Parliamentary questions

David McLetchie

326 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

22 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs it estimates will be lost and how many premises currently occupied by non-departmental public bodies it expects to be vacated as a result of the measures outlined by the Minister for Finance and Local Government in his statement on 21 June 2001.

Answer · Angus MacKay: No estimate has been made. It is for the relevant ministers to complete the detailed consultation with each body to be abolished, and the ongoing reviews I announced in my statement, and to make decisions about winding up arrangements.

25 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-14552 and S1W-14904 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 28 March and 19 April 2001, whether the term "consequential compensation" as used by the First Minister in response to the supplementary question to the answer to S1F-941 on 22 March 2001 (Official Repor…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The package of assistance I described in question S1W-14552 is available now as a measure of compensation to businesses affected, directly and indirectly, by the foot and mouth outbreak. This is in addition to all measures available through the UK Government …

24 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what fee was payable to Heidrick and Struggles in respect of the recruitment of Mr Rod Lynch as Chief Executive of visitscotland and whether, in view of the termination of that appointment, any abatement will apply and, if so, to what extent.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for visitscotland.

24 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there was a concluded contract of employment between Mr Rod Lynch and visitscotland prior to the announcement of his appointment as Chief Executive on 19 April 2001 and, if so, whether it will (a) publish the terms of any such contract, in particular, the estimated value of his re…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive's understanding is that there was no concluded contract of employment. Visitscotland announced on 19 April a remuneration package of £145,000 per annum and a 20% performance bonus. Discussions between legal representatives are continuing. Visits…

5 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement by the First Minister on 22 March 2001 (Official Report, col. 877) that "we hope to be able to develop consequential compensation", whether it will list the measures covered by any such consequential compensation and whether this term covers compensation for loss…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-14552 on 28 March 2001.

28 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total number of staff employed by the core departments, agencies and associated departments of the Scottish Office was in May 1997 and how many staff it currently employs.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The full-time equivalent number of permanent staff employed in the core departments, agencies and associated departments of the Scottish Executive are shown in the table. The figures for the agencies include the Scottish Prison Service, which accounts for ove…

7 Mar 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-13366 by Susan Deacon on 28 February 2001, what charge out rate is applied by the Central Legal Office of the NHS in Scotland in determining the charges to be paid by health boards and NHS Trusts for the legal services which the office provides to th…

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Central Legal Office (CLO) provides its services on a competitive basis with the private sector. Whilst charging rates vary to reflect the complexity of the work, disclosure of the rates is contrary to CLO's commercial interests.

14 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total amount of fees paid to the Central Legal Office of the NHS in Scotland by NHS Trusts and health boards for legal services was in each of the last three financial years for which figures are available.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The information requested is shown in the table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP">Year</TD><TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP">1997-98</TD><TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP">1998-99<…

14 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the basis on which the Central Legal Office of the NHS in Scotland charges health boards and NHS Trusts in respect of the legal services which it provides to them.

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Central Legal Office derives its income solely from NHS authorities on a cost recovery basis.

1 Feb 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide the names of the special advisers to the First Minister and the Scottish Executive and set out the costs of their individual and collective employment.

Answer · Henry McLeish: There are currently 11 Special Advisers employed in the Scottish Executive. They are:Dr Colin CurrieSam GhibaldanFiona HamiltonBill HeaneyTom LittleProf. Duncan MaclennanJohn McLarenPeter MacMahonPolly McPhersonJohn McTernanAn…

22 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any claim for compensation in respect of the termination of the contract of employment for Mr Ron Smith, the former Chief Executive of the Common Services Agency of the National Health Service in Scotland, has been initiated by him or on his behalf.

Answer · Susan Deacon: This is a matter for the Common Agency. However, I understand from the Common Services Agency that no claim has been initiated.

22 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following his resignation on 1 December 2000, Mr Ron Smith, the former Chief Executive of the Common Services Agency of the National Health Service in Scotland, has received or is to receive any termination payment relative to the termination of his contract of employment over a…

Answer · Susan Deacon: This is a matter for the Common Services Agency. However, I understand from the Common Services Agency that any payment to Mr Smith will not be over and above any normal contractual entitlement on termination of a contract.

9 Jan 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated cost will be to local authorities which own and manage crematoria of complying with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' Air Quality Division's guidance notes requiring crematoria to undergo major industrial changes involving flue gas cleaning e…

Answer · Sam Galbraith: Process Guidance Note PG5/2, which relates to emissions from crematoria, is currently subject to review. Accordingly, no final decision has been taken on whether or not to require the fitting of flue gas cleaning equipment to existing crematoria for the purpo…

15 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Parliament complied with paragraph 2.20 of the Scottish Ministerial Code before he initiated civil proceedings in his personal capacity against Scottish Media Newspapers Ltd. and Iain McWhirter in the Court of Session and, if so, when he consulted with the Law Off…

Answer · Henry McLeish: I am responsible for the Ministerial Code and judgements about compliance with its terms are a matter for me.I can confirm that the Minister for Parliament consulted the Law Officers before initiating civil proceedings against Sco…

8 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions guidance of statutory or non-statutory nature has been given to the Scottish Qualifications Authority since its inception and what the nature and content of such guidance was on each occasion.

