- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 3 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) internet service provider and (b) internet exchange is currently used by (i) Scottish Enterprise, (ii) Highlands and Islands Enterprise, (iii) visitscotland, (iv) each health board and (v) each local authority; whether, if some or all of these bodies do not currently use an internet service provider which uses a Scottish internet exchange, it will encourage them to switch to a provider which uses a Scottish exchange and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
Procurement decisions by non-departmental bodies, health boards and local authorities are a matter for the individual bodies concerned. The information requested is not therefore held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. It is not possible for the Executive to encourage the bodies listed to switch to an internet service provider which uses a Scottish exchange; it would be unlawful under European law for public bodies to discriminate in favour of providers according to their location, or the location of their sub-contractors.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 3 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has spent to date on setting up and running helplines connected with the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
Answer
This information is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 19 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 3 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether using an internet service provider which uses an internet exchange located in Scotland can offer any financial benefits to Scottish public bodies and, if so, what these benefits are.
Answer
The Executive welcomes the establishment of internet exchange facilities in Scotland and hopes that they will prove to be successful. Internet service providers which use an internet exchange based in Scotland, like any other service provider, should have the opportunity to compete, on the basis of value for money, for public sector requirements as and when they are advertised.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 July 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all representations it has made, or intends to make, to Railtrack or the Strategic Rail Authority regarding the upgrade and modernisation of Waverley Station.
Answer
Scottish Executive officials are in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority and Railtrack on a wide range of matters, including the improvement of railway infrastructure.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 15 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 29 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the construction of a new Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters at Gogarburn would have on traffic flow and what financial assistance would be offered to the bank or the City of Edinburgh Council to promote mass transit schemes for the area.
Answer
The effect of any major development on traffic volumes on the adjacent local roads is a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council to take into account. The Scottish Executive has, of course, an interest in trunk road impacts and will in due course take part in discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council concerning an assessment of traffic impacts. The Executive's Public Transport Fund is available to assist transport authorities towards meeting the capital costs of public transport investments.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to take any action to recover any of the funding made available to City of Edinburgh Council in connection with the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme.
Answer
I understand that the City of Edinburgh Council may be considering its position with regard to the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit soon. I have asked the council to advise ministers of the outcome of this consideration and the consequences for its future plans. In the light of the council's response, I shall consider whether it is appropriate to recover any resources from the council.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recent reports on the status of the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme, what directions and guidance it will give regarding any alternative mass transit schemes proposed for Edinburgh in the future.
Answer
Development Department Circular No 3/2001 announced the procedures for local authorities and the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority in applying to the Public Transport Fund for projects commencing in 2002-03. Further guidance will be issued for bids to the Public Transport Fund for projects commencing in 2003-04.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any official contacts it has had with representatives of the governments of Ireland and South Africa.
Answer
Officials have enjoyed contacts with representatives of the governments of Ireland and South Africa on a wide range of issues, including the recent visits of the Taoiseach and President Mbeki. A single record of all such contacts is not kept and could only be prepared at disproportionate cost.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to post departmental officials to serve in the UK embassies in Ireland and South Africa to carry out functions along the lines of the official to be posted to the UK Embassy in Washington and whether it will set out the timetable for any such postings, the number and seniority of staff who would be posted and how they would interact with UK government departments.
Answer
We have no plans to replicate the Washington post in any other Embassy, although this remains an option for the future.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 14 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 28 June 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recent reports on the status of the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme, what conditions will be imposed in relation to any funding made available for transport schemes in Edinburgh in future.
Answer
Any transport authority seeking funding from the Scottish Executive for public transport schemes would need to demonstrate that such schemes contribute towards the objectives of its Local Transport Strategy. Projects would be expected to satisfy the five criteria for assessment of transport investment: value for money, integration, safety, environmental impact and accessibility. Projects which are awarded funding are required to submit regularly action plans and profiles of expenditure. It remains open to ministers to impose any additional conditions upon funding awards in the light of particular circumstances.
