- Asked by: Bristow Muldoon, MSP for Livingston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 29 January 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 12 February 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on its commitment to setting up an improvement service for local government.
Answer
The Executive, COSLA andSOLACE have entered into a partnership to deliver this new improvement servicefor local government. A shadow board representing the partners is now in placeand met twice, once in November and again in January 2004. We have agreed abusiness framework with a vision for the improvement service to support,promote and assist in the delivery of excellent public services throughlearning, sharing and delivering improvement solutions. The improvement serviceis now recruiting for a chief executive to lead this new dynamic organisation.
- Asked by: Bristow Muldoon, MSP for Livingston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 13 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what figures are available on the level of prosecutions for driving under the influence of drugs.
Answer
Therelevant sections of the Road Traffic Act are section 4(1) (driving whilst unfit through drink ordrugs) and section 4(2) (being in charge of a motor vehicle whilst unfitthrough drink or drugs). In 2002-03, Procurators Fiscal received reportscontaining a total of 1,204 charges under section 4 (1) or (2) of the RoadTraffic Act 1988. One thousand, one hundred and two charges were marked toproceed. It is not possible to extract information about the breakdown ofdrink/drugs offences within that figure.
- Asked by: Bristow Muldoon, MSP for Livingston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 September 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 September 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with Her Majesty's Government and the Strategic Rail Authority regarding rail infrastructure investment in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact the UK Government and the Strategic Rail Authorityon a wide range of issues, including rail infrastructure.
- Asked by: Bristow Muldoon, MSP for Livingston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 September 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 3 September 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32620 by Lewis Macdonald on 13 December 2002, when it will publish the Performance Audit Group's report on the second year of operation of the trunk road operating companies.
Answer
The report, entitled Public report on the second year of the trunk road operating companies – 2002/2003, will be published today. The report, which has been prepared by the Performance Audit Group, will be available on the Scottish Executive’s web page and copies will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 28923). Further copies can be obtained directly from the Performance Audit Group by writing to them at 16 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6LB.
- Asked by: Bristow Muldoon, MSP for Livingston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 30 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and the Strategic Rail Authority to ensure that the Royal Mail allows third party parcel operators to use rail terminals if it proceeds with its proposals to withdraw its rail services for the distribution of mail.
Answer
The use of rail terminals for third party parcel operators is a matter for the Royal Mail. As I stated in the Scottish Parliament chamber on 14 June 2003, I intend to make representations to the UK Government on the Royal Mail's proposal to discontinue using rail for mail distribution in favour of road. I also intend to raise the issue of third party usage of Royal Mail terminals.
- Asked by: Bristow Muldoon, MSP for Livingston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 22 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it allocated to the Royal Mail in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03.
Answer
Allocation of funding to the Royal Mail is reserved to the UK Government.
- Asked by: Bristow Muldoon, MSP for Livingston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 22 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Transport regarding the proposal by the Royal Mail to withdraw rail services for the distribution of mail.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Transport on a wide range of issues.
- Asked by: Bristow Muldoon, MSP for Livingston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 22 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking regarding the impact of the proposal by the Royal Mail to withdraw its rail services for the distribution of mail.
Answer
Next month I am to meet both English, Welsh and Scottish Railway and the Royal Mail to receive further briefing on this matter. Following these meetings, I intend to make representations to the UK Government.
- Asked by: Bristow Muldoon, MSP for Livingston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 16 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether applications to move mail by rail would meet its criteria for rail freight grants in respect of transferring lorry miles from road to rail.
Answer
The movement of mail by rail can be considered for both Freight Facilities and Track Access Grant support. There are a number of criteria that must be met before awards of either grant can be made; however, these grants are available to carriers of all types of freight.
- Asked by: Bristow Muldoon, MSP for Livingston, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 May 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 June 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase public sector employment as a proportion of the total employment market in West Lothian.
Answer
The Executive is committed to achieving sustainable economic development based upon the strategic priorities contained in A Smart, Successful Scotland. This includes raising the employment rate across Scotland and reducing gaps in unemployment rates between areas.The Executive is committed to the dispersal of public sector jobs through its relocation policy. Our policy covers all of Scotland and opportunities are considered on a case-by-case basis. Potential locations in West Lothian can be considered along with others from around the country.
