Parliamentary questions

Alex Neil

3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-301 by Henry McLeish on 29 July 1999, how many people in Scotland are enrolled in: (a) the New Deal 50 plus; (b) the New Deal 25 plus pilots; (c) the New Deal for long-term unemployed people aged 25 plus; (d) the New Deal for Partners of Unemployed Pe…

Answer · Henry McLeish: 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 Scottish organisations.The number of peop…

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to specify funding provided by Scottish Natural Heritage to the Scottish Raptors Group in the form of grants, loans and contracts, for each of the last three years.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: <DIR><DIR>There were no contracts or loans from SNH to Scottish Raptor Study Groups in the period 1996-1999. Grants paid during this period were:</DIR></DIR><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELL…

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed account of the process being employed to prepare the draft concordats between the Her Majesty's Government and itself, in particular which of these two bodies is preparing or has prepared the initial drafts for consideration.

Answer · Donald Dewar: The UK Government has prepared drafts, which have now been received by the Scottish Executive. Once they have been agreed between the UK Government and the devolved administrations, they will be presented to the Parliament for their endorsement.

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport and the Environment will respond to the request to meet an all-party delegation to discuss the accident rate on the A77.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I have responded to the requests confirming my intention to make an early visit to discuss the A77 trunk road between Fenwick and Malletsheugh.

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of the main items of expenditure, including the overhead costs of delivery agencies, involved in the Social Inclusion Partnerships in Scotland.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive provides support costs to allow partnerships to set up dedicated teams to improve programme delivery and co-ordination, totalling £1.2 million. Furthermore up to 2.5% of Social Inclusion Partnerships' revenue budgets can be allocated to…

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the targets set for each Social Inclusion Partnership in Scotland and the latest available information on their performance in relation to these targets.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: A network of 47 Social Inclusion Partnerships is now in place, tackling the problems of exclusion in rural and urban areas across Scotland. Of these, 26 are new Social Inclusion Partnerships, which began their work on 1st April 1999. The new Socia…

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the estimated #12 million expenditure on the Warm Deal by category and by year of spend.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: £12 million is the budget for the Warm Deal for the year 1999/2000. 47% has been set aside for the local authorities stock and 53% for private and housing association stock.

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-87 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 29 June, whether it is planning a reduction in total expenditure in Social Inclusion Partnership areas over the next three years and, if so, what the reasons are for this.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: We have no plans to reduce expenditure under the Social Inclusion Partnership fund over the next three years. The figures in my previous reply showed the funding which has been currently allocated to the Social Inclusion Partnerships listed. In addition there…

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is or intends taking to insure that people living in deprived communities have access to financial services.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The recent results from the first round of the Scottish Household Survey suggest that across Scotland, 12% of householders (or their partners) do not have a bank account. This conceals a wide variation: for example only 61% of single parents have some form of…

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its estimate is of malnutrition in Scotland and what measures it will take to address this issue.

Answer · Susan Deacon: There is no clear definition of malnutrition. Malnutrition can mean both under nourishment as well as over nourishment. The programmes for monitoring the nutritional status of children throughout the UK has shown that most children are adequately nourished, b…

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is the number of people in each parliamentary constituency in Scotland currently enrolled in each of the following New Deal options: (a) full-time education and training; (b) voluntary sector, and (c) the environmental task force.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government, which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of the New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive. Many partner organisat…

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is the expenditure by each local export partnership for each of the past two financial years and what are their budgets for the current financial year.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Local Export Partnerships comprise normally of Local Enterprise Companies, Local Authorities and Chambers of Commerce and these constituent bodies provide all funding. There are no details of funding, expenditure or budgets held centrally.

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it will make to Her Majesty's Government with regard to expanding supportive employment opportunities for blind and disabled people in Scotland.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with United Kingdom Government Ministers and Departments, including the Department for Education and Employment, on a wide range of issues, including supported employment.

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is the estimated population of raptors in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The latest available estimate of the raptor population in Scotland, excluding juvenile and non-breeding birds, is approximately 27,000 breeding pairs.

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the arrangements are for counting the raptor population in Scotland, including the relevant qualifications of the personnel involved.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Arrangements vary for different species. Common species such as the kestrel sparrowhawk and buzzard are monitored by the Breeding Bird Survey organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). In Scotland much work is undertaken by Raptor Study Group membe…

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a target for the total raptor population in Scotland and, if so, what it is.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: There is no target for the total raptor population in Scotland.

