Parliamentary questions
Andrew Wilson
771 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
27 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34021 by Iain Gray on 24 February 2003, how many claims for monies owed under the individual learning account scheme have now been satisfactorily validated; on what dates payments were made in respect of such claims, and how much was involved in each…
Answer · Iain Gray: Details of claims that have been validated and paid are set out in the following table. The validation of claims and authorisation of payments were conducted separately by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise in respect of Individual Learn…
13 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements it is considering for inclusion in the administrative structure of a successor to the individual learning account scheme to overcome any difficulties experienced in the first.
Answer · Iain Gray: My department has undertaken a thorough review of the original individual learning account scheme, drawing on independent evaluation and extensive stakeholder consultation. The new scheme will incorporate a range of improvements, taking full account of the le…
13 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the successor to the individual learning account (ILA) scheme could not have commenced within this session of the Parliament.
Answer · Iain Gray: While good progress is being made in developing a new ILA scheme, it is essential to ensure that all the practical lessons of the first scheme are being taken fully into account. I will be giving careful consideration to the report on ILAs by Audit Scotland, …
13 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been of the investigation into fraudulent activity under the individual learning account scheme; what amount has been budgeted for any further investigations, and from which departmental budget such amounts will be met.
Answer · Iain Gray: Investigations into potentially fraudulent and irregular activity under the individual learning account (ILA) scheme have not yet been concluded. Until they are, the total cost of the investigations cannot be established. While a specific budget for the inves…
13 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what compensation scheme it will introduce for small businesses that provided training under the individual learning account scheme and incurred losses as a result of payment delays while investigations took place into fraudulent activity under the scheme and what the reasons are for its …
Answer · Iain Gray: There are no plans at present for any compensation scheme for learning providers in respect of the individual learning account scheme. While payment delays were incurred when the scheme was closed, it was essential that thorough investigations were undertaken…
13 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many job losses have occurred to date as a result of the termination of the individual learning accounts scheme and how it calculated this figure.
Answer · Iain Gray: I am unable to comment on the number of job losses which may have occurred due to the individual learning account scheme's withdrawal, as this information is not held centrally.
13 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all monies owed to learning and training providers under the individual learning account scheme have been paid and, if not, which providers are still awaiting outstanding payments and how much is outstanding in each case.
Answer · Iain Gray: Where claims have been satisfactorily validated payment, or offer of payment, has been made.
13 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been referred to procurators fiscal and (b) arrests have been made in relation to identified fraudulent activity involving the individual learning account scheme.
Answer · Iain Gray: Search warrants have been executed in respect of a number of learning providers who are presently being considered by Crown Office, ahead of possible referral to procurators fiscal. A large quantity of documentation and computer records has been recovered, an…
13 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many learning providers under the individual learning account scheme have been identified as having been involved in fraudulent activity and what this figure represents as a proportion of the total number of accounts opened.
Answer · Iain Gray: Fraud has not yet been proven in relation to any learning provider, although investigations are on-going in a number of cases. It is not, therefore, possible to state the proportion of fraudulent activity in relation to accounts opened. It will ultimately be …
13 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the investigation into fraudulent activity involving the individual learning account scheme has been completed and, if not, when the investigation will be complete.
Answer · Iain Gray: Investigations into potentially fraudulent activity have not yet been completed. Crown Office advises that the investigative process is likely to be a lengthy one and I cannot yet say when it will be completed.
3 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive , with regard to its news release SE5565/2002 of 21 March 2002, why the works announced for the development and enhancement of facilities at Croy Station have yet to begin; what the reasons are for the delay, and what action it has taken to address the situation since the project was anno…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Delivery of the improved car parking at Croy Station announced in March 2002 is a matter for Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority.<P>I understand that the contract for this work has now been awarded, and site clearance is due to start this month.
3 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive , with regard to its news release SEET240/2003 of 22 January 2003, on what date (a) a performance impact study was completed and (b) regulatory dispensation for the works was received in respect of each rail project, broken down by the authorising or consulting body in each case.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Performance impact studies will be carried out and regulatory dispensations will be sought as the detailed specification for each rail scheme is developed.
3 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any act and section in legislation that would prevent a larger compensation package being offered than that offered to homeowners in Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Any compensation paid will need to be in accordance with the statutory provisions used by North Lanarkshire Council should it decide to acquire the properties in question. No package of compensation and assistance has yet been agreed. North Lanarkshire Counci…
3 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures were in place at the time of construction in order to identify construction defects such as those now identified as affecting housing in Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld; who had responsibility for ensuring that any such procedures were followed, and why the d…
Answer · Margaret Curran: The underlying construction methods used in the flats at Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road were regarded at the time of the construction of the flats as accepted practice. The building of these properties would have been subject to the standards and inspection …
3 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what bodies were responsible for construction defects affecting housing in Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld, and whether it will give details of the defects.
