- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 5 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what fuel costs have been incurred by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency annually since 1997.
Answer
This is a matter for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any representations or input which have been made and to whom in respect of the imposition of VAT on bridge tolls and what consideration it has given to the effect of this measure throughout Scotland.
Answer
There has been ongoing liaison with the UK Government to ensure that the UK defence fully reflects the situation in Scotland.
The decision of the European Court of Justice is not due until 12 September. The UK Government and the devolved administrations are at present considering the likely consequences if the Court does not find in favour of the United Kingdom.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken or plans to take to support the setting up of a newspaper recycling plant.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is currently investigating the feasibility of the establishment of a newspaper recycling plant in Scotland.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what direction and guidance it has given to the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority in respect of the proposed Bathgate to Airdrie rail link.
Answer
Under the provisions made in the UK Transport Bill, introduced on 1 December 1999, the Scottish Ministers will be able to issue directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority for passenger rail services that begin and end in Scotland. Since the Bill has not completed its passage through Parliament at Westminster, the Scottish Ministers are not yet able to exercise these powers. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority on a wide range of matters affecting the development of the railways in Scotland.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 4 July 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-7592 by Ross Finnie on 16 June 2000, (a) on what date, and by what method, the information was relayed to the Food and Agricultural Group of the Minister's department, (b) on what date, and by what method, the Food and Agriculture Group asked officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) for further details, (c) by what method a response was elicited from MAFF and (d) at what stage the Minister was informed of the possible problem and of the full extent of the problem.
Answer
I have already made it perfectly clear that the first occasion on which the Scottish Executive was fully and properly informed of this problem was on 15 May. Between 5 May and that date my officials made enquiries of the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food to establish the facts.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has obtained or will seek to obtain the Strategic Rail Authority's comments on the Incremental Output Statements relating to Scotland and whether, when and how these comments will be published.
Answer
Officials of the Scottish Executive are in regular contact with the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority (SSRA) on a range of matters, including the draft Incremental Output Statements. Railtrack's estimated costings for these are being evaluated by the SSRA. The authority will be drawing up a shortlist of outputs that will be considered as part of the Rail Regulator's review of access charges. The Regulator will then issue a consultation document on proposals for funding the implementation of IOS.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to respond to Railtrack's Network Management Statement and when it will publish any response.
Answer
I refer Mr MacAskill to my answer to question S1W-6850.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it had any role and input into the appointment of the Chief Executive of the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) given the Executive's responsibility for road safety in Scotland and the role of the DVLA in assisting with UK road safety objectives.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to driver and vehicle licensing.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure that the Larkhall rail line scheme proceeds and what the timetable is for the scheme.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-6806.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 15 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 26 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5865 by Sarah Boyack on 8 May 2000 and if the direction and guidance to be given to the Strategic Rail Authority will not contain detailed prescription about infrastructure, (a) what proposals in Railtrack's 2000 Network Management Statement for Scotland it will comment on and seek to have implemented, (b) which points in the Statement it will support in its direction and guidance and (c) what vision it has for the expansion of rail line in Scotland.
Answer
The Executive's vision is for Scotland's railways to play a full and growing part in a sustainable, effective and integrated transport system which is accessible and safe, and which meets economic and social needs without threatening the health of our environment. The proposals outlined in Railtrack's 2000 Network Management Statement for Scotland will help inform the Executive's consideration of the strategic priorities for developing such a railway network. These priorities will underpin the directions and guidance that will be issued to the Strategic Rail Authority for the passenger services that begin and end in Scotland. We will publish those directions and guidance. In addition, we will shortly issue guidance to the SRA on the East Coast Main Line franchise, which we will also publish.
