Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S1W-04404

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 29 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of the proposed Glasgow Southern Orbital road in respect of the planning and other statutory procedures which require to be undertaken prior to commencement and whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of the sequence of activities between now and the issuing of invitations to tender for the construction contract.

The Glasgow Southern Orbital Route is being jointly promoted by East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire Councils as a local authority development. The scheme currently before Scottish Ministers comprises two Notices of Intention to Develop. In addition, each council has promoted a Compulsory Purchase Order and a Side Roads Order. These Orders, which are deemed necessary by them to facilitate the building of the road, are currently the subject of objections. Negotiations between the Councils and the objectors are ongoing.

In the event of the objections to the Orders not being withdrawn, the parties have the right to be heard at a Public Local Inquiry (PLI). In such a case, papers would be passed to the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters Unit whereupon relevant notice of the PLI would be issued to each of the organisations and individuals who had made representations concerning the merits of the proposal.The sequence of other activities leading to the invitation to tender is a matter for East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire Councils, as promoters for the scheme.

Question reference: S1W-04369

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sam Galbraith on 29 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of recent events surrounding the actions of East Ayrshire Council's Social Work Department, it will review the relevant procedures for the care and protection of young people whilst under the supervision of a social worker.

It is not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases. Under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, local authorities have a duty to safeguard the welfare of children in need. This is especially the case when children are under the supervision of local authorities. Extensive guidance has already been issued to local authorities to help them discharge their duties under the Act.Proposals for legislation to regulate the social services workforce are contained in the consultation paper Regulating Care and the Social Services Workforce which issued in December 1999. The legislation will establish the Scottish Social Services Council which will register key groups of social work staff as a prerequisite before they can be employed or continue in employment. In developing this body, the Scottish Executive is seeking to ensure that users of social services have confidence in those who provide the services.

Question reference: S1W-04373

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 29 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from East Ayrshire Council in respect of its revenue support grant for 2000-01.

Question reference: S1W-04405

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 29 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a breakdown of the Special Deprivation Allowance by local authority for the current financial year and each of the next two years.

We agreed with CoSLA that special deprivation payments for 2000-01 should be targeted, as follows, at those councils experiencing higher levels of deprivation: Clackmannanshire (£0.13 million), Dundee City (£1.6 million), East Ayrshire (£1.1 million), Eilean Siar (£0.17 million), City of Glasgow (£8.7 million), Inverclyde (£0.9 million), North Ayrshire (£1.2 million), North Lanarkshire (£2.9 million), Renfrewshire (£1.4 million), South Lanarkshire (£1.5 million) and West Dunbartonshire (£1.0 million).The payments are for 2000-01 only, pending the completion of a review of the account taken of indicators of deprivation and poverty within the local government finance distribution system.

Question reference: S1W-04376

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 29 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a detailed account of the methodology used by it and its executive agencies to determine the "number of jobs created and safeguarded" through its various activities and to provide a definition of "jobs saved" and "jobs safeguarded".

Reference to numbers of jobs created and safeguarded is most frequently made in relation to projects recorded by Locate in Scotland. In this regard, the methodology used to determine the total number of such jobs is to aggregate the relevant employment forecasts made by the companies planning to undertake these projects. Locate in Scotland defines a "new" or "created" job as one which did not exist prior to the commencement of the planned project. A "safeguarded" or "saved" job is one which, had the planned project not proceeded, would otherwise have been lost.

Question reference: S1W-04341

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 25 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what its current assessment is of the viability of a public-private partnership for the proposed A77 upgrade between Fenwick and Malletsheugh.

Question reference: S1W-04342

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 25 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a preferred location for a new service station on the M77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick once it is completed.

Question reference: S1W-04346

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 25 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of the proposed upgrade of the A77 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh in respect of the planning and other statutory procedures which require to be undertaken prior to commencement and whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of the sequence of activities between now and the issuing of invitations to tender for the construction contract.

The following orders for the M77 scheme were made on 17 December 1999:

The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) Special Road Scheme 1999

The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) Side Roads Order 1999

The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) (Supplementary) Side Roads Order 1999

The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) Side Roads (No.2) Order 1999

The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) Appropriation Order 1999

The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) Compulsory Purchase Order 1999

The M77 Special Road (Floak to Malletsheugh) Special Road Scheme 1999

The M77 Special Road (Floak to Malletsheugh) Side Roads Order 1999

The M77 Special Road (Floak to Malletsheugh) Appropriation Order 1999

The M77 Special Road (Floak to Malletsheugh) Compulsory Purchase Order 1999

The following orders will be made shortly:

The M77 Special Road (Fenwick to Floak) Extinguishment of Public Rights of Way Order 2000

The A77 Trunk Road (Fenwick to Floak) de-trunking Order 2000

The M77 Special Road (Floak to Malletsheugh) Extinguishment of Public Rights of Way Order 2000

The A77 Special Road (Floak to Malletsheugh) de-trunking Order 2000 The main activities remaining are minor adjustments to the design to take account of changes to farm accesses, drainage and landscaping. These changes are likely to result in supplementary side road and land orders. The preparation of the tender document will follow, with ground investigation and archaeological investigations to be undertaken. My officials are working to a programme to invite tenderers to submit bids for a Design Build Finance and operate (PPP) contract in Spring 2001 with a view to a contract being awarded in Spring 2002. Design and construction work will be undertaken in advance of the main contract to provide replacement holes at Eastwood Golf Course.

Question reference: S1W-04344

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 25 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish the environmental study for the Floak to Malletsheugh section of the proposed A77 upgrade.

Question reference: S1W-04343

Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 25 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider bringing forward the Fenwick to Floak section of the proposed A77 upgrade.