Question Time — scottish executive – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:30 pm on 5 October 2000.
Irene McGugan
Scottish National Party
2:30,
5 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to repeal current road tolling legislation. (S1O-2341)
Sarah Boyack
Labour
The Scottish Executive has no plans to repeal current road tolling legislation.
Irene McGugan
Scottish National Party
Given that the recent European Court of Justice ruling suggests that the Skye bridge tolls should be seen as a service charge, not a tax, is not it logical that the relevant sections of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, which offend the European Court of Justice ruling and which subject protesters to criminal proceedings, should be repealed? That is within the remit of this Parliament.
Sarah Boyack
Labour
We have no plans to take that action.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
