Parliamentary questions
Derek Brownlee
680 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date HM Treasury first notified the Executive on a (a) provisional and (b) final basis which departmental expenditure limits contain comparable expenditure for the purpose of applying the Barnett Formula in relation to the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.
Answer · John Swinney: HM Treasury notifiedthe Scottish Government of amendment to the comparability factors for the purposeof applying the Barnett Formula on 4 September 2007. The final basis for comparability was notified to the Scottish Government on 9 October 2007.</p>
9 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers are on (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term contracts, broken down by (i) force and (ii) rank.
Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This informationis not held centrally.</p>
9 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many civil servants are on (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term contracts, broken down by directorate.
Answer · John Swinney: The ScottishGovernment employs a total of 4,354 civil servants: 4,194 on permanentcontracts and 160 on fixed-term contracts. </p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=132 nowrap valign=top> <p>Directorate General</p> </td>…
9 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers are on (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term contracts.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Information on howmany teachers are on (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term contracts is collected aspart of the annual teacher census. The latest available data relates to 2006 andwas published in Teachers in Scotland, 2006 which can be accessed using the follow…
9 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made in relation to cost inflation in the NHS in respect of (a) wages and salaries, (b) administration costs and (c) pharmaceutical costs.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-5347 on 24 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the Parliament’s website; the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
9 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of cost inflation in the NHS.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: In line with theHM Treasury forecast of the GDP deflator, the Scottish Government is using 2.7%as an estimate of average annual cost inflation across the full NHS resourcebudget.</p>
9 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS employees are on (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term contracts.
Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: The informationrequested is not held centrally. Each NHS board holds employment details forits own staff.</p>
5 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, how it will ensure that local control of tourism strategy is retained in a hub network of six areas.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operationalmatter for VisitScotland. I have asked the Chief Executive of VisitScotland to writeto you direct on this matter.</p>
5 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, which VisitScotland local offices are under consideration for closure.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operationalmatter for VisitScotland. I have asked the Chief Executive of VisitScotland to writeto you direct on this matter.</p>
3 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its latest estimates are of the (a) cost and (b) date of completion of the (i) Stirling/Alloa/Kincardine rail line, (ii) Borders rail line, (iii) Airdrie to Bathgate rail line, (iv) Glasgow Airport rail link, (v) M74 completion, (vi) upgrade of the M80 Stepps to Haggs, (vii) M8 Baill…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Latest estimates forthe following projects:</p><p>(i) Stirling/Alloa/KincardineRail Line</p><p>The cost for the construction of the Stirling – Alloa – Kincardine project is currently estimated tobe up to £85 million and the project remains on target to commis…
3 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what initial estimates were given by ministers of the (a) cost and (b) date of completion for the (i) Stirling/Alloa/Kincardine rail line, (ii) Borders rail line, (iii) Airdrie to Bathgate rail line, (iv) Glasgow Airport rail link, (v) M74 completion, (vi) upgrade of the M80 Stepps to Hag…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Initial estimatesgiven by ministers of the cost and date of completion are as follows:</p><p>(i) Stirling/Alloa/Kincardinerail line</p><p>On 12 June 2003 the Minister for Transportcommitted to funding Clackmannanshire Council £30 million for construction of t…
3 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost breakdown is of the £11.5 million increase in subsidy provided to Calmac Ferries Ltd to operate the new tender agreement.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The increase in subsidyis approximately £11 million when the year beginning 1 October 2007 (the first year of the new contract) is compared withthe year ending 31 March 2007. A range of factors contributes to this increase.These include inflation (£3.2 millio…
3 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the additional winter sailings to Islay, recently announced by Calmac Ferries Ltd, are part of the tender agreement.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I can confirm thatthe additional winter sailings to Islay were not includedin the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services contract that took effect from 1 October 2007. The contract gives CalMac Ferries Ltd the flexibilityto introduce additional services where ther…
3 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, under the proposed restructuring of the enterprise network, Scottish Enterprise will have the same breadth of remit as Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Answer · Jim Mather: Prior to the restructuringof the enterprise network, Scottish Enterprise had a different remit to Highlands and Islands Enterprise. That will continue to be thecase after the changes have been made.</p>
3 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-866 by Stewart Stevenson on 21 June 2007, what the current projected cost is of construction of the Borders railway.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The current projectedcost of construction of the Borders railway is presently being reviewed by TransportScotland.</p>
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for not making a decision on the Clyde wind farm at the same time as making the decision on the Harestanes wind farm.
