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-05250

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 13 April 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the effect on the economy and on passenger numbers for airports such as Prestwick of the introduction of airport tax on a single leg journey and what discussions it has had on this issue with Her Majesty's Government and the European Commission.

The main lowland airports in Scotland, including Prestwick, have sustained a strong increase in passenger numbers since the introduction of air passenger duty. This increase in passenger numbers has helped maintain and extend economic and employment opportunities directly and indirectly related to the activities of airports and airlines. The Scottish Executive, through its regular contacts with the UK Government, conveyed its support for the general principle of a lower rate of duty for low cost flights, as well as for changes which would secure exemptions for air services in the Highlands and Islands. The Executive has had no discussions with the European Commission on this reserved issue.

Question reference: S1W-05258

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 24 March 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what was the number of cases brought before the Courts against drivers considered to be unfit to drive due to the effects of drugs abuse in each of the years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.

The following table gives the available information. It is not possible to identify which of the offences proceeded against under sections 4(1) or 4(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 involved drugs. 1998 is the latest year for which figures are currently available.

Offences proceeded against in Scottish courts under section 4(1) or 4(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (driving, or being in charge, when under the influence of drink or drugs)

Crime	1996	1997	1998
Driving while unfit through drink or drugs	635	720	508
In charge while unfit through drink or drugs	55	76	124

Question reference: S1W-05228

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 24 March 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what the added annual cost is of the removal of Crown Exemption for police properties with respect to the rate payments of each Scottish police constabulary.

Prior to 1 April 2000 a contribution was made in lieu of rates on behalf of the police estate. Sufficient additional provision was included in the police Grant Aided Expenditure (GAE) settlement for 2000-01 to fully cover the estimated additional direct costs associated with the abolition of Crown Exemption for police properties. The amount estimated by each force for non-domestic rates for police properties is shown in the table below.

Force	Estimate for non-domestic Rates £000
Central Scotland Police	388
Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary	247
Fife Constabulary	676
Grampian Police	1,073
Lothian and Borders Police	1,580
Northern Constabulary	574
Strathclyde Police	3,940
Tayside Police	854
Total Funding	9,332

Question reference: S1W-05259

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 24 March 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what was the number of cases that were brought before the Courts against drivers considered to be unable to drive through alcohol and drug impairment where alcohol levels were beneath the statutory limit in each of the years 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Information is not available on drivers who have not exceeded the statutory limit for alcohol. The number of offences proceeded against in respect of persons driving or attempting to drive, or in charge of a motor vehicle on a road or other public place while unfit to do so through drink or drugs, under section 4 (1) and (2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, for the years 1996, 1997 and 1998 is given below.

	1996	1997	1998
Driving while unfit through drink or drugs	635	720	508
In charge while unfit through drink or drugs	55	76	124

Question reference: S1O-01235

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 16 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Sam Galbraith on 24 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive how many secure residential schools there are in Scotland; what the total number of places available within them is, and what steps it is taking to ensure that supply meets the need for such places.

There are 87 secure places at present in Scotland. Of these, 49 places are in Rossie (near Montrose) and St Mary's (Bishopbriggs, Glasgow) independent schools. The remainder are in local authority units in Kerelaw, Glasgow, Howdenhall, St Katherine's, Edinburgh and Rimbelton Young Person's Centre, Fife.We need to look at the use of secure accommodation in the round. An advisory group has been established to help us do this with representatives from the secure units, Directors of Social Work, Children's Panels, Chief Police Officers, the Prison service and criminal justice interests. One of the key issues to be examined is how best to manage supply and demand for secure places.

Question reference: S1W-04272

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 23 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive why the successful candidate for the post of President of Employment Tribunals (Scotland) will be expected to remain in the post until retirement; what timetable it is working to for the filling of this vacancy; whether this timetable will allow enough opportunity for a full and careful examination of all the applications received and for the successful candidate to clear any previous commitments; whether it believes that it can fill the vacancy by March 2000, and why the successful candidate can take part in the management of a family estate or be a landowner but not hold a commercial directorship.

Question reference: S1W-04227

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 21 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what advertisements have been placed for the position of President of Employment Tribunals (Scotland), when they were placed and whether it will list the journals, newspapers and any other media in which they were published.

Question reference: S1W-04228

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 07 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 21 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the closing date for applications for the post of President of Employment Tribunals (Scotland) was 1 February 2000, how many applications have been received; what arrangements have been put in place for determining a short list, interviewing and selecting a successful applicant, and who will form the selection panel.

Question reference: S1O-01172

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 17 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what temporary arrangements have been put in place for the filling of the post of President of Employment Tribunals (Scotland) following the retirement of Doris Littlejohn.

The appointment of the President of Employment Tribunals (Scotland) is a reserved matter. Under Regulations made by the Department of Trade and Industry the responsibility for the appointment rests with the Lord President of the Court of Session.I understand that the Lord President instructed that the vacancy should be advertised in the professional press and that a Selection Board should be established to interview candidates and make recommendations to him. The advertisement was placed in the Scots Law Times and in the Journal of the Law Society. The Selection Board will comprise Lord Johnston (Chairman) a Senator of the College of Justice, Mr John Elliot, Chairman of the Council on Tribunals (Scottish Committee) and Mr Bill Speirs, General Secretary of the STUC. Five candidates have applied and all will be invited to interview. Mr Colin Milne, one of the Regional Chairmen of Employment Tribunals (Scotland), is responsible for routine administrative matters on a caretaker basis. This conforms with practice the last time there was a vacancy for the office of President.

Question reference: S1O-01111

Asked by: Phil Gallie, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 10 February 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2109 by Susan Deacon on 10 November 1999, whether it has now received the advice from the National Services Advisory Group on the provision of cochlear implants, whether it will place a copy of this advice in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and what action it plans to take in the light of this advice.