Answer · Margaret Curran: I understand that the flats at Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld were commissioned by the Cumbernauld Development Corporation in the late 1960s. Details of their structure are contained in a report dated October 2000 by A.J. Balfour & Associate…
3 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected final cost is of the compensation scheme for homeowners in Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld, what bodies will be responsible for meeting this cost, and what percentage of the cost each such body will meet.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The overall cost of the compensation element of the package and the contributions to that cost are the subject of continuing discussions and will depend on the housing needs of the homeowners involved.
3 Feb 2003 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why the compensation package for homeowners in Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld, has been based on the current value of their properties and not on the value that the properties would have had if the construction defects had not been present.
Answer · Margaret Curran: It is for the North Lanarkshire Council to interpret and apply the law on compensation should they decide to acquire properties at Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld. No package of compensation and assistance has yet been agreed. North Lanarkshire C…
27 Jan 2003 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister what impact the changes to Her Majesty's Government's funding policy for higher education in the rest of the UK will have on the Scottish budget.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The implications of any changes will be considered by Phase 2 of the Review of Higher Education, announced by Iain Gray last week.
15 Jan 2003 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when Scottish gross domestic product per head will reach the same level as UK average gross domestic product per head.
Answer · Iain Gray: The composition of the Scottish economy is different to the UK as a whole with different industries having different contributions to overall output. Each industry is affected by global economic circumstances in a different way and consequently the overall pe…
20 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students successfully completed a higher education course solely at a further education institution in each year since 1990.
Answer · Iain Gray: The number of students graduating from higher education courses in further education institutions since 1990 has been:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=141><TR><TD WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year</TD><TD WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD></TR…
20 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students successfully completed a higher education course solely at a higher education institution in each year since 1990.
Answer · Iain Gray: The number of students graduating from higher education (HE) courses in higher education institutions (HEI) since 1990 has been:<P>Graduates and Diplomates from HE Courses in HEIs 1990-91 to 2000-01<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=141><TR><TD W…
17 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29824 by Iain Gray on 7 October 2002, what the average level of non-commercial debt was for a student completing four years of higher education, having undergone no previous sub-degree courses and having taken out the maximum available government sup…
Answer · Iain Gray: The maximum government support available to each student, including student loan support, will depend upon individual circumstances including family income. To calculate the average figure in each year would, therefore, be time consuming and incur a dispropor…
17 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30199 by Iain Gray on 16 October 2002, what action it has taken to evaluate the impact of the new student funding packages on (a) the number of students in term-time employment and (b) levels of student debt and what the reasons are for its position …
Answer · Iain Gray: The new student support arrangements were introduced for eligible students starting higher education courses from 2001-02 and are, therefore, only in their second year.<P>We intend to undertake a specific income and expenditure survey of Scottish domiciled fu…
17 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what higher and further education institutions operated a waiting list for counselling services in each year since 1995 and from what source it obtained this information.
Answer · Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32694 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/searc…
17 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many full-time equivalent (FTE) students there have been on average for each FTE counsellor in higher and further education institutions in each year since 1995 and from what source it obtained this information.
Answer · Iain Gray: The information requested is not held centrally.
17 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses to determine the level of funding that it will provide each year under the mature students' bursary scheme.
Answer · Iain Gray: The overall level of funding is based on the proportion of the student population expected to be eligible for support under Mature Students Bursary Fund (MSBF). Funds are redistributed from the Hardship Funds on the basis of the proportion of the higher educa…
17 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many mature students received the maximum available mature students' bursary in each year since the scheme started.
Answer · Iain Gray: Individual colleges and universities are asked to report back to the Student Awards Agency each year with information on the individual awards they have made under the Mature Students' Bursary Scheme. Not all returns have yet been received in relation to the …
17 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether income under section 2(1) of the Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Act 2001 will be treated as additional to money available through the current funding system and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive will follow section 2 of The Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Act 2001. Income arising from the graduate endowment will be included within the budget proposals in the relevant bill for the Budget Act, for the use of …
17 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students (a) were entitled to and (b) received the minimum available student loan in each year since 1995.
Answer · Iain Gray: All students on eligible courses (with the exception of those who have defaulted on a previous student loan agreement) are eligible to receive the minimum level of student loan regardless of their family income. However, students are not obliged to take out t…
17 Dec 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it receives from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects information annually from each higher education institution (HEI) in the UK (including teacher training courses). The Scottish Executive receives the information collected from HEIs, via HESA, in respect …