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-04506

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 17 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 2 March 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what European Regional Development Fund funding will be available for rail in 2000-01 and whether it will detail any current and proposed funding applications.

The new Single Programming Documents (SPD's) for Highlands and Islands Special Programme and for the Objective 2 Programme for West, East and South of Scotland require to be approved by the European Commission before any European Regional Development funding proposals can be put forward and considered.

In line with the terms of the current regulations, major rail infrastructure investment in Scotland will not be eligible to receive European Regional Development Fund in the future. However there may be some scope within the new Programmes to support activities indirectly connected with rail investment which provide additional economic development outcomes.

Question reference: S1O-01277

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 March 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the Ministerial Statement by the Minister for Transport and the Environment on 7 October 1999, what steps are being taken to promote the safety of rail passengers.

Question reference: S1W-04391

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 29 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the number of reports, consultations and studies commissioned by it on transport and environment issues and the estimated costs of each.

The information requested is set out in the following two tables.

TRANSPORT

Title	Cost (£000)
Reports
Audit of Preliminary Local Transport Strategies and Road Traffic Reduction Reports	10.9
Guidance on Local Transport and Traffic Reduction Reports	1.3
The Integrated Transport Bill: The Executive's proposals	9.4
Travel Choices for Scotland - Strategic Roads Review	275.7

Studies
A8 (T) Baillieston to Newhouse Maintenance Options Study	61.7
Borders Rail Feasibility Study	188.0
Capacity Enhancement Study - M8 Kingston Bridge and Approaches	120.0
Contributing to a sustainable integrated transport system	70.0
Development of the National Public Transport Timetable	64.5
Echline, South Queensferry recycling study	107.8
Forth Road Bridge Traffic Monitoring	10.0
Forth Transport Infrastructure Partnership Radical Measures Study: Phase II	85.0
Landscape potential of Scottish trees and shrubs	30.0
Pedestrian perceptions of road crossing facilities	18.0
Recreational drugs and driving	110.0
Review of Techniques for Measuring Accessibility	23.5
Tariff Rebate Subsidy Scheme: Bulk Freight and Livestock Shipping Services Review	23.4
The Role of Transport in Social Exclusion	35.0
Upper Forth Crossing at Kincardine - Transport and Economic Analyses Commission	255.0
Upper Forth Crossing at Kincardine - Engineering, Ecology and Environment Commission	1,070.0
Validation of the Road Asset Valuation Model	10.0
Women and Transport	40.0

Consultations
Tackling Congestion: The Scottish Executive's consultation paper on fighting traffic congestion and pollution through road user charging and workplace parking charges	4.5

ENVIRONMENT

Title	Cost (£000)
Reports
Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland	3.4
Annual drinking water quality report	4.5
Report of National Goose Forum	4.0
Water quality and standards - investment priorities for the Scottish Water Authorities	11.9

Studies
Biodiversity - database	10.0
Biodiversity - local authority policy development	10.0
Biodiversity - socio-economic benefits	10.0
Capercaillie - improvements in management techniques	5.0
Climate change - Atlantic comparison	17.6
Climate change - Scottish Regional Scenarios	17.1
Database of groundwater monitoring sites	7.2
Economic impact of irrigation controls	15.0
Effects of diffuse agricultural pollution on Ayrshire bathing waters	40.0
Emissions of Sulphur Dioxide from small combustion plants	7.1
Local Authority Waste Management - cost implications	25.0
Options for mink management in Western Isles	10.0
Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime - sponsorship opportunities	2.0
Scottish inputs to water environment and their contribution to nutrient levels of the North Sea	10.0
Shellfish waters improvement programmes	10.0
Survey of public attitudes on the environment	6.0

Consultations
Basic Safety Standards Directive - consultation	0.3
4 Consultation papers on air quality general guidance	0.4
4 Consultation papers on air quality technical guidance	0.4
Consultation paper on designation of shellfish waters	0.3
Consultation paper on designation of Ythan Nitrate Vulnerable Zone	0.3
Consultation paper on disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls	0.4
Consultation paper on landfill reduction	0.4
Contaminated land - consultation	1.2
Integrated Pollution Protection and Control consultation	0.9
National Parks (Scotland) Bill - consultation	22.0
Works Notices Regulations - consultation paper	0.3

Notes:

1. he information largely relates to reports, consultations and studies commissioned by the Scottish Executive since 1 July 1999. However, in view of their significance, two exercises initiated by The Scottish Office prior to 1 July 1999, namely Travel Choices for Scotland - Strategic Roads Review and Borders Rail Feasibility Study have been included. Other routine and ad hoc reports which have been received or published under the terms of contracts placed or work initiated by The Scottish Office prior to 1 July 1999 are not included above.2. The cost information relates only to external costs incurred e.g. consultancy fees and printing costs. Information is not held on in-house costs e.g. staff costs arising from the drafting of consultation papers, preparation of research briefs etc. Where external costs have been shared with another body or bodies, the figure relates to the Scottish Office/Scottish Executive's contribution.

Question reference: S1W-04021

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 January 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 29 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport and the Environment will be attending the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development conference being held in Edinburgh in February 2000; whether any other Scottish Ministers or Deputy Ministers will be attending the conference and whether it has been notified of who will be representing Her Majesty's Government at the conference by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

The OECD Conference on the scientific and health aspects of genetically modified foods is being hosted by the UK Government. Scottish Ministers are pleased to welcome this landmark event to Scotland as an important contribution to furthering the international debate on the issues raised by GM food. I addressed the opening session of the conference along with Dr Mowlam, Minister for the Cabinet Office in the UK Government. The Minister for Rural Affairs hosted a reception for conference delegates, emphasising our support for this open, international, scientific debate on GM food safety.

Question reference: S1W-04022

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Friday, 28 January 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 29 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what the division of responsibilities and of rights and powers regarding attendance, voting and speaking between the Minister For Transport and the Environment and representatives of Her Majesty's Government at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development conference being held in Edinburgh in February 2000 will be; in particular, whether the Minister will address the conference, lead on matters relating to Scotland or have any voting rights, and whether it will provide similar details in respect of any other Scottish Ministers or Deputy Ministers attending the conference.

Question reference: S1W-03535

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 28 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage transport operators to introduce joint ticketing and pricing initiatives and what representations it has made to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions regarding the implications for any such plans of the Office of Fair Trading's recent decisions in relation to joint ticketing and pricing initiatives.

The Scottish Executive, through the forthcoming Transport Bill, intend to provide local authorities with the power to require the setting up of joint ticketing arrangements where they conclude that existing provisions are inadequate.Some public transport operators already offer pricing initiatives and we would expect other operators to recognise the commercial benefits in terms of increased patronage and revenue generation. Such initiatives should have regard to competition legislation. No representations have been made to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on joint ticketing or pricing initiatives.

Question reference: S1W-03266

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 13 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 28 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of the representations made by the Road Danger Reduction Forum and the publication of Guidance - How to Run Safer Routes to School, what funding is being made available to local authorities and other organisations to support cycle training and what is the level of any such funding broken down by local authority.

The Scottish Executive provides local authorities with a block allocation for expenditure on a number of services. It is for each local authority to consider the priority to be given to cycle training, in terms of all the services for which it is responsible, and to allocate resources accordingly. These arrangements give local authorities flexibility to determine what measures are required to meet local needs and circumstances. Accordingly, the Scottish Executive has no plans to provide funding specifically for cycle training.Information about the level of funding of cycle training by individual local authorities is not available centrally.

Question reference: S1W-02474

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 10 November 1999
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to stimulate the use of solar energy in Scotland.

The Executive is committed to the promotion of renewable energy, and we are determined that Scotland will play a full part in developing this important long term energy resource.Solar energy takes several forms such a passive solar design, active solar heating and photovoltaics. I understand that the 16th European Photovoltaics Conference and Exhibition will be held in Glasgow in May 2000 with Government support, and that BP Solar is seeking projects in the Glasgow area to coincide with the conference. In addition, organisations in Scotland are able to submit proposals for inclusion in the New and Renewable Energy Programme operated by the DTI on a UK basis; this includes a solar programme. Scottish schools and colleges are also able to apply to the Foresight Scolar programme to have a photovoltaics system installed at a third of the total cost. Four Scottish schools have already submitted applications.

Question reference: S1W-03469

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 21 December 1999
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the Scottish Airports and Air Services Study.

Question reference: S1W-02633

Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 18 November 1999
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 21 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to whether the direction scheme in respect of the Public Defence Solicitors' Office contravenes article 14 of the European Commission of Human Rights.