Alex Neil

6 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3279 by Mr Jim Wallace on 11 November 2003, whether in its contacts with Her Majesty's Government detailed discussions have taken place on the income threshold at which graduates start to repay their student loans and, if so, what options are under c…

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is inregular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including therepayment threshold for student loans.</p>

6 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be for its income flow for each financial year from April 2005 if the income threshold at which graduates start to repay their student loans was to be raised to (a) #15,000, (b) #19,000 or (c) #25,000 per annum.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Future repayments (andtherefore the resource cost) are difficult to forecast as they depend on a widerange of factors. Our best estimate are that raising the repayment threshold to£15,000 would increase the resource cost to Scottish Executive by around £17mil…

6 Jan 2004 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of its expenditure has been allocated directly to (a) higher and (b) further education in each year since 1999 and what figure this represents in (i) cash terms and (ii) as a percentage of expenditure on education as a whole.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I<b> </b>refer the member tothe answer given to question S2W-4468 on 11 December 2003. 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.parliame…

16 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26727 by Patricia Ferguson on 16 July 2002, how many Sewel motions it has lodged with the Parliament in each year since 2001 and how many bills Sewel motions have covered in each year since 1999.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The information is set outin the following table.</p><table class=MsoTableGrid border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p> </p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Number of Sewel Motions</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Number of Bills</p> </td> </tr> …

16 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been collected under the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995 relating to drug offences in 2002-03 and 2003-04 to date.

Answer · Colin Boyd: During the financial year2002-03 the sum of £472,449.54 was recovered following Confiscation Ordersunder the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995 in respect of drug offences.The sum of £825,262.54 has so far been collected during the financial year2003-04.</…

16 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive in which European Council meetings its ministers have led the UK delegation as defined in Article 146 of the Maastricht Treaty since February 2001, detailing the name of the relevant ministers, the subjects discussed and the decisions taken.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The following table providesthe information requested.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=1 cellpadding=3 width=595> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Date, Council and Lead Minister</p> </td> <td> <p>Subjects Discussed</p> </td> <td> <p>De…

16 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been any change to the list of cross-border public authorities as defined in the Scotland Act 1998 since September 2002.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: There has been no change tothe list of cross-border public authorities as defined in the Scotland Actsince September 2002. The Scotland Act 1998 (Cross-Border Public Authorities)(Specification) Order 1999 (S.I.1999/1319) sets out the cross-border public autho…

16 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to introduce non-numeric fingerprinting evidence and, if so, when it will be introduced.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4550 on 20 January 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/we…

16 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences under the Data Protection Act 1998 have been processed through the courts since 2001.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: No proceedings under theData Protection Act 1998 were recorded for the year 2001. Data for the year2002 are expected to be available in February.</p>

16 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has in the appointment, or suspension, of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner and what powers of direction it has over the commissioner's activities.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: A Chief SurveillanceCommissioner is appointed by the Scottish ministers under section 2 of theRegulation of Investigatory Powers (Scotland) Act 2000, for a term of three years. Under thislegislation, removal of the Commissioner from office before the end of t…

16 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many times since May 1999 chief constables have used their powers under Part III of the Police Act 1997.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information requested iscontained in Annex A to the AnnualReport of the Chief Surveillance Commissioner to the Prime Minister and to the Scottishministers for 2002-03. The annual report is published by the Stationery Office,and a copy is available in the …

16 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28375 by Patricia Ferguson on 10 September 2002, what subsequent discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government on any modifications of the Schedule of reserved matters under section 29(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 and what any such modification…

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive remains in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues. No further orders have been made to amend schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998, which sets out reserved matters, beyond those listed in the answer to question S…

15 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been of the child witness initiative, with particular reference to the cost of producing Guidance on Interviewing Child Witnesses in Scotland - Supporting Child Witnesses guidance pack; how many copies of the pack were distributed, and what feedback has been receiv…

Answer · Hugh Henry: The total cost of producing <i>Guidanceon Interviewing Child Witnesses in Scotland – Supporting Child Witnesses</i>,including research, consultation, publication and distribution, was £34,957.</p><p>Of the 2,500 packs produced,around 2,300 have so far been di…

11 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-4499, S2W-4512, S2W-4513, S2W-4514 and S2W-4515 by Mr Jim Wallace on 10 December 2003, whether a detailed analysis of the outcome of the inward investment projects will be published for (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01 (d) 2001-02 and (e) 20…

Answer · Jim Wallace: We have no plans currentlyto carry out a detailed analysis of the outcome of every individual inwardinvestment project recorded for the years in question.</p><p>Accurate figures could onlybe obtained by undertaking a comprehensive survey of overseas-owned com…

11 Dec 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer how many full-time equivalent legal advisers are employed or contracted to support the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner and what changes are planned in the level of support in 2004.

