Fergus Ewing

14 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether those provisions of its contract with BEAR Scotland Ltd which govern the position in the event of the company's failure to perform its obligations have been made public and are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre and what the reasons are for its position on thi…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-18588 and S1W-18616 on the 11 October 2001 by the former Minister for Transport and Planning. As much of the contract as may be considered not to contain sensitive commercial information has been placed…

14 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether BEAR Scotland Ltd have been in breach of their obligations in respect of their duties in relation to the trunk road network.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: BEAR's contract is complex and detailed and minor breaches will inevitably occur. However, there are set procedures for rectification of more serious failures. The first step of this procedure is to issue a default notice to BEAR to ensure the level of servic…

13 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there was any delay by the Scottish Qualifications Authority in sending past examination papers for Standard Grade and Higher Still examinations to the publishers of past papers; what steps it took to address any such delay, and how many (a) schools and (b) school pupils were affe…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The production of past examination papers is a matter for the Scottish Qualifications Authority and we will ask the chair to write to you responding in detail to the points raised.

12 Nov 2001 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive has confidence in the ability of BEAR Scotland Ltd to fulfil its obligations in maintaining and keeping clear roads in the north of Scotland.

Answer · Jim Wallace: All the private sector companies responsible for trunk road maintenance need to demonstrate that their arrangements meet the detailed and exacting requirements set out in their contracts.<P>Contractors' performance is reviewed and monitored continuously by th…

7 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will grant or seek aid, under article 4 of the EEC Council Regulation No 26 of 1962 on rules of competition in agricultural products in respect of potatoes other than starch potatoes in order to support the potato industry in Scotland and, in particular, in the Montrose area.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish potato industry has not sought assistance under this regulation and we have no plans to offer financial support to an industry that has traditionally been self-sufficient.

7 Nov 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will re-consider its decision that the local Procurator Fiscal carry out a re-investigation into the death of Neil Gillies on 24 December 1999, and instruct that the investigation be carried out by a Procurator Fiscal from another area.

Answer · Neil Davidson: Decisions as to the investigation of deaths are taken independently by the Lord Advocate. It is for the Lord Advocate to determine which of his officials carries out an investigation.

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase fees payable to the Registers of Scotland in respect of applications for registration under (a) the Land Register and (b) the General Register of Sasines.

Answer · Iain Gray: The fees payable to the Registers of Scotland in respect of such applications and its various information services are the subject of periodic review. The fees applicable to such applications were set in the Fees in the Registers of Scotland Order 1995 (SI 19…

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Executive, any local authority enterprise company or other agency or public body have instructed (a) Thompsons Solicitors and Solicitor Advocates or (b) Digby Brown Solicitors to carry out legal or other services and what the (i) nature of instruction and (ii) remuner…

Answer · Angus MacKay: Neither Thompsons Solicitors and Solicitor Advocates nor Digby Brown Solicitors has been instructed to carry out legal or other services on behalf of the Executive. <P>The procurement of legal and other services by local authorities, Local Enterprise Companie…

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether former special advisers to it, following termination of employment, are immediately eligible for any appointment to posts in non-governmental organisations or for other appointments within the recommendation, gift or nomination of the Executive or First Minister.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The contract of employment for special advisers states that in certain circumstances Advisers should obtain the agreement of the Crown before accepting any offer of employment outside the civil service which would start within two years of leaving Crown emplo…

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of its special advisers have any entitlement to terminal payments in the event of termination of their employment and what the full details of any such entitlements are.

Answer · Andy Kerr: In accordance with the terms of their employment, special advisers are entitled to a severance payment in the event of termination of employment without notice. The amount of entitlement is currently calculated as follows:<P>Advisers whose appointment is term…

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total costs of special advisers to the First Minister were for the financial years 1999-2000 and 2000-01, what the estimated total costs of such advisers are for the financial years 2001-02 and 2002-03 and whether it will provide a breakdown of such costs and estimated costs.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The total cost for the financial year 1999-2000 is £398,062 and for 2000-01 it is £560,843. Details are:<P><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=472><TR><TD WIDTH="18%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALI…

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what shrieval appointments have been made in each year since l997 of any individuals known to have been members of (a) the Scottish National Party, (b) the Labour Party, (c) the Conservative and Unionist Party (d) the Liberal Democrats or (e) any other political party.

Answer · Iain Gray: This information is not collected from candidates for judicial appointments.

