Alex Neil

26 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Criminal Record Office is funded.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Criminal RecordOffice (SCRO) is a common police service established through section 36 of thePolice (Scotland) Act 1967 under which the facilities and servicessupplied by the organisation are provided and maintained by the Scottish ministersfor p…

26 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget was of the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000-01 and how many staff have been employed by SCRO in each year since 1999, broken down by qualifications and skills.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The budget for each yearwas:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p>1999-2000</p> </td> <td> <p>£5,224,999</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>2000-01</p> </td> <td> <p>£5,600,000</p> </td> </tr></table><p> </p><table border=1 cells…

25 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for class si'es and what its performance against such targets has been to date.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The partnership agreementfor a Better Scotland (PABS) contains a commitment significantly to increaseteacher numbers to 53,000 by 2007. These additional teachers will be targetedon reducing class sizes to a maximum of 20 in S1/S2 for Maths and English, 25in P…

25 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated expenditure required to achieve its performance targets for reducing class si'es is, in each of the next three years, and how much of this expenditure has been allocated, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) primary and secondary education target.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Funding of £29 million and £49million for 2004-05 and 2005-06 respectively was included in the draft ScottishBudget published on 16 September 2003 for additional teachers and the Spark project.Funding for future years will be agreed in the forthcoming spendin…

25 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to announce the outcome of the review of the area tourist board network.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The ministerial group on tourismhas been taking an in-depth look at the current state of Scottish tourism includingthe overall public expenditure on tourism and related services. The area touristboard review is being considered in the context of these wider i…

25 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government in respect of the draft Constitutional Treaty on the Future of Europe (Referendum) Bill.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues,including the implications for devolved matters in Scotland ofits legislative programme. This contact reflects the approach, set out inDevolution Guidance Note 1 in …

24 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many children with autism there were in (a) 1992-93 and (b) 2002-03, broken down by NHS board area.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4267 on 5 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.parliament.uk/we…

24 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a feasibility study of land value taxation will be included within the review of local government finance.

Answer · Andy Kerr: refer the member to the answergiven to question S2W-4310 on 8 December 2003. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp…

24 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its latest estimate is of the cost of the Holyrood Inquiry led by Lord Fraser of Carmyllie.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive expectsLord Fraser to contain expenditure on the investigation into the costs of theHolyrood building project within the agreed budget of £1.2 million.</p>

24 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made in respect of Her Majesty's Government's draft Corruption Bill.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues,including the implications for devolved matters in Scotland ofits legislative programme. This contact reflects the approach, set out inDevolution Guidance Note 1 in …

24 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made in respect of Her Majesty's Government's draft Electricity (Trading and Transmission) Bill.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the implications for devolved matters in Scotland ofits legislative programme. This contact reflects the approach, set out inDevolution Guidance Note 1 in…

24 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost would be of abolishing business rates in terms of loss of revenue.

Answer · Andy Kerr: £1.731 billion (mid-yearestimate) was raised from non-domestic rates in the current financial year. Inprevious years the amount has been:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <tr> <td> <p>Year</p> </td> <td> <p align=center>Amount</p> </td> <…

24 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the introduction of a capital value related property tax will be considered within the proposed review of local government finance.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4310 on 8 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.parliament.uk/we…

24 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available any recommendations it or individual ministers have made to Her Majesty The Queen in respect of the honours system.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive has made no recommendations in respect of the honours system.</p>

24 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the introduction of a local income tax will be considered within the proposed review of local government finance.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-4310 on 8 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.parliament.uk/we…

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made in respect of Her Majesty's Government's proposal to introduce a Bill to set up child trust funds.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues,including the implications for devolved matters in Scotland ofits legislative programme. This contact reflects the approach, set out in DevolutionGuidance Note 1 in …

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made in respect of Her Majesty's Government's draft Nuclear Sites and Radioactive Substances Bill.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the implications for devolved matters in Scotland ofits legislative programme. This contact reflects the approach, set out inDevolution Guidance Note 1 in…

