Parliamentary questions
David Mundell
955 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what area-based facilities it provides for information and communications technologies initiatives in social inclusion programmes as set out in point 43 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 Champion programme is providing a network of eight digital "champions" to cover Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) areas in Scotland. They are working to improve ICT provision in these areas by engaging local people and dr…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has undertaken to ensure the provision of affordable internet access in church halls as set out in point 42 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Iain Gray: The Public Internet Access Points Initiative will see internet-ready PCs being put in places which people already use - for example shops and banks. This £5 million programme aims to create at least 1,000 extra public internet access points in Scotland, more …
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the further and higher education sectors and local authorities work together to provide network services as set out in point 41 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive's response to point 41 of the task force report has been overtaken by the publication of the Scottish Executive's strategy <I>Connecting Scotland: our broadband future</I>. The aggregated procurement of services for local authorities including s…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any public sector sharing of bank offices processing functions as set out in point 40 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Several projects funded through the first round of the Modernising Government Fund supported the re-engineering of back office systems and details of progress made on individual projects are available on the 21<SUP>st</SUP> Century Government website. Discuss…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it has given in advising public sector bodies on how to streamline internal processes by utilising information and communications technologies as set out in points 38 and 39 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-21265.
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what work it has undertaken to ensure the efficiency of information and communications technologies as set out in point 38 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Executive's 21<SUP>st</SUP> Century Government Vision clearly lays out the desirability of exploiting new technology where it delivers improved services. The Executive has sought to encourage debate on new delivery channels and the streamlining of interna…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or plans to take, to encourage the use of electronic voting amongst the electorate as set out in point 37 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Local Government (Elections) Bill allows for alternative methods of voting to be considered with a view to subsequent implementation. The electoral commission have been consulted about pilot proposals. With the International Teledemocracy Centre,…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken since January 2000, and what action it plans to take, to ensure that it and the wider public use online consultation more as set out in point 36 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is committed to the greater use of on-line consultation. In addition to monitoring the level of Scottish Executive e-consultation activity, it is piloting a number of projects using new technology to increase on-line consultation.
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where information is made publicly available about the issues relating to authentication and security of electronic transactions over the internet as set out in point 35 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Information on issues relating to authentication and security of electronic transactions over the Internet can be found on the Office of the e-Envoy website.<P>Information on these issues is also contained in the published draft Information Age Government Fra…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who ensures that standards of privacy in relation to data interchange on online public services are maintained as set out in point 34 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: In using the internet for their business dealings, data controllers must take into account the privacy rights of individuals and their own responsibilities under privacy and data protection legislation.<P>Under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998, the I…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has taken or plans to take to ensure the authentication and security of electronic transactions over the internet as set out in point 33 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is working within the policy laid out in the UK Government's Authentication framework document in matters relating to authentication and security of electronic transactions over the internet. Authentication and security issues are also …
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive which services it has identified as 'quick win' as set out in point 32 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: In our project-based approach, we aim to concentrate our efforts on the highest priority services; i.e. those services which have the maximum impact on the maximum number of people and where an improved service would deliver the greatest benefit to the citize…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or plans to take, to ensure universal access for the public sector as set out in point 31 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has adopted a multi channelled approach to the delivery of public services and information. It has supported and continues to support a number of pilot projects which are exploring different methods of delivery to ensure further widenin…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify the role of the Modernising Government Fund as set out in point 29 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive wrote to Local Authority Chief Executives, copied to Chief Executives and Directors of public sector bodies in Scotland, on 29 November 2001, outlining the key priority areas for developing citizen focussed services which could be suppo…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the public sector has formed partnerships with commercial firms in order to reduce the cost of delivering public services electronically as set out in point 28 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has taken every appropriate opportunity to work with the private sector in delivering projects, including involving the 21st Century Government Reference Group and the wider private sector in discussions about the development of various…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have been undertaken on smart cards and to what extent it is implementing the results of any studies and utilising such cards as set out in point 27 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Smart Card Policy Working Group (chaired by the Office of the e-Envoy) of which the Scottish Executive is a member, is due to publish a draft smart card framework for consultation in early 2002. This group has taken note of the large number of smart card …
