Annabel Goldie

23 Jan 2002 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether it expects the current number of lecturers employed in higher education to be maintained.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Decisions on staffing levels are a matter for individual institutions.

22 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any increase in the level of courses not completed by students at Scottish universities, particularly in respect of courses offering access to disadvantaged people, in line with any such experience in the rest of the UK.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The information requested is not held centrally.<P>Information on course completion by higher education institution can be found in Table 5 of the <I>Performance Indicators on Higher Education in the UK</I>, published by the Higher Education Funding Councils …

14 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on making it compulsory for all local authorities to employ litter wardens with powers to impose penalty fines.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Different local authority areas will experience different incidences of littering. Litter legislation allows each authority to respond in a way and at a level which is most appropriate to its own problem. We believe that making the litter warden service a man…

24 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the assessment of Scotland's relative economic position in the UK Competitive Index 2001.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The <I>UK Competitive Index 2001</I> shows Scotland retaining its competitive position over the year based on a wide range of indicators. However it is difficult to make an accurate evaluation of an economic consultancy survey compared to official data from t…

21 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for any inconsistencies in the approach in the annual reports of local enterprise companies (LECs) to indicating actual performance attainment against projected targets.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: LECs do report their performance against network priority targets to Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise in a consistent manner, for internal management purposes, and these figures are reflected in network-wide performance measures when the…

21 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a guarantee that the Rankin Maternity Unit will not be removed from Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Planning and providing maternity services in Argyll and Clyde is in the first place a matter for NHS Argyll and Clyde. They are responsible for ensuring that services are safe, of high quality, and meet the needs of users. Any proposals to change significantl…

13 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals who participated in the self-employment route of the New Deal have gone back to claiming benefit since the New Deal's inception.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: A distinct self-employment route has been available through New Deal 18-24 since its inception and through New Deal 25 plus since April 2001. The route consists of three stages with Stages 1 & 2 delivered in the Gateway and Stage 3 as part of the Employment O…

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the average fine of #313 for drink-driving offences acts as a deterrent.

Answer · Jim Wallace: It is for the courts to determine the appropriate sentence taking into account the circumstances of each individual case. The maximum penalties available for drink driving are a fine of up to £5,000 and/or imprisonment for up to six months. Convicted drivers …

5 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures will be taken to address the increase in the number of people who were proceeded against for the motor vehicle offence of driving while disqualified.

Answer · Jim Wallace: A Home Office review of a number of road traffic offences, including driving while disqualified, is currently being carried out and the consultation period has now ended. Although road traffic law is reserved, the Scottish Executive has been involved in discu…

28 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when Part V of the Police Act 1997 will come into force.

Answer · Jim Wallace: We are planning to bring the provisions in Part V which deal with the making of regulations, registration and the code of practice into force shortly so that the registration process can start in February 2002. Thereafter, other provisions will be brought int…

23 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any increase in the cost of enforcing regulations on businesses since the establishment of the Improving Regulation in Scotland unit.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The cost of enforcing any regulation falls upon the enforcement agency concerned. The attention of the Improving Regulation in Scotland Unit (IRIS) is on the impact of regulations upon businesses, charities and the voluntary sector. The cost of enforcing any …

19 Nov 2001 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what progress is being made in establishing biomass projects under the Renewables Obligation (Scotland).

Answer · Jim Wallace: Under the Renewables Obligation Scotland, our objective is that renewable energy sources in Scotland will increase their share of the electricity market from around 12% now to 18% by 2010. We expect a range of renewable energy technologies to contribute to th…

26 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of any possible increase in the volume of heavy goods vehicle traffic having to obtain construction materials from outwith local areas due to the closure of small local quarries following the introduction of the Aggregates Tax.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Aggregates Tax is a reserved matter. Assessment of economic impacts throughout the UK is the responsibility of HM Treasury. No separate assessment of consequential transport impacts has been made in Scotland.

26 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it plans to take to protect the rural economy against the effect of any small quarry companies closing as a result of the introduction of the Aggregates Tax.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Aggregates Tax is a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive has no plans to provide additional assistance related to the tax.

