- Asked by: Alasdair Morgan, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 December 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 19 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in considering the case for a strategic timber transport fund.
Answer
COSLA and Forest IndustriesDevelopment Council representatives met with Scottish Executive officialsincluding Forestry Commission Scotland on 4 December 2003to discuss the report on the case for a strategic timber transport fund. Iexpect to be in a position to respond to the report towards the end of nextmonth (January 2004).
- Asked by: Alasdair Morgan, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 16 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether permission has been given for waste material to be disposed of at the former Dalquhandy opencast mine in Lanarkshire.
Answer
Planning permission forrestoration of opencast is a matter for the local authority, and any necessaryenvironmental permits are a matter for the Scottish Environment ProtectionAgency.
- Asked by: Alasdair Morgan, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 16 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has been consulted on the possibility of disposing of waste material at the former Dalquhandy opencast mine in Lanarkshire.
Answer
This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
- Asked by: Alasdair Morgan, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 11 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3416 by Nicol Stephen on 10 November 2003, whether the realignment scheme on the A95 between Gaich and Craggan will provide an underpass to allow for the extension of the Strathspey railway from Broomhill to Grantown.
Answer
The current design for theimprovement of the A95 between Gaich and Craggan includes an underpass toaccommodate the proposed extension of the Strathspey Railway.
- Asked by: Alasdair Morgan, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 27 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how many written complaints regarding criminal conduct were received by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service from 1 January 2002 to 1 September 2003 and in how many cases the complainants were not contacted by either the police or the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service prior to the allegation being rejected.
Answer
This information requested isnot available. The way in which an allegation is investigated will depend onthe nature of the allegation and the whole circumstances of the case includingwhether there have already been investigations into allegations made by thecomplainant.
- Asked by: Alasdair Morgan, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 27 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3240 by Colin Boyd QC on 4 November 2003, why Professor Colin Espie was not interviewed as a result of the complaint of criminal conduct made by Mr McKie, given that the complaint indicated Professor Espie's awareness of important new relevant information.
Answer
What required to beinvestigated was not Professor Espie’s information but what was done with thatinformation. Accordingly, it was not considered necessary to interviewProfessor Espie.
- Asked by: Alasdair Morgan, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 26 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3240 by Colin Boyd QC on 4 November 2003, who was responsible for the decision that Mr McKie's letter did not indicate that he was in possession of any further relevant information in connection with the perjury case against Shirley McKie and under what criteria the judgement was made.
Answer
It is not Crown Officepolicy to identify the individuals involved in investigations or decisions.
- Asked by: Alasdair Morgan, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 12 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what constraints there are with regard to the resumption of rail freight services to (a) Stranraer and (b) Cameron Bridge.
Answer
I understand that NetworkRail is not aware of any physical constraints which may prevent the resumptionof services to Stranraer and Cameron Bridge. However, the resumption of freight services tothese locations is a commercial matter for freight operating companies toconsider, in consultation with Network Rail.
- Asked by: Alasdair Morgan, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 12 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how many spare paths exist for freight trains each week on the Nith Valley line.
Answer
I understand that the NithValley Line is currently operating at or near capacity. The Strategic RailAuthority (SRA) has identified and is currently developing a number of capacityenhancement measures.
- Asked by: Alasdair Morgan, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 10 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the A95 south of Grantown on Spey.
Answer
We are undertaking thesurvey and design work for improvements at Lackgie and design work is almostcomplete for a £1.8 million road re-alignment scheme between Gaich and Craggan.In addition we will continue to undertake on-going maintenance work on theroute.
