Parliamentary questions
Alex Neil
3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it will close the gap in unemployment rates between the worst 10% of areas and the Scottish average by 2006, as referred to in target 6 in the enterprise and lifelong learning section of Building a Better Scotland - Spending Proposals 2003-06: What the money buys.
Answer · Iain Gray: This target is derived from one of the 12 strategic priorities set out in <I>A Smart, Successful Scotland </I>under the Skills & Learning theme. This recognises the importance to the Scottish economy of ensuring that all communities are trained and ready …
19 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what baseline figure will be used to measure and monitor the number of people in employment undertaking training and whether this figure will be broken down by region or sector, as referred to in target 5 in the enterprise and lifelong learning section of Building a Better Scotland - Spen…
Answer · Iain Gray: The proportion of those of working age in employment undertaking training is 27% in Quarter 1 (spring) 2001, which is the baseline figure for this target. This figure will be available by unitary authority and by industry sector.
19 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of its modern apprenticeship targets by under-represented groups, as referred to in target 4 in the enterprise and lifelong learning section of Building a Better Scotland - Spending Proposals 2003-06: What the money buys.
Answer · Iain Gray: We will be working with the Enterprise Network and Sector Skills Councils to increase modern apprenticeships in sectors where there is less of an apprenticeship tradition, and which employ more females. Agreed targets will be published in the Scottish Enterpr…
19 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to assess applications for regional selective assistance grants of #2 million and over against its sustainable development objectives by 2004, as referred to in target 3 in the enterprise and lifelong learning section of Building a Better Scotland - Spending Pr…
Answer · Iain Gray: All applications for Regional Selective Assistance are assessed against the scheme's standard eligibility criteria. The additional sustainable development assessment, to be applied to grants of £2 million and over from 2004, will be developed in the interveni…
19 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage increase in productivity levels in industry would be required to equal the average level of productivity across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, as referred to in target 2 in the enterprise and lifelong learning section of Building a…
Answer · Iain Gray: In 1999, Scottish productivity was marginally below the UK average, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). According to OECD statistics, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person employed in the UK was 92% of the OECD average in 1999. This sugges…
19 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) percentage and (b) monetary increase in business investment in research and development would be required to equal the average percentage and amount of gross domestic product (GDP) spent on research and development across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OE…
Answer · Iain Gray: Business Enterprise Research and Development spending in Scotland was 0.53% of GDP, compared to 1.54% for the OECD (this includes estimated figures for some countries). Accordingly research and development spending in Scotland would have to rise - from the 19…
18 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any requirement to introduce emergency legislation in respect of insurance cover for local authorities being lifted during the period of any industrial action by firefighters and, if so, whether such legislation would be introduced in the Scottish Parliament and whether …
Answer · Jim Wallace: There are no plans at this time to introduce emergency legislation.
18 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of the pension scheme relating to fire brigade employees will be completed and published.
Answer · Jim Wallace: This review is about the funding arrangements and management of the Firemen's Pension Scheme in Scotland. The review group's remit precluded any consideration of the scheme's terms and conditions. The work of the group has not yet been concluded. It is not po…
18 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for liaison with the Sector Skills Development Agency.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive's Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department is responsible for liaison with the Sector Skills Development Agency.
18 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representation it has on the board of the Sector Skills Development Agency.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has no representation on the board of the Sector Skills Development Agency. However, the Executive receives copies of board minutes and papers.
18 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any responsibility for the Sector Skills Development Agency budget in Scotland and, if so, whether it will give a breakdown of the budget for Sector Skills Councils in each year from 2002-03 to 2005-06.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has no responsibility for the Sector Skills Development Agency budget. The agency is funded by the Department for Education and Skills.
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when and where the recent vacancies for members of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council were advertised.
Answer · Iain Gray: The advert for the four board member vacancies on the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council appeared in the following publications:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=264><TR><TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>14 February 2002</TD><TD WIDTH="54%"…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the remuneration package is for board members of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC).
Answer · Iain Gray: SHEFC board members receive a non-pensionable annual salary of £5,031 and incurred travel and subsistence costs.
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the new appointments or re-appointments to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council announced in June 2002 declared any interests on being appointed and, if so, what those interests were.
Answer · Iain Gray: No interests were declared as part of the appointment or re-appointment process.