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Fife Council can, on grounds of commercial confidentiality, withhold information concerning any rental income it pays in respect of premises sublet from any MSP's constituency office and whether individuals will have the right to access such information under the Freedom of Inform…

Answer · Angus MacKay: Whether Fife Council would decide to release such information, or withhold it on grounds of commercial confidentiality, is a matter for the council. <P>The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Bill would, if enacted, provide individuals with a right of access to…

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to reduce the number of special advisors to the First Minister.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Under the terms of the Civil Service Order in Council 1995 as amended by the Civil Service (Amendment) Order in Council 1999, which is still in force, up to 12 special advisers can be appointed by the First Minister. There are no current plans to change that …

6 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive (a) what the agreed allocation of funding for financial years (i) 2000-01 and (ii) 2001-02 is for each further education college, (b) what the total debt to be serviced by each college and cost of servicing such debt (i) was for 2000-01 and (ii) will be for 2001-02 and (c) what proportion…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The allocation of public funding to individual colleges of further education is a matter for the Scottish Further Education Funding Council. Details of the 2000-01 and 2001-02 grant-in-aid allocation rounds have been made publicly available on the council's w…

2 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what savings will result from the establishment of NHS Highland to replace Highland NHS Board, Highland Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Highland Primary Care NHS Trust in the current and in each of the next two budgetary years and whether it will place a breakdown of such savings in the Sc…

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The establishment of Highland NHS Board as a single forum for strategic leadership is intended to provide for the efficient, effective and accountable governance of health services in the Highlands. It is about encouraging the local NHS to spend better by foc…

2 Nov 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to the European Commission in opposition to the draft Physical Agents Directive on vibration and place copies of any such representations in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre or, if it will not make direct representations, whether it will make…

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has no functions in relation to the Health and Safety implications in the proposed European Commission's Physical Agents Directive. Therefore representations to the European Commission will be a matter for the UK Government.

31 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what schemes have been implemented for the improvement of maternity services, including the upgrading of maternity units; how much has been spent on the improvement of maternity services in the Highland Health Board area over each of the last five years, and what the breakdown of this ex…

Answer · Susan Deacon: The Executive attaches a high priority to ensuring that the NHS offers high quality maternity services in all parts of Scotland. Among the comprehensive principles identified in the <I>Framework for Maternity Services in Scotland</I>, published in February th…

31 Oct 2001 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its decision not to appoint a minister at cabinet level whose sole portfolio is tourism.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: I have Cabinet level responsibility for tourism and both Alasdair Morrison and I are working extremely hard with VisitScotland to support the industry at this difficult time.

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16955 by Rhona Brankin on 8 August 2001, how many residential units have been built on the Isle of Rum in each year from 1957 compared with the total annual population of the island in each year from 1957 for which figures are available.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19505.

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been of the survey and research work carried out in relation to Rum by, or on behalf of, Scottish Natural Heritage from April 1992 to date.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19505.

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has cost Scottish Natural Heritage to manage Rum in each year since April 1992.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: This is a matter for Scottish Natural Heritage. The information requested is not held centrally.

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its policy on community ownership extends to property owned by Scottish Natural Heritage and, in particular, to the communities on Rum.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive's proposals, contained in the draft Land Reform Bill which provides for a community right to buy, extend to the whole of rural Scotland, including property owned by Scottish Natural Heritage.

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to Her Majesty's Government in relation to the introduction of the Aggregates Tax from April 2002 at a flat rate levy of #1.60 per ton in Scotland, in particular on whether the European Commission has advised whether the #1.60 per ton flat rate levy in …

Answer · Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the Aggregates Tax. Responsibility for dealing with the European Commission on UK taxation matters lies with HM Treasury.

30 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received any representations from Mallaig Community Council supporting the appointment of a Minister for Tourism.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Yes.

29 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers in relation to attracting individuals from the public or private sector into the teaching profession.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) is not a free-standing organisation, but is a forum through which the Scottish Executive, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the teacher organisations can reach collaborative decisions. Negotiat…

29 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that those who wish to pursue a career in teaching by way of the Postgraduate Certificate of Education and who are leaving a career in the private or public sector are not deterred from doing so by reason of the level of starting salary.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There have been significant improvements in pay, conditions and opportunities for teachers arising from the <I>Agreement on a Teaching Profession for the 21<SUP>st</SUP> Century</I>, in addition to the positive benefits of joining a re-invigorated profession.…

29 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers in relation to ensuring that those wishing to pursue the Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE Primary) and who are leaving other careers in industry or the public sector are not deterred from doing s…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) is not a free-standing organisation, but is a forum through which the Scottish Executive, COSLA and the teacher organisations can reach collaborative decisions. <P>There have been significant improvements…

29 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, where planning permission for the erection of residential property is granted and there is a privately-owned existing road or pathway, there should be a presumption in favour of a right of pedestrian and vehicular access and whether the law of servitude should be reformed accord…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Planning applications for developments taking access from a trunk road must be assessed on their individual merits. Such proposals are likely to lead to an increase in the amount of traffic entering and leaving the trunk road. Road safety issues are extremely…

29 Oct 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were employed in the construction industry in each of the last four years and how many people it estimates will be employed in each of the four years following the introduction of the Aggregates Tax in 2002.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Labour Force Survey, run by the Office of National Statistics, shows that the number of people employed in the construction industry in Scotland (including employees, self-employed, and government trainees), is approximately 180,000. Forecasts compiled by…