Parliamentary questions
Andrew Wilson
771 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of people who left the modern apprenticeship programme have entered sustained employment in each year since 1999, broken down by framework.
Answer · Iain Gray: The information requested is not routinely recorded. The Executive's recent <I>Review of Modern Apprenticeships in Scotland </I>(published in January 2002) indicated that of those surveyed, 85% of those completing their modern apprenticeship were still with t…
9 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of young people left the modern apprenticeship programme without achieving any qualifications in each year since 1999, broken down by framework.
Answer · Iain Gray: The information requested is not recorded. It is possible for any modern apprentice to achieve some qualifications or elements of qualifications before leaving the programme.
9 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends making changes to the current structure of the modern apprenticeship programme and, if so, (a) what any such changes will be and (b) when they will take place, detailing the reasons behind its position on this matter.
Answer · Iain Gray: Modern apprenticeship (MA) frameworks are designed by business sectors through the network of Sector Skills Councils. The Executive has recently agreed with the major stakeholders involved in MAs that minimum levels of core skills should be included in MA fra…
9 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any differences between the administration and quality control procedures for the modern apprenticeship programme in Scotland compared with other areas of the United Kingdom and, if so, what these differences are.
Answer · Iain Gray: These procedures are broadly the same in Scotland and in England. However, in Scotland, training providers are paid on achievement of milestones by individual apprentices. In England providers are paid on monthly profile for the duration of training.
9 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how modern apprenticeships are monitored to ensure quality of experience and outcome for participants.
Answer · Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-25230 and S1W-25231 on 14 May 2002.
1 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27236 by Iain Gray on 29 July 2002, why former students that incurred default notice debts as a result of the Student Loans Company (SLC) computer system being unable to rationalise, match and merge personal data are informed on enquiry that there is…
Answer · Iain Gray: Former students who incur default notice debts as a result of SLC system failing to match data should not be advised that there is no appeals process in respect of such default. The Student Loans Company has an objective and thorough formal complaints procedu…
1 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27236 by Iain Gray on 29 July 2002, whether the acceptance criteria for student loan applications and subsequent validation process should have prevented any students that progressed from a higher education course at college to a higher level course …
Answer · Iain Gray: If a student loan applicant is recorded on the Student Loans Company system as holding an existing account which is in arrears or default, the system should automatically withhold payment of further support until the existing default debt is settled.
1 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27236 by Iain Gray on 29 July 2002, whether any former students that incurred default notice debts as a result of the Student Loans Company (SLC) computer system being unable to rationalise, match and merge personal data should be required to pay fin…
Answer · Iain Gray: No student should be required to pay a financial penalty as a result of the SLC system failing to match data. Where a default notice has been issued to a borrower who holds an unmatched or "stand alone" account which is up to date with repayments or…
1 Aug 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27236 by Iain Gray on 29 July 2002, why all accounts of students that progress from higher education courses at college to higher level courses at university cannot be merged successfully and, in particular, (a) what the difficulties are in matching …
Answer · Iain Gray: Difficulties in matching accounts usually occur because of discrepancies in the information provided on the original and the most recent loan application form which would otherwise have enabled the applications to be matched to the same borrower. This can be …
24 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive by what process it decides which minister answers a written parliamentary question.
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: In general, written parliamentary questions are answered by the minister with the relevant portfolio interest.
24 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27009 by Mike Watson on 22 July 2002, (a) how many of the learning providers included in the exercise to validate claims have yet to be assessed, (b) of those already assessed, how many fraudulent claims there were, broken down by classification of f…
Answer · Iain Gray: All learning providers included in the validation exercise have been assessed. The validation exercise has identified a number of irregularities and in some cases further investigations are continuing. It is not possible to say how many fraudulent claims ther…
24 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27009 by Mike Watson on 22 July 2002, when the validation of claims submitted for payment under the Individual Learning Account scheme is expected to be completed.
Answer · Iain Gray: It is expected that the validation of claims still under consideration should be completed by early September. However, cases where the validation has identified irregularities may require further investigation.
24 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-27009 by Mike Watson on 22 July 2002, what its definition is of "fraudulent activity" in respect of the Individual Learning Account scheme.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive has not defined what constitutes "fraudulent activity". It is a matter for the Procurator Fiscal Service to decide whether there is sufficient evidence for criminal proceedings and it is for the court to decide if there is suf…
16 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the Prime Minister's statement at Prime Minister's Questions, in respect of the abolition of tuition fees, that "under the Scottish experiment, people do pay in the end - indeed, everyone pays." (Official Report, House of Commons, 10 July 2002; Vol 388, c 877) and…
Answer · Iain Gray: Tuition fees have been abolished for all eligible Scottish domiciled and EU students undertaking a full-time course of higher education in Scotland. These arrangements were introduced in academic year 2000-01.<P>The Graduate Endowment scheme was introduced as…
8 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what appeals process will be made available to individuals or groups who may be opposed to the finalised route for the upgrading of the A80.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The appeals procedure is set out in Schedule 1 to the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 and the First Schedule to the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1947. These cover the publication of draft compulsory purchase and line orders, the stat…
8 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what compensation it proposes to provide to residents affected by the upgrading of the A80 and what consultation exercises it has held, or proposes to hold, on the matter with affected parties.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Compensation is available under the relevant statutes for qualifying interests in respect of loss of land, depreciation in the value of property and noise insulation. Discussions with affected parties can only commence once a preferred line for a road scheme …
8 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: There are no plans to reconsider the Kelvin Valley route for any upgrading of the A80 due to the serious detrimental environmental impacts.
