- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 3 March 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has identified £3 million in the budget for 2005-06 and £5 million for each of the following two years for the Timber Transport Fund; if so, whether criteria governing grants from the fund have been devised; whether the timber industry, in particular the private timber industry, will be consulted on such criteria and, if so, how; whether there will be any flexibility built in to the rules governing the funds; whether the rules will cover the costs of providing sea access for timber transport and, if so, what provision will be made for grants or other means of defraying the cost of lifting equipment, and whether, given the public sector's commercial involvement in the timber industry, the Forestry Commission should be the final arbiter in respect of any decision.
Answer
As announced last October, the Scottish Executive has allocated £13 million overthe next three years for the Strategic Timber Transport Fund. £3 million hasbeen allocated for 2005-06 and £5 million for each of the following two years.
Forestry Commission Scotland has been working closely with the Timber Transport Forum to produce the criteria governing the Strategic Timber Transport Fund. These have now been agreed and will be published shortly.
It is not our intention to use the fund to finance investment on items like seaaccess equipment, which could be assisted by other methods such as the FreightFacilities Grant. I would expect the fund to complement other work by forexample; providing in-forest road links to port or rail facilities that takepressure off fragile roads or reduce disruption to rural communities.
It is entirely appropriate that Forestry Commission Scotland, as the Executive’s Forestry Department, remains the final arbiter in respect of any decision. However, whilst the Commission will administer the fund and take final decisions regarding applications, the Timber Transport Forum and Regional Timber Transport Groups may also be asked for their advice on certain applications. I am delighted that the various organisations involved in the Forum agreed to help with this important work and that they managed to agree the criteria and procedures so quickly.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 28 February 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it will provide in respect of the completion of the Inverness southern distributor road.
Answer
The Inverness southern distributor road is a local road and therefore the responsibility of the Highland Council.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 28 February 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13350 by Nicol Stephen on 25 January 2005, what study it, its agencies or non-departmental public bodies have carried out regarding the impact of levels of fuel duty on the economy.
Answer
No study has been carried out. Fuel duty is a matter reserved to the UK Government. However, Scottish ministers will continue to ensure that Scotland’s’ interests are placed firmly on the agenda in Whitehall on tax, as on other matters, through direct contact with treasury ministers.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 31 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 28 February 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to the Local Government and Transport Committee on 19 January 2005, what the reason is for the discrepancy between the number of Network Rail employees provided by Network Rail and the number of employees provided by the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union; whether the figures can be reconciled and, if so, how that reconciliation can be achieved.
Answer
Information regarding the number of Network Rail employees is a matter for Network Rail.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 28 February 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether it is possible for the handcuffs used by Reliance staff to be purchased, complete with keys, on the internet and whether Reliance staff are required to purchase these handcuffs.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:
A wide range of security equipment used by the Scottish Prison Service and others is available on the open market including on the internet. The manner in which Reliance staff are equipped to discharge their responsibilities, is entirely a matter for the company.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 February 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 23 February 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what level of awards have been made from the strategic waste fund to date and what level of awards it estimates will be made in each year until 2030, broken down by local authority.
