David Mundell

14 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a defined garden area that is not adjacent to a house will be deemed to be within the curtilage of that property for the purposes of restrictions on access under the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Ross Finnie: Section 6(b)(iv) of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill excludes from access rights sufficient land which is associated with, or adjacent to, a house to enable persons living there to have reasonable measures of privacy and undisturbed enjoyment of the whole. The…

9 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is continuing to monitor the economic and social impact of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Answer · Ross Finnie: In recognition of the on-going nature of the impacts, the Economic Impact Assessment Group continue their work. They last met in November and have maintained a regular dialogue since. Their next meeting will coincide with the availability of the results of th…

9 Jan 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the maintenance of trunk roads in the South of Scotland by Amey Highways Ltd under recent winter conditions has been adequate.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The monitoring carried out to date by the Performance Audit Group has shown that Amey Highways Ltd are complying with their contractual obligations with regard to winter maintenance on trunk roads in the South of Scotland.

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many public access internet points have been created since the launch of the digital inclusion strategy.

Answer · Iain Gray: The public internet access points initiative was announced as a part of the Executive's <I>Digital Inclusion Strategy</I> (published September 2001). It will create over 1,000 new public internet access points in a wide range of different types of venue. We e…

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what bids have been received from local authorities for areas to be pilot digital communities under the digital inclusion strategy.

Answer · Iain Gray: Twenty-nine local authorities submitted an expression of interest by the closing date, 30 November 2001. These were:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=2 WIDTH=364><TR><TD WIDTH="37%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT=16><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Abe…

3 Jan 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Enterprise consultants have undergone training in giving business advice and how much this has cost in each of the last three years.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. The information requested is not held centrally.

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the current 'E-Minister' is and what his or her duties are.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Peter Peacock, as Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Services, is designated e-Minister with day-to-day responsibility for e-government matters including electronic service delivery. Within the Cabinet, I take overall responsibility for e-government and b…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it is monitoring progress in information and communications technologies provision with the rest of the UK as set out in point 67 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-21292.

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the next progress report on the transition to an information society will be published as set out in point 66 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Joint Performance Team is monitoring progress in information and communications technologies.<P>The Joint Performance Team was established by the Scottish Executive and comprises representatives of the Scottish Executive and Enterprise Networks. It is dev…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has implemented all the recommendations that it agreed to in the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Andy Kerr: A number of the recommendations have been implemented and action completed. Others have been taken forward through the development and implementation of various related initiatives including the Digital Inclusion Strategy, the Broadband Strategy, the Informat…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for metadata standards on publicly funded websites as set out in point 63 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The e-Government Metadata Framework (e-GMF) published in June 2001, sets out the UK Government's policies for establishing and implementing metadata standards across the public sector. <P>The Scottish Executive website is overseen by a Web Editorial Board whi…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what system it uses to signpost and accredit its websites as set out in point 62 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Point 62 of the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force referred specifically to Scottish education-related websites. However, the Scottish Executive has a Web Editorial Board which is overseeing a programme of work to improve the signposting, accessibility…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to extend broadband access to rural areas as set out in point 61 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive launched a broadband strategy last August with the aim of promoting affordable pervasive broadband across Scotland. The strategy includes aggregated public sector procurement which will be taken forward initially in two pathfinder rural…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or plans to take, to ensure an efficient and competitive telecommunications infrastructure as set out in point 60 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Telecoms regulation is reserved to the UK Government. However, the Scottish Executive recognises the importance of an efficient and competitive telecoms infrastructure to economic development. Within the context of its economic development remit, Scottish Ent…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its good practice guidelines are for the use of information and communications technologies as set out in point 59 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive's Digital Inclusion strategy <I>Connecting Scotland's people</I>, which was published in September 2001, set out the key themes that we believe are important for Digital Inclusion. They are raising awareness, increasing access, developing suppor…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits have been gained from information and communications technologies related social inclusion projects as set out in point 58 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Iain Gray: Digital inclusion projects have helped increase individual skills; increase individual opportunities; increase social interaction; improve confidence, and improve community working. The Executive is developing proposals to improve sharing of information and g…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how long it takes to train a local champion in relation to utilising information and communications technologies and how much this training costs.

