Parliamentary questions

Richard Lochhead

2,448 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

18 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total remuneration packages were including bonuses and pension provision for chief executives and chairmen of each water authority for each of the last five years giving the annual percentage increase and including the cumulative increases since vesting date in each case.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This information can be found in the water authorities' published annual accounts. Copies of their accounts as laid before the Scottish Parliament and, pre-devolution, the Westminster Parliament, back to 1996-97 are held in the Parliament's Reference Centre. …

18 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will specify, for each water authority, the date at which the achievement of a uniform charging policy across the authority's entire area is expected.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Each authority currently applies a uniform charging scheme for domestic customers throughout its area. Future charging schemes will be determined in the light of a number of factors, notably the Water Industry Commissioner's Strategic Review of Charges.

18 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of debt was inherited by each of the water authorities at vesting date and what subsequent interest charges have had to be paid each year since for each authority, giving separate figures for interest charges paid and penalties for redemption in relation to inherited debt.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The figures requested are given in each of the water authorities' published accounts. Copies of their accounts as laid before the Scottish Parliament, and pre-devolution, the Westminster Parliament, back to 1996-97 are held in the Scottish Parliament Informat…

18 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether each water authority maintains an asset inventory and whether these are available for public inspection.

Answer · Ross Finnie: All three water authorities maintain asset inventories or registers. Most are available for public inspection by arrangement with the authorities. There are certain assets for which some details could not be disclosed for reasons of national security.

18 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all disposals of land, riparian interests or buildings since vesting date made by each water authority until the most recent date for which information is available, giving the date of disposal, the hectarage of land involved and the sum realised by each and every su…

Answer · Ross Finnie: This information is a matter for the water authorities and not held centrally.

18 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio is between net additional expenditure on fixed assets and net additional borrowings for each water authority for each of the last five years.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The figures requested may be calculated from those given in each of the water authorities' published accounts. Copies of their accounts as laid before the Scottish Parliament, and pre-devolution, the Westminster Parliament, back to 1996-97 are held in the Sco…

18 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated savings are arising from the creation of the proposed Scottish water authority, how these savings have been calculated and what these savings are expressed as a percentage of operating costs for each water authority for the financial year 1999-2000.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Research conducted by the water authorities concluded that savings in excess of £100 million each year could be secured through collaboration. The Scottish Executive believes that bringing the operations of the authorities under a unified management structure…

18 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what rate of return is envisaged for the proposed Scottish water authority.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The current Rate of Return for the three water authorities is 6.5%. Issues such as the Rate of Return will be settled if, in light of responses to the current consultation exercise on the Water Services Bill, the Executive decides to proceed with the creation…

18 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what rate of return was set for each of the water authorities and what actual rate of return was achieved for each of the last five years.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The current rate return set for each of the three water authorities is 6.5%.The figures requested may be calculated from those given in each of the water authorities' published accounts. Copies of their accounts as laid before the Scottish Parliament, and …

18 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of any plans or recent agreements by the water authorities to (a) dispose of or (b) enter into partnership arrangements in connection with any significant assets.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Other than in respect of Public/Private Partnerships, none of the water authorities have disposed of or entered into partnership agreements in connection with any assets in excess of £10 million, for which ministerial approval is required. Information about P…

18 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether East of Scotland Water has any plans to change the ownership of the Carron Valley reservoir or to enter into partnership arrangements for the management of that reservoir and its associated distribution system.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operational matter for the East of Scotland Water Authority and I have asked Dr Jon Hargreaves, Chief Executive of ESWA to reply. His response is as follows;East of Scotland Water has no plans to change the ownership of the Carron Valley reservo…

17 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the government and lottery grant schemes under which local authorities, agencies and communities in the north east of Scotland parliamentary region are able to make bids.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The information is not available in the form requested. Local authorities and communities are able to apply for support to a wide range of grant schemes administered by the Scottish Executive. Information on these schemes, including a guide to grants for the …

17 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimated level of haddock discards was expected in the North Sea and built into the quota negotiations for 2001, whether this figure took into account the seasonal closure of fishing grounds under the cod recovery plan and whether there are any plans to revise the predicted level of…

17 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any specific assistance is to be made available to help the tourist information office in Aberdeen and local tourist board in light of recent cut backs as well as the impact which the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak has had on local tourism.

17 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any specific assistance is to be made available to tourist boards operating in the north east of Scotland in response to the impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak on tourism.