- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 8 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10649 by Jackie Ballie on 9 November 2000, whether any specific projects approved under (a) the empty homes initiative and (b) the rough sleeper initiative have been cancelled and, if so, what these projects and their approved costs were and how it has reallocated, or intends to reallocate, unused resources under these headings.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has not cancelled any Empty Homes Initiative (EHI) or Rough Sleeper Initiative (RSI) projects. However, there have been a number of instances where councils have been unable to progress approved projects. In EHI cases we have worked with the council to identify a suitable substitute project. Where that has not proved possible the funding has been made available for re-allocation to EHI projects elsewhere. For RSI projects we have sought revised proposals from the councils concerned. The tables below sets out the individual EHI and RSI projects affected.
Empty Homes InitiativeApproved Projects Subsequently Cancelled by Councils| Local Authority | Project Details | Approved Award Total £ | Comments |
| Aberdeenshire | Release of feus for properties to be added to rental stock | 70,000 | Resources redistributed |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 10 High Street: Repairs to empty Loreburn Housing Association property | 20,000 | Resources redistributed |
| Dumfries & Galloway | High Street, Lockerbie | 69,000 | Resources redistributed |
| East Lothian | Just in time repairs | 50,000 | Resources redistributed |
| Edinburgh | Great Junction Street: Scotmid-owned offices - conversion to 12 flats | 264,000 | Resources redistributed |
| Fife | 6 Rose Street, Burntisland, Fife Special Housing Association | 166,842 | Replaced by another Fife project |
| Fife | 102-104 Bonnygate, Albert Hotel, Cupar, Kingdom HA | 149,500 | Council will submit a replacement project |
| Glasgow | Project with Glengarry Housing Association: Repairs to 11 flats | 38,500 | Resources redistributed |
| Highland | 56 Grant Street, Inverness (FOS) | 13,212 | Resources redistributed |
| North Lanarkshire | Refurbishment of 2 cottages to form women's aid refuge, Wishaw | 40,000 | Resources redistributed |
| Perth & Kinross | Redundant properties: 152 -156 South Street, Perth | 188,775 | Two replacement projects submitted by council for consideration |
| Scottish Borders | With Eildon Housing Association refurbishment project - 14 ex-health trust houses for letting | 183,515 | Resources redistributed |
| Stirling | Refurbishment of 4 vacant units (Cowan Street) for let or sale: with HA | 40,000 | Actively trying to seek replacement |
| Stirling | South Kersebonny Farm conversion for targeted low cost home ownership. | 80,000 | Actively trying to seek replacement |
| Stirling | Tackling empty properties, Stirling Town Centre | 370,000 | Actively trying to seek replacement |
| West Lothian | Youth Homeless project | 35,000 | Resources redistributed |
| West Lothian | Move on mainstream tenancies | 60,000 | Resources redistributed |
Rough Sleepers InitiativeProjects Where Delays Have Occasioned Cancellation and Re-allocation of Funds| Local Authority | Project Name | Award | Comments |
| Edinburgh | Challenging Behaviour unit | £135,000 | Project not started. Approach to dealing with rough sleepers with complex needs reviewed. Funds reallocated to revised proposal in April 2000. |
| Edinburgh | Reception Centre | £560,000 | Planning issues caused delay in progressing project. Proposal was re-submitted and funding re-allocated for revised proposal in April 2000. |
| Glasgow | Turning Point/Link up project | £2,641,952 includes capital and revenue | Planning issues caused delay in progressing project and the capital element was not spent. Proposal was resubmitted and funding re-allocated for revised proposal. Revenue spent on current service in the existing facility. |
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will still be the first point of contact for complaints, representations and requests for information from road users after the new contracts for trunk road management and maintenance are let in 2001 and what arrangements it proposes for liaison between the public, local authorities and contractors in the event that any of the contracts are won by contractors other than local authority consortia.
Answer
The new operating companies will be the first point of contact. A freephone national customer contact number will be in place for the start of the new contracts on 1 April 2001 to allow the public to report defects and register complaints. The new contracts also require the operating companies to consult and liaise with a wide range of interested parties including the public, other operating companies and local roads authorities.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many workplace parking spaces it provides for employees at Victoria Quay and what steps it is taking to reduce the number of spaces.
