- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 20 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct BEAR Scotland Ltd to bring forward to May 2002 its proposed repair work to the A830, and whether it recognises the importance of the A830 to the communities of Mallaig, Arisaig and Morar and tourism in the area, in particular the need to keep the road open with minimal impediment and interference during summer months.
Answer
In accordance with our contract with BEAR Scotland Ltd and to ensure value for money for the repairs to the section of the A830 between Borrodale and Arisaig, the work will be put out to tender. The design, preparation of tender documents, tender period and the appointment of contractors to carry out the work mean that it will be impossible to carry out the repairs before the tourist season. In recognition of the importance of this route, consultations will take place with interested parties on the optimum timing of the works and the traffic management regime to achieve the minimum disruption. In the interim the strategy to undertake urgent repairs and increase the frequency of safety inspections to ensure road safety is maintained will continue.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 20 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to the EU Standing Veterinary Committee in respect of requests by Ireland and France that the committee re-examine its grading of countries as low or high risk for the purposes of BSE and what information it has on any representations to the committee made by Her Majesty's Government on this matter.
Answer
As part of the classification process required under Council Regulation 999/2001, as amended, all member states including the UK were invited to make an application to determine their BSE status against agreed criterion.The UK application was subject to discussion with all the devolved administrations, before it was submitted to the Commission's Scientific Steering Committee for evaluation.Regulation 999/2001 allows for a member state to notify the Commission of any epidemiological evidence or other information which might lead to a change in BSE status. As far as the Executive is aware, neither France nor the Republic of Ireland have applied to have their original classification as "low incidence" re-examined.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 20 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide (a) a detailed statement of the scientific basis for its proposals to designate approximately 18% of Scotland as nitrate vulnerable 'ones, (b) a detailed explanation of why such 'ones are required and (c) details of the scientific or any other evidence upon which the conclusion was reached in respect of each proposed nitrate vulnerable 'one.
Answer
The Scottish Executive methodology for identification of groundwater nitrate vulnerable zones is detailed at paragraphs 13 to 15 and Annex 3 of the consultation paper Protection of Scotland's Water Environment: Consultation on Further Scottish Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Parliament's Reference Centre Bib. number 18665). The issues and objectives of designation are summarised at paragraphs 2 to 18 of the draft Regulatory and Environmental Impact Assessment at Annex II of the consultation paper Water Quality: Action Programmes for Scottish Nitrate Vulnerable Zones: A Consultation (Bib. number 20823). The answer to question S1W-22488 on 12 February 2002, covers the requirements of the EC Nitrates Directive for designation of nitrate vulnerable zones. The supporting scientific evidence and monitoring data details for each of the proposed nitrate vulnerable zones are available from the British Geological Survey report Groundwater nitrate vulnerable zones for Scotland (Bib. number 18567).
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 15 May 2002
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-23245 on 18 March 2002, whether no further amounts will be paid to Flour City Architectural Metals UK Limited and whether he will clarify what costs are "yet to be agreed", what work these costs relate to, whether these works are those referred to in the answers, namely those "mainly comprised detailing of interfaces between complex cladding elements", and who will be liable for these costs.
Answer
No further amounts will be paid to Flour City Architectural Metals UK Limited. The Convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that, with the exception of one, all trade packages to replace the work contracted to Flour City Architectural Metals UK Ltd have been let. The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will be liable for the cost of the works.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 13 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the comment made by the First Minister that private airlines must recognise their "social responsibility" as reported in the press on 24 April 2002, what the precise meaning is of the First Minister's comment; what action it will take in respect of the First Minister's viewpoint, and whether the First Minister plans to meet British Airways to discuss the obligations which he believes are incumbent upon them to fulfil their social responsibility to the people of the Highlands and Islands.
Answer
The Scottish Executive meets airlines, including British Airways, on a regular basis to discuss a range of aviation matters, including the cost of flights and the encouragement of new services.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 26 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 10 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any alterations have been made to its contract with BEAR Scotland Ltd; whether any changes have been made in the service specification contained in that contract in relation to the length of maintenance routes, and, if so, whether any alterations are being made to the level of remuneration paid to BEAR Scotland Ltd in respect of its maintenance routes and what any such changes are.
Answer
The Scottish ministers have entered into two contracts with BEAR Scotland Ltd, one in respect of the management and maintenance of the North West Unit and one for the North East Unit. There have been a limited number of minor alterations to these contracts since 1 April 2001. The construction of a new grade separated junction has also added to BEAR's management and maintenance responsibilities. The level of remuneration paid to BEAR will be increased to cover these additional responsibilities, in accordance with the rates specified in the trunk road contracts.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 9 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what records are kept in relation to meetings between ministers and MSPs.
Answer
Ministers meet regularly with MSPs of all parties, both formally and informally. No central records are kept but, depending on the nature of the meeting, a record may be prepared by the Minister's Private Office or other Scottish Executive officials.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 9 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive when the tenure of the present Chairman of Caledonian MacBrayne expires; whether the post will be publicly advertised; whether there will be an opportunity for the users of Caledonian MacBrayne services to participate in any selection process for the appointment of a new chairman; what selection process will be used to decide which candidates will be interviewed for the post of chairman; what criteria will be employed to ensure that the selection process for an appointment is fair and impartial, and whether the criticism expressed by Dame Rennie Fritchie, the Commissioner for Public Appointments, regarding the appointment process of the present chairman will be taken into account in any new selection process.
Answer
The present Chairman of Caledonian MacBrayne was appointed for a three-year term from 1 August 1999. An announcement relating to the future arrangements for this post will be made in due course. The processes and procedures for public appointments, including the involvement of independent advisers, are set out in the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice. These procedures are strictly followed for all appointments to Caledonian MacBrayne. They were introduced to ensure the selection process for public appointments is fair, impartial and transparent. The commissioner's comments in relation to the 1999 appointment process have been borne in mind in all subsequent appointment processes, including those relating to Caledonian MacBrayne. One of the main conclusions of the commissioner's report was that the present chairman was appointed on merit.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 9 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will meet MSPs representing constituents served by the A82 in order to discuss the need for upgrading the road and whether the A82 will be included in the next round of trunk road improvements, detailing the reasons behind is position on this matter.
Answer
Requests for meetings should be submitted directly for consideration by Ministers. The Executive will review the 1995 Route Accident Reduction Plan (RARP) for the A82 between Tyndrum and Inverness next year to identify priority schemes for inclusion in future motorway and trunk road programmes. Identified schemes will be considered against competing priorities across the Scottish trunk road network.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 April 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the passing of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill, whether it will urge non-departmental public bodies, including Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Enterprise, to respond to requests for information as if the bill was in force from 25 April 2002.
Answer
It will not be possible for non-departmental public bodies, including those referred to, to operate as if the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill were in force from 25 April 2002 because many aspects of the Freedom of Information regime to be established by the bill are not yet in place. Most notably, the Scottish Information Commissioner is yet to be appointed and will need to be in place before certain preparations begin, for example, the development of publication schemes.