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is the average estimated population of peregrines and sparrowhawks in Scotland for each of the past five decades.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Not all the information requested is available. The most recent reliable population estimate available for the sparrowhawk is the 1988-91 Breeding Bird Atlas Survey. This gives an estimated figure of 7,000 breeding pairs. The most re…

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will announce the outcome of its deliberations on the recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Long Term Care.

Answer · Iain Gray: We are considering the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Long Term Care and will respond as soon as possible.

10 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets its departments have been set regarding replies to correspondence received from MSPs.

Answer · Donald Dewar: The targets are for an acknowledgement to be issued within 2 working days of receipt of an MSP's letter; for a substantive reply to be issued within 17 working days of receipt; and for an interim reply to be issued where it is evident that a final reply canno…

6 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which local authority areas will not be taking part in the voluntary Scottish concessionary travel scheme.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I hope to launch the scheme towards the end of this year, and arrangements are being put in hand by my officials.It is too early to say what the level of participation will be, but our aim is to reach a voluntary agreement with al…

2 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider responding to the withdrawal of entitlement to benefits during the summer from low paid workers in schools and colleges by making arrangements for holiday payments to affected workers within its areas of responsibility.

Answer · Frank McAveety: As independent corporate bodies it is for individual local authorities and further education colleges to determine the pay and conditions of employment of their employees and the Scottish Executive has no locus to intervene. Their eligibility for benefit is …

1 Jul 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what is the breakdown by local authority area of the poindings and warrant sales which have taken place in Scotland in each of the past three years.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Information is not available in the form requested. The tables set out the information which is recorded on poindings and warrant sales executed for the three years ending 1998.Poindings and Warrant Sales<P ALIGN="CENT…

30 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of which public sector bodies have initiated poindings and warrant sales in each of the last 3 years in Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Information is not available in the form requested. The tables set out the information which is recorded on poindings and warrant sales executed for the three years ending 1998.Poindings and W…

30 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make representations to Her Majesty's Government regarding the application of the fifth and sixth freedoms for air freight to Scottish airports.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: International aviation agreements are a matter reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Executive is however interested in any extension of air transport liberalisation, which has potential benefits for the Scottish economy, and we will promote Scotland's…

30 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the benefits of bringing the funding for all post 16 education and training within one funding body, incorporating the relevant budgets of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Higher and Further Education Funding Councils, the New Deal pr…

Answer · Henry McLeish: The importance of bringing together responsibility for post-school education and training is fully recognised by the creation of a single Department within the Executive, the Enterprise and Lifelong learning Department. This Department will, in particular, h…

30 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which European Union Council (Committee) meetings it will be attending in the next three months and those which it will not together with the reasons for not doing so.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Officials from the Scottish Executive will regularly attend EU Council Working Group meetings, as part of the UK delegation, when issues of importance to Scotland are being discussed. Each decision on attendance will be based on the subject matter under disc…

30 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to tackle the problem of food poverty in Scotland.

Answer · Susan Deacon: Eradicating food poverty is an important element of our strategy to reduce health inequalities in Scotland. We currently fund the Scottish Community Diet Project to the tune of around £200K per annum. The Project works very closely with deprived communities…

30 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for alleviating poverty amongst pensioners in Scotland.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Action on pensioner poverty is happening on a UK and Scottish level. Changes to taxes and benefits are improving pensioners entitlements. VAT on household fuel has been reduced from 8% to 5%. From April 1999, pensioners have a guaranteed minimum income of not…

30 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of the expenditure on and number of people covered by all post 16 education and training programmes in Scotland funded by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Higher and Further Education Funding Councils and the European Soc…

Answer · Henry McLeish: For the financial year 1998/99, financial allocations to the following bodies for post 16 education and training, and the number of places covered, were as follows:					£m	NumbersFurther Ed…

30 Jun 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be a Concordat with Her Majesty's Government covering Housing Benefits and other Social Security matters and, if so, when the draft concordat will be published and submitted to the Parliament.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Draft concordats have yet to be received from the UK Government. Once they have been considered by the Executive and agreed with the UK Government, they will be presented to the Scottish Parliament for its endorsement before they come into effect.