Parliamentary questions
Jim Mather
709 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of comments on 14 March 2007 by the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning that the Executive had considered the mutualisation of Scottish Water, what research has been carried out into the financial implications of mutualisation and the long-term capital costs tha…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Research on the options for the Scottish water industry, includingmutualisation, was undertaken in 1997 and 2001. This work informed the creationof the three regional water authorities and Scottish Water respectively. Since thenno research on any prospective …
8 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what issues it has raised in relation to the proposal, published in October 2006 by the European Commission and currently under discussion by an ad hoc working group of the European Council, for the establishment of an European Institute of Technology (EIT); whether it has raised such iss…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: I recently wrote to the Secretaryof State for Trade and Industry setting out Scottish ministers’ views on the EuropeanCommission’s proposal to establish a European Institute of Technology (EIT). I saidin my letter that I support the UK’s negotiating strategy …
8 Mar 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the impact of the integration of the careers service in the Western Isles into Highlands and Islands Enterprise and, if so, what the impact will be on the level of resources required to meet the needs of clients.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has notevaluated the impact of the integration of the careers service in the Western Islesinto Highlands and Islands Enterprise.</p>
28 Feb 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans have been initiated by its Education Department to address the issues raised in the UNICEF report on child poverty and what aspect of the report will be the department¿s top priority.
Answer · Robert Brown: We are already taking actionon the key areas identified in this report so new plans are not required.</p><p>Improving outcomes andopportunities for all children in Scotland so that they can reach their full potential is amajor priority for the Scottish Execut…
20 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and students and staff of the University of Strathclyde concerning the university’s proposals to cut jobs and when these meetings took place.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Ministers have not heldmeetings with students, staff or management of the University of Strathclyde on this issue and no such meetings have beenrequested.</p><p>We are of course aware of the financial pressures being faced by the University of Strathclyde.The…
20 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and students and staff of the University of Dundee concerning the university’s proposals to cut courses and jobs and when these meetings took place.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Ministers have not heldmeetings with students, staff or management of the University of Dundee on this issue and no such meetings have been requested.</p><p>We are of course aware of the financial pressures being faced by the University of Dundee. The univers…
20 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and students and staff of the University of Glasgow’s Crichton Campus in Dumfries concerning the university’s decision to withdraw from the campus and when these meetings took place.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: On 22 February, the DeputyMinister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and I met with a delegation fromDumfries and Galloway Council and representatives of the Crichton Campus toidentify a way forward that will secure provision at the campus. The DeputyMinis…
20 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and the workforce or trade union representatives of the Simclar plants in Irvine and Kilwinning concerning the closure of the plants and when these meetings took place.
Answer · Allan Wilson: I met representatives of theworkforce and trade union representatives on Monday 5 February 2007 and again at Parliament on Thursday 8 February. I also met with DTIMinister Jim Fitzpatrick on Tuesday 27 February 2007.</p>
19 Feb 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the four EU regions, Catalonia, Baden-Württemberg, Lombardy and Rhône Alpes, which have signed an economic co-operation agreement known as the “Four Motors for Europe” have invited Scotland to be involved, or attend any of their events as an observer, as they have done for Wales a…
Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive supportedthe Multi-Regional International Business Programme from 2002-05. This exchangeprogramme for business undergraduates was an initiative of the “Four Motors forEurope” network. Scottish involvement arose from the Co-operation Agr…
30 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering providing ferry services with support through aid of a social character instead of direct subsidy and, if so, what stage its consideration has reached.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer to member to the answer to question S2W-30068 on 14 December 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…
30 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to continue with the current Clyde and Hebrides ferry service and how it will assess the appropriateness of awarding the tender to Caledonian MacBrayne in the absence of any competitor.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The European Union’s maritimelegislation and state aid rules mean that we must complete the tendering process.A key priority as we do this is that there should be no disruption to the lifelineClyde and Hebrides ferry services. The new arrangement will, for th…
30 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of any problems encountered in the current tender process for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service, it will ensure that the tender process is not repeated in this manner in future.
Answer · Tavish Scott: A key priority for any ferrytendering process is that there should be no disruption to the lifeline Clyde and Hebridesservices. The current tender exercise, as with all such projects, will bereviewed on completion.</p>
30 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is certain that the tender process for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service is compliant with EU legislation.
Answer · Tavish Scott: Our key priority is thatthere should be no disruption to the lifeline Clyde and Hebridesferry services. The services are being tendered in a way that is fullycompliant with EU legislation.</p>
30 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to meet the European Commission to discuss the tender of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service, any problems faced and the options available for the future provision of the service following the initial six-year contract period and, if so, when it expects such a meeting to…
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive, atministerial and official level, have met and will continue to meet the EuropeanCommission to discuss this and other transport matters.</p>
30 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to investigate the reasons behind the decision of V Ships to withdraw from the tender to operate the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service.
