Parliamentary questions

Charlie Gordon

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

8 Mar 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will introduce secondary legislation before the dissolution of the Parliament to enable civil enforcement of bus lanes.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government is committed to introducing such legislation. Draft statutory instruments are almost complete but it will not be possible to lay the legislation before the dissolution of the Parliament.

18 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what training arrangements there are for (a) dentists and (b) anaesthetists who might require to sign certificates authorising treatment under general anaesthetic on behalf of adults with incapacity.

Answer · Shona Robison: Medical practitioners, and this of course includes anaesthetists, have been assessing capacity for the purposes of Part 5 (Medical treatment) of the Adults With Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 (the 2000 Act) since that act came into force. Anaesthetists have t…

4 Feb 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond in full to the recommendations of the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976 review led by Lord Cullen of Whitekirk.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: We expect to be able to respond to the review within the next few weeks.

25 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to help retain BMI’s air service between Glasgow International Airport and London Heathrow Airport.

Answer · Keith Brown: We deeply regret BMI''s decision to suspend its service between Glasgow and Heathrow. In recognising the importance of our connections to Heathrow for business and for tourism, I met BAA''s Chief Executive Officer on 19 January 2011 and I reiterated …

20 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, in his official capacity, has had direct involvement with the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service tender by way of (a) meetings or (b) correspondence with (i) the selected bidders or (ii) Calmac.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning has had no involvement in his official capacity.

11 Jan 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the staffing ratio per bed is of qualified nurses in paediatric intensive care units.

Answer · Shona Robison: Paediatric intensive care units in Scotland follow the Paediatric Intensive Care Society Paediatric Intensive Care Standards for staffing ratio per bed as a minimum guide. The PICS Standards state the ratio should vary from 1:1 to 2:1, depending on the level …

13 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what statutory responsibilities Transport Scotland has for road safety and under what legislation.

Answer · Keith Brown: Local roads authorities, and Transport Scotland, have a statutory duty to manage and maintain all roads within their area. For Transport Scotland, this responsibility is for the trunk road network. The statutory duty is outlined in Section 1 of the Roads Scot…

9 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what statutory responsibilities chief constables have for road safety and under what legislation

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Chief constables do not have any specific statutory responsibilities for road safety. They have a responsibility under the Police (Scotland) Act 1967: to protect persons and property.

8 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent to support the installation and use of smart electronic ticket machines by bus operators.

Answer · Keith Brown: The total amount spent to support the installation and use of smart electronic ticket machines is £49.49 million. This represents costs up to March 2011. £40.79 million relates to the supply of electronic ticketing machines to bus operators, supporting commun…

6 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what savings it estimates will arise from the removal of business-related travel claims from the Air Discount Scheme.

Answer · Keith Brown: We estimate that a reduction of £2.7 million in the Air Discount Scheme budget will be achieved from the removal of business-related travel.

6 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will notify the Parliament and the European Commission of the review of the Air Discount Scheme.

Answer · Keith Brown: Following completion of our review of the Air Discount Scheme, we will notify the European Commission early in the New Year of the scheme''s proposed continuation beyond 31 March 2011 and will update the Scottish Parliament.

6 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many bus operators have procured low-carbon vehicles and qualified for a double rate of Bus Service Operators Grant since April 2010, broken down by (a) operator and (b) number of vehicles.

Answer · Keith Brown: To date no operator has claimed the Low Carbon Vehicle incentive within the Bus Service Operators Grant Scheme. However, with the recent announcement of the winning bids for the Scottish Green Bus Fund we expect at least six operators with 50 vehicles to make…

6 Dec 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a funded plan to improve and increase on-road cycle training for primary 6 and 7 pupils

Answer · Keith Brown: Yes. We published the first Cycling Action Plan for Scotland in June 2010. That plan commits us to establishing a new Cycle Training Standards and Delivery Support Group to formulate a plan by end of 2010 to deliver a co-ordinated approach to training…

29 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated costs are of establishing a ferry service between Lochboisdale and Mallaig.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is not possible to provide the estimated costs of establishing a Lochboisdale-Mallaig ferry service in the absence of a detailed service specification for the route. A service specification would set out the timetable, the size and type of vessel(s) and th…

29 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated costs are of providing free access to public transport throughout Scotland for deafblind people and their companions, broken down by mode.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This level of information cannot be supplied as the local authority card management system does not have the functionality to record the number of National Entitlement Cards issued specifically to deafblind applicants.

