Alex Neil

4 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3137 by Henry McLeish on 23 December 1999, whether it will provide an update, up to 31 March 2000, 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 trading…

Answer · Henry McLeish: Employment Policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of the New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive. Many partner organisati…

4 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses in each local enterprise company area are waiting for approval for Regional Selective Assistance and what the average waiting time is per area.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Some 163 RSA applications were received prior to the expiry of the Assisted Areas map in December 1999. This compares with 253 applications for the whole year to December 1998. The bulk of these applications have been dealt with but we have yet to reach a fin…

4 Apr 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected spend and throughput levels will be for Skillseekers, Training for Work and the New Deal in each of the next three financial years, commencing April 2000.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Skillseekers and Training for Work are both delivered by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Each year Grant-in-Aid targets are agreed with the respective Enterprise bodies. These include volume-based targets, which are outlined in the r…

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will uprate the level of net earnings referred to in Schedule 2 to the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 by a percentage increase equivalent to the annual rate of inflation as determined by the Retail Price Index, and whether it will do so on an annual basis.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I am currently considering the need for a wide-ranging review of the diligence system as a whole. Any such review would include consideration of the periodic updating of the Tables in Schedule 2 to the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors whether the Scottish Diet Targets are being achieved.

Answer · Susan Deacon: A number of sources are being utilised to monitor progress towards the dietary targets. These include the Scottish Health Survey, the UK National Food Survey, the UK Diet and Nutrition Survey and the Infant Feeding Survey. The work of the Food Standards Agenc…

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4407 by Jackie Baillie on 29 February 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the contributions to voluntary organisations by the Health Department.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-5824.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4407 by Jackie Baillie on 29 February 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the contributions to voluntary organisations by the Development Department.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-5824.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has submitted any comment to Her Majesty's Government or the European Commission on the document relating to the e-Europe initiative which forms the basis of the draft EU strategy for e-commerce.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive contributed to the UK government's response to the European Commission's e-Europe initiative. I refer to my reply to question S1W-5821.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4598 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 March 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the spending on external consultants and contractors since 1 July 1999 by the Development Department.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer Mr Neil to my answer to question S1W-05831.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4598 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 March 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the spending on external consultants and contractors since 1 July 1999 by the Education Department.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer Mr Neil to my answer to question S1W-05831.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4598 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 March 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the spending on external consultants and contractors since 1 July 1999 by the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer Mr Neil to my answer to question S1W-05831.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4598 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 March 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the spending on external consultants and contractors since 1 July 1999 by the Health Department.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer Mr Neil to my answer to question S1W-05831.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4598 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 March 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the spending on external consultants and contractors since 1 July 1999 by the Justice Department.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer Mr Neil to my answer to question S1W-05831.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4598 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 March 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the spending on external consultants and contractors since 1 July 1999 by the Rural Affairs Department.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer Mr Neil to my answer to question S1W-05831.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4598 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 March 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the spending on external consultants and contractors since 1 July 1999 by Central Support.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The table below provides details of expenditure between 1 July 1999 and 29 February 2000, which was the period covered by my answer of 20 March (to question S1W-4598). The figures in the left hand column represent total expenditure with external suppliers, in…

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4598 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 March 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the spending on external consultants and contractors since 1 July 1999 by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer Mr Neil to my answer to question S1W-05831.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4598 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 March 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the spending on external consultants and contractors since 1 July 1999 by the General Register Office for Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer Mr Neil to my answer to question S1W-05831.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4598 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 March 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the spending on external consultants and contractors since 1 July 1999 by Registers of Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer Mr Neil to my answer to question S1W-05831.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4598 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 March 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the spending on external consultants and contractors since 1 July 1999 by the National Archives for Scotland.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer Mr Neil to my answer to question S1W-05831.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4407 by Jackie Baillie on 29 February 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the contributions to voluntary organisations shown for the Home Department.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-5824.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4407 by Jackie Baillie on 29 February 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the contributions to voluntary organisations shown for the Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-5824.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4407 by Jackie Baillie on 29 February 2000, whether it will provide a breakdown of the contributions to voluntary organisations shown for the Education and Industry Department.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The information given in response to question S1W-4407 showed the level of funding made available by The Scottish Office to voluntary organisations for 1998-99 by Department. Since that response was given an exercise has been undertaken that shows the current…

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider undertaking an investigation into the schools meals service to establish whether the service is consistent with its own targets for improving the diet of young people in Scotland.

Answer · Peter Peacock: We have no plans to undertake such an investigation. Education authorities are encouraged to ensure that their contract procedures in relation to school meals provision take account of the Model Nutritional Guidelines for catering Specifications in the Public…

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of any input it has had to the European Commission's e-Europe initiative.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive contributed to the UK government's response to the European Commission's e-Europe initiative, and earlier this year an official from the Scottish Executive met with the European Commission officials involved in developing the e-Europe i…

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5107 by Mr Frank McAveety on 17 March 2000, when it expects to set operational and performance targets for the Accounts Commission.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The changes brought about by the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 have delayed this process, but the Scottish Executive expects to have agreed performance indicators with the Accounts Commission by autumn 2000.

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4106 by Mr Jack McConnell on 15 March 2000, what percentage of the 3.7% increase in local authority current expenditure is accounted for by the provision of #38.5 million to meet the costs arising from the abolition of Advanced Corporation Tax credit…

Answer · Jack McConnell: Provision to meet the costs arising from the abolition of Advanced Corporation Tax credits increased from £27 million in 1999-2000 to £38.5 million in 2000-01. This increase accounts for 4.8% of the 3.7% increase in local authority current expenditure in 2000…

31 Mar 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-4405 by Mr Jack McConnell on 25 February 2000, when it expects to complete its review of the account taken of indicators of deprivation and poverty within the local government finance distribution system.

Answer · Jack McConnell: We expect to complete the review this year, in time for the conclusions to be considered before the 2001-02 local government finance distribution is agreed.

31 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S1W-4379 by Sir David Steel on 29 February 2000, whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will provide details of the criteria used to decide whom it will fund for foreign trips.

Answer · David Steel: Under the Members' Allowances Scheme, any travel outside Scotland is reimbursable only if it has been authorised in advance by the SPCB. There is no specific set of criteria used by the SPCB to decide whom it will fund for foreign trips and every application …

31 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S1W-4379 by Sir David Steel on 29 February 2000, whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will consider making it a requirement for representatives visiting other countries on its behalf to provide a report on the outcomes for each visit and to p…

Answer · David Steel: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will determine at the time of considering each request for travel to other countries, whether a report on the outcomes of the visit is necessary.

31 Mar 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S1W-4379 by Sir David Steel on 29 February 2000, whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will, in future, provide information on costs of individual trips it has funded.

Answer · David Steel: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body is putting in place an administrative process that will identify the costs of individual trips funded by the SPCB of Members travelling outwith Scotland/UK.