Answer
The following tables show theawards made to each local authority between the years 2005-06 and 2007-08. Thetables also show indicative awards between 2008-2009 and 2029-2030. The answerto question S2W-13423 on 25 January 2005, provided details of awards made to localauthorities between 1999-2000 and 2004-2005. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility forwhich can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search. | Strategy Area | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
| Aberdeen City | 2,695,243 | 1,839,263 | 1,532,757 | 1,171,788 | 1,137,697 |
| Aberdeenshire | 5,810,000 | 3,370,000 | 2,910,000 | 3,980,000 | 3,450,000 |
| Angus | 2,753,000 | 1,277,000 | 1,209,000 | 812,000 | 994,000 |
| Argyll and Bute | 3,504,710 | 3,019,710 | 3,017,710 | 3,024,710 | 3,032,710 |
| Clackmannanshire | 309,604 | 284,071 | 284,071 | 284,071 | 284,071 |
| Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar | 5,898,000 | 2,336,000 | 1,240,000 | 1,075,000 | 1,064,000 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 4,342,000 | 4,326,000 | 4,319,000 | 4,303,000 | 4,385,000 |
| Dundee | 1,541,000 | 1,203,000 | 1,483,000 | 1,217,000 | 1,088,500 |
| East Ayrshire | 1,746,000 | 687,000 | 676,000 | 744,000 | 730,000 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 1,518,000 | 1,302,000 | 1,288,000 | 1,273,000 | 1,259,000 |
| East Lothian | 1,526,000 | 1,788,000 | 1,295,000 | 1,209,000 | 1,193,000 |
| East Renfrewshire | 1,237,000 | 1,002,000 | 1,089,000 | 1,216,000 | 1,200,000 |
| Edinburgh | 7,763,000 | 6,546,000 | 4,530,000 | 4,640,000 | 4,615,000 |
| Falkirk | 350,317 | 159,072 | 159,072 | 159,072 | 159,072 |
| Fife | 6,334,661 | 4,647,228 | 4,059,146 | 3,962,317 | 3,965,234 |
| Glasgow | 4,267,500 | | | | |
| Highland | 5,845,186 | 2,825,000 | 2,812,000 | 2,799,000 | 2,783,000 |
| Inverclyde | 1,037,027 | 331,911 | 332,411 | 332,411 | 332,411 |
| Midlothian | 5,126,553 | 3,771,154 | 2,328,154 | 1,678,154 | 1,678,154 |
| Moray | 3,458,984 | 663,330 | 562,495 | 449,566 | 430,891 |
| North Ayrshire | 1,117,000 | 1,050,000 | 1,042,000 | 1,156,000 | 1,144,000 |
| North Lanarkshire | 5,345,000 | 3,597,000 | 3,387,000 | 2,776,000 | 2,882,000 |
| Orkney | 648,000 | 234,000 | 234,000 | 234,000 | 234,000 |
| Perth and Kinross | 1,821,000 | 3,180,000 | 1,341,000 | 1,295,000 | 1,251,000 |
| Renfrewshire | 3,003,000 | 1,381,000 | 1,343,000 | 1,327,000 | 1,376,000 |
| Scottish Borders | 4,297,324 | 2,842,164 | 2,456,142 | 2,392,852 | 2,360,374 |
| Shetland | 589,255 | 357,296 | 306,425 | 306,425 | 314,425 |
| South Ayrshire | 967,000 | 955,000 | 1,042,000 | 1,027,000 | 1,021,000 |
| South Lanarkshire | 3,278,000 | 3,000,000 | 3,137,000 | 3,272,000 | 3,769,000 |
| Stirling | 1,680,224 | 1,779,294 | 1,779,294 | 1,779,294 | 1,779,294 |
| West Dunbartonshire | 1,775,000 | | | | |
| West Lothian | 2,900,000 | 1,905,000 | 1,748,000 | 1,756,000 | 1,766,000 |
| Strategy Area | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
| Aberdeen City | 1,241,842 | 1,088,592 | 1,066,478 | 1,034,193 | 1,191,607 |
| Aberdeenshire | 3,450,000 | 3,450,000 | 3,450,000 | 3,450,000 | 3,450,000 |
| Angus | 1,206,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,206,000 | 1,076,000 | 1,055,000 |
| Argyll and Bute | 3,038,710 | 3,044,710 | 3,052,710 | 3,060,710 | 3,065,710 |
| Clackmannanshire | 284,071 | 284,071 | 284,071 | 284,071 | 284,071 |
| Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar | 1,176,000 | 1,202,000 | 1,317,000 | 1,255,000 | 1,054,000 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 4,378,000 | 4,369,000 | 4,361,000 | 4,352,000 | 4,344,000 |
| Dundee | 1,406,000 | 1,278,000 | 1,788,000 | 1,979,000 | 1,749,000 |
| East Ayrshire | 714,000 | 698,000 | 681,000 | 753,000 | 735,000 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 1,366,000 | 1,347,000 | 1,439,000 | 1,420,000 | 1,401,000 |
| East Lothian | 1,179,000 | 1,163,000 | 1,148,000 | 1,131,000 | 1,114,000 |
| East Renfrewshire | 1,186,000 | 1,174,000 | 1,163,000 | 1,151,000 | 1,261,000 |
| Edinburgh | 4,621,000 | 4,625,000 | 4,822,000 | 4,825,000 | 4,828,000 |
| Falkirk | 159,072 | 159,072 | 159,072 | 159,072 | 159,072 |
| Fife | 3,965,285 | 3,963,702 | 3,961,281 | 3,959,199 | 3,957,127 |
| Glasgow | | | | | |
| Highland | 2,767,000 | 2,758,000 | 2,747,000 | 2,868,000 | 2,859,000 |
| Inverclyde | 332,411 | 1,662,411 | 1,008,411 | 332,411 | 332,411 |
| Midlothian | 1,678,154 | 1,843,154 | 2,401,154 | 1,678,154 | 1,678,154 |
| Moray | 404,089 | 262,274 | 255,466 | 251,309 | 249,839 |
| North Ayrshire | 1,130,000 | 1,115,000 | 1,099,000 | 1,183,000 | 1,167,000 |
| North Lanarkshire | 2,874,000 | 2,860,000 | 2,852,000 | 2,843,000 | 2,950,000 |
| Orkney | 274,000 | 234,000 | 234,000 | 234,000 | 234,000 |
| Perth and Kinross | 1,167,000 | 1,123,000 | 936,000 | 1,001,000 | 1,009,000 |
| Renfrewshire | 1,329,000 | 1,857,000 | 1,833,000 | 1,812,000 | 1,786,000 |
| Scottish Borders | | | | | |
| Shetland | 366,425 | 396,425 | 366,425 | 306,425 | 314,425 |
| South Ayrshire | 1,013,000 | 1,004,000 | 1,084,000 | 1,075,000 | 1,065,000 |
| South Lanarkshire | 3,544,000 | 3,685,000 | 3,830,000 | 3,979,000 | 4,494,000 |
| Stirling | 1,779,294 | 1,779,294 | 1,779,294 | 1,779,294 | 1,779,294 |
| West Dunbartonshire | | | | | |
| West Lothian | 1,768,000 | 1,766,000 | 1,772,000 | 1,772,000 | 1,770,000 |
| Strategy Area | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 |
| Aberdeen City | 1,028,366 | 1,043,326 | 1,042,086 | 1,199,846 | 1,067,606 |
| Aberdeenshire | 3,450,000 | 3,450,000 | 3,450,000 | 3,450,000 | 3,450,000 |
| Angus | 1,041,000 | 1,055,000 | 1,328,000 | 1,366,000 | 1,291,000 |
| Argyll and Bute | 3,074,710 | 3,079,710 | 3,087,710 | 3,095,710 | 3,102,710 |
| Clackmannanshire | 284,071 | 284,071 | 284,071 | 284,071 | 284,071 |
| Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar | 1,166,000 | 1,112,000 | 1,054,000 | 1,144,000 | 1,054,000 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 4,425,000 | 4,505,000 | 4,496,000 | 4,486,000 | 4,477,000 |
| Dundee | 1,894,000 | 1,939,000 | 1,844,000 | 2,297,000 | 2,129,000 |
| East Ayrshire | 717,000 | 788,000 | 769,000 | 749,000 | 819,000 |
| East Dunbartonshire | 1,507,000 | 1,485,000 | 1,464,000 | 1,444,000 | 1,548,000 |
| East Lothian | 1,096,000 | 1,080,000 | 1,161,000 | 1,144,000 | 1,125,000 |
| East Renfrewshire | 1,249,000 | 1,237,000 | 1,224,000 | 1,211,000 | 1,197,000 |
| Edinburgh | 4,831,000 | 4,831,000 | 4,967,000 | 4,969,000 | 4,970,000 |
| Falkirk | 159,072 | 159,072 | 159,072 | 159,072 | 159,072 |
| Fife | 3,954,968 | 3,952,750 | 3,950,472 | 3,948,981 | 3,946,672 |
| Glasgow | | | | | |
| Highland | 3,069,000 | 3,059,000 | 3,048,000 | 3,037,000 | 3,031,000 |
| Inverclyde | 332,411 | 332,411 | 332,411 | 1,662,411 | 1,008,411 |
