Parliamentary questions
Mr Brian Monteith
1,042 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
23 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made, and if so what they are, of the affect on student access to higher education of recommendation 32 of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Monteith to my answer to his question S1W-3521.
23 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made, and if so what they are, of the affect on student access to higher education of recommendation 23 of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Monteith to my answer to his question S1W-3521.
23 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made, and if so what they are, of the affect on student access to higher education of recommendation 22 of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Monteith to my answer to his question S1W-3521.
23 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made, and if so what they are, of the affect on student access to higher education of recommendation 8 of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Monteith to my answer to his question S1W-3521.
23 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made, and if so what they are, of the affect on student access to higher education of recommendation 7 of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance.
Answer · Henry McLeish: I refer Mr Monteith to my answer to his question S1W-3521.
23 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made and, if so, what they are, of the affect on student access to higher education of recommendation 1 of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The basis of the recommendations made in its report are a matter for the Committee of Inquiry. The Committee did, however, have terms of reference that required it to have regard to the desirability of promoting access to further and higher education particul…
22 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what transitional arrangements would be put in place for continuing students were the recommendations of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance implemented in autumn 2001.
Answer · Henry McLeish: As part of the £50 million package announced following the report of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance, it has been agreed that personal contribution to tuition fees be abolished from autumn this year. This is a year earlier than recom…
22 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish students currently pay full tuition fees and how many students it is estimated would pay the full contribution under the Scottish Graduate Endowment scheme proposed by the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance, with in each case the number of students lis…
Answer · Henry McLeish: There were over 107,000 students funded through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland in 1998-99. Of these, 8,071 or 7.5% were assessed to pay the full fee (the system is currently in a transition period). The independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Fi…
17 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the statement to the Parliament on its rescue package for the National Stadium at Hampden, it will now publish excerpts of the consultant's financial and technical assessment of the project, leaving out only the commercially sensitive sections.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: No. Their findings involve commercially confidential and sensitive information and it would not be appropriate to publish that information. We have however asked for an end of contract round-up letter from the consultants which would respect commercial confid…
17 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the agreement of the various funding partners involved in the redevelopment of Hampden was sought prior to increased specifications, additional works and the staging of the 1999 Scottish Cup Final at Hampden being agreed to and, if not, why not.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: No. I refer Mr Monteith to the statement I made to the Parliament on 16 December.
17 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much rent the Scottish Football Association will pay to Queen's Park FC annually in respect of the National Stadium.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: As I said in my statement to the Parliament on 12 January, the detailed rescue package negotiated last year has not been concluded and Queen's Park FC have successfully petitioned the court for an interim administration order.
17 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will have any role, as a funding partner, in preparing or approving the Scottish Football Association's business plan for the National Stadium at Hampden.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: As I said in my statement to the Parliament on 12 January, the detailed rescue package negotiated last year has not been concluded and Queen's Park FC have successfully petitioned the court for an interim administration order.
17 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who within the National Stadium project team agreed to increased specifications for the National Stadium, additional works which were not part of the original project and the staging of the 1999 Scottish Cup Final at Hampden.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: We do not have that detailed information but the project management team was responsible through the board of TNS to Queen's Park. Queen's Park entered into the management contract with McAlpine's. The mistakes and misjudgements that were made were not all at…
17 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total deficit faced by the National Stadium plc and Queens Park FC in connection with the redevelopment of Hampden Park National Stadium is.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: This is commercially confidential information which is not for the Scottish Executive to disclose. The gap is however significantly greater than the additional financial contribution of £4.4 million, hence the need for the protracted negotiations that took pl…
17 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make available the technical specifications of computers which qualify for the computers for teachers scheme.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The technical specification, which was included in the information packs sent to schools, is as follows:<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Minimum Technical Specification:<B></B><U><P>Desktop Computer (PC, iMac or Macintosh equivalent)</U><P>Processor - Pentium II …
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its rescue plan for the Hampden rebuilding project will ensure that the sub-contractors employed during the project will be paid by the main contractor.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: As I said in my statement to the Parliament on 16 December McAlpine's have accepted a settlement that involves a cash payment of £3.4 million and debentures that would cost £1.4 million to buy. Payment of the sub-contractors is a matter for McAlpine's.
