- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 18 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy and timetable is in relation to expanding digital television coverage.
Answer
There is a UK-wide strategy to extend digital television coverage. The switch-over from the analogue signal is planned to take place between 2006 and 2010; this requires that viewers who can receive analogue television now must be able to receive the main free-to-air channels digitally.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 18 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of changing the name of visitscotland to VisitScotland and from which expenditure head the costs were met.
Answer
This is an operational matter for VisitScotland. However, I understand that no cost was incurred.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 13 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been in contact with the Civil Aviation Authority, airports or the operator regarding the Inverness to Gatwick air route and, if so, whether it has received any assurances regarding the maintenance of the route.
Answer
The Scottish Executive meets airport operators including the operator of Inverness Airport, as well as airlines, on a regular basis to discuss a variety of issues including the Inverness-Gatwick route. The Executive has had no contact with the Civil Aviation Authority, which has no role in slot allocation, on the specific issue of the Inverness-Gatwick route. The Executive has no evidence that British Airways (BA) intends to use the Gatwick slots, which are currently used for the Inverness service, for another purpose.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 10 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy exists, in connection with the marketing of Scotland as a tourist destination, to promote Robert Burns abroad; which organisations and individuals have been involved in formulating any such strategy; what action has been taken in support of any such strategy, and what budget is made available annually to support any such strategy, detailing the amount spent in 1999-2000, 2000-01 and in 2001-02 to date
Answer
The Executive is considering how best to develop a programme of events which, as part of the wider Scottish Tourism Strategy, will raise the profile and understanding of Burns both at home and abroad. We are currently consulting with a wide range of bodies local authorities, enterprise, cultural and tourism bodies as to how the Executive might contribute to their existing plans. Financial information is not available in the form requested.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 09 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources will be made available to the City of Edinburgh Council for an alternative strategy to the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme; when any such resources will be available, and whether any special conditions will be attached in respect of any such resources.
Answer
The City of Edinburgh Council has applied for funding for part of its alternative strategy to the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme from the fourth round of the Public Transport Fund.I expect to make announcements on all bids to this round of the Public Transport Fund by the end of October.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to have a public service obligation placed on the Inverness to Gatwick air route and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
The imposition of a public service obligation on a cross-border air service is a matter for the UK Government. The Scottish Executive will, however, continue to work with Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on how best the Inverness-Gatwick route can be safeguarded.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 5 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what budget will be allocated to the marketing of Scotland as a tourist destination in Belgium and the Netherlands between now and May 2002.
Answer
This is an operational matter for VisitScotland. The information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 5 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive which rail freight infrastructure schemes, excluding projects receiving track access or freight facilities grants, it wishes the Strategic Rail Authority to take forward in order to develop rail freight over the next 10 years and what other policies it has in place to develop rail freight.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-17457 on 28 August 2001.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 5 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional resources have been or will be made available to market Scotland as a tourist destination in (a) Zeebrugge and (b) Belgium in the current financial year.
Answer
The funding resources available to VisitScotland has been almost doubled since February 2000. It is for VisitScotland to decide its marketing priorities.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 July 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 5 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it collates relating to loss of urban green space.
Answer
None, although sportscotland monitors the impact of development proposals on playing fields in Scotland. The Executive published research on Rethinking Open Space (Bib. no. 12100) in March 2001 to assist local authorities in preparing open space policies for their areas. A Planning Advice Note is currently being prepared to complement this research.
