Parliamentary questions
Andrew Wilson
771 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
28 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will hold a public inquiry into plans for infrastructure work at the Auchenkilns roundabout, Cumbernauld.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I will have a report on responses and objections to the published draft proposals for replacing the A80 Auchenkilns Roundabout this month. I will then decide if it is necessary to hold a public local inquiry.
4 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) employees and (b) former employees of its Security Branch were (i) entitled to and (ii) have been successfully contacted about backdated travel time allowances to date.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Entitlement to these allowances can only be determined following receipt of applications and analysis of relevant records. Contact was made with 57 serving Security Force staff. Letters were sent, by recorded delivery, to the last known addresses of 135 forme…
4 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) employees and (b) former employees of its Security Branch have received payment for backdated travel time allowances to date, broken down into full-time and part-time employees, and how much has been paid out in total to date.
Answer · Andy Kerr: We are currently collecting information from Chessington, this has taken longer than anticipated. I shall write to the member as soon as the information becomes available and will also place a copy in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
4 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive from which budget backdated payments for travel time allowances at its Security Branch are being met; who is overseeing the application process for these payments; who has day-to-day control and involvement in the process, and what arbitration and appeal structure is in place to consider…
Answer · Andy Kerr: Payments are being met from the Security Branch administration budget. The application and authorisation process is being managed by Security Branch, who liase with the claimants, assist them in completing the relevant forms where necessary and check the vali…
4 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its Security Branch (a) employee and (b) former employee records held by Chessington Computer Centre it has accessed in an attempt to resolve payments for backdated travel time allowances and how much it has cost to access these records.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive's payroll provider, ADP Chessington, has accessed a total of 15 current employee and 10 ex-employee records at the request of the individuals concerned. The information was provided at a cost of £490 plus VAT.
3 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would support the holding of an official local referendum in the area surrounding Cumbernauld and Kilsyth about the plans to upgrade the A80 to motorway status.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: We are presently in the process of considering the corridor study reports and all comments received in connection with the consultants recommendations.<P>I do not consider it necessary or appropriate to hold a local referendum on the future of the A80. The Ro…
3 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances it would be acceptable for lecturing staff at a higher education establishment to make financial gain, either for or from a limited company in which they have a personal interest, through the use of research finance or equipment purchased from the funding it gives…
Answer · Iain Gray: There are many ways in which a member of staff may be able to gain financial benefits through access to institutional property and funding, ranging from publications and public appearances, to involvement in research-led companies and the licensing of intelle…
2 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to participate in the proposed launch on 18 October 2002 by Napier University seeking funding towards the creation of a Scottish Centre for Creative Industries at Craighouse Campus, in particular whether any minister will be participating in the launch; on what date any …
Answer · Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30160 on 15 October 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/s…
2 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken into how many full-time students in higher education have failed to complete their course of study; who carried out any such research; when, and over what period, any such research was undertaken; where any such research has been made available, and what pe…
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has commissioned a literature review on <I>Retention and Wastage in FE and HE</I> from Dr John Hall at the Scottish Council for Research in Education (SCRE). His report, published in 2001 is available on the SCRE website at www.scre.ac.…
2 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken into the migratory behaviour of graduates from higher education; who carried out any such research; when, and over what period, any such research was carried out, and where any such research has been made available.
Answer · Iain Gray: Information with regards domicile and location of employment of graduates from Scottish higher education institutions (HEIs) is collected by HEIs via the Higher Education Statistics Agency's (HESA) First Destinations Survey (FDS). The FDS collects a range of …
2 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken into how many full-time students in higher education are also in part-time employment; who carried out any such research; when, and over what period, any such research was carried out; where any such research has been made available, and what percentage of …
Answer · Iain Gray: A Student Income and Expenditure Survey was conducted by Professor Claire Callender of South Bank University in 1998-99. It asked approximately 3,000 students throughout the UK detailed questions about their personal circumstances, courses and their income an…
2 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it verifies the accuracy of figures promoted by higher education institutions regarding the number of former students who progress to employment or further study and who conducts the initial research that produces such figures.
Answer · Iain Gray: Information regarding the destinations of graduates in higher education institutions (HEIs) is collected by HEIs, via the Higher Education Statistics Agency's (HESA) First Destinations Survey. The First Destinations Survey (FDS) collects information on the po…
2 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has provided, or plans to provide, financial assistance for the creation of a Scottish Centre for Creative Industries at Napier University's Craighouse Campus and, if so, whether it will detail (a) the amount concerned and from what source any monies were or will be provided, …
Answer · Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-30160 on 15 October 2002. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what contact it has had with Napier University regarding the university's plans to develop a Scottish Centre for Creative Industries at the Craighouse Campus, detailing any form of support it has provided, or proposes to provide, for the project.
