- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 6 March 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were used to review the tender process for the M74 northern extension.
Answer
An internal review considered all aspects of the tender process to ensure compliance with European and UK Procurement Regulations.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 6 March 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what external advice was taken during the review of the tender process for the M74 northern extension about its legality under EU competition law.
Answer
None.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 4 March 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications were called in for consideration by ministers in 2007 and, of these, how many were (a) called in due to the local authority having a vested interest in the outcome, (b) subsequently approved and (c) subsequently rejected.
Answer
Nineteen planning applications were called by Scottish ministers during 2007. Of these, three had been notified to Scottish ministers because of local authority interest.
Of the 19 applications called-in, planning permission was granted in two cases and refused in one case. One application was withdrawn, and one call-in direction was revoked. The remaining 14 cases are still under consideration.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Linda Fabiani on 3 March 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the remit and role of Historic Scotland are clear.
Answer
Yes. The role and remit are set out in Historic Scotland''s Framework Document 2004.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 12 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Linda Fabiani on 3 March 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the performance of Historic Scotland, in particular in relation to its involvement with the planning system.
Answer
Yes. Historic Scotland achieved nine of the ten key performance targets set by Scottish ministers in 2006-07. In relation to listed building and conservation area consent cases, 99.57% were resolved within 28 days against a target of 97%.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 27 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how ministers intend to build on the findings of the October 2007 Gypsy Traveller Site Grant Funding Study and the work of the previous administration’s strategic group on Gypsies/Travellers.
Answer
The recommendations from the Gypsies/Travellers Strategic Group have helped to inform the Scottish Government''s National Statement and Action Plan on Race Equality.
The evaluation of the Gypsies/Travellers Site Grant was a survey on the use made by local authorities of the £2 million grant made available in 2005-06 and 2006-07. Its finding will help to inform decisions about future grant awards.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 27 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how Gypsy/Traveller communities can expect to benefit from its policy intention of creating sustainable, mixed communities, as set out in Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotland, and whether a race impact assessment of the report’s potential impact on Scottish Gypsy/Traveller communities has been or will be undertaken.
Answer
The proposals within Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotland are intended to promote a housing system which meets the accommodation need of all of Scotland''s communities, including minority groups. The proposals will be subject to an Equality Impact Assessment as they are translated into individual policies.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 04 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 27 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve current provision made for suitable pitches for Gypsies/Travellers.
Answer
Local authorities are responsible for the provision of official Gypsies/Travellers Sites in their area. In 2005-08 the Scottish Government is providing grant funding totalling £3.5 million to assist local authorities to improve their facilities for Gypsies/Travellers. Over the period 2008-11 £1 million per year will continue to be made available. In 2008-09 and 2009-10 the grant will continue to be ring fenced within the local government settlement. The ring fence will be removed in the third year.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 27 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the comments recently made by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing regarding the proposed Go Ape facility in Pollok Park represent government policy in respect of this particular planning application.
Answer
Any comments made by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing in connection with this issue were made solely and appropriately in her capacity as constituency MSP.
- Asked by: Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 05 February 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 26 February 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the efforts being made by local authorities to maintain an accurate and complete list of common good assets.
Answer
In 2007 the Scottish Government wrote to all Scottish local authorities to remind them of their responsibilities under accounting codes of practice, best value guidance, grant conditions and statute to maintain accurate records of all common goods assets held.
The Improvement Service for Local Government is currently considering ways to support authorities to improve all aspects of asset management, including the record keeping of the assets they hold for the common good.
