Parliamentary questions
Alison McInnes
1,004 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
2 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances it issues a holding answer to a parliamentary question that seeks a yes or no answer and for which no research or data compilation is required.
Answer · Bruce Crawford: The standard Scottish Government process ensures that if a written parliamentary question is not answered within 10 counting days (20 days during recess) then a holding reply will automatically be issued.</p>
2 Oct 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16372 by Stewart Stevenson on 1 October 2008, why it was unable to provide a substantive answer to question S3W-15925 when it was originally due for answer, given that the question sought confirmation of whether Transport Scotland had delivered to mi…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Due to an administrative error, the answer to question S3W-15925 was not sent to the Parliament by the due date. The answer the member received on the 16 September 2008, I shall reply to the member as soon as possible, is the standard reply issued in cases w…
30 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the omission of a project from National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 SEA: Supplementary Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Candidate National Developments Environmental Report Annex 2 - Consultation Paper precludes that project from receiving financial backing from th…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No. Neither The <i >National Planning Framework </i>nor it''s accompanying <i >Strategic Environmental Assessment </i>are spending documents. Just as the presence of any Candidate National development within the SEA: Supplementary Assessment does not indicate…
30 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any transport projects not listed in National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 SEA: Supplementary Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Candidate National Developments Environmental Report Annex 2 - Consultation Paper will be considered as part of the strategic transport pro…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. The Strategic Transport Projects Review explores numerous projects in addition to those which have been included as Candidate National Developments in the National Planning Framework Strategic Environmental Assessment Consultation paper.</p>
30 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a correlation exists between the projects listed in National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 SEA: Supplementary Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Candidate National Developments Environmental Report Annex 2 - Consultation Paper and projects being considered in the strat…
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes. The on-going Strategic Environmental Assessment of the <i >National Planning Framework</i> is being undertaken to ensure that the likely significant impacts of projects which stakeholders have proposed as national developments are taken into account in d…
17 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15925 by Stewart Stevenson on 16 September 2008, why it is unable to indicate at this time whether Transport Scotland has delivered its initial findings from the strategic transport projects review to ministers and when it will provide a substantive …
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15925 on 24 September 2008. 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/…
11 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage reduction in greenhouse gas emissions was achieved in the (a) energy, (b) transport, (c) housing, (d) agriculture and (e) public sector between May 2007 and May 2008.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Greenhouse gas emissions data for the energy, transport, housing, agriculture and public sectors between May 2007 and May 2008 are not available. The most recent data on emissions from individual sectors is available in <i >Greenhouse Gas Inventories for </i>…
2 Sep 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-14241 by Stewart Stevenson on 2 July 2008, whether Transport Scotland has now delivered its initial findings from the strategic transport projects review to ministers.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Yes.</p>
11 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that any change to the structure of the Bus Service Operators Grant does not lead to the curtailment or limiting of bus services or community transport services.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As part of the implementation of the Bus Action Plan, the Bus Service Operators Grant scheme is being reconsidered to encourage service provision that takes account of its effects on the environment. Recommendations are being considered by Ministers and the o…
11 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it will give community transport organisations to make their services more environmentally friendly.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Under the concordat between Scottish Ministers and COSLA, since 1 April 2008, Local Authorities became fully responsible for the provision of necessary Community Transport services in their areas. Local authorities were required to honour the Scottish Governm…
11 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that community transport organisations are not disadvantaged by changes to the structure of the Bus Service Operators Grant.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As part of the implementation of the Bus Action Plan, the Bus Service Operators Grant scheme is being reconsidered to encourage service provision that takes account of its effects on the environment. Recommendations are being considered by Ministers and the o…
11 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is planning to make the Bus Service Operators Grant more environmentally focused.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As part of the implementation of the Bus Action Plan, the Bus Service Operators Grant scheme is being reconsidered to encourage service provision that takes account of its effects on the environment. Recommendations are being considered by Ministers and the o…
11 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is proposing to restructure the Bus Service Operators Grant and when it envisages that this restructuring will take place.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As part of the implementation of the Bus Action Plan, the Bus Service Operators Grant scheme is being reconsidered to encourage service provision that takes account of its effects on the environment. Recommendations are being considered by Ministers and the o…
