- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 19 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects have been funded under the Public Transport Fund and what the date of completion or expected completion is for each project.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10371 on 1 November in which I listed the estimated completion dates of 33 of the 52 projects which are receiving support from the Public Transport Fund. Since then a further project, Ellon Park and Ride (Aberdeenshire Council), was completed in November. On 9 November I announced awards for 19 projects which are due to be completed between 2001-02 and 2003-04. Local authorities are not required to submit action plans detailing the timescales for implementing these new projects until prior to the start of the funding period in April 2001, therefore estimated completion dates are not presently available.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 19 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is regarding the Larkhall rail link and when an announcement is anticipated.
Answer
I refer Mr MacAskill to the answer to question S1W-9959 given on 9 October 2000.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 17 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an undertaking that no public sector jobs will be lost as a consequence of the current tendering process relating to the management and maintenance of trunk roads.
Answer
It is not possible to give such an undertaking.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 17 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or proposes to make to the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority regarding a rail link to Edinburgh Airport.
Answer
On 28 November last year we published a consultation paper on strategic priorities for Scotland's railways as part of the process of developing directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority. During this process we will give consideration to a wide range of issues, including rail links to airports.In fulfilment of the undertakings given in the UK integrated transport white paper, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (which is the sponsoring UK department for aviation policy) initiated a series of regional airports studies. That for Scotland was carried out jointly with the Scottish Executive. In conjunction with the Scottish study an additional project has been undertaken on the rail links to Glasgow and Edinburgh airports with support from the shadow Strategic Rail Authority.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Colin Boyd on 16 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many criminal prosecutions relating to tobacco smuggling there have been in each year since 1997 and how many such prosecutions resulted in an (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentence.
Answer
Offences involving tobacco smuggling are prosecuted under the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 and the records of prosecutions under that Act do not distinguish between different types of contraband. Customs and Excise estimate that cases concerning the smuggling of "personal use" quantities run at about 35 a year and these typically do not result in custodial sentences. So far as smuggling of commercial quantities is concerned, all cases reported by Customs and Excise have been prosecuted and the figures are as follows:
1997 | 1 case | 3.3 million cigarettes | 18 months prison |
1998 | 1 case | 1.7 million cigarettes | 12 months prison |
1999 | 2 cases | (a) 7.3 million cigarettes | 12 months prison |
| | | (b) 0.4 million cigarettes | accused acquitted |
There were no cases completed in 2000 but three cases are to be tried early in 2001. It should also be kept in mind that, under the wide jurisdictional provisions of the 1979 Act, some cases with Scottish elements have been prosecuted in English courts. Figures are not available for such cases.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 12 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is in relation to the creation of a film studio in Scotland; what action it has taken in support of any such strategy, and what funding is available for the sourcing and establishment of a film studio.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has noted the evidence that a film studio in Scotland could help to bring about a substantial expansion in the volume of production in film, television and new media in Scotland. Scottish Screen has put forward a proposal for the construction of a film studio. This is being considered by the Executive.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 12 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff it employs in connection with the maintenance and creation of external air links.
Answer
The Scottish Executive employs no staff directly related to the maintenance and creation of external air links. It does, however, support Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd which can provide discounted airport charges to operators of new services for the first three years of operation, and it also supports the Enterprise Networks and Scottish Tourist Board which can assist in determining the need and demand for such air services.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 12 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed in the bus and aviation section of the Transport Division of its Development Department; how many of these staff deal solely with aviation, and what the grades of these staff are.
Answer
Seven staff are employed in the section of the Scottish Executive Development Department's Transport Division which deals with bus and aviation matters. Two deal solely with aviation issues. Their grades are B2 and B1.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 12 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it proposes to make available for research and development in the area of film and media development.
Answer
Scottish Screen as the public body for film and related media assesses current developments and opportunities in the film, television and new media industries. In doing so they work with Scottish Enterprise who launched their Creative Industries Cluster Plan in August. No specific funding for such research and development has been identified by the Executive.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 10 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage Scots working abroad or in England with skills in the labour market that are scarce to return to Scotland.
Answer
Policy on employment issues is a reserved matter.The Scottish Executive's Programme for Government places a high priority on employability, the relevance of education and training provision to employer needs, and matching skills to the employment market. A key role of the new Scottish Labour Market Intelligence Unit will be to improve the availability, nationally and locally, of information about current and future demand.
