Alex Neil

13 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what borrowing powers it and each of its executive agencies have, including limits agreed with Her Majesty's Treasury where appropriate.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The borrowing powers of the Scottish Executive are set out in section 66 (1) of the Scotland Act 1999 which states that "The Scottish Ministers may borrow money from the Secretary of State any sums required by them for the purpose of:<DIR><P>(a) meeting a tem…

13 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what primary and secondary legislation it has introduced as the result of requirements made by European Union institutions since May 1999, broken down by institution.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

13 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) financial and (b) other assistance has been made available to Cameron House Hotel by it and each of its executive agencies in the current year and each of the last two years.

Answer · Mike Watson: I am unaware of any significant levels of funding or other assistance being provided to Cameron House Hotel, although I understand that the business has received a small grant from Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire.

13 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an up-to-date list of the cross-border public authorities as defined in the Scotland Act 1998.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The Scotland Act 1998 (Cross-Border Public Authorities) (Specification) Order 1999 (S.I.1999/1319) sets out the cross-border public authorities as specified under Section 88 of the Scotland Act 1998. A copy of this order can be found in the Parliament's Refer…

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Her Majesty's Government on the membership and remit of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council since May 1999.

Answer · Jim Wallace: In 1999 there was agreement amongst the relevant ministers that all members of the Inner House of the Court of Session should be made members of the Privy Council. The purpose of this recommendation was to address the prevailing shortage of Scottish judges on…

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the membership, powers, budget and remit are of the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee and what input to the work of the committee (a) Her Majesty's Government and (b) agencies and corporations for which the Scottish Executive has responsibility have.

Answer · Mike Watson: The members of Comataidh Craolaidh Gaidhlig, the Gaelic Broadcasting Committee, are:<P>Iain MacAskill, Chairman<P>Rosemary Ward<P>Duncan Ferguson<P>Donald Martin<P>Mairi MacInnes<P>Mairi Morley<P>Donald MacKillop<P>Catriona Campbell<P>The 1990 Broadcasting Ac…

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the British Tourist Authority (BTA) in relation to the overseas promotion of Scottish tourism and what activities the BTA undertakes in this regard.

Answer · Mike Watson: The Department of Culture, Media and Sport sponsors the BTA, and consults the Scottish Executive closely on all relevant aspects of the sponsoring role. In addition staff of both VisitScotland and the BTA regularly meet to discuss how best the BTA can promote…

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what subsidies are given to Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority for (a) rail and (b) road services and who distributes these subsidies.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Subsidies for rail services are given to the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority by the Scottish Executive, in the form of a Special Rail Grant, and by the 12 local authorities which make up the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority, in the form of …

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who decides the remuneration levels for all staff at the Court of Session, other than the judges.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Administration staff of the Court of Session are civil servants employed by the Scottish Court Service. Under the authority delegated to him by Scottish ministers, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service has responsibility for deciding the remunerat…

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who decides the remuneration level for all staff at the sheriff courts, other than the sheriffs.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Administration staff of the sheriff courts are civil servants employed by the Scottish Court Service. Under the authority delegated to him by Scottish ministers, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service has responsibility for deciding the remuneratio…

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who decides the remuneration levels for all staff at the Lands Tribunal for Scotland, other than the members.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The administrative staff at the Lands Tribunal for Scotland are employees of the Scottish Executive. They are subject to Scottish Executive terms and conditions and their pay is determined under the Scottish Executive main pay arrangements.

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who decides the remuneration levels for all staff at the Scottish Land Court, other than the Chairman.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The administrative staff at the Scottish Land Court are employees of the Scottish Executive. They are subject to Scottish Executive terms and conditions and their pay is determined under the Scottish Executive main pay arrangements.<P>The salaries of members …

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who its nominations were to (a) the Commission for Racial Equality, (b) the Equal Opportunities Commission, (c) the National Disability Council and (d) each of the UK Research Councils at the time of the last appointments.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Executive does not put forward nominations for appointments to these UK bodies, which are made in accordance with the <I>Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice</I>. However, where there is a vacancy for a Scottish position, Scottish minist…

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the discussion paper on the future role of local health councils will be published.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: We plan to publish the paper during October. <I>Patient Focus and Public Involvement</I> - published in December last year - indicated that we would consult on a proposal to establish a Scottish Health Council as a national body with a local presence to repla…

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the "Prince and Steward of Scotland" is and what his role is as referred to in Schedule 5, Part I, paragraph 3(2) of the Scotland Act 1998.

