- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 July 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 18 August 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual maintenance costs of the Forth Rail Bridge have been in each year since 1998-99 and what the projected maintenance costs are for (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06 and (c) 2006-07.
Answer
The cost of maintaining the bridge is an operational matter for Network Rail.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 July 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 10 August 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replace the Forth Rail Bridge.
Answer
There are currently no plans for the replacement of the Forth Rail Bridge.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 July 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 10 August 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Network Rail regarding the future maintenance of the Forth Rail Bridge.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Network Rail on a wide range of issues, including the Forth Rail Bridge. The cost of maintaining the bridge is currently an operational matter for Network Rail.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 July 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 28 July 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8835 by Mr Andy Kerr on 23 June 2004, in which of its departments, agencies and associated departments the 121 full-time posts in Fife are located.
Answer
The 121 full-time equivalentposts in Fife are located in the following agencies and associateddepartments:
Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
Historic Scotland
Scottish Courts Service
Scottish Fisheries ProtectionAgency.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 28 July 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of teachers' applications was processed by Disclosure Scotland within the 14-day target period from (a) 1 January to 31 March and (b) 1 April to 30 June 2004.
Answer
The management informationprovided by Disclosure Scotland does not provide an analysis of performance forparticular professions or occupational groups.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 21 July 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been made available, either directly or indirectly, by its Environment and Rural Affairs Department, the Forestry Commission, the Deer Commission for Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage to subsidise the erection of deer fencing in each of the last 10 years.
Answer
The information is not available in the form requested.
The Environment and Rural Affairs Department funds deer fencing through Agri-environment schemes in order to protect habitats being managed in the interests of conservation. The amount for deer fencing included in approved conservation plans in each of the last 10 years is as set out in table 1 below.
The Deer Commission for Scotland has no powers to fund deer fencing. Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage do fund deer fencing as part of their wider forestry and environmental management schemes but until now in neither case has it been possible to identify the specific costs of the fencing element from the overall costs of the management measures. Under the new Scottish Forestry Grants Scheme introduced in June 2003, it is possible to identify such costs and for the part year from June 2003 to end March 2004, a provisional estimate suggests expenditure of £400,000.
Table 1
Value of Deer Fencing Included in Approved Conservation Plans (£000)
| 1994-95 | £85 |
| 1995-96 | £75 |
| 1996-97 | £107 |
| 1997-98 | £139 |
| 1998-99 | £219 |
| 1999-2000 | £155 |
| 2000-01 | £531 |
| 2001-02 | £104 |
| 2002-03 | £105 |
| 2003-04 | £342 |
Notes:
1. Environmentally Sensitive Area and CPS Schemes closed to new applications on 31 December 2000.
2. Rural Stewardship Scheme capital payments are now calculated on an annualised basis and paid over the five years of the agreement.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 14 July 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the #2.3 million allocated for the opening of “well man” clinics has been allocated to NHS Forth Valley to allow it to open and operate such clinics in its catchment area.
Answer
As Forth Valley were alreadyoperating “Well Man Clinics” they were not invited to bid along with other healthboard partnerships. Instead Forth Valley Health Board and partners were invitedto submit a proposal for resources to continue development and roll out of theirmodel for well man clinics on which we based our strategy. We have recently receivedtheir proposal which is being considered.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 1 July 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average time taken by Disclosure Scotland to give clearance for teachers transferring employment between local authorities was in the last (a) three and (b) six months.
Answer
Disclosure Scotland does not give clearance as such for teachers or for any other profession. It issues certificates which will help employers to decide on the suitability of the person concerned for a particular post.
Disclosure Scotland’s average processing time for correctly completed applications which did not require external enquires and had proper payment was 25 days over both the last three and six months.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 30 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what targets have been set for Disclosure Scotland for the clearance of teachers transferring employment between local authorities.
Answer
Disclosure Scotland does not have a target specific to teachers. Their general target is to process 90% of applications within 14 calendar days.
- Asked by: Bruce Crawford, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 29 June 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been introduced into the operating practices of Disclosure Scotland in the last three months to improve the time taken to secure clearance for teachers transferring employment between local authorities.
Answer
No measures specific to teachers have been introduced. We have, however, authorised the recruitment of additional staff in recent months to help clear a backlog of applications, and a new IT system has been introduced to automate a number of application handling processes.
We also engaged independent consultants to review Disclosure Scotland processes and staffing. The consultants’ recommendations, which included proposals for the appointment of a performance analyst and additionalsupervisory and quality assurance staff, are being implemented.
