Parliamentary questions

Derek Brownlee

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

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been raised in business rates in each of the last six years, broken down by local authority.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-17228 on 17 June 2005. 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/webapp/w…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its efficiency savings will be (a) cash releasing and (b) non-cash releasing in each of the next three years.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive defines efficiency savings as either “cash releasing” or “time releasing”. A cash release saving is where an efficiency measure generates an actual resource saving because the organisation or function delivers the same service with less…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to NHS Health Scotland in each of the next three years and from which Level 3 spending category of the Draft Budget 2006-07.

Answer · Andy Kerr: NHS Health Scotland has been allocated £17.685 million to date for 2005-06. For 2006-07 and 2007-08 NHS Health Scotland has been notified of indicative increases of 3.6% in each year. The funding for NHS Health Scotland is included in the Total available for …

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £5 million, shown under the "Strengthening Communities" category in table 6.07 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The figures shown in budget documents relate to grant-in-aid and are provisional pending agreement between the Scottish Executive and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on operating plans. The operating plan for 2005-08 shows planned expenditure of gross income…

6 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to integrated community schools this year and in each of the next three years and from which Level 3 spending category of the Draft Budget 2006-07.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Funding for Integrated Community Schools is made available to local authorities through the National Priorities Action Fund which supports a number of programmes of activity around various ministerial priorities. As outlined in my response to questions S2W-18…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18357 by Tavish Scott on 5 September 2005, why the publication of the Executive summary of the A6091/A7 Route Action Plan Study has been delayed from the publication date of autumn 2002, referred to in the answer to question S1W-28234 by Lewis Macdon…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The answer given to S2W-18357 was that the findings of the A6091/A7 Route Action Plan (RAP) Study would be published following the outcome of the review of all outstanding RAP schemes. The review was completed in November 2002 however, as only one of the 13 s…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18357 by Tavish Scott on 5 September 2005, whether it will publish any additional parts of the A6091/A7 Route Action Plan Study beyond the Executive summary referred to in the answer.

Answer · Tavish Scott: There are no plans to publish any additional parts of the A6091/A7 Route Action Plan Study. However, the full report, which runs to several volumes and accompanying documents, can be inspected at the Scottish Executive Trunk Roads Network Management Division …

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18357 by Tavish Scott on 5 September 2005, what elements of the A6091/A7 Route Action Plan Study have been completed to date.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The elements of the A6091/A7 Route Action Plan Study which have been completed to date are the construction of two kilometres of cycleway and the provision of a safety barrier in the Boleside area. The extension of the Galashiels to Selkirk cycleway is curren…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the budget allocation for Level 3 spending category "International Relations", shown in table 10.07 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, has increased by the amount that it has in the three years from 2005-06.

Answer · Tom McCabe: 2005-06 is the first full-year of three initiatives which are funded through the International Relations spending category. These are: the promotion of Scotland’s International Image (£4 million per year); the campaign to attract Fresh Talent to Scotland (£1.…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money is being allocated to the young persons concessionary travel scheme in each of the next four years.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Partnership Agreement commits the Executive to introduce a scheme of national bus, rail and ferry concessionary travel for young people. We will announce the details, including costs, shortly.

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £132,633,000, shown under the "Strategic Waste Fund" category in table 9.05 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Tom McCabe: We intend to distribute the Strategic Waste Fund to local authorities to prevent waste arisings, to improve recycling and composting facilities, to invest in infrastructure to divert waste away from landfill and to support education and awareness campaigns.</…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £21,650,000, shown under the "Waste Initiatives" category in table 9.05 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Tom McCabe: We intend to use these resources on a grant scheme for local authorities to clean up contaminated land and on initiatives which help to deliver the National Waste Plan. These initiatives relate to the development of markets for recycled products, waste preven…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £383,618,000, shown under the "Supporting People" category in table 7.03 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive provides the Supporting People grant to local authorities to fund any of the 21 prescribed housing support services set out in annex A. The breakdown of funding in 2007-08 against the different categories of service will vary depending …

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £46,031,000, shown under the "Health Improvement" category in table 5.06 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The “Health Improvement” line in table 5.06 covers expenditure on the following areas: Health improvement-general;Demonstration projects and learning;Healthy eating;Alcohol abuse;Physical activity;Health improvement-c…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £100,975,000, shown under the "Departmental Unallocated Provision" category in table 5.03 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The “Departmental Unallocated Funding” is held in reserve to meet any pressures arising between the spending review 2004 settlement and 2007-08. It has not yet been allocated for any specific purpose.