15 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what surplus land owned by it or its agencies has been sold or offered for sale under the Crichel Down rules since 2007 and on what date it (a) became surplus and (b) was sold or offered for sale.

Answer · John Swinney: The information requested is not held centrally.

15 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its plans for improvements on the Highland main line include consideration of the reopening of Blackford Station.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland has assessed proposals for reopening Blackford Station in the context of our investment hierarchy which commits us to making best use of the existing network before investing in new stations. We have no plans to include the re-…

9 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37107 by Stewart Stevenson on 3 November 2010, whether work on the transport plan for the 2014 Ryder Cup will include consideration of the reopening of Blackford railway station.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland have already considered a proposal to reopen Blackford railway station earlier this year as part of their assessment of AECOM''s independent review published in April 2010 on behalf of the Campaign to Open Blackford Railway Station Again.</…

9 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37107 by Stewart Stevenson on 3 November 2010, whether work on the transport plan for the 2014 Ryder Cup will include an evaluation of road links serving Gleneagles station.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. The transport plan will include evaluation of road links serving Gleneagles station, along with all other relevant local and strategic links in the area.

9 Nov 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37107 by Stewart Stevenson on 3 November 2010, whether work on the transport plan for the 2014 Ryder Cup will include an evaluation of access to Gleneagles station for passengers with a mobility impairment.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The transport plan will consider a number of strategies to transport spectators to the Ryder Cup. Access via Gleneagles station will be one of those strategies considered. The plan will also evaluate access to the event for mobility impaired spectators. At th…

26 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is preparing a transport plan for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. Transport Scotland is working with Event Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council to develop a transport plan for the event.

25 Oct 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed new breast cancer treatment capacity at Gartnavel Hospital will become operational.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board, however we understand from the board that it is anticipated the new breast cancer treatment capacity at Gartnavel Hospital will become operational in early 2011.

30 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers, special advisers or officials have met representatives from the David MacBrayne Group or Caledonian MacBrayne in the last 12 months and, if so, what issues were discussed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Government ministers and officials have met the Chair and representatives of the David MacBrayne Group, including Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac Ferries Ltd), on a number of occasions in the last 12 months to discuss sponsorship and contractual matters…

30 Sep 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has recently met, or plans to meet, the chairman of the David MacBrayne Group and, if so, what issues were or will be discussed.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36661 on 15 October 2010. 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/…

17 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-34737 by Alex Neil on 16 July 2010, when it will report the findings of the interim review of the Home Report to the Parliament

Answer · Alex Neil: The report of the interim review of the Home Report, which has looked at its implementation and operation over the first 12 months, is due to be published by the end of September.

13 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to the continuing provision of a masters level postgraduate qualifying social work course in Glasgow.

Answer · Michael Russell: This is a matter for Glasgow University and the Glasgow School of Social Work. Universities are autonomous institutions, and the decisions on the courses they provide, and the number of students they admit are theirs, and will be based on the student and empl…

6 Aug 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost of reimbursement to transport operators is per kilometre travelled for journeys made by passengers eligible under the national free bus travel scheme in each year since the scheme commenced.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The reimbursement paid to bus operators under the scheme is based on the revenue foregone for each journey, i.e. the fare that would have been paid in the absence of the scheme. Although these fares derive from fare tables submitted by the bus operators, jou…

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a recent alteration to the benefit-cost ratio of the Borders Rail Link and, if so, for what reason.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There has been no recent alteration to the benefit-cost ratio of the Borders Railway.

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the full business case for the Borders Rail Link.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16378 on 26 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/…

25 Jun 2010 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the benefit-cost ratio of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project was when it was cancelled.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: When the project was cancelled in September 2009 it had a benefit to cost ratio (BCR) of 1.1.