Questions · Ms Wendy Alexander

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether and, if so, when, it will publish the process whereby it intends to deliver higher cash efficiency savings than planned in the rest of the United Kingdom and whether the same timetable applies.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-10435 answered on 27 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parli…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the timetable proposed by Sir Peter Gershon in his report, Releasing resources to the front line Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency, to deliver UK planned efficiency savings applies in Scotland and, if not, how the timetable differs.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-10435 answered on 27 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parli…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any Scottish-specific analysis comparable to that carried out in Sir Peter Gershons report, Releasing resources to the front line - Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency, has been carried out on the potential impact on jobs of planned efficiency savings and, if so,…

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-10435 answered on 27 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parli…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to exceed the targets set out by Sir Peter Gershon in his report, Releasing resources to the front line - Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency, for efficiency savings without incurring at least a comparable impact on jobs as that predicted in the Gershon report.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-10435 answered on 27 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parli…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the same percentage of savings that are envisaged as cash-releasing in Her Majestys Governments spending review will apply in Scotland and what percentage this will be.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-10435 answered on 27 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parli…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to match both the cash-releasing and non-cash efficiency savings targets set for United Kingdom departments in the recent spending review.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the question S2W-10435 answered on 27 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Cabinet has yet agreed (a) an overall target or (b) department by department targets for public sector efficiency savings.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-10435 answered on 27 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parl…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Finance and Public Services has completed his spending review.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Yes. It has been completed and was announced on 29 September 2004.

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, if an (a) 2% per annum or (b) 2% over 3 years efficiency saving was applied to the budget in the current spending review, what sums each saving would yield.

Answer · Tom McCabe: If a 2% per annum efficiency saving was applied to the Scottish Total Departmental Expenditure Limit for each year of the spending review, as allocated in Stability, security and opportunity for all: investing for Britain's long-term future, this would…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Parliament was informed of the planned 2% efficiency savings over three years and whether this information first appeared in the media.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Parliament was informed that the target for efficiency savings was £500 million per annum by 2007-08 on 24 June 2004 in a statement by Andy Kerr, Minister for Finance and Public Services. A target of £500 million savings by 2007-08 is 2.4% of the Scottish…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in what respect planned efficiency savings in Scotland will exceed those in the United Kingdom.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-10435 answered on 27 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parl…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how a #500 million saving in its budget by 2007-08 exceeds planned UK cash savings arising from Sir Peter Gershons report, Releasing resources to the front line - Independent Review of Public Sector Efficiency.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive has never claimed that the £500 million saving in its budget by 2007-08 exceeds planned UK cash savings.

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the source was for the statement that for the United Kingdom the percentage target for cash savings is 1.25% (Official Report col. 10046, 8 September 2004).

Answer · Tom McCabe: Budget 2004 – Prudence for a Purpose: A Britain of Stability and Strength sets a target for efficiency savings of 2.5% a year over the three years of the 2004 Spending Review period. In most chapters of Stability, security and opportunity for all: i…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the relationship between the First Ministers statement, as reported in the Financial Times on 2 September 2004, regarding planned efficiency savings in Scotland of at least 2% per annum and the statement he made at First Ministers Question Time on 8 Se…

Answer · Tom McCabe: As I said on Monday 29 November 2004, we aspire to ambitious targets of £900 million in cash-releasing savings and £600 million in time-releasing savings by 2007-08. Further information on how we could make savings at this level will be released next year. On…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the target for savings of up to 2.5% a year by 2007-08 set out first in Her Majestys Governments Budget 2004 - Prudence For A Purpose: A Britain of Stability and Strength will be observed (a) overall and (b) by each Executive department and whether any official statem…

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-10435 answered on 27 October 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parli…

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will match the 2.5% per annum efficiency target, first set out in Her Majestys Governments Budget 2004 - Prudence for a Purpose: A Britain of Stability and Strength and confirmed for each UK department in the recent spending review.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive will publish its plans for Efficient Government as soon as possible after recess.

9 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is with regard to public sector efficiency savings; what targets have been set, and how such targets have been made known to the Parliament.

