- 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 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail its role in monitoring and promoting rail projects supported in whole or in part from public resources such as the Public Transport Fund or the Railway Passenger Partnership.
Answer
It is for each local authority and the SPTA to put forward bids to the Public Transport Fund and so far 9 rail-related projects are receiving support. At the start of each project the local authority must prepare an Action Plan setting out how it proposes to implement the project for which it is responsible and provide regular updates throughout the funding period to demonstrate how the plans are progressing.
The shadow Strategic Rail Authority administers the Rail Passenger Partnership scheme, designed to encourage improvements in the rail network. The Scottish Executive is consulted on applications from Scotland.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what has been the number and costs of any consultancies, studies or reports into the reopening of the Stirling/Alloa/Dunfermline railway line on an annual basis since 1997.
Answer
I am aware of the following seven relevant pieces of work:-
ORIGINATOR OF REPORT | REPORT | DATE |
RAILTRACK | Value Management Workshop | Commenced January 2000 Completed February 2000 |
RAILTRACK | Freight Facilities Prospects Study | September 1999 |
RAILTRACK | Geology/Mining Report | August 1999 |
RAILTRACK | Structures Report | Mid-1999 |
RAILTRACK | Public Transport Study | April 1999 |
RAILTRACK | Main Study | March 1999 |
SPAVEN MCROSSAN (for Railtrack and others) | Developing Railfreight in Clackmannanshire | February 1999 |
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what costs have been incurred on an annual basis since 1995, broken down by health board area, on (a) vehicle fuel and (b) transport.
Answer
Information on vehicle fuel and transport costs incurred by Health Boards and NHS Trusts is not collected centrally.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the transport research budget has been on an annual basis over the last five years.
Answer
The information requested is given in the table below:
Financial Year | Transport Research Budget |
2000-2001 | £1,400,000 |
1999-2000 | £1,220,000 |
1998-1999 | £1,374,000 |
1997-1998 | £1,190,000 |
1996-1997 | £1,130,000 |
(Source: Scottish Executive Development Department)
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the European Convention on Human Rights has any effect on Scottish planning law and organisation and, if so, what areas are affected and what proposals will be brought forward to address this situation.
Answer
We are systematically reviewing all of our activities to identify issues where there is a risk of ECHR challenge. If we believe it is necessary to amend existing legislation in order to comply with the Convention, then we will bring forward proposals for that purpose at the appropriate time.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures or regulations it proposes to introduce to encourage fast food outlets to recycle materials.
Answer
The EC Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive requires member states to recover a minimum of 50% of packaging waste, of which a minimum of 25% must be recycled, by 2001. The United Kingdom has implemented the directive through two sets of regulations: the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 and the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 1998.
The 1997 Regulations set mandatory levels for the recovery and recycling of packaging waste. They apply to companies with a turnover exceeding £2 million and who own and handle more than 50 tonnes of packaging per annum. Small businesses such as the franchisees of national or international branding or marketing organisations, may not be affected by the regulations by virtue of the turnover and tonnage thresholds. This is in line with our policy to minimise the regulatory burden on businesses, with a focus on small businesses, which is pursued through initiatives such as the Improving Regulation in Scotland (IRIS) Unit.
The 1998 regulations, which are enforced by local authority trading standards offices, require that packaging is minimised and is recoverable, for example through recycling. In common with other packaging, that used in fast food outlets must comply with the regulations. The obligation to ensure that this is the case rests with the packer/filler or the importer of the packed or filled packaging, or the brand owner if the packaged product is sold under his or her name.
There are no plans to address the recycling of packaging materials used by fast food outlets specifically. The directive's targets are due to be reviewed with effect from July 2001.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 24 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what budgetary allocation, for each of the last four years, has been made to local authorities to make provision for replacement of lead piping within (a) private sector households and (b) public sector households.
Answer
No such allocations are made by the Scottish Executive. It is for local authorities to decide how best to deploy the resources available to them to meet housing need, including the replacement of lead piping.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4391 by Sarah Boyack on 29 February 2000, whether it will detail, for each study, consultation and report, the date of publication or expected publication and the date made available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer
The information requested is set out in the following two tables.
