- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 31 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to restore public confidence in the science of fingerprint identification, given the criticism by recognised international experts of the fingerprint work of the Scottish Criminal Records Office.
Answer
I refer the member to the reply I gave to question S1W-6950.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 31 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a full and independent review of the actions of Strathclyde Police and the Scottish Criminal Records Office in the case of Shirley McKie.
Answer
I refer the member to the reply I gave to question S1W-6949. HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary's inspection will include an examination of Shirley McKie's case.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 31 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a full and independent review of the fingerprint work of the Scottish Criminal Records Office.
Answer
Following the original expressions of concern about the integrity of the fingerprint system in Scotland, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary was invited to undertake an inspection of the acquisition, examination and presentation of fingerprint evidence including a review of the training, skills and quality assurance aspects of the fingerprint operation at the Scottish Criminal Record Office. This inspection is still ongoing.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 17 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 31 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the light of the evidence presented by BBC Frontline Scotland in the case of Shirley McKie, it will now make a full apology and financial restitution to Shirley McKie for any suffering and trauma she has experienced as a result of her investigation and prosecution.
Answer
I refer the member to the reply I gave to question S1W-6950.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the reply to question S1W-6089 by Sarah Boyack on 20 April 2000, when it now expects to receive from Strathclyde Passenger Transport the full business case for a Larkhall rail link.
Answer
Latest information from SPT indicates that we may now receive the full business case in the summer of 2000.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 11 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has discussed with the Scottish Tourist Board or local tourist boards the need to support and retain manned tourist information centres.
Answer
No. Decisions about the provision of information are for Area Tourist Boards to take. They are in the best position to determine whether this should be through Tourist Information Centres or by some other method.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken recently to bring to completion the plans for a Larkhall rail link.
Answer
The Larkhall to Milngavie rail route project is the responsibility of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority as the public passenger transport body for the area. Scottish Executive officials have met SPTE officials on a number of occasions, most recently in March to discuss the authority's reappraisal of the investment case for the project and related issues. Before a decision can be taken about the eligibility of the project for level playing field support under the PPP arrangements, the Executive needs to receive the Full Business Case from the authority. I understand this is now expected in May or June.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost is of upgrading all unadopted roads in Scotland serving communities of 100 people or more to a standard suitable for adoption.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what legal sanctions are available to individuals served by unadopted roads to enforce contributions from other residents so served in order that such roads can be upgraded to a standard suitable for adoption.
Answer
There are no legal sanctions available to individuals to enforce contributions from other residents.
However, where a roads authority has served a notice under Section 13 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 requiring the frontagers to a private road to make the road up to, and maintain it at, a suitable standard, the notice must specify a scheme whereby the cost is to be apportioned amongst the frontagers. If following the serving of such a notice the requisite number of frontagers so agree, the works may be fulfilled on their behalf by the local authority, who shall then recover the costs from the frontagers.
There is provision for a person upon whom such a notice is served to appeal by summary application to the sheriff within 28 days. The sheriff's decision on the matter shall be final.
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 April 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 May 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what grants are available for those served by unadopted roads to upgrade them to a standard suitable for local authority adoption.
Answer
There are no grants available from the Scottish Executive to those served by unadopted roads to upgrade them to a standard suitable for local authority adoption.