10 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) fatalities and (b) serious injuries have been incurred as a result of railway incidents in each year since 1998.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is given in table 8.19 of <i >Scottish Transport Statistics No. 26: 2007 Edition</i>, published by Scottish Government in December 2007, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44371).<…
10 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates have been made of the number of (a) regular cyclists and (b) cycle miles travelled in each year since 2001.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The links below to various travel studies gives details of modal choice and purpose of journey. The number of miles travelled each year by bicycle is not available.</p> <p >Tables 17 and 19 in Travel Diary 2005-06 contain travel by bike statistics for the p…
10 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to allow it to monitor, regulate and ensure the security of the transport of dual-use pathogens.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The mechanisms in place to monitor, regulate and ensure the security of the transport of dual-use pathogens is a matter reserved to the UK Government.</p>
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has introduced a parking system which supports the delivery of the travel objectives in the Travel Plan introduced in December 2007 and, if so, how this system operates
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14886 on 31 July 2008. 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/…
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to maximise the efficiency of its fleet since the its Travel Plan was introduced in December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14886 on 31 July 2008. 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/…
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the embedment of its Travel Plan into existing corporate and departmental processes was last reviewed and costed and what the results were.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14886 on 31 July 2008. 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/…
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what increase there has been in the percentage share of sustainable forms of transport on official business by its staff since its Travel Plan was introduced in December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s Travel Plan seeks by 2009 to increase by 10% the share of more sustainable travel methods used by staff on official business. A staff Travel Survey will be carried out in 2009 to establish progress against this target.</p>
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what reduction there has been in car use, in particular single occupancy car journeys by commuting, by its staff since its Travel Plan was introduced in December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s Travel Plan seeks to reduce single occupancy car levels by commuting staff by 5% by 2009. It also seeks to increase the share of sustainable travel methods for commuting to work by 10% by 2009.</p> <p >A staff travel survey will be …
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what increase there has been in the percentage share of its staff commuting to work by walking, cycling and using public transport, since its Travel Plan was introduced in December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: Under the Scottish Government’s Travel Plan we will carry out a staff Travel Survey in 2009 to establish what increase has taken place in the percentage share of staff who commute to work by walking, cycling or using public transport.</p>
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made towards each of the key objectives of its Travel Plan, introduced in December 2007.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government’s travel plan set out commitments across a number of specific objectives. This represents a programme of activity to be implemented by March 2010. The following sets out the progress against each objective that has been achieved so far…
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to expand salary sacrifice schemes for sustainable travel.
Answer · John Swinney: The Scottish Government Travel Plan contains a commitment to introduce a salary sacrifice scheme for bike purchase and we will commission a tender process during this financial year.</p> <p >We will continue to promote our interest free loan arrangements for…
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which public sector bodies operate a salary sacrifice scheme for (a) bus passes and (b) bicycle purchases.
Answer · John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.</p>
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment will be made of local authorities’ progress towards the delivery of regional transport strategies and what action will be taken if adequate progress is not being made.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Delivery of the strategies is a matter for each regional transport partnership working in partnership with their constituent councils. Regional transport partnerships are required to provide Scottish ministers with an annual report detailing their performance…
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what requirement local authorities are under to deliver regional transport strategies
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Local authority representatives form the majority of the regional transport partnership membership which has agreed the regional transport strategy (RTS). Constituent councils are under a duty, so far as possible, to perform their transport functions consiste…
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it has allocated funding to local authorities for the implementation of regional transport strategies.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: All Regional Transport Partnership capital funding was incorporated into the local government settlement. In the case of SPT, these funds have been ring-fenced. It is up to each Regional Transport Partnership to agree regional transport priorities with the co…
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it is giving local authorities on how to fund and support the delivery of regional transport strategies.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Following the concordat agreement and Scottish Budget announcement, determination of regional transport funding priorities is a matter for local authorities and the regional transport partnerships.</p>
4 Jul 2008 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibility it has for the delivery of regional transport strategies.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Delivery of regional transport strategies is the responsibility of individual regional transport partnerships and their constituent councils.</p>