Answer · Henry McLeish: No guidance of a statutory nature has been given to the SQA since its inception. Guidance on the relationship between Scottish Ministers and the authority is set out in a Management Statement and Financial Memorandum. Guidance is also given annually on object…

8 Sep 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions directions have been given to the Scottish Qualifications Authority since its inception in terms of section 9 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996 and what the nature and content of such directions was on each occasion.

Answer · Henry McLeish: There have been no directions to SQA under section 9 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1996.

22 Aug 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many markers were used by the Scottish Qualifications Authority to mark this year's Higher Grade Examination papers and what percentage of these markers had taught the course which they were marking in the last two years.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority. I have asked the Chairman to reply to you, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

18 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive to detail, for the period since the Scottish Parliament was established, (a) the number of overseas trips made by each junior and senior Minister, (b) the total number of overseas trips made by all Ministers and (c) the total cost of these overseas trips.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I will write to Mr McLetchie with this information soon.

12 Jul 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer whether the design proposals for the Holyrood Parliament have been finalised.

Answer · David Steel: The "Stage D" scheme design proposals for the Holyrood Parliament building were finalised at a meeting of the SPCB on 20 June 2000. The Holyrood Progress Group announced the achievement in Parliamentary News Release 029/2000 on 21 June 2000.

11 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the #2.5 million allocated to Historic Scotland for 2000-01 from the year-end balances for last year will go towards ancillary works associated with the Holyrood Project.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to my reply of 17 July to Lord James Douglas-Hamilton in which I confirmed that for 2000-01 expenditure on landscaping and the realignment of roads in Holyrood Park associated with the new Scottish Parliament will be covered by the £2.5 mil…

11 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for taking the decision as to what is commissioned in relation to any external works associated with the Holyrood Project.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Arrangements for commissioning and overseeing the external works in Holyrood Park associated with the Holyrood Project are the responsibility of the Holyrood Project Team. Funding will be provided by the Scottish Executive through Historic Scotland up to a ce…

11 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-6451 by Mr Jack McConnell on 16 May 2000, whether it can now give a date when cost estimates will be available for ancillary works associated with the Holyrood Project.

Answer · Jack McConnell: It is not yet possible to provide a firm date when cost estimates for ancillary works associated with the Holyrood Project will be available. This is dependent on further development of detailed design of the work and its programming.

11 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget is for Historic Scotland for 2001-02 and 2002-03, and whether any further allocations to Historic Scotland are anticipated for the next year or any future years in connection with the ancillary works associated with the Holyrood Project.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Historic Scotland's budget for 2001-02 is £32.685 million. The Spending Review will consider for this and future years what changes may be necessary arising from works associated with the Holyrood Project.

4 Jul 2000 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer what the end-year balance for each sub-heading of the Parliament's budget was in 1999-2000.

Answer · David Steel: The information that you have requested is not available at this time. Audit Scotland is currently auditing the accounts of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. It is proposed that Summarised Accounts will be published within the Corporate Body's Annual…

3 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what senior vacancies there are in the NHS Management Executive, when any such vacancies arose and how they arose.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer to the Press announcement made by the Scottish Executive on Monday 10 July regarding the outcome of the recent review of the Scottish Executive Health Department (SE 1989/2000, 10 July) which is available on the Scottish Executive website.

3 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all Cabinet sub-committees and their membership.

Answer · Donald Dewar: The current Ministerial Committees are:21st Century Government Ministerial Steering GroupMinisterial Committee on Digital ScotlandMinisterial Committee on Tackling Drug Misuse<P ALIGN="JUSTIF…

3 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the decision on the allocation of the #73 million 1999-2000 end-year balance placed in reserve for this year was made by the Minister for Finance alone or agreed by the whole Cabinet.

Answer · Donald Dewar: It is already a matter of record that the decision was taken by the Scottish Cabinet. The Executive operates on the basis of collective responsibility and details on the internal process through which this or any other decision is made are not disclosed (refe…

3 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will explain the process used to allocate departmental underspends to the different departments within the Scottish Executive.

Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer you to the answer to question S1W-8299, which describes the considerations underlying the allocation of End-Year Balances.

3 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the end-year balance in each sub-heading of the Crown Office budget was in 1999-2000.

Answer · Colin Boyd: In 1999-2000 the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service underspent on its allocated budget by £1.3 million. This was added to existing "End-Year Flexibility" entitlement from previous years, and the department carried over voted provision of £4.…

3 Jul 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the end-year balance in each sub-heading of the Scottish Courts budget was in 1999-2000.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The information requested in contained in the following table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=630><TR><TD WIDTH="28%" VALIGN="TOP">Subheading</TD><TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP">Provision£0…