3 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or any of its agencies informed organisations or groups involved with the Individual Learning Account scheme that the scheme had been closed and would not be re-introduced, detailing (a) who informed them and (b) the date on which the information was provided, broken down by or…
Answer · Iain Gray: No. The Executive and its agencies have consistently averred ministers' commitment to encouraging participation in lifelong learning and have maintained the line that arrangements for doing so are under review.
3 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it proposes to provide staff employed by the Essentia Group with compensation as a result of any advice or information it gave to the group in regard to recruitment, detailing the reasons behind its position on the matter.
Answer · Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27334.
3 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or any of its agencies informed the Essentia Group that the Individual Learning Account Scheme would be re-introduced or replaced in any of the last eight months, detailing (a) the date any information was forwarded to the group, (b) whether any such information was forwarded a…
Answer · Iain Gray: No request for information relating to the re-introduction or replacement of the Individual Learning Account scheme has been received from the Essentia Group. Nor has any such information been volunteered to the Essentia Group by the Scottish Executive or any…
3 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or any of its agencies were asked by the Essentia Group whether the group should continue recruiting staff in any of the last 12 months, detailing (a) the date any such request was made, (b) the date of response, (c) any advice given and (d) the reasons behind any such advice o…
Answer · Iain Gray: Essentia Group did not ask <I>learndirect scotland</I> whether it should continue recruiting staff in the any of the last 12 months.
1 Jul 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many students who attended college prior to university have incurred default notice debts for loans provided during their college study as a result of the Student Loans Company computer systems not being able to rationalise and merge personal data.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Student Loans Company advises that this information could only be obtained by examining each student loan account which has been subject to a default notice. Such an exercise could only be undertaken at disproportionate cost.<P>Of the approximately 2.7 mi…
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-5388 by Mr Andy Kerr on 20 June 2002, whether it intends to introduce legislation during the remainder of the Parliament's first session to protect fully the pension rights of transferred employees, detailing under which section of the Scotland Act 1…
Answer · Andy Kerr: Existing guidance issued by the Government in 2000 - Staff Transfers in the Public Sector - already covers such situations.
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-5388 by Mr Andy Kerr on 20 June 2002 that "common practice in Scotland is to provide protection for pensions", Official Report, Col. 12966, why it did not comply with this practice in respect of its trunk roads maintenance contracts and what its posi…
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The <I>Statement of Practice</I> published in 2000 by the Cabinet Office provides guidance on staff transfers and advises that broadly comparable pensions should be provided when organisations contract out public services. Staff transfers are covered by the T…
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support it will provide to North Lanarkshire Council to replace any sports or recreational facilities lost as a result of any redevelopment at Croy Station.
Answer · Elaine Murray: Any application received by <B>sport</B>scotland from North Lanarkshire Council for financial assistance to replace any sports or recreational facilities lost as a result of any redevelopment at Croy Station will be considered in line with the criteria for th…
28 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether National Planning Policy Guideline 11 will be applied to any redevelopment of Croy Station and to the provision of temporary parking facilities during any such redevelopment and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.
Answer · Hugh Henry: National Planning Policy Guidelines (NPPGs) provide statements of Scottish Executive policy on nationally important land use and other planning matters. It is for the decision-maker (normally the planning authority) to assess the weight to be afforded to NPPG…
25 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to introduce legislation affecting or protecting the pension rights of employees transferred under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations or the provision of the Statement of Practice covering these, and under what section of the Scotland Ac…
Answer · Patricia Ferguson: The matter of pensions is in general reserved by virtue of section F3 of part II of schedule 5 to the Scotland Act. However, an exception is made in respect of employees of a Scottish public authority with mixed functions or no reserved functions and the Parl…
25 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) practical and (b) financial aspects of its youth crime policy will be targeted to take forward the railway industry's recent "railway crime week" campaign, showing any timescales, targeted areas and any amounts.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27056. Our youth crime policy distributes funding to local authorities which are responsible for its allocation to appropriate youth justice initiatives. Rail crime campaigns are funded and implemented by…
25 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) practical and (b) financial support it proposes to provide to take forward the rail industry's recent "railway crime week" campaign, broken down to show the timescale and targeted area of such support.
Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Rail safety and security are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive has no direct locus to intervene. However, the rail industry in Scotland has invited Scottish Ministers to show support by launching a number of campaigns, including the Railway Crime Week …
25 Jun 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive by what percentage reported crime on the rail network rose in the past year, detailing what (a) practical and (b) financial support it provided to the rail industry to address this issue.
Answer · Jim Wallace: The number of crimes recorded by the British Transport Police (BTP), as provided by them to the Scottish Executive, is shown in the following table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=472><TR><TD WIDTH="46%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="12%"…