Answer · Iain Gray: Napier University's plans for a Scottish Centre for Creative Industries were outlined to Mike Watson in the course of a brief meeting with its Dean of Arts and Social Sciences on 2 July 2002.<P>The question of Executive support for such plans was not raised a…
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28657 by Mr Andy Kerr on 23 September 2002, why establishing entitlement to payment from historical records for ex-members of its security branch was a complex task; how many former employees it (a) attempted to make contact with and (b) succeeded in…
Answer · Andy Kerr: This exercise involved identifying individuals employed since April 1995, confirming last known addresses, the interrogation of electronic records held by the Executive and ADP Chessington, and also a resource-intensive manual check of individual paper-based …
30 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to which of its buildings, other than those under care or control of Historic Scotland, it has allowed the public access under Doors Open Day schemes in each of the last three years.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Victoria Quay in Edinburgh participated in the event in 1996 and 1999.
26 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide at least four modern computers for every class in every primary and secondary school before the dissolution of the Parliament in 2003, and whether it will detail the reasons behind its response.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Between 1999-2000 and 2001-02 the Scottish Executive provided £80 million to local authorities through the National Grid for Learning programme of the Excellence Fund. This money was intended to help them achieve a number of targets by 2002, including pupil:m…
26 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that every school pupil will have an e-mail address and access to the learning opportunities offered through the internet before the dissolution of the Parliament in 2003 and whether it will detail the reasons behind its response.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Between 1999-2000 and 2001-02 the Scottish Executive provided £80 million to local authorities through the National Grid for Learning programme of the Excellence Fund. This money was intended to help them achieve a number of targets by 2002, including access …
26 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether every school will have modern computers with broadband links to each other and to the world wide web before the dissolution of the Parliament in 2003 and whether it will detail the reasons behind its response.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Between 1999-2000 and 2001-02 the Scottish Executive provided £80 million to local authorities through the National Grid for Learning programme of the Excellence Fund. This money was intended to help them achieve a number of targets for ICT in schools, includ…
26 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what IT courses it provides to assist the long- and short-term unemployed to retrain and reskill for the current jobs market.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Training for Work (TfW) programme offers a wide range of Information Technology (IT) training courses to unemployed adults. Details of the full range and level of courses available across Scotland is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highl…
26 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive at what Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework levels funded placements are available to long-term unemployed (a) graduates and (b) non-graduates.
Answer · Iain Gray: Learning and training opportunities are available to unemployed graduates and non-graduates up to level 11 of the SCQF framework as part of the Scottish Executive's Training for Work (TfW) programme and part-time further education courses. Some New Deal progr…
26 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what training opportunities and funding it makes available to graduates for reskilling and how any such opportunities and funding are administered.
Answer · Iain Gray: The funding available to graduates to undertake further training will depend upon a number of factors including the level of qualification sought, the mode of study and the personal circumstances of the graduate.
26 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what buildings Historic Scotland has allowed the public access free of charge during Doors Open Day in each of the last three years.
Answer · Elaine Murray: The following Historic Scotland sites have been opened free of charge in the last three years under the Doors Open Days initiative:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=285><TR><TD WIDTH="17%" VALIGN="TOP" ROWSPAN=7 HEIGHT=16><P>2002</TD><TD WIDTH="…
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28656 by Mr Andy Kerr on 23 September 2002, what its definition is of audit.
Answer · Andy Kerr: In the context of the answer given to question S1W-28656, the term "audit" is defined as a review of the Scottish Executive Security Branch's systems and procedures by the Scottish Executive Audit Services or Audit Scotland.
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-28656 by Mr Andy Kerr on 23 September 2002, (a) whether it will list all financial irregularities identified by any investigation of its security branch in each financial year since 1998-99, with the amount involved in the irregularities expressed (i…
Answer · Andy Kerr: In 1998 Security Branch management identified overpayments of overtime allowances to Security Force staff. The 1998 Audit of Security Branch confirmed that overpayments had been made. The significance of irregularities may be determined by their size and natu…
24 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29610 by Mr Andy Kerr on 24 September 2002, why that answer stated that a White Paper had been consulted upon; whether this statement was factually accurate, and whether it intends to propose the introduction of similar practices operated by Her Maje…
Answer · Peter Peacock: The reply given to question S1W-29610 referred to the White Paper <I>Renewing Local Democracy: the Next Steps</I> which sets out the Executive response to the issues of governance raised by McIntosh and Kerley. The paper was published for a four-month consult…
23 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether monies received under the graduate endowment scheme will be held in its own account or paid to Her Majesty's Treasury; what the reasons are for the position on this matter, and what steps it has taken in order to ensure that all such monies will be hypothecated for future support …
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 accounted for in the Executive's resource accounts and applied for the purposes of student su…
23 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance's recommendation that full-time students that are genuinely unable to find work during the summer vacation should have access to benefits, whether it will make any representations to Her Majesty's Government in resp…
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a range of issues including the interface between the student support and benefits systems.
23 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance's recommendation that full-time students that are genuinely unable to find work during the summer vacation should have access to benefits, on the basis of what evidence the recommendation was made.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance published its final report <I>Student Finance: Fairness for the Future, the Consultation Process Report and Research Reports</I> Volumes I and II, in December 1999. Copies of these reports are availabl…
23 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average level of debt on completion of a university degree has been of students supported by the (a) Students Awards Agency Scotland and (b) Student Loans Company in each year since 1995.
Answer · Iain Gray: Scottish domiciled higher education students will have their application for student support, including the student loan, assessed by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). Information on individual students' loan eligibility is then passed to the Stu…