26 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it plans to take to prevent materials exempt from the Aggregates Tax being incorporated into Private Finance Initiative and Design Build Finance and Operate projects.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Aggregates Tax is a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive has no plans to prevent material exempt from the Aggregates Tax being incorporated into Public Finance Initiative or Design, Build, Finance and Operate projects. Where the Scottish Executive is t…

26 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the impact on the amount of construction materials being imported as a result of the introduction of the Aggregates Tax.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Taxation is a reserved matter. Assessment of the impact of the Aggregates Levy throughout the UK is a matter for HM Treasury. The intention of HM Treasury is to tax imports of materials covered by the Aggregates Levy, but to exempt exports.

26 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from local authorities on any possible increase in road construction and maintenance costs following the introduction of the Aggregates Tax and what the estimated increase and additional costs would be for each authority.

Answer · Peter Peacock: I am not aware of any representations received from local authorities on any possible cost increases arising from the new Aggregates Tax.<P>The financial impact for individual local authorities will depend on their purchasing policies. The aim of the new tax …

17 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of small- and medium-si'ed business failures in the first three quarters of this year has risen in comparison with the same period in 2000.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Official statistics on insolvencies for the third quarter of 2001 are not yet available. <P>In the first half of 2001, DTI data show that there were 307 company liquidations and 1,459 individual sequestrations in Scotland. In the first half of 2000, the respe…

10 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the virtual "Accessible University" in the north-east will be operational.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I am advised that the "3sixty University for Children and Communities" is a project managed by the North Forum for Widening Participation in Higher Education and has been operating in Aberdeen and the surrounding area since last year. The project benefits fro…

5 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans for a review of the public funding of higher education research in the arts and humanities following the announcement of a review in England by the Minister for Lifelong Learning and Higher Education at the Department for Education and Skills

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The review announced in September by the Department for Education and Skills in England (see <A HREF="http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2001_0347">http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2001_0347</A>) was jointly commissioned by all the U…

4 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent in relation to the New Deal from its inception to date.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Total expenditure in Scotlan…

20 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any decrease in the donation of organs for either research or transplant following the disclosure of unauthorised organ retention.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There has been a slight increase in the number of organ donors for transplantation in the period 1January 2001 to 31 August 2001 compared to the same period last year. Overall, however, there has been a decline in organ donation rates in recent years, and the…

20 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals are currently being considered to compensate victims of infection caused by receiving an infected blood transfusion.

Answer · Susan Deacon: I announced on 29 August that, following consideration by the Scottish Executive of the judgement issued in the High Court in London in the case of <I>A &amp; Others</I> v <I>National Blood Transfusion Service</I> and others, the Central Legal Office (CLO) ha…

20 Sep 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any increase or decrease in the number of reported incidences of persons receiving infected blood transfusions in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally. However, reported and confirmed transfusion-transmitted infections are now rare. I have written to you separately giving contact details for the National Co-ordinator of Serious Hazards of Transfusion, which was set up …

9 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether satisfactory arrangements are in place for the control of illegal dumping and deposit of litter and rubbish.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: It is an offence not to dispose of waste properly and to cause litter. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency and local authorities have the power to serve notice on landowners to clear their land of illegally dumped material and to investigate flytipping…

9 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12788 by Susan Deacon on 7 February 2001, when Aricept will be made available throughout the National Health Service in Scotland.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Donepezil (Aricept) has been licensed since 1997 for the treatment of mild to moderate dementia in Alzheimer's disease. The use of this treatment depends on the clinical judgement of the clinician concerned, taking into account advice and evidence about its u…

8 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reform trust law in Scotland in the light of the Trustee Act 2000 in England and Wales.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Charity Law Review Commission looked at the issue of trustees' powers of investment as part of its work. In its report, published on 9 May 2001, the commission recommends that a Trustee (Scotland) Bill should be introduced, giving charity trustee…

12 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a guarantee that the Rankin maternity unit will not be removed from Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The provision of maternity services in Argyll and Clyde is a matter for Argyll and Clyde Health Board and Argyll and Clyde Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Any proposals for significant change or reconfiguration of maternity services must be subject to comprehensiv…

3 Jan 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines exist to encourage organisations in receipt of public funding to pay debts on time.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Late Payment of Commercial Debt Act 1998 provides a statutory right to interest on any debts which are not settled in 30 days or the agreed contractual period. The Act applies to both the public and private sectors.

5 Dec 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to promote Scotland as a quality provider of English language training for speakers of other languages.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is contributing to the strategy which was launched by the Prime Minister in June 1999 to attract more international students to the UK. Scottish Executive officials are already engaged with the British Council, Scottish Education + Trai…