Answer · Iain Gray: The length of time taken to train a local champion in the effective use of ICTs depends on a number of factors such as the individual's previous experience. An effective local champion not only has to be confident in the use of ICTs, but also has to be able t…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive who the partners are who co-ordinate digital inclusion projects as set out in point 56 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive's response to point 56 was that it would set up a dedicated digital inclusion unit to co-ordinate work on digital inclusion. Last year this was done, the Executive created a dedicated digital inclusion unit to take forward its objectives for dig…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what methods it uses to assess demand for information and communications technologies as set out in point 55 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive's digital champions initiative is working in Social Inclusion Partnership areas to assess current levels of ICT provision and demand for expert advice, and is already providing advice to practitioners on issues such as good practice and fund rai…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it promotes social inclusion through information and communications technologies as set out in point 54 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The guidelines for UK Government websites published by the Office of the e-Envoy contain detailed information and set standards for the design and delivery of fully accessible websites and online services. Version 2 of the guidelines is currently going throug…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what promotional work it has carried out to publicise the benefits which individuals can derive from information and communications technologies as set out in point 53 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Iain Gray: Through the Executive's Digital Inclusion Strategy "Connecting Scotland's People" we are developing a number of promotional schemes to increase skills and raise awareness of the benefits of using PCs and the internet. This includes the UK Online TV advertisin…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or plans to take, to promote the benefits of information and communications technologies among those who do not understand technology as set out in point 52 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive's response to point 52 said we would encourage Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIP) to make this an integral part of their work. The digital champions are working in SIP areas - engaging local people, local organisations, and driving forward loca…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how information and communications technologies are being employed to promote local democratic participation, including consultations and opinion polling, as set out in point 51 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-21263 and S1W-21264 answered on 16 January 2002.

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how it encourages public agencies to develop user-focused information and communications technologies services as set out in point 50 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive encourages public agencies through the regular and consistent promotion of the 21<SUP>st</SUP> Century Government Vision, of a Scotland where the delivery of public services and public information are characterised by their citizen focus and by …

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many local champions it currently supports as set out in point 49 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive's £1.5 million Digital Champions programme is providing a network of eight digital "champions" to cover all Social Inclusion Partnership areas in Scotland. Their role is to support and develop local digital inclusion initiatives.

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to ensure the multi-channel delivery of public services as set out in point 48 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Through the Modernising Government Fund, the Scottish Executive has supported a number of pilot projects which are exploring the different methods of delivery available to provide information and services to Scottish citizens. Projects have involved research …

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for public service providers to make digital television (DTV) and web-enabled phones available as set out in point 47 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.

Answer · Andy Kerr: We have no plans for public service providers to make digital television and web-enabled phones available, but we are actively promoting the development of multiple channels of access to public services through support from the Modernising Government Fund and…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the Information Age Government Framework proposes to promote information and communications technologies usage amongst disabled people, elderly people and ethnic minority communities as set out in point 46 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotl…

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive's digital inclusion strategy sets out evidence that the digital divide in Scotland is closely correlated to low income levels. Initiatives under the digital inclusion strategy will therefore be targeted primarily on low income individuals and co…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken to ensure that users of information and communications technologies can access them in places in which people feel comfortable and at ease with the technology as set out in point 45 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotla…

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive's Digital Inclusion Strategy, which was published in September of last year, set out ways in which we will tackle this issue. <P>The Public Internet Access Points Initiative, which is currently under development, will see internet-ready PCs bein…

19 Dec 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it currently spends on community based provision of information and communications technologies.

Answer · Iain Gray: The Executive's strategy for digital inclusion "Connecting Scotland's People" set out a range of actions to raise awareness; improve access; develop skills; and involve communities. These include:<P>A £5 million initiative which will create over 1,000 points …