Alison McInnes

29 Aug 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its opposition to current proposals to build a 50-metre swimming pool in Aberdeen.

Answer · Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Governmentdoes not oppose the proposal to build a 50 metre swimming pool in Aberdeen. We recognise that a 50-metre pool in the north-eastof Scotland could make a significant contribution to thelocal community as well as providing training facilit…

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has given consideration to the introduction of bus priority measures from the A90 on to the Forth Road Bridge following the removal of tolls and redesign of the toll plaza.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter forthe Forth Estuary Transport Authority, the City of Edinburgh Council and the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership.We are aware, however, that a bus priority project is currently under consideration.</p>

8 Aug 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to redesigning the Forth Road Bridge toll plaza following the removal of tolls.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Forth EstuaryTransport Authority (FETA) and City of Edinburgh Council are the road authorities with responsibility for thetoll plaza and the A90 route to the south. FETA and the council are working togetherto discuss options and plan for redesigning the a…

26 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the Race Equality Strategy and Action Plan developed by the previous administration and, if so, when.

Answer · Nicola Sturgeon: As the previous administrationacknowledged, and as called for by many stakeholders, the current draft of the NationalStrategy and Action Plan on Race Equality requires further work. We therefore intendto further develop the strategy and action plan and will i…

22 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Government will publish its road safety strategy.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Supported Bus Servicesare currently funded through the core local government finance settlement. The GrantAided Expenditure (GAE) shares used to distribute the support for bus services iscalculated using the population figures of each local authority in Scotl…

22 Jun 2007 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Government will publish its road safety strategy.

Answer · Linda Fabiani: In raising Scotland’s voice in Europe, it isimportant that the Government engages regularly with the EU institutions. Officialsdo this daily but as Minister for Europe I am alsobuilding strong constructive relations with the key EU Institutions.</p><p>I have …

20 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase funding to local authorities to improve the condition of local roads.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Executivesupports local authorities’ net revenue expenditure on roads maintenance throughthe core local government finance settlement. <i>Spending Review 2004 </i>addeda further £60 million in both 2006-07 and 2007-08 to the Roads and Transport G…

20 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the condition of local roads.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Scottishministers provide local authorities with revenue allocations for expenditure ona number of services, including roads and transport. Each council is responsiblefor the maintenance and improvement of local roads in its area. It is entirely amatter for c…

20 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the annual cost of routine structural maintenance on the road network.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The estimate for localroads is a matter for the local authorities. The Scottish Executive does not requirecouncils to provide the information requested and therefore has no centrally heldestimate. The Scottish Executive supports local authorities’ net revenue…

20 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cost of eliminating any backlog of trunk road maintenance.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The report by AuditorGeneral for Scotland entitled <i>Scottish Executive: an overviewof the performance of transport in </i><i>Scotland</i> published in September 2006 identified that £325 millionmay be needed to tackle the backlog on trunk road maintenance.<…

20 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cost of improving the local road network.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Audit Scotland published<i>Maintaining Scotland’s roads</i> on 3 November 2004, stating that estimated backlogon local roads amounts to £1.5 billion. This figure has not been verified by ScottishExecutive, but we are investigating the need for further road ma…

20 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-204 by John Swinney on 14 June 2007 (Official Report, c. 780-81), whether it plans a full review of the M74 extension.

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No. I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-795on 19 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/weba…

20 Jun 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-204 by John Swinney on 14 June 2007 (Official Report, c. 780-81), whether it plans a full review of the (a) Waverley Railway project, (b) Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine railway, (c) Glasgow Airport Rail Link, (d) Airdrie to Bathgate rail link, (e) redevel…

Answer · Stewart Stevenson: In the transport debateon 27 June 2007, we informed the Parliament about how we wouldtake forward and manage our investment programme for transport.</p><p>We confirmed our commitmentto the Waverley Railway (Borders) project, advising however that the funding …

31 May 2007 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) maximum, (b) minimum and (c) average penalty was imposed for the offence of drink driving in each police authority area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Answer · Kenny MacAskill: The available information isgiven in the following table.</p><p>Drink Driving Offences with aCharge Proved in Scottish Courts, 2005-06</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=84 rowspan=2 valign=top> <p align=center>Police…