Answer · Andy Kerr: On the 24 June 2004 I announced to Parliament that the Scottish Executive would set out a three year plan to attack waste, bureaucracy and duplication in Scotland’s public sector and to increase productivity in Scotland’s publicsector. I also announced that t…

8 Sep 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated total yield was for non-domestic rate income in each year since 1996 contained in the Scottish Office and Executives budget documentation; what the actual yield was in each such year, and what factors might account for any significant inaccuracies in the forecasts…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Estimated and actual non-domestic rate income (NDRI) are shown in the table.<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> Year </td> <td> Estimated NDRI1 (£)…

8 Sep 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is scope for local authorities to work more effectively together in delivering education services.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Yes there is no doubt that there is more they could do together and we want to encourage that.

30 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up-to-date comparative figures are that it has on the si'e of total public sector employment as a percentage of total employment in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) the United Kingdom on a full-time equivalent and like-for-like basis, using as wide a de…

Answer · Jim Wallace: Table 1 reports figures showingthe percentage of the total workforce employed in the public sector. The numberof full-time equivalent employees is not available so the total number in employmenthas been used.Table 1: Proportion of EmployeesWho Work in …

30 Jun 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up-to-date figures are that it has comparing business start-up rates in (a) Scotland, (b) the rest of the United Kingdom and (c) leading OECD countries on a like-for-like basis.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Business start-up rates in Scotland can be compared with the rest of the UK using data produced by the Department of Trade and Industry on the number of businesses registering for VAT per 10,000 adults. The most recent data is for 2002.Table 1: VAT Reg…

6 May 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what contact it has had with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions regarding the security arrangements for airside passes at Scottish airports.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive has regular discussionswith the Department for Transport on a range of aviation matters affecting Scotland includingsecurity arrangements for airside passes at Scottish airports.

28 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive Whether it will provide a full record of support and funding for the Straight Out project that assists young offenders to find employment following their release.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Straight Out project hasreceived New Futures funding of £350,000 during Phase 2 (2002-05) from ScottishEnterprise (SEn). SEn is supporting projects in securing alternative funding. Moredetailed information on support and funding for individual projects i…

28 Apr 2004 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long the waiting list is for orthopaedic out-patients in Argyll and Clyde and what steps it is taking to reduce orthopaedic waiting times in Argyll and Clyde and across Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Informationon the number of patients waiting for an out-patient consultation is notcollected centrally at present. Work is underway across the NHS to record thenumber of patients referred to each consultant-led out-patient service and the relatedwaiting times…

21 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-7018 by Allan Wilson on 8 April 2004, whether it will provide a summary of the extent, location and estimated costs of resolving current and known planned developments throughout Scotland, including the timescale involved.

Answer · Ross Finnie: As Allan Wilson’s answer confirmed,this is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executiveto write to you about this matter.As Allan Wilson’s answer alsoconfirmed, work is currently underway in relation to the timescale invol…

20 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage targets are for decisions to be made in respect of (a) major and (b) minor planning applications within (i) two and (ii) three months for (1) residential, (2) business and (3) other developments.

Answer · Mary Mulligan: The Executive does not set performancetargets directly comparable to those in the question. There is a statutory duty forplanning applications to be determined in two months from the receipt of a validplanning application (four months where application…

20 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the next annual report of the Planning Audit Unit.

Answer · Margaret Curran: We propose to publish the reportshortly.

20 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the progress of the Edinburgh University - Stanford University joint collaboration and whether any other such transatlantic linkages between Scottish and American institutions have been established.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Edinburgh-Stanford Link project,funded by Scottish Enterprise, has so far generated 12 joint research projects betweenthe two universities and 10 collaborations with companies, since it was launchedin February 2002. The project has recently signed its fir…

20 Apr 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is currently taking, or has taken, to support the reintroduction of sea eagles.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive has long supported the re-introduction of the white-tailed sea eagle toScotland through a range of measures. A four-year period of research has been undertakeninto the impact of white-tailed sea eagles on sheep farming on Mull. During t…

17 Mar 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is planned to speed up the approval of structure plans.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive is currently takingforward a programme to modernise the development planning system. In the Reviewof Strategic Planning, Next Steps and Conclusions (June 2002) ministersagreed that structure plans were not required across the country and …