TRANSPORT
Title | Publication date | Expected publication date | Date made available in SPICE |
Reports | | | |
Audit of Preliminary Local Transport Strategies and Road Traffic Reduction Reports | Feb. 2000 | | March 2000 |
Guidance on Local Transport Strategies and Road Traffic Reduction Reports | Feb. 2000 | | March 2000 |
The Integrated Transport Bill: The Executive's proposals | Feb. 2000 | | Feb. 2000 |
Travel Choices for Scotland - Strategic Roads Review | Nov. 1999 | | Nov. 1999 |
Studies | | | |
A8 (T) Baillieston to Newhouse Maintenance Options Study | | Autumn 2000 | |
Borders Rail Feasibility Study | Feb. 2000 | | Feb. 2000 |
Capacity Enhancement Study - M8 Kingston Bridge and Approaches | | Spring 2001 | |
Contributing to a sustainable integrated transport system | | Dec. 2000 | |
| Development of the National Public Transport Timetable | NIFP1 | | |
Echline, South Queensferry recycling study | | NIFP2 | |
Forth Road Bridge Traffic Monitoring | NIFP2 | | |
Forth Transport Infrastructure Partnership Radical Measures Study: Phase II | NIFP3 | | |
Landscape potential of Scottish trees and shrubs | | Dec. 2000 | |
Pedestrian perceptions of road crossing facilities | | Oct. 2000 | |
Recreational drugs and driving | | Nov. 2000 | |
Review of Techniques for Measuring Accessibility | | Aug. 2000 | |
Tariff Rebate Subsidy Scheme: Bulk Freight and Livestock Shipping Services Review | | Ongoing | |
The Role of Transport in Social Exclusion | | Dec. 2000 | |
Upper Forth Crossing at Kincardine - Transport and Economic Analyses Commission | | Spring/ Summer 2001 | |
Upper Forth Crossing at Kincardine - Engineering, Ecology and Environment Commission | | Spring/ Summer 2001 | |
Validation of the Road Asset Valuation Model | NIFP2 | | |
Women and Transport | | Aug. 2000 | |
| | | | |
Consultations | | | |
Tackling Congestion: The Scottish Executive's consultation paper on fighting traffic congestion and pollution through road user charging and workplace parking charges | July 1999 | | July 1999 |
ENVIRONMENT
Title | Publication date | Expected publication date | Date made available in SPICE |
Reports | | | |
Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland | Jan. 2000 | | Jan. 2000 |
Annual drinking water quality report | Oct. 1999 | | Nov. 19994 |
Report of National Goose Forum | Feb. 2000 | | Feb. 2000 |
Water quality and standards - investment priorities for the Scottish Water Authorities | Nov. 1999 | | Nov. 1999 |
| | | |
Studies | | | |
Biodiversity - database | | NIFP1 | |
Biodiversity - local authority policy development | | 2001 | |
Biodiversity - socio-economic benefits | | 2001 | |
Capercaillie - improvements in management techniques | | Summer 2000 | |
Climate change - Atlantic comparison | | Summer 2000 | |
Climate change - Scottish Regional Scenarios | | Autumn 2000 | |
Database of groundwater monitoring sites | | NIFP1 | |
Economic impact of irrigation controls | | NIFP1 | |
Effects of diffuse agricultural pollution on Ayrshire bathing waters | | 2002 | |
Emissions of Sulphur Dioxide from small combustion plants | | Summer 2000 | |
Local Authority Waste Management - cost implications | | June 2001 | |
Options for mink management in Western Isles | | Summer 2000 | |
Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime - sponsorship opportunities | | NIFP5 | |
Scottish inputs to water environment and their contribution to nutrient levels of the North Sea | | 2002 | |
Shellfish waters improvement programmes | | NIFP1 | |
Survey of public attitudes on the environment | NIFP6 | | |
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Consultations | | | |
Basic Safety Standards Directive - consultation | Feb. 2000 | | Feb. 2000 |
Four Consultation papers on air quality general guidance | March 2000 | | March 2000 |
Four Consultation papers on air quality technical guidance | | May 2000 | |
Consultation paper on designation of shellfish waters | Oct. 1999 | | Oct. 1999 |
Consultation paper on designation of Ythan Nitrate Vulnerable Zone | Nov. 1999 | | Nov. 1999 |
Consultation paper on disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls | Feb. 1999 | | Feb. 1999 |
Consultation paper on landfill reduction | Nov. 1999 | | Nov. 1999 |
Contaminated land - consultation | Nov. 1999 | | Nov. 1999 |
Integrated Pollution Protection and Control consultation | Aug. 1999 | | Aug. 1999 |
National Parks (Scotland) Bill - consultation | Jan. 2000 | | Jan. 2000 |
Works Notices Regulations - consultation paper | Jan. 2000 | | Jan. 2000 |
Notes:
NIFP - Not Intended for Publication
1. Paper to inform policy development only.
2. Technical report.
3. Paper distributed among member local authorities of Forth TRIP.
4. The date when available to SPICe is not known, the date shown is the date when the document was passed to the Parliamentary Clerk's office within the Scottish Executive. It can be assumed that the document was sent to SPICe shortly afterwards.
5. The PAW feasibility study is confidential within the Partnership and will form the basis for any future approaches to commercial organisations identified in the study. The Scottish Executive contributed only in part to the overall cost of the study.
6. Survey was used to help frame qualitative research.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4512 by Sarah Boyack on 25 April 2000, whether it will receive any of the savings arising from the reduction in future franchise payments and, if so, whether this money will be reinvested in the rail industry or in public transport.
Answer
The general saving to the Exchequer represented by the reduction of payments to all 25 rail passenger franchises is one of many factors influencing the consideration of UK public spending priorities. Such savings are amongst the many factors that influence the formulation to the Scottish block. Under the devolution settlement it is for the Scottish Executive to decide on spending priorities thereafter.
- 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 23 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been made to the Strategic Rail Authority regarding incremental output statements and what capacity/capability improvements it will support.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has been consulted, along with the rail industry, by the shadow Strategic Rail Authority on the draft Incremental Output Statements (IOS) for Scotland. Principal responsibility for implementing the agreed IOS will fall to Railtrack. Incremental outputs that may require public support have yet to be identified.