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise recently nominated for appointment to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council.
Answer · Iain Gray: No nominations were received from Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Scottish Enterprise nominated a serving member of their board, Ian Ritchie.
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what requirements are placed on board members of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) with regard to their attendance at meetings and other official engagements.
Answer · Iain Gray: The terms and conditions that new board members agree to upon appointment to SHEFC states, in paragraph 1, that members:<P>"will be required to devote approximately 2 days per month on average to the performance of your functions as a Member of the Counc…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 161 applicants received for the recent vacancies on the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council were politically active, broken down to show the applicants' political affiliation.
Answer · Iain Gray: All applicants completed political activity declaration forms. The information provided plays no part in the selection process. Candidates agree that this information will be made publicly available if they are appointed and the information for the successful…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the new appointments to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council completed political activity forms prior to their appointment.
Answer · Iain Gray: Political activity forms for the four new members were completed prior to their appointment to the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council, as stipulated in the guidance provided by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases relating to the abuse of attorney have been brought to the courts in each year since May 1999.
Answer · Elish Angiolini: The term abuse of attorney is not one known to the Scottish legal system. No statistics are kept at Crown Office in relation to cases involving an abuse of a power of attorney.
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28387 by Mr Andy Kerr on 10 September 2002, who delegated to the Permanent Secretary and his colleagues the responsibility to deploy and manage civil servants; when this responsibility was delegated, and whether there are any waivers that allow minis…
Answer · Andy Kerr: The delegation to the First Minister of powers in relation to certain personnel issues was made on behalf of the Minister for the Civil Service on 1 July 1999. The delegation is subject to the condition that the First Minister complies with the provisions of …
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28344 by Ms Margaret Curran on 9 September 2002, whether it will list when there has been a vacancy for a Scottish position on (a) the Commission for Racial Equality, (b) the Equal Opportunities Commission, (c) the National Disability Council and (d)…
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including public appointments. Kay Hampton was appointed in April 2002 to the Commission for Racial Equality as having special knowledge of Scotland. Rowena Arshad was appoi…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all public appointments made to non-departmental public bodies in each of the last three years, showing the number of re-appointments separately; which of these vacancies were advertised, and where, and when any such advertisements appeared.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on those public appointments made in the last three years is given in the Executive's annual reports on appointments to non-departmental public bodies. A copy of the reports for 1999, 2000 and 2001 has been placed in the Parliament's Reference Cen…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools in each local authority area currently use outside toilet facilities.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally.
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many school classrooms were built before 1900 in each local authority area.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally.
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27777 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 August 2002, whether it will list those outside bodies contacted as part of the parliamentary notification system when making public appointments since May 2002 and in respect of which vacancies they were contacted.
Answer · Andy Kerr: In addition to the Parliament's Reference Centre and the relevant Parliamentary Committees, the outside bodies contacted as part of the Parliamentary Notification system since May 2002 are shown in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27777 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 August 2002, whether it will list the members of each public appointment sponsor team, and the bodies they were members of, that failed to comply with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice in several re…
Answer · Andy Kerr: No. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27777: neither the audit reports received by the Executive nor the Commissioner's Annual Report refer to individuals or specific public bodies.
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27777 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 August 2002, whether it will list the (a) appointments and (b) re-appointments advertised through the parliamentary notification system since May 2002 and where and when each such vacancy was advertised.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Details of appointments made since May 2002 and where and when each vacancy was advertised are noted in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=595><TR><TD WIDTH="29%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Public Body</TD><TD WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="TOP"><P…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27777 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 August 2002, how many appointees in the last 12 months failed to complete political activity forms prior to appointment to a non-departmental public body.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-20118 on 26 March 2002 and S1W-25468 on 30 April 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the policy and financial management review of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) will be completed.
Answer · Iain Gray: As stated in the answer given to question S1W-28671 on 29 August 2002, the report published on that date marked the completion of the Quinquennial Review of SHEFC. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the s…
16 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27777 by Mr Andy Kerr on 29 August 2002, when the consolidated guidance on public appointment arrangements will be published.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Revised consolidated guidance for officials who work closely with non-departmental public bodies is currently being finalised. The guidance will include a section on public appointment procedures that will complement the Office of the Commissioner for Public …