| Midlothian | 1,678,154 | 1,678,154 | 1,678,154 | 2,441,154 | 1,803,154 |
| Moray | 251,065 | 254,988 | 261,589 | 274,833 | 282,673 |
| North Ayrshire | 1,151,000 | 1,234,000 | 1,217,000 | 1,199,000 | 1,182,000 |
| North Lanarkshire | 2,942,000 | 3,052,000 | 3,040,000 | 3,032,000 | 3,023,000 |
| Orkney | 234,000 | 234,000 | 234,000 | 234,000 | 234,000 |
| Perth and Kinross | 883,000 | 832,000 | 769,000 | 714,000 | 679,000 |
| Renfrewshire | 1,762,000 | 1,740,000 | 1,843,000 | 1,818,000 | 1,793,000 |
| Scottish Borders | | | | | |
| Shetland | 366,425 | 366,425 | 306,425 | 306,425 | 314,425 |
| South Ayrshire | 1,055,000 | 1,045,000 | 1,125,000 | 1,114,000 | 1,103,000 |
| South Lanarkshire | 4,295,000 | 4,463,000 | 4,637,000 | 4,814,000 | 5,355,000 |
| Stirling | 1,779,294 | 1,779,294 | 1,779,294 | 1,779,294 | 1,779,294 |
| West Dunbartonshire | | | | | |
| West Lothian | 1,776,000 | 1,775,000 | 1,774,000 | 1,774,000 | 1,772,000 |
| Strategy Area | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
| Aberdeen City | | | | | |
| Aberdeenshire | | | | | |
| Angus | | | | | |
| Argyll and Bute | 1,653,710 | 1,653,710 | 1,653,710 | 1,653,710 | 1,653,710 |
| Clackmannanshire | | | | | |
| Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar | | | | | |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 3,345,000 | 3,345,000 | 3,345,000 | 3,345,000 | 3,345,000 |
| Dundee | | | | | |
| East Ayrshire | | | | | |
| East Dunbartonshire | | | | | |
| East Lothian | | | | | |
| East Renfrewshire | | | | | |
| Edinburgh | | | | | |
| Falkirk | | | | | |
| Fife | | | | | |
| Glasgow | | | | | |
| Highland | | | | | |
| Inverclyde | | | | | |
| Midlothian | | | | | |
| Moray | | | | | |
| North Ayrshire | | | | | |
| North Lanarkshire | | | | | |
| Orkney | | | | | |
| Perth and Kinross | | | | | |
| Renfrewshire | | | | | |
| Scottish Borders | | | | | |
| Shetland | | | | | |
| South Ayrshire | | | | | |
| South Lanarkshire | | | | | |
| Stirling | | | | | |
| West Dunbartonshire | | | | | |
| West Lothian | | | | | |
| Strategy Area | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 |
| Aberdeen City | | | | | |
| Aberdeenshire | | | | | |
| Angus | | | | | |
| Argyll and Bute | 1,653,710 | 551,237 | | | |
| Clackmannanshire | | | | | |
| Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar | | | | | |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 3,345,000 | 3,345,000 | 3,345,000 | 3,345,000 | 1,218,000 |
| Dundee | | | | | |
| East Ayrshire | | | | | |
| East Dunbartonshire | | | | | |
| East Lothian | | | | | |
| East Renfrewshire | | | | | |
| Edinburgh | | | | | |
| Falkirk | | | | | |
| Fife | | | | | |
| Glasgow | | | | | |
| Highland | | | | | |
| Inverclyde | | | | | |
| Midlothian | | | | | |
| Moray | | | | | |
| North Ayrshire | | | | | |
| North Lanarkshire | | | | | |
| Orkney | | | | | |
| Perth and Kinross | | | | | |
| Renfrewshire | | | | | |
| Scottish Borders | | | | | |
| Shetland | | | | | |
| South Ayrshire | | | | | |
| South Lanarkshire | | | | | |
| Stirling | | | | | |
| West Dunbartonshire | | | | | |
| West Lothian | | | | | |
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 03 February 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 15 February 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been to date of the Scottish Forest Industries Cluster and what the estimated cost is of the cluster continuing in the future.
