Parliamentary questions

Alex Neil

3,059 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the rules governing the appointment of board members of Local Enterprise Companies and specifically whether such appointments are all on an individual basis and, if so, why only council leaders are appointed as local authority nominees.

Answer · Henry McLeish: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and I have asked the Chairmen to write to the Member and will arrange for copies of the replies to be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed account of the role, remit and responsibilities of the Building and Land Committee of Enterprise Ayrshire, particularly in relation to the identification, processing, funding and contractual arrangements for initiatives and projects supported by Enterpri…

Answer · Henry McLeish: Local Enterprise Companies are private companies and their internal structure is a matter for them. I have however asked the Chairman of Scottish Enterprise to write to the member and will ensure that a copy of his reply is placed in the Scottish Parliament I…

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the disqualification of people aged 60 or over from being members of children's' panels.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: I refer to my answer in response to Mr Bristow Muldoon's question on the same matter (S1W-1004).

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what additional cost would be involved in making the provision of school meals universally free in Scotland.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The cost of providing free school meals to the 108,481 pupils in Scotland who took up their entitlement in 1997/98 was £52.3M.On that basis, the total cost for all school pupils to receive free meals would be approx £365M, an addi…

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the management arrangements for collecting the Council Tax and administering rebates within East Ayrshire Council.

Answer · Jack McConnell: No. Local authorities are independent corporate bodies, but we, of course, continue to encourage best practice in all management arrangements.

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to deal with the issue of elderly abuse in Scotland.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is determined to ensure that older people in our communities, whether at home or in residential care, are protected at every level. We are contributing to the funding of a UK telephone helpline run by Action on Elderly Abuse which provi…

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-805 by Sarah Boyack on 23 August 1999, whether it will confirm that the concessionary travel scheme will cover disabled people as well as blind people.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The concessionary travel scheme concerned relates to travel by blind people only.

31 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-870 by Donald Dewar on 24 August 1999, whether it will provide a detailed breakdown by department of its performance to date in relation to the specified targets.

Answer · Donald Dewar: The information requested in relation to the target of 17 working days to issue replies to Ministerial correspondence for the period 1 July to 31 October 1999 is detailed in the table below.<TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="…

30 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-866 by Donald Dewar on 24 August 1999, whether it will now publish the draft Concordats it has received from Her Majesty's Government.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The final texts were published on 1 October.

30 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of the meetings it has had with Her Majesty's Government to negotiate Concordats with it, including the Ministers involved and minutes of the meetings.

Answer · Jim Wallace: No. The Memorandum of Understanding and over-arching Concordats have now been published. They were endorsed by the Parliament on 7 October.

30 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the current status is of plans for A71 by-passes in the Irvine valley.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Any development of plans for bypasses on the A71, which is a local road, is a matter for the local authorities concerned.

30 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of the budgeted and actual costs for establishing Scotland House in Brussels and details of its management arrangements and usage.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Scotland House is an inclusive body that involves a range of Scottish interests. Its principal components are the Scottish Executive EU Office and Scotland Europa, which in turn houses a number of its subscribers.Scotland Europa's establishment budget and …

30 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that East Ayrshire Council has successfully implemented the new financial management system for its DLO-related activities as recommended by the Audit Commission.

Answer · Frank McAveety: East Ayrshire's external auditor has been monitoring the actions the Council has taken to improve its financial management systems and will comment on any issues as part of the audit of the Council's 1998-99 accounts. Any outstanding issues will be dealt with…

30 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reviewed the 1999-2000 Business Plan of the DLO Building and Works Unit of East Ayrshire Council and, if so, what the outcome of this review was and in particular whether it accepts the income, expenditure and surplus forecast contained in the Business Plan.

Answer · Frank McAveety: The Council has sent us a copy of their Business Plan and are awaiting endorsement of the plan from their external consultants. Once we have the consultant's view we will provide any comments on the plan to the Council.

30 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the board members of all the Local Enterprise Companies in Scotland and their political affiliation.

Answer · Henry McLeish: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and I have asked the Chairmen to write to you.

24 Aug 1999 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to merge Local Enterprise Companies anywhere in Scotland with the economic or business development departments of local authorities.

Answer · Henry McLeish: We have no plans for such mergers at this stage, although we encourage partnership and co-operation between local economic development agencies.

23 Aug 1999 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether individuals, organisations and companies to be called to provide evidence to Parliamentary Committees will be required to formally declare any interests which they may have relating to the relevant subject matter prior to being interviewed or questioned by the Committee.

Answer · David Steel: Standing Orders do not require individuals or organisations giving evidence to Committees of the Parliament to make a declaration of interests before being questioned. It is open to Committees to ask for such a declaration where they consider it relevant.