Parliamentary questions
Alex Neil
3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
18 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an analysis comparing the cost of servicing the #1 billion worth of Private Finance Initiative projects in Scotland showing the actual costs under PFI over the period of the project with what would have been the cost of servicing the equivalent capital sums as borr…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The information required to provide this comparison is not held centrally. However, I refer you to a letter that I sent to Fergus Ewing MSP on 30 June 1999 a copy of which I have placed in the Information Centre of the Scottish Parliament. It sets out clearly…
17 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the total cost for local authorities for each of the last three years and the current financial year and any estimated costs for each of the next two financial years of (a) pay awards, (b) redundancies and (c) deficits inherited from regional councils.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The negotiation of pay and conditions of service for local authority employees is a matter for the local authorities themselves and information on the total cost of pay awards and redundancy payments made to local authority staff over the last three years is …
16 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any estimate of the financial impact of the proposed changes to Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) eligibility criteria in respect of the reduction from 30% to 20% for total project costs covered by RSA.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The current aid limits are 30% in Development Areas and 15% in Intermediate Areas, though the majority of assisted projects are aided at a level significantly below these limits. New aid limits have not yet been decided but EU guidelines allow for a maximum o…
16 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any estimate of the financial impact of the proposed changes to Regional Selective Assistance eligibility criteria in respect of geographic coverage for each of the next three financial years.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Ward-based approach adopted for the proposed new Assisted Areas map means that the majority of existing development opportunities would be maintained on the map while several new areas would also be included on the map.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>No spec…
16 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the value of Regional Selective Assistance grant awards made to companies in or locating in Scotland for each of the last three financial years and the current financial year and what its projections are for each of the next three financial years.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The figures requested are as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=441><TR><TD WIDTH="44%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="56%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">RSA grant payments <P ALIGN="CENTER">made to companies in Scotland <P ALIGN="CE…
16 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the number of companies employing 50 or more people in each of the following areas: Darvel, Newmilns, Hurlford, Galston, Stewarton, Dunlop and Kilmarnock.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive's Scottish Corporate sector figures are produced by the Government Statistical Service using data collected by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).<P>Data relating to the specific areas requested cannot be produced without encounte…
8 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an estimate of the net cost to Scottish business of a 0.25% increase in interest rates.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive does not make such estimates.
8 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the additional cost to local authorities in Scotland will be if the Department of Trade and Industry's proposals to charge Value Added Tax on services provided by home care workers are implemented.
Answer · Iain Gray: As local authorities are able to recover any value added tax that they are charged we would not expect them to incur significant additional costs.
8 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the A77 upgrade between Fenwick and Malletsheugh will proceed even if the PFI funding mechanism does not prove viable.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: There is now substantial successful experience of using private finance to fund major road schemes in the United Kingdom. I am confident that this procurement approach will provide value for money in the case of the new section of the M77.
8 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of each stage of the timetable for the construction and completion of the A77 upgrade from Fenwick to Malletsheugh.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Report on Strategic Roads Review published on 4 November states that construction could start in 2002 with completion by 2005. A detailed programme is being prepared. A crucial preliminary is work to replace the golf holes at the Eastwood Golf Club affect…
8 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2006 by Mr Jim Wallace on 3 November, whether it will provide percentage staff turnover figures since April 1999 for Barlinnie Prison, Edinburgh Prison, Kilmarnock Prison, Perth Prison and Peterhead Prison.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The percentage of staff who have left each of these prisons from 1 April - 31 October 1999 is shown in the following table.<FONT SIZE=2><P ALIGN="CENTER"><CENTER><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=318><TR><TD WIDTH="49%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CE…
1 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-891 by Sarah Boyack on 24 August 1999, how the money awarded to the Scottish Raptor Group was spent, what the performance targets were and whether these targets were met and, if not, why not.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The funding provided to Raptor Study Groups (for which the Scottish Raptor Group is the co-ordinating body) is provided to support the travel expenses of volunteers undertaking counts and observation of raptors, and enables SNH to ensure that volunteer effort…
29 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has revised its estimate of the cost of upgrading the A77 given the recent price increases in asphalt and bitumen.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No. The upgrading of the A77 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh was priced in second quarter of 1998 prices for the Review of Scotland's Trunk and Strategic Road Programme.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Prices of various materials and labour needed for constructi…
28 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what definition of "full employment" it will use in developing and assessing policies designed to ensure that the conditions of employability, productivity and responsibility recently outlined by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as necessary to achieve the objective of full employment are …
Answer · Henry McLeish: Creating the conditions for high and stable levels of employment, and employment opportunities for all so that people are able to fulfil their potential, are major challenges for modern economies, including the Scottish economy.
27 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to alter the terms and conditions of the pension scheme covering the fire brigade and the police, and, in particular, whether any changes are planned to the respective percentage contribution of the employees and employers.