Answer
The Scottish Forest Industries Cluster is a partnership between Scottish Enterprise and the Confederation of Forest Industries Ltd. Details of cost are therefore an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and its partner.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 9 February 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13361 by Mr Andy Kerr on 25 January 2005, whether it will set out the full detail and text of any conditions which are to be imposed in respect of the provision of extra allocations to the NHS prior to the end of the financial year; what 'milestones' and 'targets' will be used as the basis for the allocation of such funds, and whether the conditions attached to the funds contain any references that interfere with the professional judgement and opinion of clinicians in respect of the way in which patients should be treated and the place where such treatment should be carried out.
Answer
Where the Executive decides to attach conditions to allocations of additional money to the NHS, these will be agreed at the relevant time. It is entirely appropriate for the Executive, where it makes additional funds available to the NHS for specific purposes, to attach relevant conditions. In that way we can be sure that the extra money is targeted on national service improvement priorities and delivers benefits equitably for all patients in Scotland.
Where boards are allocated additional funds to enable them to reduce waiting times for patients on the waiting list, conditions typically applied to boards (and accepted by them along with the additional funding) will include a requirement to reduce numbers of patients waiting longer than a stated period. This is clearly in the interests of patients. It does not interfere with clinical judgements and opinions. Clinicians – like the Executive - want to see NHS patients treated as soon as possible. It is up to NHS boards to decide wheretreatment should be given, provided clinical standards are adhered to and patients’ views are taken into account.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 8 February 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the referendum on congestion charging in Edinburgh should be postponed pending the outcome of the on-going legal proceedings.
Answer
We are aware of the on-going judicial review action but the Scottish Executive is not a party to that action. This is a matter for the local authorities concerned and the court.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 7 February 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific assistance it will provide for first-time buyers in rural Scotland and whether, in particular, it will provide assistance with (a) fixed or reduced price new properties and (b) shared equity schemes.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:
The goal of the Scottish Executive’s housing investment programme is to provide new and improved housing in disadvantaged communities, to replace or improve poor quality housing and to help people on low incomes rent social housing or buy a fixed or reduced price home in rural or urban areas where demand exceeds supply or where market prices are beyond the reach of their incomes.
Ministers have announced that the housing investment programme will aim to provide 5,000 low cost home ownership homes in the period 2005-06 to 2007-08. Aligned to this, Communities Scotland is developing a new shared equity grant for introduction this year, targeted mainly at first time buyers. We expect this new grant to be delivering as much as 1,000 new homes per annum by 2007-08. This will be available in rural and urban areas.
In the period 1999-2000 to 2003-04, the Scottish Executive helped fund 5,671 low cost home ownership homes targeted at those on lower than average incomes such as first time buyers, of which 1,252 were in rural areas.
