- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to investigate the provision of support for those in need and help reduce the level of bad debt with water and sewerage charges, as referred to in the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland's report Strategic Review of Charges 2002-2006.
Answer
Since the Strategic Reviewof Charges in 2002 the problem of bad debt has been diminishing, as the rate ofcollection has improved for both domestic and non-domestic customers.
The main means of supportingvulnerable customers is by improving efficiency at Scottish Water, which willease pressure on charges and by retaining the link between water charges and counciltax banding and discount arrangements.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Mary Mulligan on 9 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the rise in the number of disconnections by energy suppliers due to debt from 40 disconnections in 2001 to 458 disconnections in the first half of 2003.
Answer
The legislation and regulationof the energy sector is a reserved matter and the question of disconnections isone for the electricity supply companies. I am, however, concerned at how thesupply companies are operating in Scotland in regard to the recent increase in disconnections.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Mary Mulligan on 8 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3050 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 29 October 2003, whether the #40 charge towards the cost of another inspection of their central heating system acts as a disincentive to pensioners lodging legitimate appeals against the decision of specialist surveyors.
Answer
I asked my officials toinvestigate this matter to ensure that the system was not discouraginglegitimate appeals against the decisions made from the first heating survey. Iam pleased to say that Eaga Partnership have agreed to absorb the charge andthey will now cover the full cost of a second inspection as part of theirappeals process.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 December 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 5 December 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to consult the charity sector during the drafting of new legislation on charity law reform.
Answer
In my statement toParliament on 24 September I made a commitment that a draft bill to reformcharity regulation in Scotland would be prepared for consultation in spring nextyear. I also emphasised the Executive’s commitment to involving the full rangeof charity and voluntary sector interests during the preparation of the bill aswell as during the formal consultation once the draft is published.
A strategy for this processof engagement has now been set out, involving the establishment of a referencegroup, a series of specialist meetings with key stakeholders and experts, andwider information-sharing activities. Copies of the consultation strategy havebeen placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 30103) and anelectronic version will be made available on the Executive’s website.
The bill reference group metfor the first time on 25 November, and further meetings are scheduled beforeChristmas and early in the new year. It is chaired by officials, with a remitto assist the Executive to develop effective, coherent and proportionate proposalsin the draft bill.
Additionally, a wide rangeof stakeholders will be engaged on specific issues during the process ofpreparing the draft legislation.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 October 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Malcolm Chisholm on 21 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-1912 by Malcolm Chisholm on 20 October 2003, whether it will ensure that the report from NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHS Greater Glasgow on the pattern of patient choice for consultant-led maternity units involves substantive discussion and consultation with communities and elected members.
Answer
It is up to NHS Argyll and Clyde and NHSGreater Glasgow how they take this work forward. I would expect localcommunities and elected members to be involved in this process.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Mary Mulligan on 20 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3050 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 29 October 2003, how many appeals by pensioners against the decision of a specialist surveyor have been (a) lodged and (b) upheld, since the establishment of the central heating installation programme.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Herresponse is as follows:
From September 2002 untilOctober 2003, 66 appeals were investigated. Thirty appeals were upheld and fourappeals are still in progress.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 19 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of construction was of the (a) Erskine Bridge, (b) Forth Road Bridge and (c) Tay Bridge.
Answer
Construction costs for Erskine Bridge totalledsome £10.7 million. For Forth Road Bridge and Tay Bridge, these are matters for Forth Estuary TransportAuthority and Tay Road Bridge Joint Board respectively, which own and operatethose bridges.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 19 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what toll is payable on the (a) Skye Bridge, (b) Erskine Bridge, (c) Forth Road Bridge and (d) Tay Bridge.
Answer
The following tablesindicate toll payable on each bridge.
