- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 25 January 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to replicate Operation Youth Advantage, operated by the army in conjunction with the Northern Constabulary and Grampian Police; whether it considers that schemes which provide diversionary experience for younger people, with a residential course including physical exercise and classes on drugs, alcohol and good citizenship, are the most effective way of turning younger people away from a life of crime, and what action it has taken, or will take, on these matters.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is fully committed to effectively addressing youth crime. As indicated in the answers to questions S2W-2071 (on 5 September 2003), S2W-679 (on 17 June 2003) and S1W-32193 (on 12 December 2002). All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the searchfacility for which can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/wa.search.
It is for individual police forces to determine the extent of their involvement in initiatives such as Operation Youth Advantage.
- 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 Andy Kerr on 25 January 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any additional financial provision will be provided to the NHS prior to the end of the financial year and, if so, whether, as last year, it will be provided subject to the implementation or fulfilment of certain conditions and, if so, whether these conditions may supersede the clinical judgement of surgeons.
Answer
A small number of additional allocations are to be made to the NHS prior to the end of the financial year. This will include additional provision to assist NHS boards make progress towards delivery of national waiting time commitments and enable boards to reduce the number of outpatients waiting more than six months from 52,000 to 25,000 and the number of in-patients/day cases waiting more than six months from 7,000 to 3,500 by 31 March 2005. The funds will be allocated on the basis of achievement of milestones for delivery of agreed targets.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 December 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 January 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-4586 by Nicol Stephen on 16 December 2004, whether the Minister for Transport will make a statement to the Parliament on progress being made on proposals for the funding of devolved rail functions.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-13619 on 18 January 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/wa.search.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 January 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that Project ATLAS has been a successful use of public funding and if so, whether it will identify the benefits which have been derived from it.
Answer
The Scottish Executive’s broadband strategy is facilitating the rollout and uptake of broadband technology across Scotland. Project ATLAS fits within this overall strategy but is led and funded by Scottish Enterprise. Issues about use of public funding and the benefits achieved are, in the first instance, operational matters for Scottish Enterprise.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 January 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to dual the A9.
Answer
We are continuing to develop our proposals to extend the dual carriageway at Crubenmore by around 2km at a cost of £5.4 million and to provide 4km of additional overtaking opportunities between Kincraig and Dalraddy at a cost of £4.3 million. I expect to publish draft orders for these schemes this year. A number of other improvements are planned and work has begun on a route improvement study which will report in the autumn.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 25 January 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the creation of a new building for Lochaber High School.
Answer
It is for The Highland Council to decide on the priorities for the provision of new schools in their area, within the resources available to them. These resources include the financial support we have offered the council for a schools PPP project with a capital value of around £100 million; direct capital grant in the form of a Schools Fund allocation of £4.332 million in 2005-06 rising to £4.751 million by 2007-08, and the substantial resources which the Council can generate within the level they can afford, principally through borrowing, under the prudential framework.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 January 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a ministerial statement following completion of the consultation process in respect of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link.
Answer
No this is not normal procedure for such projects. We look forward to receiving a copy of the Consultation Report from Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd when it is published.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 January 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the performance of BEAR Scotland Ltd in relation to road maintenance of trunk roads has been satisfactory and whether the working practices of BEAR Scotland Ltd, including drivers' hours and conditions, are sufficient, and acceptable, for the carrying out of their functions in respect of gritting routes.
Answer
BEAR Scotland Ltd’s performance on trunk road maintenance, which is monitored by the independent Performance Audit Group, has been generally satisfactory. Following an audit by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, it is understood that the Traffic Commissioner proposes to hold a Public Inquiry to hear evidence from Bear Scotland Ltd. In relation to drivers’ hours during bad winter weather. It is possible that any ruling from the Traffic Commissioner following the public inquiry could affect the current interpretations regarding drivers’ hours during winter maintenance operations and in these circumstances it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 25 January 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the provision of a new sports centre for Grantown-on-Spey; whether it will provide assistance to sports centres in rural parts of Scotland; what arrangements it makes regarding access for children to sports centres, and whether there is a national policy on access for children to sports centres to ensure that as many children as possible participate in outdoor activities.
Answer
The Executive fully supports the development of the new sports centre for Grantown-on-Spey and is delighted that the project has been awarded funding of £300,000 from
sportscotland’s lottery-funded Building for Sport programme.
Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to ensure adequate provision of sport and leisure facilities for their residents. As in the case of the sports centre in Grantown-on-Spey, funding may be available from sportscotland through the Building for Sport programme. Applications are assessed by sportscotland against set criteria for the programme and ministers have no role to play in considering individual applications.
With regard to access for children to sports centres, many local authorities already have strategies in place to encourage increased access. However, this is an issue which has been identified as important in achieving targets 1 and 2 of Sport 21. The strategy to deliver these targets is seeking to create or amend existing discount schemes and also consider the provision of transport subsidies to ensure that potential barriers are removed which restricts access to sports facilities and participation in sports programmes.
- Asked by: Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 January 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 25 January 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a ministerial statement following completion of the consultation process in respect of the Glasgow Airport Rail Link.
Answer
No, this is not normal procedure for such projects. We have been advised by Strathclyde Passenger Transport that the Consultation Exercise for the Glasgow Airport Rail link does not conclude until 28 February 2005. The Scottish Executive looks forward to receiving a copy of the Consultation Report when it is published.
