Andrew Wilson

10 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive at what age its staff must take compulsory retirement, detailing any provisions available which would allow staff to be retained after that point.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The expected retirement age for all Scottish Executive staff below the Senior Civil Service is 60 years. Beyond this, staff can be retained on a year-by-year basis if they meet certain criteria. This policy is currently under review.

10 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long it holds information on the (a) hours worked by and (b) allowances paid to employees and what action it would take to retrieve such information in circumstances (i) where the information has been misplaced or (ii) where any timescale for holding the information has been exceeded.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Information about the hours staff in the Scottish Executive are contracted to work and any permanent allowances paid to them is held on the payroll system. This can hold pay history information for up to seven years but, if a record becomes too large, old dat…

10 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the proposed timescale is for implementing its Business Improvement Plan; whether any redundancies will arise, and whether any staff will experience restrictions on individual career development as a result of this process.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Business Improvement Plan aims to improve facilities management services in the Executive and reduce costs by £2.1 million per annum. Over the period 2002-03 to 2004-05 a number of changes will be made to the organisation of facilities services within the…

10 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its employees are currently employed on casual employment contracts and how many of these are employed on such contracts for one year or more, broken down by department and division.

Answer · Andy Kerr: As at 1 April 2002, 291 staff were working on a casual basis in the Scottish Executive core departments. The total is broken down by department in the table. Information is not readily available at divisional level. <TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 W…

10 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff it currently employs aged 60 years or over.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive and its agencies currently employs 248 staff aged 60 or over.

10 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its salary scales for staff are equivalent to the salary scales of employees of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) in comparable grades; what the reasons are behind any difference in the salary scales, and what action it intends to take to redress any such difference.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body are separate and distinct bodies. There is therefore no requirement for them to have similar pay ranges for their staff. In the case of the Scottish Executive the values of pay ranges are se…

10 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any financial irregularities or budgetary losses were identified during the annual audit of departments and divisions in each of the last four years; if so, in which department or division each such loss or irregularity was identified, and what the amount involved was, also expres…

Answer · Andy Kerr: The accounts of the Scottish Executive for 1999-2000 and 2000-01, together with the associated audit reports, have been laid before the Parliament and are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. Prior to this, the Scottish Executive did not exist.

8 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the average (a) term of a custodial sentence and (b) fine levied was for persons convicted of causing death by dangerous driving in each year since 1996.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The available information on persons given a custodial sentence is given in the following table. <P>Between 1996 and 2000, only eight persons were fined on conviction of a main charge of causing death by dangerous driving. The average fine imposed in these ca…

2 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the #5 million allocated to extend park-and-ride facilities at Croy railway station announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning on 21 March 2002 is earmarked to cover consultancy fees and whether it will detail the process that is to be emp…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25572.

2 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the effect will be of any delay in obtaining planning permission on the timescale for the completion of the extended park-and-ride facilities at Croy Station which the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning stated "should be completed in twelve months" in her announ…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25575.

2 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning was aware that planning permission for the extended park-and-ride facilities at Croy Station had not been granted when the announcement concerning these facilities was made on 21 March 2002, detailing the reasons behind …

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It is common practice to make announcement of awards before planning permission for individual schemes are obtained. Awards are made on the condition that sponsoring authorities are successful in obtaining the relevant permissions.

2 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its definition of "immediately" was in regard to the extended park-and-ride facilities at Croy Station as announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning on 21 March 2002.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-25573 and S1W-25575 on 16 May 2002.

2 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date work began on building the extended park-and-ride facilities at Croy Station announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning on 21 March 2002.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The preparatory work on the development of Croy Station began in March 2002.

2 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of how the #5 million allocated to extend the park-and-ride facilities at Croy Station announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning on 21 March 2002 will be spent and what agencies and organisations were involved in…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: These matters are the responsibility of Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority.

1 May 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which of its policies will close the gap in GDP growth between Scotland and the south east of England.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Scottish Executive is committed to increasing the long-term growth rate of the Scottish Economy.<P>The Executive has introduced a new economic strategy for Scotland with an emphasis upon science and skills. While recognising that there are no short-term s…

25 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what practical facilities it provides to organisations in the Central Scotland parliamentary region which (a) support male victims of domestic abuse and (b) assist fathers experiencing problems with hostile ex-partners in gaining appropriate contact with their children, broken down by org…

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive does not directly support any organisations which support male victims of domestic abuse. It does however provide £79,500 under Section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to Family Mediation Central Scotland. The aim of mediation…

24 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the number of VAT (a) registrations and (b) de-registrations is an indicator of economic growth or downturn; if so, in what way and how the numbers of these in Scotland and the Glasgow area related to economic performance in each of the past three years.