Answer · Patricia Ferguson: His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay is the Prince and Steward of Scotland. His role as referred to in Schedule 5, Part 1, paragraph 3(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 is as the owner of feudal superiorities in Scotland.

12 Aug 2002 · 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 each year since the act came into force.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The total amount of confiscation orders imposed by the courts in Scotland under the Proceeds of Crime (Scotland) Act 1995 in respect of drug offences is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=245><TR><TD WIDTH="69%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>1996-97…

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences under the Data Protection Act 1998 have been processed through the courts in each year since the act came into force.

Answer · Jim Wallace: No proceedings under the Data Protection Act 1998 were recorded for the year 2000. Data for the year 2001 are expected to be available in November 2002.

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it has in appointments to the Boundary Commission for Scotland.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Scottish ministers are responsible for appointing members of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland. These appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Standards under procedures set down in the <I>Code of Practice for Ministerial …

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive from what budget the costs for Scottish Parliament and local government elections are met.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Scottish parliamentary elections are reserved. The cost of administering local government elections is met from local authorities' own budgets. The Scottish Executive is meeting the costs associated with the local government element of training for elections …

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 have been processed through the courts in each of the last five years.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested cannot be separately identified from prosecutions for other offences involving animals in the data held centrally.

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has in the appointment of Lord-Lieutenants.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Her Majesty the Queen appoints Lords-Lieutenants in Scotland, as in England and Wales. When a Lord-Lieutenant retires, the Prime Minister consults the First Minister before giving advice to Her Majesty on the appointment of a replacement.

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which species of animals and plants are currently endangered.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The full list of currently endangered species of animals and plants can be found on the "Red List" approved by the International Union of Conservation for Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Full details of the species listed can be accessed on the website a…

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which body designates species of animals and plants as endangered.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and its Species Survival Commission are responsible for classifying and approving categories of animals and plants which are recognised as being critically endangered, endangered …

12 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the procedure is for classifying an animal or a plant as an endangered species.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The procedures for classifying endangered species of animals and plants are adopted and approved by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). They have produced a "Red List" showing categories of animals and plants that …

1 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any legislation exists in relation to traffic and parking around schools.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, local roads authorities have a general duty to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic. This general duty is met by the local authority making traffic regulation orders for reasons which can …

1 Aug 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any public inquiries have been commissioned into traffic issues in the North and South Lanarkshire Council areas in each of the last two years.

Answer · Hugh Henry: Yes. A total of three public local inquiries has been commissioned to address unresolved objections to Stopping Up Orders under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. These affected Philipshill Road and Glen Road, East Kilbride (2001); Tryst Road,…

29 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what communications it has had with the Department of Trade and Industry to assess the effectiveness of the Scottish construction licensing scheme.

Answer · Iain Gray: Both the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Construction Licensing Executive have consulted the Department of Trade and Industry on the launch of the Scottish Construction Licensing Scheme.

29 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what communications it has had with the Department of Trade and Industry to introduce a financial incentive, similar to that given to companies in England and Wales through the Quality Mark Scheme, to construction companies in Scotland that sign up to the Scottish construction licensing s…

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is concerned to develop a joint approach with the DTI between the Scottish construction licensing scheme and the Quality Mark Scheme. Scottish Executive and DTI officials are discussing the options in developing such a joint approach.

29 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many unemployed people have moved into jobs in the construction sector through the New Deal scheme.

Answer · Iain Gray: 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 organisations.<P>The data requested is not available as Jobce…

29 Jul 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many unemployed people have (a) taken part in and (b) moved into sustained employment in the construction sector through the New Deal scheme set up by the Welfare to Work Advisory Task Force.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Welfare to Work Task Force Construction Sub-group has not developed a New Deal scheme. <P>Working closely with employers, CITB, local authorities, Scottish Enterprise and local training providers, it has agreed a generic construction industry acc…