Skye Bridge
| Vehicle Description | Toll Category | Toll (each way) | Book of Discount Tickets |
| Motorcycle | High Season Low Season Discount Rate | £2.90 £2.40 £0.67 | £13.40 for 20 Tickets |
| Car/Motorhomes (& transit vans <> | High Season Low Season Discount Rate | £5.70 £4.70 £1.34 | £26.80 for 20 Tickets |
| LGV (< 7.5="" tons=""> | High and Low Season Discount Rate | £10.80 £7.84 | £78.40 for 10 Tickets |
| HGV 1 (2 or 3 axles) | High and Low Season Discount Season | £14.00 £10.13 | £101.30 for 10 Tickets |
| HGV 2 (4 or more axles) | High and Low Season Discount Rate | £27.90 £20.26 | £202.60 for 10 Tickets |
| Local Bus Service | High and Low Season Discount Rate | £16.40 £12.26 | £122.60 for 10 Tickets |
| Midi Coach (seats up to 22 passengers) | High Season Low Season Discount Rate | £23.70 £15.80 N/A | |
| Coach (seats more than 22 passengers) | High Season Low Season Discount Rate | £41.20 £27.90 N/A | |
| Car and Caravan (or trailer > 2.5m) | High Season Low Season Discount Rate | £11.40 £9.40 £2.68 | Purchase Car Tickets |
Notes:
High Season: 1 May to 30September.
Low Season: 1 October to 30April.
Discount vouchers are validfor 1 year from date of purchase.
Erskine Bridge
| Vehicle Description | Toll (each way) | Book of Discount Tickets |
| Motorcycles | Nil | N/A |
| All Other Vehicles | £0.60 | £27.00 for 50 Tickets |
Tay Bridge
| Vehicle Description | Toll (one way) | Book of Discount Tickets |
| Car | £0.80 | N/A |
| Bus | £1.40 | N/A |
| LGVs/HGVs | £2.00 | N/A |
Forth Road Bridge
| Vehicle Description | Toll (one way) | Book of Discount Tickets |
| Car | £0.80 | £36.00 for 50 Tickets |
| Bus | £1.40 | N/A |
| LGVs/HGVs | £2.00 | £65.00 for 50 tickets |
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 19 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on maintenance of the (a) Skye Bridge, (b) Erskine Bridge, (c) Forth Road Bridge and (d) Tay Bridge in each year since construction.
Answer
Skye Bridge is maintained and operated by Skye Bridge Limited underthe terms of the PFI agreement. Maintenance costs are set out in the company’s annualaccounts, which are available from Companies House.
For Erskine Bridge,maintenance costs in each year are noted in the following table.
| Year | Maintenance Costs (£) |
| 1971-72 | 52,458 |
| 1972-73 | 88,274 |
| 1973-74 | 100,037 |
| 1974-75 | 121,185 |
| 1975-76 | 456,192 |
| 1976-77 | 681,976 |
| 1977-78 | 934,462 |
| 1978-79 | 817,467 |
| 1979-80 | 814,800 |
| 1980-81 | 772,151 |
| 1981-82 | 1,564,378 |
| 1982-83 | 2,051,090 |
| 1983-84 | 966,915 |
| 1984-85 | 267,609 |
| 1985-86 | 264,615 |
| 1986-87 | 278,810 |
| 1987-88 | 289,941 |
| 1988-89 | 269,878 |
| 1989-90 | 40,409 |
| 1990-91 | 110,446 |
| 1991-92 | 67,157 |
| 1992-93 | 188,812 |
| 1993-94 | 134,310 |
| 1994-95 | 5,370,000 |
| 1995-96 | 947,031 |
| 1996-97 | 427,990 |
| 1997-98 | 241,525 |
| 1998-99 | 264,330 |
| 1999-2000 | 610,840 |
| 2000-01 | 684,086 |
| 2001-02 | 794,005 |
| 2002-03 | *1,675,201 |
Notes:
*Provisional figure.
For Forth Road Bridge and Tay Road Bridge,these are matters for Forth Estuary Transport Authority and Tay Road BridgeJoint Board respectively, which own and operate those bridges.
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Thursday, 06 November 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 19 November 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any debt remains to be paid on the (a) Erskine Bridge, (b) Forth Road Bridge and (c) Tay Bridge.
Answer
There is no outstanding debton Erskine Bridge. For the Forth Road Bridge and Tay Bridge, these are matters for Forth Estuary TransportAuthority and Tay Road Bridge Joint Board respectively, who own and operate thosebridges.
