- Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 26 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15395 by Rhona Brankin on 10 May 2001, what progress it has made in improving the protection of Scotland's soil resource.
Answer
The recent study carried out by Stirling University on the development of a soil protection strategy for Scotland, which we are currently considering, recommended that the proposed Advisory Committee on Scottish Soils should review the available survey data as held by the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (MLURI) and others. The MLURI are currently undertaking this exercise and expect to report early in the new year.
- Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 26 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to reduce the number of accidents caused by fireworks.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-3987 on 1 November 2001.
- Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 23 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is assisting social economy organisations to set up or expand their existing services.
Answer
The Scottish Executive launched Social Investment Scotland on 19 September. This new loan fund will assist social economy organisations by providing loan finance, business development support and technical assistance.A review of the Executive's current policies towards the social economy is currently under way. It will assess the potential of the social economy to contribute to Scottish Executive objectives, identify any strategic initiatives or changes to operational policy that are required to realise the potential of the social economy and set out key action points for the Executive.
- Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, or plans to have, with the special railway administrators of Railtrack plc to ensure continuity of rail services in Scotland.
Answer
In October, I wrote to Railtrack's Administrators seeking assurances that Scotland's interests will be positively addressed during the period Railtrack is in administration.
- Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 20 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how Local Enterprise Companies will be covered by the new ethical standards regime.
Answer
As a result of the review of the Enterprise Network last year, it was announced that Local Enterprise Companies (LECs) would change to wholly owned bodies of Scottish Enterprise (SEn) and Highland and Island Enterprise (HIE) whilst retaining company status. SEn and HIE will apply the statutory Code of Conduct to the LECs through their operating contracts and impose uniform standards throughout the network. They could also seek advice from the Standards Commission's Chief Investigating Officer in the event of a complaint about a LEC member even though the commission would not be able to impose any sanctions, and we will encourage them to do so. SEn and HIE will have the authority to appoint or dismiss LEC members.
- Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 16 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to EC Directive 94/63/EC, whether it plans to take forward discretions for small petrol stations where the service station is located in an area where vapour emissions are unlikely to contribute significantly to environmental and/or health problems.
Answer
We are currently considering to what areas the derogation should apply in Scotland. Petrol stations within the size range 100 to 500m3 throughput, for which a derogation could be available, do not need to comply with the requirements of the Directive until the end of 2004. We will therefore make a decision in advance of this date and an announcement will be made in due course.
- Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 16 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been made available to specific inclusiveness projects which are designed to improve the skills and employability of disadvantaged young people.
Answer
Careers service companies and their partners have been allocated the following funding to take forward inclusiveness projects over the period 2001-04:
| Careers Service Company | 2001-04 |
| Lanarkshire | £2,304,668.00 |
| Renfrewshire | £1,200,000.00 |
| Ayrshire | £975,000.00 |
| Borders | £295,637.00 |
| Central | £800,000.00 |
| Career Development Edinburgh and Lothian | £1,850,000.00 |
| Tayside | £859,268.00 |
| Dunbarton and Lomond | £594,500.00 |
| Fife | £1,105,899.00 |
| Glasgow | £1,920,000.00 |
| Grampian (including Moray for year 1 only) | £1,366,091.00 |
| Pan Highlands and Islands Project | |
| Highland | £502,058.00 |
| Argyll | £357,670.00 |
| Orkney | £113,472.00 |
| Shetland | £102,650.00 |
| Western Isles | £142,350.00 |
| Moray (Years 2 and 3 only) | £124,917.00 |
- Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Rhona Brankin on 16 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has held with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency about charges levied for petrol vapour recovery.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has asked the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to review the charging scheme which covers petrol vapour recovery processes and to propose options for achieving cost recovery. Any proposed changes to the existing charging scheme would be subject to public consultation and approval by the Scottish ministers.
- Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 13 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in improving safety on the A84 and A85 trunk roads.
Answer
The following progress has been made in improving safety on the A84 and A85 trunk roads:BEAR Scotland Ltd have proposals for improving the A84/A85 junction at Lochearnhead. The construction work is programmed for completion this financial year. The designs for village gateways for Lochearnhead have been completed and the signs should be erected by the end of December 2001.A contract for improving and upgrading the verge safety fences at various locations on the A84 and A85 has been awarded. These works will start in mid December and be complete by the end of the financial year.Minor alterations will be made to road signs and markings at Glen Ogle. The signs should be in place by the end of the year.Three improvement schemes at Glenogle are being designed for implementation in the future, subject to competing priorities and available funding.White lining and road marking treatments are currently being carried out on these routes.
- Asked by: Dr Sylvia Jackson, MSP for Stirling, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 13 November 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that young people living in rural areas have access to affordable public transport.
Answer
The Scottish Executive's Rural Public Passenger Transport grant provides support for scheduled services, many of which extend access to affordable public transport including to young people.In addition, the Rural Community Transport Initiative provides support for local community transport projects across rural Scotland. A number of Community Transport Projects are aimed at meeting the specific needs of young people.The Scottish Executive has also recently commissioned a research project titled Young People and Transport that will look at how we can best meet the specific public transport needs of young people in the future.