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether its rescue package will ensure that Hampden's new lecture theatre will be completed, and whether the lecture theatre's proposed operation would have contributed a profit to the stadium's business plan.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: As I said in my statement to the Parliament on 12 January, the detailed rescue package negotiated last year has not been concluded and Queen's Park FC have successfully petitioned the court for an interim administration order.
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any employee or board member of The National Stadium plc will receive financial settlements from the public purse if the Scottish Executive's rescue package is accepted.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: No.
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the former financial director of the Hampden redevelopment project received any public funds as part of his leaving settlement and, if so, how much.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: I am assured that the former financial director received no public funds following his resignation from TNS.
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which public bodies have contributed financially to the Hampden redevelopment project and how much each body contributed.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Millenium Commission is the major funder, having offered grant of £23 million. The Football Trust has contributed £14.35 million, £10 million from Reduction in Pools Betting Duty monies and £4.35 million from the SFA's Contribution Account. <B>sport</B>sc…
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Ministers or their representatives have ever attended any meetings with The National Stadium plc, the main contractor or any other parties about the progress of Hampden redevelopment project and, if so, whether it will provide details of who attended any such meetings and when.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: It was necessary for Scottish Executive officials to attend a series of meetings with all other interested parties to negotiate the rescue package. I personally met Sir William McAlpine on 18 November.
16 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the holding of the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden in May 1999, an event previously not budgeted for, resulted in extra expenditure being incurred during the redevelopment project.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: I refer Mr Monteith to the statement I made to the Parliament on 16 December.
13 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the up to date details of the rescue package agreed with its joint funders of the Hampden Stadium redevelopment company, from which budget the funds will be taken and what items of expenditure will not now be funded.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: I refer to the detailed statement I made to the Parliament on Thursday 16 December.
9 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation exercises the Minister for Children and Education has initiated since 1 July 1999.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: I have issued the following consultation papers:<DIR><DIR><P>7 July 1999 - Improving our Schools: Consultation on the Improvement in Scottish Education Bill<P><P>14 July 1999 - Consultation on the General Teaching Council for Scotland<P><P>10 August 1999 - Cu…
8 Dec 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation exercises the Minister for Children and Education has initiated since 1 July 1999.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: I have issued the following consultation papers:<P><DIR><P>7 July 1999 - Improving our Schools: Consultation on the Improvement in Scottish Education Bill<P><P>14 July 1999 - Consultation on the General Teaching Council for Scotland<P><P>10 August 1999 - Cult…
2 Dec 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport last met representatives of the Scottish Rugby Union and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I met representatives of the SRU on 5 October and discussed a number of issues relating to the development of rugby. I also met SRU officials in a less formal setting when I attended matches during the Rugby World Cup.
1 Dec 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Deputy Minister for Culture and Sport last met representatives of the Scottish Rugby Union and what issues were discussed.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: I met representatives of the SRU on 5 October and discussed a number of issues relating to the development of rugby. I also met SRU officials in a less formal setting when I attended matches during the Rugby World Cup.
23 Nov 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a revised estimate of the cost of the Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Independent Committee of Inquiry into Student Finance was allocated a budget of £700,000 in July. This remains the budget available. The Secretary to the Committee, who is responsible for financial matters on behalf on the Committee, has confirmed that th…
27 Oct 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making on proposals to fund grant-aided schools through local authorities.
Answer · Peter Peacock: Comments have been invited on the proposals relating to the grant-aided special schools by 30 November. Officials are currently meeting with the 7 schools to discuss their individual views over the proposals
27 Sep 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the independent special schools it funds and the funding it has provided to each school in the last three years for which figures are available.
Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive does not fund any independent special schools.