scheme have gone out of business since the scheme was suspended.

Answer · Iain Gray: The information requested is not held centrally.