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or plans to take, to ensure management level staff have the skills to plan, manage and implement successful electronic service delivery as set out in point 26 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Management and Leadership skills are a strategic priority for the Scottish Executive and its Corporate Learning Services (CLS). CLS provides a wide range of project management, management and information technology training using a variety of training methods…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when an Electronic Clinical Communications Implementation will be in place as set out in point 25 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Good progress is being made with the Electronic Clinical Communications Implementation programme. Electronic transmission of laboratory test results is now well established in many parts of the country and a number of locations are beginning to electronically…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to deliver 'e-procurement' for public sector bodies as set out in point 23 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: E-procurement was addressed by point no 24 of the Digital Scotland Taskforce's report. Since the report's publication the Executive has been working with the wider Scottish public sector, including health and local government, to develop an e-procurement serv…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans the public sector has for achieving 100% electronic service delivery as set out in points 22 and 23 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive is not a major service provider, and its main role therefore is to provide encouragement and guidance to service providers. This is being done in a variety of ways; eg through working groups, seminars, published guidance, research and t…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it defines as "good practice" with regard to achieving 100% electronic service delivery by 2005 as set out in point 22 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Our aim is for public services to meet the needs of the citizen, e.g. by delivering the appropriate answer to the citizen at the first point of contact. This is set out in more detail in the <I>21st Century Government Vision Statement</I> which is publicly av…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when publicly funded bodies will adopt a framework to ensure technical and data standards are in line with the UK as a whole as set out in point 21 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive continues to work very closely with the Office of the e-Envoy in developing technical and data standards. The Executive has endorsed the e-Government Interoperability Framework and the e-Government Metadata Framework. The Executive is k…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what legislative barriers are in place which create difficulties in delivering public services electronically as set out in point 20 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward, and which barriers have been removed.
Answer · Andy Kerr: We now have enabling legislation in place in the Electronic Communications Act 2000 to allow us to amend existing legislation where that does not allow for the use of electronic communications or data storage. Some perceived barriers are not barriers after al…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms are in place to ensure that it and local authorities work together in order to share and exchange information on electronic service delivery as set out in point 19 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward, and to …
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive working with COSLA has established the Central Local 21st Century Government Forum to promote the sharing of good practice and exchange of information with local authorities.<P>The Executive has also provided funding to COSLA to develop…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when local authorities will be able to make available electronically the public services they deliver as set out in point 18 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Local Authorities, through COSLA, have given an undertaking to match the Executive's commitment to online services by 2005.<P>The Central Local 21<SUP>st</SUP> Century Government Forum agreed that councils should be invited collectively to propose an approach…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken by local authorities to promote the aims of its Modernising Government and Information Age Government agendas as set out in point 17 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Local authorities through COSLA, have given an undertaking to match the Executive's commitment to delivering services online by 2005. Each local authority has identified e-advocates at both Senior Officer and Elected Member level who are accountable for the d…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all basic public services will be online by 2003 as set out in point 16 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: I am grateful for the opportunity to correct a minor inaccuracy in the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, which was repeated in the Executive's response to that report. The agreement reached by the European Council at the Lisbon Summit, and announced …
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what stage is it at with regard to its plans for an e-government framework as set out in point 16 of its response to the report of the Digital Scotland Task Force, Digital Scotland: The Way Forward.
Answer · Andy Kerr: <I>Information Age Government in Scotland: A draft common Framework</I> was published in draft in December 2000. The framework is currently being revised following consultation and will be published shortly.
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council have taken to offer the SuperJANET network to all higher education institutions and further education colleges as set out in point 15 of its response to the report of the Digital S…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: All higher education institutions and further education colleges have access to the SuperJANET network. The funding councils' priority continues to be promoting widespread take-up and application of the extensive range of information services available throug…
19 Dec 2001 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council last reported on their progress on working jointly on research into information and communications technologies assisted learning and on learning environments, educational content and tea…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Councils provide six-monthly reports on their progress in implementing relevant recommendations contained in the Digital Scotland Task Force's report. The last such report was received in December 2001.