- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 20 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of the water commissioner and his office over each of the next three years.
Answer
I have set the operating budget of the Water Industry Commissioner at £1,261,739 for 2000-01. I have also agreed that the Commissioner may spend up to an additional £681,000 in 2000-01 on one-off costs associated with establishing the new regulatory regime.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 30 March 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of the impact of any shortfall in money available under Objective 3 upon voluntary organisations in Scotland.
Answer
The resources remaining to be distributed to voluntary organisations under the previous Objective 3 programme will be paid in accordance with the usual procedures. The resources to be allocated to voluntary organisations under the new Objective 3 programme will be decided later in the year.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 April 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 18 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Election Convention is still in existence and, if not, when it ceased to exist; who its members are or were; what its remit and role is or was, and whether the Commissioners were required to be independent and politically impartial.
Answer
The Scottish Election Commission was set up in January 1999 by the five main political parties in Scotland to monitor their joint agreement in relation to the expenditure of, and donations to, political parties at the first elections to the Scottish Parliament on 6 May 1999. The Commission was a voluntary, non-statutory body which reported to the parties. The Commission produced its final report in June 1999 and, given that it was set up for the specific purpose of monitoring expenditure at the first elections to the Parliament, no longer has any remit.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 03 April 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 17 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis or programme it legislates on matters which were not set out in the election manifestos of its component parties or A Programme for Government.
Answer
While the legislative programme is informed by the Partnership for Scotland and the Programme for Government, the Executive brings forward proposals in the light of its ongoing assessment and review of its legislative priorities.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 03 March 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 14 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to promote the Edinburgh Marathon as an international event to rank alongside events such as the London, New York and Chicago marathons; what the value was of the 1999 Edinburgh Marathon to tourism; what the projected value to tourism is of the event in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 and whether it will sponsor or support adverts in specialist running maga'ines such as Runners World and its equivalent in maga'ines in other countries to advertise the event.
Answer
sportscotland has contributed to staging the event in 1999-2001 with an award of £100,000 from its Lottery Sports Fund Major Events Programme to support its organisation and promotion. Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board promotes the event generically in the same way as other events that take place in the city. The promotion of the actual event itself lies with the organisers, Edinburgh and Fife Councils and the Scottish Athletic Federation, and the sponsors, Puma. The estimated value of the Edinburgh Marathon to tourism is shown below.
| 1999 | Net visitor expenditure | £660,000 |
| 2000 | Net visitor expenditure | £1.5 million |
| 2001 | Net visitor expenditure | £2.3 million |
| 2002 | Net visitor expenditure | £3.0 million |
| 2003 | Net visitor expenditure not yet predicted | |
I understand that this year's event has been cancelled following Fife Council's decision not to continue providing funding for the project.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 13 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what sale price was achieved for Dalneigh Halls of Residence at Inverness College and whether a professional valuation of the estimated sale price of this heritable property was obtained and, if so, whether it will place a copy of the survey in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
Answer
Dalneigh Halls of Residence were disposed of by Inverness College in 1998 on the open market, for £275,000. The college had first obtained a professional valuation of the property. The Scottish Executive does not have a copy of the valuation report.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 13 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received representations from the Duror and Kentallen Community Council with regard to safety measures on the A828, and what action it will take.
Answer
Yes. A Route Accident Reduction Plan (RARP) study has been completed for this route and addresses some of the issues raised by the Duror and Kentallen Community Council. The RARP has identified measures that would benefit the whole of the route including the Achindarroch and Cuil Bay junctions. The RARP has also recommended that further more detailed investigations are required at particular locations. The remaining issues raised by the Community Council are currently being assessed. It is anticipated that the RARP safety measures already identified will be installed within this financial year.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Monday, 20 March 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 13 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when the financial accounts for Inverness College for the year ended March 1999 were due to have been published, and when they will be published.
Answer
The financial accounts of Inverness College for the year ended March 1999 should have been lodged with Companies House by 31 January 2000. I understand that the accounts are still the subject of discussion between the College and its auditors.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 13 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Road Accident Reduction Programme looking at road safety and traffic management at Duror and Kentallen on the A828 will take into account the measures which Duror and Kentallen Community Council has already proposed.
Answer
I refer the member to my answer to question S1W-5408.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
-
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 March 2000
-
Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 13 April 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what effects national parks are expected to have on social and economic conditions of residents within park boundaries and whether any measures are in place to ensure that any effects of such designation are not detrimental to the social and economic conditions of the residents.
Answer
One of the aims of National Parks will be to promote economic and social development. They will be expected to integrate rural development with the proper protection of the natural and cultural heritage. Contributions by local residents to the National Park Authority, its committees, advisory groups, and preparation of the National Park Plan will all help to ensure the interests of local communities are recognised. National Park Authorities will be required to publish an annual report.
