- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 2 October 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive why the One Scotland councillor recruitment advertisement gives only a website address as the point of contact and whether it considers that this discriminates against individuals who do not have internet access but who might wish to find out more about becoming a councillor.
Answer
The website provides generalinformation on becoming a councillor and the new remuneration package. This information,plus specific detail about the local situation, is available from local authorities.The website was planned to be complemented by a telephone information line. Theinformation line has now been set up, the contact number is 0131 244 7039 and thisinformation will be quoted as appropriate in future publicity.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 29 August 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 29 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering selling any of the plots of land compulsorily purchased for the construction of the M74 in Dumfriesshire and, if so, whether these will be sold on the open market.
Answer
A number of plots of landand properties have already been sold and my officials are aware of other areasthat could be disposed of, subject to defining boundaries and agreeing therelease of land from the on-going public private partnership contract with the operatingcompany.
Land sales will comply withthe Crichel Down Rules and the Scottish Public Finance Manual and whereverappropriate will be sold on the open market.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 29 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned, or is aware of, any research into the most effective methods of deterring motorists from speeding.
Answer
Considerable research hasbeen carried out into speeding and speed management. In particular, UKGovernment research has focussed on the effectiveness of speed cameras, roadhumps and other traffic calming techniques. Research published by the ScottishExecutive has examined driver attitudes to speeding and speeding behaviour. Examplesof Scottish Executive research are; Changing Speeding Behaviour in Scotland:An Evaluation of the FOOLSSPEED Campaign published in 2002 and TheSpeeding Driver: Who, Why and How? published in 2003. These reports can befound on the Scottish Executive website. The Scottish Executive is alsoundertaking a pilot scheme to evaluate the effectiveness of average speedcameras installed on the A77 in 2005 and is assessing their effectiveness atroad works on the trunk road network.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 25 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what action can be taken by householders against landowners who allow land adjacent to their homes to become overgrown.
Answer
Under existing law, a personmay prune back branches of a landowner’s hedge or vegetation overhanging his orher property but may not enter a landowner’s property without the consent of theowner. While we support in principle the need for a statutory remedy of last resortfor people unable to resolve disputes over high hedges, due to competing legislativepriorities we are not in a position to introduce legislation during this parliamentaryterm. However, we have previously indicated our support in principle for the member’sbill currently being progressed by Scott Barrie MSP and he will be carrying outhis high hedges consultation soon.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 21 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes for the A75 (a) have been completed since 1999, (b) are under way or (c) are planned to commence by 2008-09, showing the actual or estimated (i) cost and (ii) commencement date of each scheme.
Answer
The information requested isset out in the following table.
Route | Scheme | Status | Possible Construction Start | Cost (£ Million) (E = Estimated, A = Actual) |
A7 | Hawick Traffic Relief | Completed 12/00 | N/A | 3.9 A |
A7 | Auchenrivock | Planned | Q2 07-08 | 6.75 E |
A76 | Crossroads | Completed 11/03 | N/A | 2.0 A |
A76 | Glenairlie | Planned | Q1 07-08 | 15.4 E |
A75 | The Glen Improvement | Completed 09/99 | N/A | 10.1 A |
A75 | Barfil to Bettyknowes | Planned | Q4 06-07 | 2.76 E |
A75 | Newton Stewart | Planned | Q4 06-07 | 2.11 E |
A75 | Planting End | Planned | Q4 06-07 | 3.32 E |
A75 | Dunragit | Planned | Q4 08-09 | 15.4 E |
A75 | Hardgrove | Planned | Q4 08-09 | 8.42 E |
A75 | Cairntop | Planned | Q3 07-08 | 5.58 E |
Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 21 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes for the A76 (a) have been completed since 1999, (b) are under way or (c) are planned to commence by 2008-09, showing the actual or estimated (i) cost and (ii) commencement date of each scheme.
Answer
I referthe member to the answer to question S2W-28229on 21 September 2006. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facilityfor which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 21 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what improvement schemes for the A70 (a) have been completed since 1999, (b) are under way or (c) are planned to commence by 2008-09, showing the actual or estimated (i) cost and (ii) commencement date of each scheme.
Answer
The information requested isnot held centrally. The A70 is classified as a local road and the statutory responsibilityfor any improvements to the route would therefore fall to those local authoritiesthrough which the route runs.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 21 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it or Transport Scotland (a) have allocated or (b) are considering allocating to provide disabled access to the southbound platform at Lockerbie Station.
Answer
Transport Scotland awardedfunding of £750,000 to provide disabled access to and from both platforms at Lockerbiestation.
Transport Scotland is involvedin on-going discussions with Network Rail and Dumfries and Galloway Council tofully appraise the construction details and costs involved. Once this work has beenconcluded we will be in a position to advise on the way forward including fundingoptions.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 21 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it provided to NHS Dumfries and Galloway in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07 to recruit, retain and train NHS dentists.
Answer
A number of allowances are availablefor the recruitment, retention and training of NHS Dentists. Details of these allowancescan be found on the dental web pages on the Scottish Executive website. Paymentsin respect of 2004-05 for NHS Dumfries and Galloway can be found in the ScottishDental Practice Board (SDBP) Annual report 2004-05. The SDPB report for 2005-06has not yet been published and payment details for 2006-07 are not currently available.
Underthe Primary and Community care premises modernisation programme for 2006-07 and2007-08, NHS Dumfries and Galloway will receive £2.37 million towards a new dentalcentre in Dumfries which will include dental training facilities. £300,000of this sum has already been allocated in the current financial year.
The Executive has also assistedfinancially NHS Dumfries and Galloway with the recruitment of five dentists from Polandwho are now working in that area.
- Asked by: Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 21 September 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects in Dumfries and Galloway have been approved for Bus Route Development Grant funding and how much has been allocated to these projects.
Answer
The Dumfries Town Services project– Dumfries and Galloway Council’s only application for Bus Route Development Grantso far - has been awarded £535,000 over the three financial years 2005-06 to 2007-08.