Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S1W-09853

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 28 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9166 by Sarah Boyack on 13 September 2000, what projected timescale for development is contained in the detailed bid for the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit Scheme.

The City of Edinburgh Council's original bid to the Transport Challenge Fund envisaged that the project would be operational in 2001. It is now understood from the council that, due to delays related to the preparation of a Parliamentary Order and the development of the Private Finance Initiative package, the construction phase of the project is expected to commence early next year and take two years to complete.

Question reference: S1W-09290

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 26 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the mileage rates payable to staff and users in each Executive department or agency where these are available on an annual basis since 1997, and for which departments or agencies these details are not available.

The mileage rates payable to staff from April 1997 are as follows:

Scottish Executive

	Motor Mileage	Motor Cycle	Pedal Cycle	Passenger Supplement*	Equipment Supplement^#	Leased Car	Public Transport Rate
1997-98	33.0 pence	22.8 pence	6.2 pence	2.0 pence	2.0 pence	8.0 pence	-
1998-99	34.0 pence	23.0 pence	6.2 pence	2.0 pence	2.0 pence	8.0 pence	-
1999-2000	36.0 pence	23.0 pence	12.0 pence	2.0 pence	2.0 pence	8.0 pence	25.0 pence
2000-01	39.0 pence	24.0 pence	12.0 pence	2.0 pence	2.0 pence	8.0 pence	26.0 pence

* 2.0 pence per mile for first passenger and 1.0 pence per mile for any additional passengers.

# rate per mile for carrying heavy equipment which may cause abnormal deterioration to the interior of the car.

The following Agencies and Department of the Executive operate their own Dispensation arrangements with the Inland Revenue. The mileage rates they have paid since April 1997 are as follows:

Scottish Prison Service

	Motor Mileage	Motor Cycle	Pedal Cycle	Passenger Supplement*	Equipment Supplement^#	Excess Fare Allowance	Additional Attendance^◊
1997-2000	32.0 pence	22.8 pence	6.2 pence	2.0 pence	2.0 pence	-	-
2000-01	32.0 pence (up to 4000 miles per tax year) 22.5 pence (over 4000 miles per tax year)	22.8 pence	6.2 pence	2.0 pence	2.0 pence	30.0 pence	32.0 pence (taxable)

* 2.0 pence per mile for first passenger and 1.0 pence per mile for any additional passengers.

# rate per mile for carrying heavy equipment which may cause abnormal deterioration to the interior of the car.

◊ Rate payable to staff who travel to their place of work on overtime.

Registers of Scotland

	Motor Mileage	Passenger Supplement
1997-2001	32.0 pence	2.0 pence

Scottish Courts Group

	0-1500cc*	1500-2000cc*	Over 2000*	Public Transport Rate
1997-August 2000
Per mile up to 5000 miles	35.7 pence	42.0 pence	46.0 pence	23.0 pence
Per mile over 5000 miles	18.0 pence	22.0 pence	30.0 pence	23.0 pence

* Based on Motor Engine Capacity

September 2000 onwards - adopting Scottish Executive rates

Crown Office

	0-1000cc^#	1001-1500cc^#	1501-2000cc#	Over 2000cc^#	Public Transport	Passenger Supplement*	Equipment Supplement^◊
1997-2000
Per mile up to 4000 miles	27.0 pence	34.0 pence	43.0 pence	50 pence	25.0 pence	2.0 pence	2.0 pence
Per mile over 4000 miles	15.0 pence	19.0 pence	23.0 pence	32 pence	25.0 pence	2.0 pence	2.0 pence

^{#Based on Motor Engine Capacity.
*2.0 pence per mile for first passenger and 1.0 pence per mile for any additional passengers.
◊rate per mile for carrying heavy equipment which may cause abnormal deterioration to the interior of the car.}

Question reference: S1W-09289

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 26 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what advice the Executive has given to its government agencies regarding mileage rates payable to staff.

Question reference: S1W-09262

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 26 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it intends to make in connection with the maintenance of a direct flight from Edinburgh to Vienna.

Question reference: S1W-09786

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 25 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1943 by Sarah Boyack on 22 November 1999 and to question S1W-9177, whether it will provide a breakdown of the current modal forms of access available to the public to its office at Victoria Quay.

Question reference: S1W-09568

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 04 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 25 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost Caledonian MacBrayne to prepare for the tendering of its routes and whether any additional funding is being provided to meet any such costs.

Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd will consider the likely cost of bidding for its present routes in detail once we have announced the outcome of the "Delivering Lifeline Ferry Services" consultation exercise, particularly on matters such as route bundling for tendering purposes.

We shall consider any representations that the company may wish to make about the need for additional funding to cover route bidding and other company costs associated with compliance with European Union requirements.

Question reference: S1W-09705

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 21 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8302 by Sarah Boyack on 22 August 2000, to what conditions awards of Regional Selective Assistance towards start-up international air service projects are subject, and what timescales apply to any such conditions and any Regional Selective Assistance awarded.

Offers of assistance to start-up international air service projects would be subject to standard conditions attached to all Regional Selective Assistance offers and specific conditions tailored to the grant-assisted project. All conditions would be set out in full in any formal offer of assistance made towards such a project. In order to comply with current European Guidelines on National Regional Aid, grant offers would remain subject to those conditions for a minimum period of five years from the date of first payment of grant.

Question reference: S1W-09703

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 21 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8302 by Sarah Boyack on 22 August 2000, what the criteria are for considering applications for Regional Selective Assistance towards start-up international air service projects.

All applications for Regional Selective Assistance, including those which relate to start-up international air services projects, must meet in full the criteria of the scheme, which are as follows:

(i) projects must be undertaken in the Assisted Areas;

(ii) projects must create or safeguard jobs;

(ii) projects must be viable;

(iv) applicants must demonstrate a need for assistance, and

(v) the greater part of the funding for projects should be provided by the private sector.

Question reference: S1W-09704

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 21 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8302 by Sarah Boyack on 22 August 2000, what Regional Selective Assistance has been or is being sought towards start-up international air service projects.

Question reference: S1W-09688

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2000
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 20 September 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9009 by Henry McLeish on 5 September 2000, why it expects that an increase in the number of liquid petroleum gas outlets would have a positive impact on tourism and, in particular, what assumptions underpin this expectation and whether it will quantify the extent of the expected positive impact.

Greater availability of LPG will increase choice for the visitor, and will encourage the option of LPG vehicles. Increased usage of LPG will result in reduced costs and could therefore encourage visitors to travel more widely within Scotland. Tourists from countries where LPG is particularly popular will be more likely to visit.

The extent of the impact of LPG on the tourism industry has not been quantified, but I have asked the STB to undertake research.