Answer · Tavish Scott: It would not be appropriate tocontact V Ships at the present time while the tender process is on-going. However,once the contract has been awarded, officials will offer a debrief to V Ships. Thiswill provide an opportunity to discuss the reasons for the compa…
30 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what total costs have been incurred by (a) it, (b) other public bodies and (c) Caledonian MacBrayne and its successor companies in relation to the tender for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services since 1999, including (i) civil servants’ time and related costs, including the time of senio…
Answer · Tavish Scott: It is not possible toprovide an exact estimate of the cost of the tendering process. However thefirst of following tables sets out approximate costs incurred by the ScottishExecutive. The following table sets out the identifiable costs incurred by thepublic b…
29 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Canadian citizens have used the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland visa scheme in the past two years and, of these, how many are still living and working in Scotland.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Since the Fresh Talent: Workingin Scotland scheme was launched in June 2005, 47 Canadian citizenshave been accepted onto the scheme.</p><p>During the first year of FreshTalent: Working in Scotland Scheme there were 23 Canadian citizens accepted on thescheme, …
25 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what total number of vehicle kilometres on Scottish roads was accounted for by (a) vehicles in private use and (b) commercial vehicles in the most recent year for which information is available.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2O-11967 on 8 February 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
24 Jan 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the impact that Sir Gerry Robinson is reported to have had on NHS waiting times and given how NHS Tayside health professionals demonstrated in the Parliament last year their commitment to perpetual improvement, what steps the Executive is taking to empower all NHS professiona…
Answer · Andy Kerr: I want all NHS boards in Scotland to demonstratecontinuous improvement in the services they provide. I have established a clearersystem of performance management and delivery which requires NHS boards to meetspecific key targets. I expect all NHS boards to pl…
19 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has examined the likely consequences of lifting the Southern Isles milk quota ring fence and, if so, what the outcome of the examination was.
Answer · Ross Finnie: In 2006 the Scottish Executive Environmentand Rural Development Department asked the Scottish Agricultural College to carry out a study into the operation of the two remaining Scottish milkquota ring fences, including the Southern Isles. A draft of the study …
19 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the purpose is of the Southern Isles milk quota ring fence.
Answer · Ross Finnie: The establishment of Scottishmilk quota ring fences followed the introduction of EU-wide milk quotas regime in1984. The ring fence arrangements, which place restrictions on the movement of milkquota, were introduced to support dairy producers and processors i…
19 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30843 by Ross Finnie on 18 January 2007 and in light of the amount of unused capacity in the Southern Isles milk quota ring fence, particularly in 2004-05, whether it will investigate the impact that the Southern Isles milk quota ring fence has on mi…
Answer · Ross Finnie: In 2006 the Scottish Environmentand Rural Development Department asked the Scottish Agricultural College to carry out a study into the operation of the two remaining Scottish milkquota ring fences, including the Southern Isles. A draft of the study has been s…
9 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the available quota in the Southern Isles milk quota ring fence area has been in litres in each year since 1999 and, of this, how much has been unused by producers.
Answer · Ross Finnie: Information on milk quota utilisationis collected by the Rural Payments Agency. Details of the net quota held and unusedquota by producers in the Southern Isles ring fence area since 2003-04 is set outin the following table. Figures are not available for prev…
8 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or the UK Government will compensate Strathclyde Police for any additional policing costs incurred in relation to policing and security in and around Oban from 24 to 26 November 2006 and, if so, who will pay such compensation.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: Strathclyde Police wasallocated in the region of £496 million, out of a total police budget of almost£1.1 billion, for 2006-07. In the last five years alone funding for StrathclydePolice has increased by £125.4 million and the number of police officers hasris…
8 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any additional policing costs were incurred by Strathclyde Police in relation to policing and security in and around Oban from 24 to 26 November 2006 and, if so, what those costs were.
Answer · Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30819 on 2 February 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facilityfor which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
8 Jan 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, under the proposed UK Statistics and Registration Services Bill, what the position of the Chief Statistician for Scotland will be in relation to (a) Scottish ministers, (b) the National Statistician and (c) the proposed statistics board and to which organisation or individual the Chief S…
Answer · Tom McCabe: Subject to the passage of thenecessary legislative consent motion (LCM), the Statistics and Registration ServiceBill will give the Statistics Board a rolein setting and monitoring the standards of Scottish statistics.</p><p>If the LCM is passed, the chiefstat…
22 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive with reference to A Smart Successful Scotland; Measuring Progress Towards a Smart Successful Scotland 2006, what numerical figures were used in compiling Chart 3: Indices of GDP per hour worked (a) for each country featured in the chart, including Scotland for both 1999 and 2004.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The underlying data for the report<i>Measuring Progress Towards a Smart Successful Scotland 2006 </i>were publishedon the Scottish Executive website alongside the main report on 19 December and areavailable via the following link</p><p><ahref="http://www.scot…
18 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has to verify comments made by the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform on Newsnight Scotland on 14 December 2006 about the relative number of people removed from social exclusion, in light of the numbers of people who are unemployed and economically inactive.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Minister for Finance andPublic Service Reform was not on Newsnight Scotland on 14 December 2006 soI am unable to source the comments you refer to and therefore to directly addressthe matter you have raised.</p><p>However, the latest statisticsshow that si…
18 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much less revenue would have accrued through business rates had the uniform rate with the rest of the Unite Kingdom been adhered to since 1999.
Answer · Tom McCabe: As there is no uniform businessrate across the United Kingdom, it is not possible to provide the information requested.Rateable values are determined separately for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as are poundage rates. The position is further …
18 Dec 2006 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has precluded the possibility of setting business rates at rates lower than those in the rest of the United Kingdom.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The average rates bill per subjectin Scotland is already significantly lower than the average rates bill per subjectin England, and that has been the position since devolution. The estimates for 2006-07are £9,284 and £10,601 respectively. As I announced to Pa…