- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support rural petrol stations other than through the rural transport fund.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10809.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide revenue support to rural petrol stations.
Answer
Revenue support to rural petrol stations is available through the Village Shop Rate Relief Scheme. Under this scheme, rural petrol stations may be eligible for up to 100% rates relief. The Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme provides funding to rural petrol stations to help with the capital costs of replacing tanks and pumps, meeting groundwater protection needs and installing tanks and dispensers for the sale of liquid petroleum gas.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it assisted in any way with the tender made by Caledonian MacBrayne, in conjunction with a private partner, for the Northern Isles passenger ferry subsidy contract.
Answer
The Scottish Executive did not assist Northlink, the joint venture involving Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd and the Royal Bank of Scotland, in the preparation of the tender submitted for the Northern Isles ferry contract. The limited costs incurred by Caledonian MacBrayne in bid preparation and in the start-up of the joint venture will be repaid from the return which Northlink is expected to earn for the company.Scottish Executive officials had a number of meetings and other contacts with Northlink representatives and its professional advisers, in order to provide advice to Scottish Ministers in their capacity as sole shareholder of Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. Such contacts were necessary to enable Ministers to determine whether they were content for the company to submit a joint venture bid and to provide them with the information necessary to satisfy themselves that the terms of the bid would not involve any competitive advantage to the joint venture arising from Ministers' ownership of Caledonian MacBrayne. A separation of duties was in place between officials engaged in that process and those considering the tenders submitted for the Northern Isles contract. That confidentiality arrangement will remain in place until such times as contractual negotiations are completed and a contract is awarded.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Caledonian MacBrayne's tender, in conjunction with a private partner, for the Northern Isles passenger ferry subsidy contract was submitted on a commercial basis and, if not, on what basis it was submitted.
Answer
I refer to my reply to question S1W-10863.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the rate of financial return assumed by Caledonian MacBrayne in its tender, in conjunction with a private partner, for the Northern Isles passenger ferry subsidy contract was an appropriate commercial rate.
Answer
I can confirm that the tender submitted by Northlink, the joint venture involving Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd and the Royal Bank of Scotland, was based on a full economic return.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or intends to make to Her Majesty's Government regarding the reduction or abolition of track access charges for rail freight in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including rail freight.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to promote the creation of an enterprise 'one running parallel to the proposed M74 north extension to assist economic enhancement of the area.
Answer
No, however, the Scottish Executive recognises the potential for economic development and regeneration alongside the proposed M74 northern extension. Discussions with the three councils involved are ongoing.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected commencement and completion dates are for work on the M74 north extension and whether workplace parking charges will be part of any requirement either to fund the scheme or as a condition to be met by any local authority to ensure the works proceed.
Answer
A special project team is being established to take forward this large and complex project. The overall timetable for preparation, planning, land acquisition, any Public Inquiry and construction is presently estimated at around eight to nine years. The power to levy workplace parking charges is no longer part of the Transport (Scotland) Bill.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had to the Teaching Companies Scheme operated by the Department of Trade and Industry in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive makes a very substantial input into TCS (formerly the Teaching Company Scheme) in Scotland.
The Scottish Executive is one of 11 TCS Sponsors, together with five other Government Departments (DTI is the lead sponsor) and five Research Councils. It is sponsors who jointly provide the funding for TCS and decide upon scheme policy and qualifying criteria.
The Scottish Executive acts as a liaison point for the activities of TCS consultants and the three TCS Centres in Scotland.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the advice it sought and obtained regarding the requirement of European legislation and directives to put CalMac routes out to tender and to do so on a two-thirds route basis and whether (a) any such advice was from within its own offices and its own legal advisors; (b) it has obtained any independent advice from members of the Scottish Bar and (c) it has obtained any advice from European law experts; whether it will provide full details of the advice, and what are the specific sections of the legislation or directives which require this process to take place.
Answer
The general policy of the Scottish Executive is that it does not disclose legal advice, nor the fact that it has taken legal advice. It is not considered that there is any reason to depart from that policy in this case.