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £10,443,000, shown under the "Miscellaneous other Health Services" category in table 5.05 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The “Miscellaneous other Health Services” line in table 5.05 covers expenditure on the following areas: National Professional Advisory Committee;NHS helpline;Scottish Cancer Group;Legal expenses of haemophiliacs with HIV/Hepatitis …

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £4,325,000, shown under the "Festivals" category in table 4.06 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The £4.325 million will be used to fund several special events and festivals being initiated by the Executive over the next four years. This includes £3 million for the 6 Cities Design Festival in 2007 and £1.325 million for initial work to develop Scotland’s…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £12 million, shown under the "Reducing re-offending" category in table 1.13 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The specific allocation of these funds is yet to be determined. However, as stated in the Draft Budget 2006-07 “among the purposes for which we intend to use this fund are supporting the proposals in the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Etc Bill for new Com…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £18,848,000, shown under the "Other miscellaneous" category in table 1.07 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Tom McCabe: In 2007-08 the level 3 Other Miscellaneous budget will be used to fund a variety of justice – related services. These include: civil contingencies, civil and criminal law research projects, civil justice publications and public information, criminal justice j…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £96,392,000, shown under the "Offender services" category in table 1.04 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Tom McCabe: In 2007-08 the level 3 Offender Services budget will be used to fund various alternatives to custody, including community-based supervision of offenders provided by local authority criminal justice social work services. Principal areas of expenditure are: ad…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18156 by Patricia Ferguson on 10 August 2005, which Level 3 spending category contains the funding allocated to EventScotland.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: VisitScotland is the Level 3spending category that contains the funding allocated to EventScotland. The resourcesavailable to EventScotland are specifically ring-fenced within the VisitScotlandbudget.

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £180,196,000, shown under the "National Priorities Action Fund" category in table 3.05 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The National Priorities Action Fund plays a key role in providing financial support for the Government’s key commitments of raising standards in schools and promoting social inclusion. The fund supports a number of programmes of activity around various minist…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of what the 2007-08 allocation of £83,653,000, shown under the "Children and families" category of table 3.04 of its Draft Budget 2006-07, will be used for.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The allocation under the “Children and families” category will support our Partnership Agreement commitments to invest in and reform children’s services through the delivery of a package of integrated policies and funding programmes. These include the integra…

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all properties that the Executive rents detailing (a) their staff capacity, (b) their current capacity, (c) what functions are currently being carried out in each building and (d) the running costs of each property.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The following table shows the number of staff currently employed, the functions undertaken and the annual running costs of each of the buildings listed. Running costs represent the total amount paid out in rent and rates, maintenance, utilities, catering and …

5 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all Executive-owned properties detailing (a) their staff capacity, (b) their current capacity, (c) what functions are currently carried out in each building, (d) the approximate cash value of each property and (e) the running costs of each property.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The following table shows the number of staff currently employed, the functions undertaken, the market value and the annual running costs of each of the buildings listed. Running costs represent the total amount paid out in rates, maintenance, utilities, cate…

26 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to construct a bypass for the A7 at Selkirk.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18701 on 22 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for can be found at: <a href="http://scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa/se…

26 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6855 by Sarah Boyack on 29 September 2000, whether it has carried out any further assessment of the likely benefits of a bypass for the A7 at Selkirk.

Answer · Tavish Scott: This project is not currently in the Route Action Plan for the A7 but discussions on the action plan continue with Scottish Borders Council.

26 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6855 by Sarah Boyack on 29 September 2000, whether it has carried out any further assessment of the likely construction costs of a bypass for the A7 at Selkirk.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18701 on 22 September 2005. 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/web…

26 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6854 by Sarah Boyack on 7 June 2000, whether it plans to carry out a more detailed study of the options for a bypass for the A7 at Selkirk.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18701 on 22 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.u…

23 Aug 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it applied in deciding whether to fund the increase in construction costs for the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway line.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive considered the request for additional funding on its merits and took into consideration all relevant factors including whether the scheme still represented value for money; whether the original objectives of the scheme would still be me…