Parliamentary questions
Alex Neil
3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to carry out an immediate review of visitscotland and its Board.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: No. An independent management review of visitscotland was recently completed and the priority now is to make further progress with its implementation. The Board of visitscotland has assured the Executive that the lessons of the appointment exercise will be le…
26 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the modern apprenticeship pass rate was in each local enterprise company area in each of the last two years.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The table provides the information requested.<P>Modern Apprenticeship Pass Rate: 1999-2000 and 2000-01<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="43%" VALIGN="TOP" ROWSPAN=2><P>LEC area</TD><TD WIDTH="29%" VALIGN="TOP" COLSPAN=2><P ALIG…
26 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11693 by Mr Alasdair Morrison on 30 March 2001, how endowment payments will be collected from EU students who leave the UK after graduating and go to work elsewhere.
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: EU nationals who leave the UK after graduating will be subject to the same collection arrangements as are used at present for Scottish graduates who leave the UK after graduating. There are procedures currently in place for the Student Loans Company to collec…
26 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of Scotland's businesses accessed Scottish Enterprise network services in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Businesses can access Scottish Enterprise network services in a number of ways. In 1999-2000 Scottish Enterprise delivered 22,190 "projects" with companies in Scotland on a one-to-one basis. Figures for 2000-01 will be made available in the next Scottish Ente…
26 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the Scottish Enterprise network's current business client base accessed business support services (a) online and (b) offline in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Information about Scottish Enterprise network services is available to all who need it through the Scottish Enterprise Website which was launched in 2000-01. In addition, the Government is committed to the principle of delivering services electronically by 20…
23 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many new business starts there were in each local enterprise company area in 1999-2000; how many were assisted by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and how many are still trading in each area.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and I have asked the Chairmen to write to the member. A copy of their replies will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
23 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people who started modern apprenticeships in 1999-2000 have since completed their apprenticeships.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Of the young people who started Modern Apprenticeships in 1999-2000, by mid-June 1,077 have completed their apprenticeships. Modern Apprenticeships can start at any time in the year. Completion dates will vary according to individuals' needs and different bus…
2 Apr 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to combat rogue traders in the construction and related industries by expanding the remit of the building control system to cover quality control issues and whether its powers in this area would enable it to introduce compulsory registration or licensing for tradespeopl…
2 Apr 2001 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister when the Scottish Executive will announce its additional financial allocation arising from the UK 2001 Budget.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Budget benefited from a £200 million addition as a result of the 2001 Budget. We will allocate the funding to meet our priorities of social justice and announce specific allocations in due course.
21 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the pension rights of public sector workers transferred into the private sector under the trunk roads maintenance contracts will be affected and, if so, what any effects on pensions might be.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-03171.
15 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13867 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 14 March 2001, which year's Research Assessment Exercise-based grant and external research income figures were used to calculate higher education institutions' allocations from the Scottish Science Research Investment F…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The detail of the allocations from the Scottish Science Research Investment Fund is a matter for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC). However, I understand that the year of the SHEFC Research Assessment Exercise-based grant used by SHEFC in …
14 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the First Minister will reply to the letter of 30 January 2001 from the South Lanarkshire Tenants' Federation.
Answer · Margaret Curran: A reply to South Lanarkshire Tenants' Federation was issued on 14 March 2001.
14 Mar 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has raised with Her Majesty's Government the recent report by Sir Richard Doll published by the National Radiological Protection Board regarding electromagnetic fields and the risk of cancer.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The study was carried out by the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation on behalf of the NRPB Board. The Executive continues to be in close contact with other UK Health Departments to consider the findings of the report.<P>The Executive fully supports the r…
13 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13091 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 9 March 2001, how much planned inward investment and how many projects involving inward investment were attracted to (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun and (b) Hamilton North and Bellshill in 1999-2000.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The information requested is contained in the table below:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="35%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Constituency</TD><TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Number</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN=…
13 Mar 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the contractual status of HM Prison Kilmarnock.
Answer · Jim Wallace: No. Scottish Prison Service see no need to do so as the contract is working well.
