Questions · David Stewart

9 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has set aside funding for improvements to the rail network on the Far North Line.

Answer · Keith Brown: There are no rail infrastructure improvements planned at present on the Far North Line. The Scottish Government specification for rail infrastructure works for the period 2014 – 2019 will be set out in the High Level Output Specification in 2012.

9 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to improve rail times on the Far North Line.

Answer · Keith Brown: Transport Scotland officials meet regularly with representatives from Network Rail and ScotRail to discuss improvements to timetables across the rail network, including services on the Far North Line. Plans are currently being developed for an additional sta…

2 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to discuss the Air Discount Scheme with the European Commission and to seek clarification on its use for business-related travel, in light of comments by Transport Scotland in the Press and Journal on 31 August 2011.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02489 on 29 September 2011. 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/Apps2/MAQA…

1 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the upgrading of the A96 from Inverness to Nairn will incorporate a path or lane for cyclists.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-01491 on 27 July 2011. However, although route options have not yet been consulted upon and detailed design has not commenced, existing cycle routes will be maintained and enhanced wherever possible and opportu…

1 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of building HMP Highland will be.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: The cost of building HMP Highland will depend on a range of factors, including site characteristics, planning conditions, market conditions at th…

1 Sep 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-00788 by Kenny MacAskill on 24 June 2011, when it expects the acquisition of the site for HMP Highland to be finalised.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows: As announced on 21 September 2011 in the Scottish Government Spending Review 2011 and Draft Budget 2012-13, the Scottish Prison Service will acqu…

31 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the withdrawal of the Air Discount Scheme for business travel will cost (a) private businesses, (b) public sector organisations and (c) third sector bodies.

Answer · Keith Brown: We have made no assessment of the cost for businesses and organisations in the public and third sectors from the more active exclusion of business-related travel from the Air Discount Scheme (ADS). We have estimated that the more active exclusion of business…

31 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) organisations and (b) individuals have made representations to it regarding the withdrawal of the Air Discount Scheme.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02489 on 29 September 2011. 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/parliamentar…

31 Aug 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it estimates it will save from the withdrawal of the Air Discount Scheme for business travel.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02489 on 29 September 2011. 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/parliamentar…

7 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures will be included in the proposed victims’ rights bill.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: No final decisions have been made on the measures that will be included in the proposed victims’ rights Bill. Those decisions will be informed by the final shape and scope of the proposed Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council aimed at establ…

7 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S4W-00153 by Kenny MacAskill on 31 May 2011, when it will make a decision on the timing of the introduction of a victims’ rights bill.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: It is expected that the planned victims’ rights Bill will, amongst other things, implement any legislative requirements flowing from the proposed Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council aimed at establishing minimum standards on the rights, su…

7 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the purpose will be of the proposed victims’ rights bill.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-00151 on 31 May 2011. 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/Apps2/MAQASearch/Q…

7 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been allocated to (a) victim and witness support and (b) offender services in each year since 2007.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The table below shows the outturn expenditure by the Scottish Government specifically for support to victims and witnesses, including the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, as well as for Offender Services: 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11* £000 £0…

7 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the UK opting into the proposed new EU directive allowing greater rights and support for victims of crime when in other EU countries.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A decision on whether or not to opt into the proposed Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council aimed at establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime is a matter for the UK Government in consultation w…

7 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the proposed new EU directive allowing greater rights and support for victims of crime when in other EU countries.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Negotiations on the wording of the proposed Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council aimed at establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime are underway. The Scottish Government is ensuring that the UK…

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what has been (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on the feasibility study on the dualling of the A96 from Inverness to Inverness Airport.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Stage 2 assessment of the dualling of the A96 from Inverness to Inverness Airport was completed in 2008 at a cost of £943,561.72. The A96 Inshes to Nairn study commenced in August 2009 and £1,011,988.16 has been spent …

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the feasibility study on the dualling of the A96 from Inverness to Inverness Airport will be published.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Stage 2 assessment of the dualling of the A96 from Inverness to Inverness Airport was completed in August 2008. More recently Transport Scotland have undertaken an assessment of infrastructure requirements between A9 In…

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the land required for the dualling of the A96 from Inverness to Inverness Airport has been acquired.

Answer · Keith Brown: None. The relevant areas of land to be purchased cannot be identified until a preferred scheme is selected.

4 Jul 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when work will start on the dualling of the A96 from Inverness to Inverness Airport.

Answer · Keith Brown: The detailed design, assessment and statutory process cannot commence until a preferred route is identified. A preferred route will not be identified until route options have been consulted upon. It is too early to consider a future timetable for any resultin…

30 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any consultation is planned for the implementation of the proposed European Commission directive which aims to improve the protection of European Union citizens who are victims of crime.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A questionnaire has been issued to a range of stakeholders seeking views on the possible ramifications of the draft Directive establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime that was published by the European Commissio…

30 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the effect on the Scottish legal system of the proposed European Commission directive which aims to improve the protection of European Union citizens who are victims of crime.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: A questionnaire seeking views on the possible ramifications of the draft Directive establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime that was published by the European Commission on 18 May 2011 has been issued to a range…

30 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any new legislation is planned to ensure that Scotland is fully compatible with the proposed European Commission directive which aims to improve the protection of European Union citizens who are victims of crime.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-00151 on 31 May 2011. 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/Apps2/MAQASearch/Q…

27 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive where the new passing loops will be located on the Inverness to Edinburgh railway line.

Answer · Keith Brown: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38691 on 27 January 2011. 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/parliamentaryb…

27 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which sections of the Inverness to Edinburgh railway line will receive line speed improvements.

Answer · Keith Brown: The line speed improvements form Phase 1 of the Highland main line project and will take place between Stanley Junction and Blair Atholl; Inchlea and Newtonmore; and Carrbridge and Inverness.

27 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider providing funding for a subscription-led and voluntary property annual inspection pilot scheme.

Answer · Keith Brown: The Scottish Government encourages owners to inspect their properties on a regular basis to identify any repair needs. There are also powers available to local authorities under the Building (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to intervene…

27 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for improvement works on the Inverness to Edinburgh railway line and when the proposed 35-minute journey time saving will be achieved.

Answer · Keith Brown: The project will be delivered in phases and provides incremental journey time reductions. A number of technical improvements will be implemented later this year and should deliver reduced journey times on some services from next year.

20 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) adult and (b) child patients use insulin pumps, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Michael Matheson: This information is not centrally held. The available data on insulin pump provision, broken down on a board by board basis, is included in the 2010 Diabetes Survey. These can be accessed at: http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications.aspx?catId=3 …

13 Jun 2011 · Written Question

Answer · Michael Matheson: The most accurate data available on the incidence of people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes is published in the 2010 Diabetes Survey at: http://www.diabetesinscotland.org.uk/Publications.aspx. The information is also set out in the following table: Incide…

8 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry tender being referred to the Office of Fair Trading for an independent inquiry.

Answer · Keith Brown: A fair, open and transparent tendering process has been conducted in respect of the town centre to town centre Gourock to Dunoon ferry service. Ministers are clear that this procurement process was compliant with all relevant European and domestic legislation…

8 Jun 2011 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route from McInroy’s Point to Hunter’s Quay is eligible to be treated as a public service route under the European Union’s maritime cabotage regulations 1992.

Answer · Keith Brown: Any Scottish Government involvement in ferry services has to satisfy the legal requirements of the European Commission’s maritime cabotage regulation and state aid rules. Under the terms of these rules the Scottish Government can only intervene to ensure the…