Parliamentary questions
Alex Neil
3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the most recent estimate of the capital cost for upgrading the A77 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh to motorway standard.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The most recent estimate of the cost of constructing a motorway between Fenwick and Malletsheugh is £60.4m exclusive of VAT based on the prices current in the second quarter of 1998.
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all grants, loans and contracts awarded by Scottish National Heritage to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for each of the last three years.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The information requested is given in the table.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><P ALIGN="LEFT"><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=368><TR><TD WIDTH="24%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Year</TD><TD WIDTH="24%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Grants<P ALIGN="C…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be for Scottish local authority budgets and any related budgets for which it is responsible if Housing Benefit is abolished.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: A number of options for improvements to the way in which Housing Benefit is provided are being considered by the UK Government. Since Housing Benefit is administered by local authorities, any change to Housing Benefit is likely to have some resource implicat…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted on Her Majesty's Government's proposed changes to the administration of child support through the Child Support Agency and, if so, what representations it has made.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is in contact with the United Kingdom Government across a range of issues, including those relating to welfare.
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, it will publish the list of Private Finance Initiative/Public-Private Partnerships contracts awarded in Scotland which do not include a purchase option for the public sector on completion of the project, and details of when these contracts were signed.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Signed PFI/PPP contracts in Scotland which do not include a purchase option for the public sector are listed below. In some cases, the absence of a purchase option is because there is no asset for the exclusive use of the public sector. Not included are those…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, it will seek representation on the Bates Committee, Her Majesty's Treasury Task Force on the future of Public Finance Initiatives and Public Private Partnerships.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Sir Malcolm Bates was asked to carry out his review by HM Treasury. There was no formal committee on which the Executive could be represented. Sir Malcolm has now submitted his report to HM Treasury for consideration. Officials in the Scottish Executi…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of the number of companies in Scotland which have taken on young people in Scotland for each of the past two years under the Skillseekers programme; and what percentage of trading businesses in Scotland this figure represents.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which are responsible for delivery of the Skillseekers programme, have been asked to provide details of the number of employers involved in the programme. This information will take some time to colla…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the full reviews undertaken by Scottish Enterprise on the performance and impact of "Technology Ventures" during the last 12 months.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I have asked the Chairman of Scottish Enterprise to write to Alex Neil MSP on this matter and I understand that he has already done so.
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the unemployment situation in Falkirk.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Neil to question S1W-308, answered today.
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of the expenditure by Scottish Trade International for each of the last two years and its budget for the current year.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Scottish Trade International is a joint organisation between the Scottish Executive and Scottish Enterprise. Each organisation contributes to staffing and related expenditure, in addition Scottish Enterprise also provides additional funding for programme expe…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to adress the unemployment situation in Lanarkshire.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Neil to question S1W-308, answered today.
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the unemployment situation in Ayrshire.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is committed to promoting environmentally and socially sustainable economic development, through working in partnership with local agencies. We are very conscious of the particular problems of areas such as Ayrshire and we shall seek t…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the estimated cost of upgrading the A77 to dual carriageway status from the Whitletts roundabout in Ayr to Stranraer.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No estimate has been made of the cost of upgrading the A77 to dual carriageway status between Whitletts roundabout and Stranraer. A Route Action Plan (RAP) study recently undertaken on this section of the route recommended several individual schemes together…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the estimated cost of upgrading the A77 road to dual carriageway status between the Whitletts roundabout in Ayr and the junction between the A77 and A713.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No estimate has been made of the cost of upgrading the A77 to dual carriageway between Whitletts roundabout and the junction between the A77 and A713.
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take immediate steps to ensure that the additional funding needed for the Methadone Prescription Programme, as agreed in principle by Ayrshire and Arran Health Board, will be made available this year.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Health Boards are given an annual general revenue allocation. It is for Health Boards to determine, within the funds available, how to manage and deliver local health care services that meet the healthcare needs of their resident population.
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state how many young people have taken up the employment option under the New Deal for Young People in Scotland to date, how many of these have completed the six month period of employment, how many have left before completion of the six month period, and how many obtained…
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 as indicated in the answer to questio…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of the number of companies in Scotland which have taken on young people under the employment option of the New Deal for Young People to date and what percentage of trading businesses in Scotland this figure represents.
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 as indicated in the answer to questio…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state how many young people who have obtained employment through the New Deal Gateway have been taken on by employers who are not receiving the New Deal subsidy, and what percentage does this represent of all those who have been taken on under the employment option.
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 as indicated in the answer to questio…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a list of all current and planned New Deal initiatives in Scotland other than those covered by the New Deal for Young People.
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 as indicated in the answer to questio…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of the expenditure and numbers of young people involved in Scotland to date in respect of the New Deal for Young People.
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 as indicated in the answer to questio…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the division of responsibilities between the Scottish Administration and Her Majesty's Government for expenditure and policies relating to the New Deal for Young People.
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…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by Her Majesty's Government regarding the possible abolition of Housing Benefit and, if so, what representations it has made on the matter.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: A number of options are being considered by the UK Government for improvements to the way in which Housing Benefit is provided. We will continue to liaise closely with the relevant Whitehall departments to ensure that Scottish interests are taken into accoun…
30 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state how many accidents involving serious injury or fatalities have occurred between Fenwick and Malletsheugh on the A77 for each of the last three years.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: An analysis of the available accident statistics for the 3 full years 1996-1998 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh on the A77 trunk road shows the following number of fatal and serious accidents:-<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDT…
29 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make any representations to Her Majesty's Government on the Single-Work Focused Gateway.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with United Kingdom Government Ministers and Departments, including the Department for Social Security and the Department for Education and Employment, on a wide range of issues, including the Single Work-Focused G…
25 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assess the impact of Social Inclusion Partnerships.
Answer · Jackie Baillie: We shall be monitoring the progress of Social Inclusion Partnerships against the targets and indicators set for each partnership.
24 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish details of the current remit of its Chief Economic Adviser.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The role of the Chief Economic Adviser is to provide advice on all economic issues affecting Scotland and to act as Head of Profession for all economists employed by the Scottish Executive.
24 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will arrange for the publication of details of all financial awards, and the purpose of these awards, made by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to the Computer Department of Aberdeen University over the last year.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Scottish Higher Education Funding Council's allocation to Aberdeen University last year was published in the SHEFC Circular Letter No. 8/98, 18 March 1998, copies of which have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. SHEFC made no awards di…
24 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to provide an estimate of the percentage of businesses in Scotland which have participated in the New Deal for young people.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer the member to my answer to question S1W-00303 also answered today.
24 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to give a commitment that when it provides a holding reply to a written question within 14 days of it being lodged, the reason for this will be provided together with a timescale for reply.
Answer · Donald Dewar: No, but on each occasion every effort will be made to provide the requested information as soon as possible.
24 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take to facilitate greater use of public transport by people who suffer from visual impairment.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: We are working with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and transport operators to devise a scheme which will provide blind people with free concessionary travel on bus and rail services throughout Scotland. I am hopeful that such a scheme can be in…