- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 20 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide written proof that it was accepted by both parties to the settlement reached between Shirley McKie and the Scottish Executive that an “honest mistake” was made by individuals.
Answer
The Scottish Executive offeredto settle with Ms McKie on the basis that the misidentification had been made ingood faith and was not malicious. This was made clear to Ms McKie and her legaladvisers in writing on 29 June 2005. When the case was settled on 7 February 2006, thejudge noted that the settlement was made without admission of liability.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 20 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, in respect of the quashing of the conviction of David Asbury for the murder of Marion Ross in Kilmarnock in 1997 on the basis that the fingerprint evidence provided by the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) was unreliable, what action was taken by Scottish Ministers and the Lord Advocate to rectify the deficiencies in the fingerprint evidence being presented by the SCRO.
Answer
I refer to the member to the answer to question S2W-23156 on 10 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 20 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21275 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, who made the assessment of these costs.
Answer
I referthe member to answer to question S2W-23923on 20 March 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 20 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had (a) with Her Majesty’s Government and (b) internally about the impact of potential exploration for sources of oil in the Atlantic Ocean.
Answer
Scottish ministers meet regularlywith the oil and gas industry and play an active role in PILOT, working throughthis forum with the UK government and the industry to maximise the productivelife of the UK continental shelf – which includes the waters West ofShetland.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 20 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23439 by Cathy Jamieson on 7 March 2006, when it expects that the court will have resolved the outstanding issues in relation to expenses in respect of the Shirley McKie case.
Answer
A motion for expenses was heardby Lord Hodge in the Court of Session on 9 March 2006.He reserved his judgement and the timing of that judgement is a matter for the Court.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 20 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21577 by Cathy Jamieson on 22 December 2005, whether it is a responsibility of the public, press or politicians in Scotland to investigate crime and obtain evidence satisfactory to gain a conviction on the necessary judicial standard.
Answer
The investigation and prosecutionof crime is a matter for the police, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Serviceand the Lord Advocate. If there is credibleand reliable information that a crime has been, or is to be committed, it is forthe police to investigate. If they secure sufficient evidence for considerationof criminal proceedings, the police will report the result of their investigationto the procurator fiscal. If anyone has specific information concerning criminalactivities which have taken place, are taking place, or are about to take placethey should take that information to the police.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 20 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23439 by Cathy Jamieson on 7 March 2006, what the total costs to it have been to date of the legal representation which it sought in defence of the claim for compensation against it by Shirley McKie, broken down by year since 1997.
Answer
Legal costs paid to date total£109,034.81 net of VAT.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 20 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the cost of constructing the M80 through the identified Kelvin Valley route has been analysed by either an independent contractor or consultancy engineers.
Answer
The cost estimate was independentlyprepared by Jacobs Babtie, a leading firm of consulting engineers.
Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 20 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive why it prefers to upgrade the A80 on its on-line route to full motorway status, rather than constructing the M80 through the identified Kelvin Valley route.
Answer
This matter was fully discussedat the Public Local Inquiry held in October 2005.
Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 06 March 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 20 March 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21275 by Tavish Scott on 15 December 2005, whether its estimate of the cost of constructing the M80 through the identified Kelvin Valley route takes account of the (a) good rock that would be excavated at various points on the route that could be crushed on site and utilised for hardcore and other purposes, thus saving purchase cost and aggregate tax, (b) utilisation of excavated material which could be used as filling, thereby saving on landfill transport and landfill tax, or (c) sale of large amounts of peat that could be excavated on the route which could be offset against the costs of construction.
Answer
The Kelvin Valley Route was costed in outline for the Public Local Inquiry held in October 2005.A general allowance for these items was included in these costs, but the estimatesdid not separately identify these savings.
Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.