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made in respect of Her Majesty's Government's draft Gambling Bill.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues,including the implications for devolved matters in Scotland ofits legislative programme. This contact reflects the approach, set out inDevolution Guidance Note 1 in …

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made in respect of Her Majesty's Government's draft Civil Contingencies Bill.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues,including the implications for devolved matters in Scotland ofits legislative programme. This contact reflects the approach, set out inDevolution Guidance Note 1 in …

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government in respect of its proposals to introduce top-up fees for university students.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues,including the Department for Education and Skills proposals to introducevariable tuition fees for university students in England.</p>

21 Nov 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the introduction of a local sales tax will be considered within the proposed review of local government finance.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We are discussing the remitof the review with COSLA. We will announce our conclusions in due course.</p>

21 Nov 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, whether the new Parliamentary Standards Commissioner was consulted about the extension of the acting Parliamentary Standards Commissioner's contract.

Answer · Robert Brown: I refer Alex Neil to myanswer to S2W-4304 on 9 December 2003 regarding the extension of the contract for theacting Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. Under the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Act 2002, it is for the SPCB to determine…

21 Nov 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, who was involved in approving the budget to pay for the extension to the acting Parliamentary Standards Commissioner's contract after 31 March 2003 and when the decision was taken.

Answer · Robert Brown: I refer Alex Neil to myanswer to S2W-4304 on 9 December 2003 regarding the extension of the contract for theacting Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner. The budget for the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner and any acting Commissionerappoi…

21 Nov 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, what the procedure was for extending the acting Parliamentary Standards Commissioner's contract; who was involved in the process, and whose approval was required for the extension.

Answer · Robert Brown: I refer Alex Neil to myanswer to S2W-4304 on 9 December 2003 regarding the extension of the contract for theacting Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.</p>

21 Nov 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will publish the acting Parliamentary Standards Commissioner's contract.

Answer · Robert Brown: Irefer Alex Neil to my answer to S2W-4304 on 9 December 2003.We would not normally publish terms of appointment for individuals. I can confirm that the general terms and conditionswere identical to those published as part of the application pack for thoseappl…

21 Nov 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, what consultation was undertaken with the Standards Committee regarding the extension of the acting Parliamentary Standards Commissioner's contract; who was involved in any such consultation process; when it t…

Answer · Robert Brown: I refer Alex Neil to myanswer to S2W-4304 on 9 December 2003 regarding the extension of the contract for theacting Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.</p>

21 Nov 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, when the Standards Committee confirmed that no assistance, or further assistance, for the acting Parliamentary Standards Commissioner would be sought in respect of the extension of his contract beyond 31 March…

Answer · Robert Brown: The acting Commissioner was appointed by the SPCB on 31 January 2003. The terms of the contract stated that he would continue to act as the Scottish ParliamentaryStandards Commissioner in relation to the complaint or complaints whichwere outstanding at 1 Apri…

21 Nov 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S2W-3630 by Robert Brown on 12 November 2003, what the Standards Committee budget was for 2002-03, broken down by function, and what the actual expenditure was against each item.

Answer · Robert Brown: The budget for the StandardsCommittee for 2002-03 was £119,600. This was divided into SPCB payroll costsand other costs (which includes travel, expenses and advisers to the committee).The expenditure on SPCB payroll was £97,400 and the expenditure on other co…

20 Nov 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what the up-to-date estimate is of the cost of the new Parliament building.

Answer · George Reid: The Convener of the HolyroodProgress Group has confirmed that the most up-to-date cost of the newParliament building is £389.4 million, plus a programme contingency of £11.8million. These figures were confirmed in the most recent report to the FinanceCommitte…

20 Nov 2003 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what the detailed methodology is for allocating space in the new Parliament building (a) between and (b) within the political parties.

Answer · George Reid: There is separateaccommodation at Holyrood for the Presiding Officer and the Deputy PresidingOfficers in Queensberry House, 18 ministers in towers three and four, and 108 membersin the members’ block. The provision of accommodation is a matter for the Scottis…