Alison McInnes

17 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has undertaken on the transferring of powers from Scottish Enterprise to local authorities.

Answer · Jim Mather: No formal consultation processwas conducted in formulating the enterprise networks reform proposals, which includesthe transfer of Scottish Enterprise’s local regeneration functions and responsibilityof Business Gateway contracts to local authorities. However…

17 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has with regards to funding a second round of the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme.

Answer · Jim Mather: Following the spending review,substantial additional funding is available for microgeneration and community renewables,including biomass projects. The Scottish Government is currently considering futuresupport for biomass projects outside these categories, an…

17 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Aberdeenshire Council on the provision of funding for a replacement Ellon Academy.

Answer · Maureen Watt: There have been general,rather than school specific, discussions with representatives of Aberdeenshire Councilon the council’s school estate management and investment plans. Decisions on thedeployment of capital resources at their disposal are matters for the…

10 Jan 2008 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change will respond to my letter dated 6 November 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A response to the letter wasissued on Friday 18 January 2008.</p>

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the introduction of the Climate Change Bill to the Parliament.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is our intention that the Scottish Climate Change Bill be introduced to the Scottish Parliament beforethe end of 2008.</p>

18 Dec 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish a consultation paper on the draft Climate Change Bill.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A consultation paper onproposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill will be published before the endof January 2008.</p>

16 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be allocated to Sustrans in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11, broken down by funding stream and expressed in real terms, also showing any year-on-year real term percentage change.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: There has been nodecision made yet on grant allocations to Sustrans for the period 2008-11. My officialswill be discussing potential spending plans with key stakeholders, including Sustrans,and decisions will be made after that.</p>

16 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to Sustrans in each of the last three years, broken down by funding stream and expressed in real terms, also showing any year-on-year real term percentage changes.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Over the last threeyears, Sustrans has received funding for maintaining and extending the NationalCycle Network; supporting School Travel Coordinators based in local authorities,and promoting cycling and walking to school through initiatives that tackle thesc…

16 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much will be available in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11 to fund (i) regional transport partnerships, (ii) the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland and (iii) Passengers’ View Scotland, broken down by funding stream and expressed in real terms, also showing any year-on-…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The budget for TransportStrategy and Innovation line provides running cost support for regional transportpartnerships, the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS), Passengers’View Scotland and support for innovative transport solutions.The budget fo…

16 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was allocated to organisations and projects under the Transport and Innovation budget in each of the last three years, broken down by funding stream and expressed in real terms and also showing any year-on-year real term percentage changes.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Transport Strategyand Innovation Budget is a new line which was announced in the Strategic SpendingReview on 14 November 2007. It will commence in financial year 2008-09.</p>

9 Nov 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority charges prospective adopters for pursuing an international adoption application.

Answer · Adam Ingram: Prospectiveinternational adopters are required to be assessed by a registered adoptionservice prior to bringing a child into the United Kingdom for the purpose of adoption. As registered adoptionservices, local authorities can provide this service and can cha…

31 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that workers in the private security industry are not adversely affected by delays in processing licence applications by the Security Industry Authority ahead of the 1 November deadline.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The Security IndustryAuthority (SIA) is meeting its published timescale for processing correctly completedapplications of six weeks. The SIA has been working closely with the industry fornearly two years to ensure that the security businesses were ready for 1…

31 Oct 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet the SNP manifesto commitment to dual the A9 from Perth to Inverness, in light of the recent HITRANS report which estimates that dualling the A9 could boost the Highlands economy by almost £1 billion over the next 30 years.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This Scottish Governmentis fully committed to plan for dualling the A9. We made that commitment when wecame into government, and we stand by that commitment.</p><p>I have already askedTransport Scotland to take forward work to identify the nextpart of the A9 …

24 Oct 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider the decision not to continue the process of levelling up the funding to Grampian Police beyond the 2008-09 financial year.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: Future levels of fundingfor police forces in Scotland will be determined by the outcome of the SpendingReview.</p>

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Government’s proposed Edinburgh Airport rail link will require (a) new primary or secondary legislation to be passed and (b) the repeal of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link Act 2007.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: We expect any newpermissions may be secured through Orders under the Transport and Works(Scotland) Act 2007. We do not expect that it will be necessary to repeal theEARL Act to deliver our proposed rail link.</p>