Answer · Jim Mather: While there was aconjoined Public Local Inquiry to allow relevant issues to be consideredtogether these are two separate applications which necessarily raise differentissues. Before a determination can be made all material issues relating to eachdevelopment a…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the decision on the Harestanes wind farm was (a) notified to the applicant, (b) notified to objectors, (c) notified to Dumfries and Galloway Council and (d) released to the press.
Answer · Jim Mather: The applicant, Dumfries and Galloway Council and the press were notified onthe 10 September 2007. At the same time, the decision detailsof the Harestanes application were also made available to the public, includingobjectors, by being placed on the Energy Con…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the decision was taken on the Harestanes wind farm.
Answer · Jim Mather: The Harestanesconsent application was determined on Monday 3 September 2007.</p>
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the median response time has been for requests from journalists to it under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, broken down by department and month of receipt of the request.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Freedom of Information(Scotland) Act 2002 requires that requests for informationstate the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence. There is no requirementfor an applicant to provide, for example, their organisation, or occupation. However,…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the median response time has been for requests from MPs, MSPs, MEPs, councillors and members of the House of Lords to it under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, broken down by department and month of receipt of the request.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Freedom of Information(Scotland) Act 2002 requires that requests for informationstate the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence. There is no requirementfor an applicant to provide, for example, their organisation, or occupation. However,…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the median response time has been for requests from members of the public to it under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 in each month since January 2005, broken down by department and month of receipt of the request.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 requires that requests for information state the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence. There is no requirement for an applicant to provide, for example, their organisation, or occupation. Howev…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the median response time has been for requests to it under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 in each month since January 2005, broken down by department and month of receipt of the request.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: Detail on the medianresponse time of requests received by the Scottish Government which have been centrallyrecorded and where we have been notified of the outcome of the request in each monthsince January 2005, broken down by departments, is provided as follo…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of requests received by it under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 from journalists were answered within the statutory time limit in each month since January 2005, broken down by department and month of receipt of the request.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Freedom of Information(Scotland) Act 2002 requires that requests for informationstate the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence. There is no requirementfor an applicant to provide, for example, their organisation, or occupation. However,…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of requests received by it under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 from MPs, MSPs, MEPs, councillors and members of the House of Lords were answered within the statutory time limit in each month since January 2005, broken down by department and mo…
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Freedom of Information(Scotland) Act 2002 requires that requests for informationstate the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence. There is no requirementfor an applicant to provide, for example, their organisation, or occupation. However,…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of requests received by it under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 from members of the public were answered within the statutory time limit in each month since January 2005, broken down by department and month of receipt of the request.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Freedom of Information(Scotland) Act 2002 requires that requests for informationstate the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence. There is no requirementfor an applicant to provide, for example, their organisation, or occupation. However,…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of requests received by it under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 were answered within the statutory time limit in each month since January 2005, broken down by department and month of receipt of the request.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: Detail on how many and what percentage of requests received by the Scottish Government which have been centrally recorded and where we have been notified of the outcome of the request in each month since January 2005, broken down by departments, is provided a…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests it has received under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 in each month since January 2005, broken down by department and showing the number lodged by (a) members of the public, (b) MPs, MSPs, MEPs, councillors and Members of the House of Lords and (c) journal…
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The Freedom of Information(Scotland) Act 2002 requires that requests for informationstate the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence. There is no requirementfor an applicant to provide, for example, their organisation, or occupation. However,…
18 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests it has received under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 in each month since January 2005, broken down by department.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: Detail on how manyrequests for information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 received by the Scottish Government which havebeen centrally recorded in each month since January 2005, broken down by department,is provided as follows.</p><p>200…
13 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the due diligence review of the Borders Railway by Transport Scotland is expected to be completed; to whom it will report, and whether the report will be published in full.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I am expecting a reportbased on the due diligence review to be with me before the end of the year. OnceI have reviewed the finding of the report I expect to publish information to informParliament and public about that process.</p>
13 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Broadcasting Commission will review the proposed consolidation of regional news services offered by ITV and the impact such a move will have on Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.
Answer · Linda Fabiani: I am aware thatITV has recently announced plans to reshape the delivery of their regional newsprogrammes as part of their wider five-year plan. This is a commercial matterfor ITV and the broadcasting regulator Ofcom, who are also looking at thefuture of news …