Answer · Robert Brown: As provided for under the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Act 2002, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body(SPCB) has approved the Commissioner having a contract with Anderson Strathernto provide independent legal advice to him in his capacity…

11 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many development projects, of what value, have been delayed because of lack of investment or commitment to investment by Scottish Water, broken down by local authority area.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This is an operationalmatter for the Chief Executive of Scottish Water and I have asked him to writeto you about this matter.</p>

11 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to carry out a review of leasing law.

Answer · Hugh Henry: We do not have any immediateplans to conduct a general review of leasing law. We shall, however, continueto monitor the recent and on-going work of the Scottish Law Commission inrelation to two specific leasing issues. These are the <i>Commission’s Reporton I…

11 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations within the last two years in respect of proposed changes to leasing laws.

Answer · Hugh Henry: In relation to commercialleases we have received one substantive representation that the rent reviewprocess should be made to follow the position in England and Wales. Thisproposal suggested restricting the use of upwards-only rent reviews and theintroduction…

11 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4474 by Cathy Jamieson on 10 December 2003, what the training requirements would be for Scottish Criminal Record Office staff in respect of non-numeric fingerprinting if non-numeric fingerprinting were to be adopted in Scotland and what performance t…

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Training in relation to thenon-numeric standard would be broadly the same as for the numeric standard. Additionaltraining on the court presentation of non&#8209;numeric evidence would,however, be required.</p><p>The fingerprint experts atthe Scottish Criminal…

11 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4484 by Mr Jim Wallace on 9 December 2003, what recent discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government regarding the threshold for the repayment of student loans and what its policy is in respect of the amount the threshold should be set at.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3279 on 11 November 2003. 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/…

11 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4486 by Mr Jim Wallace on 9 December 2003, what the level of additional public spending would have been from 1999 to 2001 had gross value added been #1.5 billion higher in 2001.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The size of the assigned budgetis largely determined by the Barnett formula and is not directly affected bychanges in gross value added.</p>

11 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4399 by Peter Peacock on 9 December 2003, what targets it has for the number, and percentage, of classes with a maximum si'e of 20 pupils for each of the next four years.

Answer · Peter Peacock: There are no plans tointroduce class sizes of a maximum of 20 in primary schools. Practical classesin secondary schools already have a class maximum of 20. The Executive has setout its aim for class sizes in S1/S2 Maths and English to fall to a maximum of20 i…

11 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4398 by Peter Peacock on 9 December 2003, how funding for 2004-05 and 2005-06 will be split between additional teachers and the Spark project and what the estimated cost will be of introducing maximum class si'es of 20 in S1 and S2 and 25 in P1.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Overall the fundingallocation for 2004-05 and 2005-06 for additional teachers and the Sparkproject is £29 million and £49 million respectively. As the Scottish Executive is currently engaged in the procurement process for the projectformerly known as Spark, i…

11 Dec 2003 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional measures it will now take to end child poverty in Scotland.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive is committed to tackling child poverty and is making progress in doing so.</p><p>The best route out of poverty is through work. The Executive will continue to invest in policiesthat support employment opportunity for all and increase household i…

10 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-4490 by Ms Margaret Curran on 8 December 2003, whether it will provide a breakdown of how the #10 million per annum for community wardens will be spent and what percentage of the estimated total cost of the community warden scheme this figure represe…

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive commitment will meet the full cost of those schemes approved by theExecutive, up to their indicative allocations. Match funding is not arequirement. Should individual local authorities decide to augment schemes oroffer additional scheme…

10 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision not to pursue resource accounting and budgeting as a financial management tool for overseeing and monitoring the performance of non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) was taken; what the reasons were for the change in policy; what consultations took place prior to the de…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Non-departmental public bodiesboth budget and account in full resource terms. The element of confusion isprobably caused by the fact that, to meet the requirements of the PublicFinance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000, the annual budget acts andsubseque…

10 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the planned 12% increase from 2003-04 to 2006-07 in the allocation of funding for management and administration in the Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley Draft Outline 3 Year Business Plan 2004-2007.

Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise.</p>

10 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the planned 68% reduction from 2003-04 to 2004-05 in the allocation of funding for tourism development in the Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley Draft Outline 3 Year Business Plan 2004-2007.

Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise.</p>

10 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the planned 17% reduction from 2003-04 to 2004-05 in the allocation of funding for biotechnology development in the Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley Draft Outline 3 Year Business Plan 2004-2007.

Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise.</p>

10 Dec 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for the planned 40% reduction from 2003-04 to 2004-05 in the allocation of funding for clusters development in the Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley Draft Outline 3 Year Business Plan 2004-2007.

Answer · Jim Wallace: This is an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise.</p>