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis has been undertaken of the plans for the Scottish Government’s proposed Edinburgh Airport rail link in terms of (a) environmental benefits, (b) disruption to the existing rail network, (c) congestion levels, (d) patronage figures, (e) levels of connectivity to the rest of Sc…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Details of eachof the projects announced in the ministerial statement on 27 September 2007 are included in a full report detailing the optionsconsidered, the process of analysis and appraisal used to select which optionsto take forward. This report, <i>Strate…

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the net monetised transport economic efficiency benefits are of the Scottish Government’s proposed Edinburgh Airport rail link.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The package of improvementsto Edinburgh Glasgow connectivity, including a airport link station at Gogar knownas package C3, generated net monetisedtransport economic efficiency benefits to Government of £600 to £800 million.</p>

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many trains an hour it is predicted will be able to access Edinburgh Airport under the Scottish Government’s proposed Edinburgh Airport rail link.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is anticipatedthat at least 12 trains per hour in each direction will stop at Gogar and Edinburgh Park stations to provide connection with thetram link to the airport.</p><p>The exacttimetable requires detailed planning before the optimum calling patterns …

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many permanent new jobs will be created (a) directly and (b) indirectly as a result of the Scottish Government’s proposed Edinburgh Airport rail link.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: At this point nospecific assessment of this has been made for the Gogar station scheme.</p>

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many stations across Scotland will be directly connected to Edinburgh Airport under the Scottish Government’s proposed Edinburgh Airport rail link.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: It is anticipatedthat direct connection with the tram link to the airport at Gogar and Edinburgh Park will be possible from more than 70stations across the Scottish heavy rail network.</p>

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the predicted cost-benefit ratio is of the Scottish Government’s proposed Edinburgh Airport rail link.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The fullprogramme of improvements proposed to rail between Edinburgh and Glasgow isanticipated to provide a benefit cost ratio of 1.1, as set out in the STAGreport. This is a conservative figure, as it assumes a wide range ofinfrastructure work is required, a…

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the predicted cost is of the Scottish Government’s proposed Edinburgh Airport rail link, also broken down into component parts.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The fullprogramme of improvements proposed to rail travel between Edinburgh and Glasgowis anticipated to cost between £500 and £1,000 million in 2006 prices, as setout in the STAG report <i>Strategic Transport Projects Review – Edinburgh toGlasgow Improvement…

1 Oct 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a STAG appraisal has been undertaken of the Scottish Government’s proposed Edinburgh Airport rail link.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A STAG report canbe found on the Transport Scotland website at <ahref="http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/">www.transportscotland.gov.uk</a>.This report, <i>Strategic Transport Projects Review – Edinburgh to GlasgowImprovements, </i>can also be found on the …

18 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will act to ensure that mainline Edinburgh to Glasgow train services stop at Edinburgh Park station.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto my statement of 27 September 2007, where I set out our intentions to make a numberof improvements over the next few years to Edinburgh and Glasgow services, includingintroducing additional services that could allow stops at Edinburgh Park…

18 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3001 by Stewart Stevenson on 3 September 2007, whether, as a condition of it meeting the cost of developing a new road layout at the Forth Road Bridge toll plaza, it will act to ensure that bus priority measures from the A90 on to the bridge are intr…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Forth EstuaryTransport Authority (FETA) and the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) are the roadauthorities with responsibility for the toll plaza and the A90 route south of theBridge. Decisions on bus priority measures in this area are a matter for these aut…

12 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to amend the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985 to enable ministers to fund local as well as national collections.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: Section 23 of theNational (Heritage) Scotland Act 1985 empowers Scottish ministers to fund any bodywhose activities appear to them to be likely to promote the development or understandingof cultural or scientific matters. The Scottish Government funds the Sco…

12 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will contribute to the funding of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden.

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: In 2007-08 the University of Dundee will receive grant in aid of £68,315,828 fromthe Scottish Government through the Scottish Funding Council.</p><p>The Scottish Governmenthas no plans to provide additional funding to the University of Dundee Botanic Garden.<…

11 Sep 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its plans to increase flexi-working and homeworking in the Scottish Government and all other public bodies.

Answer · John Swinney: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-3523 on 4 September 2007. All answers towritten parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, thesearch facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…

29 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will use the forthcoming spending review to examine the distribution of GAE to local authorities, particularly in respect of proportional funding for Grampian Police.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: This will be consideredas part of the overall Spending Review 2007 process.</p>

29 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve road safety on the A96.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: During 2006 a studywas carried out to examine a range of potential alterations to improve road safetyalong the length of the A96 within the A96 Route Accident Reduction Plan (RARP).This study examined accident records within all communities on the A96, consid…