Answer · Iain Gray: There is not a simple short-term association between the number of VAT registrations and economic performance. The table shows changes in the number of VAT registrations and de-registrations in Scotland and Glasgow alongside changes in employment. Movements i…

22 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what definition of central heating system it uses under its central heating programme and what minimum type of system recipients could expect to receive in each of the fuel categories covered by the programme.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The definition of a central heating system is given in the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2001 No. 267. A gas, electric, oil or solid fuel central heating system is typically installed in the living room, the hall, the bathroom…

22 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions it provided to contractors fitting systems under its central heating programme in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency regarding the removal and disposal of appliances which are old, broken or no longer required, and when and how any such instructions were issued.

Answer · Margaret Curran: Instructions to contractors working on the central heating programme are issued to them as they are appointed. The instructions provide that any existing heating system is to be taken out if it prevents the fitting of new central heating under the programme. …

22 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any instances in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency of contractors fitting systems under the central heating programme and not removing appliances which were old, broken or no longer required, detailing the reasons behind any such instances.

Answer · Margaret Curran: The information requested is not collected.

22 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the costs of removing appliances which are old, broken or no longer required in properties which have had central heating systems replaced under the central heating programme in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth constituency should be borne by the assigned contractor or the recipient o…

Answer · Margaret Curran: The central heating programme is aimed at those who have no central heating at all. The only circumstance in which existing systems will be replaced is where they are completely broken and beyond repair. In such cases the existing system will be taken out if …

16 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why monies are being collected under the Scottish Graduate Endowment Scheme, and whether such monies will be hypothecated and, if so, for what purpose.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Monies will be collected under the Scottish Graduate Endowment Scheme because it is fair that graduates, who are the people who principally benefit from their higher education, should make a contribution to ensure that others can gain similar benefits.<P>Sect…

11 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24478 by Elish Angiolini on 9 April 2002, what the process is for preparing the revised guidance for procurators fiscal in regard to the investigation of road traffic deaths and from what date the guidance will be applicable.

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The revised guidance for Procurators Fiscal, referred to in the answer given to question S1W-24478, will take the form of amendment to the Book of Regulations issued by Crown Office to Procurators Fiscal. It is anticipated that this guidance will be issued in…

11 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24478 by Elish Angiolini QC on 9 April 2002, whether it has consulted (a) the Police Federation and (b) the Association of Chief Police Officers during the production of the revised guidance for procurators fiscal into the investigation of road traff…

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The revised guidance for Procurators Fiscal, referred to in the answer given to question S1W-24478, is internal guidance on which it has not been necessary to consult the police but will be based largely on the recommendations made by the Crown Office and Pro…

11 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24478 by Elish Angiolini QC on 9 April 2002, whether the Road Safety Research Report No.26 published by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is the "review into the investigation of road traffic deaths" mentioned in the answ…

Answer · Elish Angiolini: The review referred to in the answer given to question S1W-24478 was the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service's Quality and Practice Review Unit's <I>Review of the Investigation of Road Deaths in Scotland</I>. A summary of the review has been published …

9 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed by it in each of the past three years and how many of these employees were participants in the modern apprenticeship scheme, broken down by Modern Apprenticeship Framework.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The number of staff employed in each of the last three years were as follows:<P>Count of Permanent Scottish Executive Staff, by Year 2000-02<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=160><TR><TD WIDTH="59%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Year</TD><TD WIDTH="41%" VALIGN…

5 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23160 by Iain Gray on 26 March 2002, why the information requested is not held centrally and what the benefits are of not holding such information centrally.

Answer · Iain Gray: Responsibilities for assessing and meeting all housing needs at local level, including needs for sheltered housing, lie with local authorities.<P>The Executive does, however, collect information at local authority level on (a) the total number of sheltered ho…

5 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23159 by Iain Gray on 26 March 2002, why it did not give its position on the appropriateness or potential safety implications of providing accommodation to persons living alone with severe and irreversible vision impairment on the upper floors of tow…

Answer · Iain Gray: The question S1W-23159 concerned allocation issues which are the responsibility of individual landlords. Whilst the Scottish Executive may issue general guidance on allocations, allocation policies and processes are monitored by Communities Scotland as part o…

26 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any local amenities will be lost as a result of the provision of the extended park and ride facilities at Croy Station announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning on 21 March 2002 and what measures will be taken should compensation for loss of any suc…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: It will be for the planning authority to assess whether there will be any loss of local amenity.

26 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date planning permission was first sought for the extended park and ride facilities at Croy Station announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning on 21 March 2002; by whom such permission was sought, and on what date such permission was approved.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Securing planning permission for the extended park and ride site at Croy Station is a matter for the promoter, Strathclyde Passenger Transport. The determination of any planning application will, in the first instance, be a matter for the planning authority, …