Answer
The total number of car parking spaces at Victoria Quay, including disabled and visitor spaces, is 680. I refer Mr Tosh to the answer given to question S1W-9268 which sets out the steps we are taking to encourage sustainable transport practices by staff at Victoria Quay.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 September 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the EC guidelines on state aid to maritime transport permit exceptions to competitive tendering for public service obligations and contracts "in the case of island cabotage involving regular ferry services" and whether it will identify the relevant section of those EC directives, regulations and the Treaty which persuaded it to advise in Delivering Lifeline Ferry Services that (a) the service currently delivered by CalMac requires to be tendered and (b) tendering the whole network as one would not meet the requirements of the above mentioned guidelines.
Answer
The Executive is aware of, and has considered, the exception mentioned. However, Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 provides that "whenever a Member State concludes public service contracts or imposes public service obligations, it shall do so on a non-discriminatory basis in respect of all Community shipowners." It is considered that that requirement of non-discrimination could not feasibly be met in any way other than through tendering the services.
No decisions have yet been taken on how services should be grouped for tendering purposes. Following representations to the European Commission, at both ministerial and official level, it appears most unlikely that the Commission would accept that tendering the network as a whole would meet their requirements.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has powers, or any proposals to take on powers, to charge telecommunications operators for the right to lay cables under trunk roads and verges or to authorise local authorities to do so in respect of local roads and verges.
Answer
No such powers are available, nor is it proposed to introduce such powers.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 24 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2877 by Sarah Boyack on 12 January 2000, whether it will clarify what Scottish Enterprise's delegated authority is and whether the spending category indicated would be allowable within the figure for delegated authority.
Answer
Scottish Enterprise does not propose to make a direct contribution to the cost of completion of the M74. However Scottish Enterprise is committed to co-operating with the local authorities concerned to explore the economic development opportunities which will be created by the completion of the M74. It is too early to say what form any involvement by Scottish Enterprise might take in economic development activities associated with the extension of the M74 or to identify the appropriate level of delegated authority.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 29 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5437 by Sarah Boyack on 31 March 2000, whether Ministers are permitted to publish legal advice received, regardless of the fact that the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information could be used to justify non-disclosure and, if so, whether it will publish the advice on which the Minister for Transport and the Environment's decision to instruct that a public inquiry be held in relation to the application by Associated British Ports for the Troon Revision Order was based.
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.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 24 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10649 by Jackie Baillie on 9 November 2000, whether any or all underspending in 2000-01 under (a) the empty homes initiative and (b) the rough sleeper initiative will be carried forward into 2001-02 and, if necessary, into subsequent financial years, and whether there is any mechanism to increase awards under these initiatives to compensate for cost increases resulting from delays in implementing approved projects.
Answer
Funding under the Empty Homes and Rough Sleepers Initiatives was allocated on the understanding that the money would be spent in the year for which it was being sought. Therefore, no mechanism was established specifically to provide additional funding for councils to meet increased costs arising from delays in the implementation of projects. However, individual applications from councils for additional funds to cover increased costs are considered on their merits.
All underspending on the Departmental Expenditure Limit will be carried forward into the following year.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 24 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9553 by Sarah Boyack on 22 September 2000, whether the City of Edinburgh Council has referred to it any objections to the proposed Road Closure Order for Holyrood Road and, if so, what procedures were used to resolve any outstanding objections to the order, whether it is in a position to confirm the order, and whether it has done so.
Answer
I understand that the City of Edinburgh Council have not yet advertised any proposed Road Closure Order in respect of Holyrood Road.
- Asked by: Murray Tosh, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 24 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its research commissioned on distinctive Scottish aspects of the operation of the compulsory purchase framework and whether it has set a timescale to complete its review of compulsory purchase and compensation legislation.
Answer
The research is due to be completed shortly and we will publish the findings in due course. We expect to publish a consultation paper next spring based on the review of compulsory purchase and compensation legislation.