7 Mar 2001 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any representations to Her Majesty's Government or the Economic and Social Research Council (ERSC) regarding Scotland's share of the ERSC budget.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: No. We are content that all the Research Councils, which are reserved bodies, abide by the general principle that funding decisions are made on the grounds of quality, not location.
2 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the working group on a replacement for poindings and warrant sales will be able to make recommendations regarding the system of diligence as a whole, including issues such as a comprehensive system of debt counselling.
Answer · Angus MacKay: The remit and details of the work of the working group are available on the Scottish Executive website. The full address can be obtained from the Parliament's Reference Centre. The Deputy First Minister announced on 8 June 2000 that, in addition to the work o…
2 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what methodology was used to calculate the distribution amongst universities of funding from the Scottish Science Research Investment Fund.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The methodology used to calculate the distribution of funding of the Scottish Science Research Investment Fund was described in a Circular Letter issued to higher education institutions by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) on 1 March 2001 …
2 Mar 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much each university will receive in total under the Scottish Science Research Investment Fund.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: A total of £64.6 million will be allocated to higher education institutions in Scotland by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. The allocations to individual higher education institutions over the two years 2002-03 and 2003-04 are as follows:<TABLE …
27 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive by how much it will increase investment in health and education services in real terms in each of the next three years.
Answer · Angus MacKay: The record real terms increases in expenditure in health and education over the next three years are set out in the Executive's draft budget document <I>Making a difference for Scotland</I>.
27 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to support heritage initiatives in Kilmarnock and Loudoun.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I have asked Graeme Munro, Director and Chief Executive of Historic Scotland, to answer. His response is as follows:<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Historic Scotland, an Agency within the Scottish Executive, is supporting a number of projects which conserve the …
16 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have (a) participated in, and (b) gone into unsubsidised employment from the New Deal for Young People's (i) employment, (ii) full-time education and training, (iii) voluntary option and (iv) environmental task force options, up to 31 January 2001.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: 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.<P>This information is published and…
16 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have participated in the New Deal for Young People more than once since its inception, broken down by unit of delivery.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: 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.<P>The table details the number of pe…
16 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have moved into unsubsidised employment directly from the Gateway stage since the scheme's inception, broken down by unit of delivery.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: 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.<P>The table details the number of 18…
16 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5969 by Henry McLeish on 18 April 2000, whether it can now provide information, up to 31 January 2001, on the number of companies which have taken on young people under the employment option of the New Deal for Young People and what percentage of tra…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: 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.<P>In Scotland, the number of employ…
16 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people, as at 31 January 2001, have obtained employment through the New Deal for Young People and have been taken on by employers not receiving a New Deal Subsidy.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: 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.<P>This information is published and…
16 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have entered the New Deal for Young People since its inception and how many, having completed the programme, have gone back to claiming benefits.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: 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.<P>There have been 65,011 starts on …
16 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5973 by Henry McLeish on 18 April 2000, whether it will provide an update, up to 31 January 2001, on expenditure to date on each New Deal Programme, other than the New Deal for Young People, and the number of people who have taken part in each of the…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: 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.<P>The expenditure on each New Deal pr…
16 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6438 by Henry McLeish on 12 May 2000, whether it will provide an updated breakdown, by unit of delivery, of people who have moved into unsubsidised employment since the New Deal was introduced.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government, which takes the lead on funding and delivery of New Deal. In Scotland, it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing organisations.<P>The Unit of Delivery table details the number …
16 Feb 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12882 by Malcolm Chisholm on 12 February 2001, when the review on whether there is a need to put a greater emphasis on hepatitis C in the services provided by the National AIDS and Drugs helplines will be completed.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: No date has been fixed. The report of consultants appointed to evaluate the performance of the contractor currently providing these helpline services should be available by the end of March. The report will inform decisions on the future direction of the help…