- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 4 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive why the outside lane of the dual carriageway between Tomatin and Inverness remained covered with snow and ice for the whole day on Saturday 29 December 2001 and why, on that day, the road at Daviot was blocked by jack-knifed lorries unable to negotiate the hill.
Answer
Due to heavy snowfalls during the weekend of 29-30 December 2001, BEAR deployed gritters and snow ploughs on the A9.The first priority on dual carriageway roads is to keep one lane open in each direction and once this has been achieved the gritters treat the outside lanes. However, due to the heavy prolonged snowfall on 29 December 2001 the gritters were fully deployed keeping one lane open. Consequently, it was not possible to keep the outside lane between Tomatin and Inverness free from ice and snow.With regard to the problems experienced by lorries on the hill at Daviot, I understand that a lorry overtook a gritter and became stuck in the outside lane. However, it did not block the road and other vehicles were able to pass safely using the inside lane. The lorry was removed soon after the incident.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 10 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 1 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what emergency arrangements BEAR Scotland Ltd has in place for extreme weather conditions in the Highland Council area compared to the previous arrangements in place under the council.
Answer
BEAR Scotland Ltd has arrangements in place for extreme winter weather conditions to mobilise standby plant, re-deploy resources from the combined North East and North West Units and to obtain additional resources from Ennstone Thistle, some local contractors and councils. Additional resources may also be obtained from BEAR's partners outwith the geographical area.The previous arrangements under Highland Council included the use of standby plant, the redeployment of resources within the council area and the possible employment of local contractors.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 1 February 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer how many high-profile (a) visits and (b) visitors to the Parliament are anticipated for the period from January to April 2002; by how much this figure differs from the (i) anticipated and (ii) actual figures for the same period in (1) 2000 and (2) 2001, and what implications have been identified for police resources in respect of such forthcoming visits.
Answer
The Parliament's External Liaison Unit is currently aware of 21 high-profile visits to the Parliament in the period from 1 January to 30 April 2002. It is anticipated that a further 20 or so high profile visits can be expected during the period. (The term high-profile is used to cover all visits organised by the unit and includes visiting parliamentarians, heads of state, representatives of governments including ministers, ambassadors and high-level officials and senior representatives of international or other organisations. Details of forthcoming visits are available on the External Liaison Unit site on SPEIR. Information is kept on the basis of numbers of visits rather than visitors. The figures given, therefore, include both individual high-profile visitors and group visits to the Parliament.) The number of actual similar visits to the Parliament in the same period in 2000 was 20, in line with anticipated volume. In 2001 the figure was 57. This demand was greater than the unit had anticipated and measures have been taken to allow the Parliament to manage better the flow and timetabling through the year of visits of this type. It is anticipated, therefore, that while the number of visits between 1 January and 30 April 2002 will be greater than in the same period in 2000, there will be somewhat fewer than in early 2001. The policing requirements of the majority of visits to the Parliament are handled by the Parliament's dedicated Police Unit as part of normal duties. Only a small number of visits, depending on the status of the visitor, require a wider input from Lothian and Borders Police or Specialist Departments. There is close liaison between the parliamentary staff handling visits and the police to ensure that any implications for police resources can be taken into account as far in advance as possible. The police services, however, are aware of the need to police the many important visitors to Edinburgh each year and build that commitment into normal budget planning.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 1 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive which community councils have made requests or representations to it to reduce local speed limits that have not resulted in any reduction in speed limits on roads in their areas.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-20288.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 22 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 1 February 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many requests it has received, or representations have been made to it, by or on behalf of community councils for reductions in local speed limits and how many such requests or representations have resulted in any reduction in speed limits in each of the years (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01 and (c) 2001-02.
Answer
The information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 31 January 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-21899 on 23 January 2002, whether he will place copies of the Letter of Intent and formal contract in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer
The convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that legal advice is currently being sought as to whether or not it is proper to release into the public domain details of the Letter of Intent and formal contract. If it is considered that there is no impediment in doing so, the relevant papers will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 31 January 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer what capital contracts are currently out to tender in relation to the Holyrood Project and what the timescale is in each case for (a) return of tenders, (b) award of contracts, (c) commencement on site and (d) completion of works.
Answer
There are no Trade Packages out to tender currently.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 31 January 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-12273 on 25 January 2001, whether each of the works packages listed has been completed within the estimated contract duration stated and, if not, when it is estimated that the works in respect of each contract will be completed
Answer
All of the works packages listed in the answer to question S1W-12273 on 25 January 2001 were completed within the estimated contract duration with the exception of Tower Cranes, Queensberry House Scaffolding, Lifts (whole site) and Queensberry House Demolition/Reconstruction which are expected to run as previously estimated for a further 11 months, six months, 14 months and five months respectively.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 31 January 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S1W-18874 on 12 October 2001, whether all design and specialist cladding services undertaken by Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd are the property of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body.
Answer
Yes.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 21 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 31 January 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-20307 on 7 December 2001, whether any advice has been received concerning the enforceability of the Parent Company Guarantee provided by Flour City International Inc in respect of the obligations of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd and, if so, what the prospects are of any recovery being made under the guarantee.
Answer
Legal advice is currently being sought concerning the enforceability of the Parent Company Guarantee provided by Flour City International Inc in respect of Flour City Architectural Metals (UK) Ltd. Once this advice has been received, an assessment will be made of the prospects for recovery under the guarantee.