Answer · Angus MacKay: Consultation documents setting out options for changes in the police and fire service pension schemes, including changes in contribution rates, were published by the Home Office in March1998. The response to consultation is under consideration.
27 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the upgrading of railway stations between Kilmarnock and Glasgow, including Kilmarnock station.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The development and upgrading of railway infrastructure, including stations, is primarily a matter for Railtrack. I understand that the company is currently spending over £1.7 million on refurbishing Kilmarnock station.
27 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the planned spend on replacement vehicles for each Fire Brigade in Scotland for the current and each of the next two financial years and how these figures compare with those for each of the last two financial years.
Answer · Angus MacKay: The available information is as follows:-<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Actual, forecast and planned spend on purchase of vehicles by fire brigades in Scotland: figures in £,000.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP"><B><P AL…
27 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when and where the first meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committee and the Overseas Promotion Committee being set up under the concordat arrangements will take place, who will be in attendance, and what subject matters are on their respective agendas.
Answer · Donald Dewar: The Joint Ministerial Committee will contribute to good communication between the Scottish Executive, the cabinet of the National Assembly for Wales and the UK Government. It will meet in a number of guises, but most of its business will be conducted by corre…
27 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it has undertaken either directly or through its executive agencies in the development of nanotechnology in Scotland.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Funding for research into nanotechnology is provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. One of the recipients is the University of Glasgow, which is one of the leading centres for research into nanotechnology in the United Kingdom. Fun…
27 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations, if any, it has made to Her Majesty's Government about the safety and security arrangements at Faslane.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is constantly in touch with HMG on a range of matters. Responsibility for safety and security at the Faslane base, however, rests primarily with the Ministry of Defence. Strathclyde Police are responsible for dealing with safety and sec…
27 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Community Service Orders are currently being carried out in East Ayrshire and what work is being undertaken as part of these Orders.
Answer · Jim Wallace: There are currently 107 Community Service Orders being supervised by East Ayrshire Council Social Work Department. Work being undertaken includes environmental improvement work, painting and decorating for the elderly and support for various community organis…
27 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of the plan to erect a new primary school in Galston, Ayrshire, and when the necessary works are scheduled to begin.
Answer · Peter Peacock: This is a matter for East Ayrshire Council as the education authority.
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have entered Modern Apprenticeships and how many have completed Modern Apprenticeships.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Since Modern Apprenticeships were introduced in Scotland in 1996 17,726 young people have entered the programme and 1,979 people have completed.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Since a Modern Apprenticeship takes 3-4 years to complete, 1999-2000 is the first year…
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, of the 20000 Modern Apprentices which it intends to create, what is the breakdown of targets by industrial sector.
Answer · Henry McLeish: There are no national targets for MAs by industrial or occupational sector.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Skillseekers programme, which includes delivery of Modern Apprenticeships, is largely demand-led. The 2 main factors are the skills needs of employers and their …
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, of the 20000 Modern Apprenticeships which it intends to create, what the target is for successful completion, and by when.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer the member to the answer to S1W-2067.
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its target of 20000 Modern Apprenticeships created by 2003 reflects the number of entrants or the number completing the scheme and, if it is the target for completion, what is the target for entrants.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The target of 20,000 Modern Apprenticeships by 2003 refers to the number of Modern Apprentices undertaking training. A Modern Apprenticeship is a competence-based qualification, so the timescale for completion can vary. Typically, a Modern Apprenticeship take…
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive upon what research evidence the target of 20000 Modern Apprenticeships for Scotland is based.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Skills Audit showed that Scotland is lagging behind in the achievement of level III qualifications. Modern Apprenticeships are specifically designed to provide high quality training at craft, technical and managerial level. This level is the lynchpin of a…
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any research has been conducted into employer preferences for types of vocational qualifications and, if so, whether that research shows that many employers consider that standard educational qualifications and vocational education qualifications at Higher National levels are of s…
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Qualifications Authority carries out tracking research for its full portfolio of qualifications, and for SVQs specifically, to elicit information from stakeholders, including employers, about the awareness, understanding, relevance and perceived …
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why knowledge based high quality vocational educational programmes such as HNCs are not recognised as fundable qualifications instead of SVQs in programmes such as Skillseekers.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Skillseekers programme is designed to provide work-based training for young people which leads to qualification up to SVQ Level III. HNCs are broadly equivalent to SVQ Level IV which is a higher level qualification than would normally be funded through Sk…
20 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to require Scottish Enterprise to introduce a greater choice of fundable qualifications in mainstream programmes such as Skillseekers and Training for Work.
Answer · Henry McLeish: <I><FONT FACE="Arial">Opportunities and Choices</I>, the Consultation Paper on Post-School Provision for 16-18 year olds raises the issue of funding a wider range of qualifications through the Skillseekers programme. The responses to the consultation exercise…