- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that quality contracts in respect of transport projects are taken up and made simpler to obtain; whether additional funds will be made available to local authorities to meet the cost of the take-up of quality contracts if additional revenue is required by transport operators, and if so, from which budget such funds will be allocated and, if not, how local authorities will encourage the creation of quality contracts operators.
Answer
A Partnership for a Better Scotland commits the Executive to promoting bus quality contracts and guidance is available to help transport authorities to develop proposals. A quality contract will have a significant effect on the bus services to which it relates. It is important that the assessment of the case is robust and we have no plans to change the rules which are set out in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001. Local authorities have substantial resources to enable them to meet the transport needs of their areas through non-housing capital and Revenue Support Grant - both of which have significantly increased in recent years. In addition, the Executive's Public Transport Fund and Integrated Transport Fund have supported a range of bus related projects throughout Scotland, with committed funding continuing into 2005-06.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will dispense with the need for a full Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance proposal for the creation of quality contracts in respect of transport projects and, if so, when this will take place.
Answer
No. The Scottish Executive has no plans to dispense with the need for a STAG appraisal for transport policies, projects and programmes for which it provides funding, support or approval.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support or funding is available to assist in the maintenance and enhancement of international maritime routes and whether any additional funding will be available for the Superfast Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry route.
Answer
A Partnership for a Better Scotland commits the Executive to improving Scotland's ferry links to mainland Europe. We will be developing plans to deliver this commitment but our ability to offer financial support in connection with any such ferry links is limited particularly by EU state aids rules.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it takes to monitor, follow up and ensure implementation of local authority freight strategies and what the purpose of each current strategy is.
Answer
The guidance issued to local authorities on local transport strategies reminds them of the need to consider freight issues. Separate freight strategies are not required.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding the viability of cruise liners operating between Scotland and Scandinavia; if it has no information, what plans it has to gather such information and what the reasons are for its position on this matter, and what support is available for acquiring such information.
Answer
The Scottish Executive will be assessing a range of factors related to the market for shipping services between Scotland and mainland Europe as it seeks to deliver its commitment to improve Scotland's ferry links to mainland Europe. The tourism bodies are seeking to promote Scotland as an attractive destination for the cruise liner market in the light of the important potential economic benefits.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations require an environmental impact assessment to be carried out in respect of ports, harbours and maritime developments; under what circumstances such an assessment should be carried out, and what procedures have to be followed in respect of such assessments and in respect of coastal 'one planning.
Answer
The Harbour Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999 define the circumstances, in relation to proposed ports and harbours developments, which would determine whether an environmental assessment is required. Such developments normally relate to an application for a harbour order to convey the powers to undertake works under the Harbours Act 1964, or an application for a consent to undertake works under section 34 of the Coast Protection Act 1949 in relation to safety of navigation.In determining whether the circumstances of individual cases require an environmental assessment, the views of the relevant environmental bodies are sought. The procedures involved are set out in the regulations.Onshore aspects of coastal zone planning are subject to the town and country planning regime but we are continually moving towards a more holistic approach where all aspects of the coast are considered in delivering a balanced approach to development.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 24 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what stage costing and planning for the redevelopment of Waverley Station have reached.
Answer
A steering group chaired by the Strategic Rail Authority, and which includes the Executive, Network Rail and the City of Edinburgh Council, is overseeing the necessary preliminary work required to assess the options available.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Robert Brown on 24 July 2003
To ask the Presiding Officer what costs have been incurred in the employment of the acting Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.
Answer
The acting Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, Mr William Spence QPM, was appointed by the SPCB on 31 January 2003. The costs including salary and associated expenses for work undertaken on investigating complaints against members during the period 31 January 2003 until 31 March 2003 was £6,059.79. Final costs for the period 1 April 2003 to the present are not yet available.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 24 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, or will make, and to whom, regarding the International Maritime Organisation and European Commission investigation into the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code; whether it will seek any deregulation in respect of this matter, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of reserved ports and shipping security issues. These include the International Maritime Organisation International Ship and Port Facility Security Code and related EU Maritime Security Regulation.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 June 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 21 July 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the road maintenance budget has been in each year since 1998-99 and what the budget will be in each of the next ten years.
Answer
The road maintenance budget since 1998-99 is as follows:
| | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 |
| Outturn | Outturn | Outturn | Outturn | Provisional Outturn | Plans | Plans | Plans |
| Total £m | 98.15 | 107.55 | 116.42 | 104.25 | 125.15 | 96.53 | 96.53 | 96.53 |
Figures prior to 1 April 2002 include an element of VAT (typically between £10 million and £15 million per year), which the Scottish Executive was able to recover. From 1 April 2002 onward, the SE adopted a net accounting policy whereby VAT is deducted at source, consequently figures after the 1 April 2002 do not include a sum in respect of VAT. The budgets for years 2006-07 onwards will be set in the appropriate spending reviews.
