Parliamentary questions
Jim Mather
709 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
15 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many enquiries to the Relocation Advisory Service have resulted in relocations to Scotland.
Answer · Tom McCabe: This information is not available.</p> <p>Fresh Talent is a long-term initiative and evaluating its overall success will take time. We will, however, be carrying out some more immediate evaluations of strands of activity which will give us some useful data. T…
15 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15237 by Mr Tom McCabe on 13 April 2005, how many enquiries have now been received by the Relocation Advisory Service, broken down by country of residence and month of enquiry.
Answer · Tom McCabe: The web-based element of the Relocation Advisory Service opened on 12 October 2004. The service became fully operational at the end of that month. Between 12<sup> </sup>October and 15 September 2005 a total of 7,382 enquiries have been received. These can be …
7 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the growth rate for the economy has been in each year since 1999.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The following table details the annual growth rates of Scotland’s Gross Value Added (also referred to as Gross Domestic Product at basic prices) between 1999 and 2004. Scottish Gross Value added is calculated in constant prices thereby removing the effect of …
7 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the growth in investment has been in each year since 1999, expressed as a percentage.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produce figures on Gross Fixed Capital Formation as part of their Regional Accounts. The latest available figures for Scotland relate to 2000 and are available at the following website <a href="http://www.statistics.go…
7 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the productivity levels have been in each year since 1999.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Whole economy productivity is measured by calculating the output generated per worker in the economy. The following table reports Scotland's Productivity performance indexed to 1999, which is derived from data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Pro…
1 Sep 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what concessionary fares are available for air travel to the Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland and other Scottish islands from the mainland by residents of these islands and which groups of people are eligible for such concessions.
Answer · Tavish Scott: There are no concessionary air travel fares available to residents of Scottish Islands between the islands and the mainland under the current local authority concessionary schemes.</p>
31 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18125 by Mr Tom McCabe on 24 August 2005, whether it will be compulsory for Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme applicants to complete the questionnaire to be issued by the Relocation Advisory Service.
Answer · Tom McCabe: It will not be compulsory for participants to complete the questionnaire. However, we are taking steps to make the questionnaire easily accessible. Return rates will be kept under review and a decision made at a later date as to whether any additional work ne…
31 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18125 by Mr Tom McCabe on 24 August 2005, what percentage of Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme applicants it expects to respond to the questionnaire to be issued by the Relocation Advisory Service and what percentage of responses it requires t…
Answer · Tom McCabe: Targets have not been set for the percentage of successful applicants to the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme expected to respond to the questionnaire. Return rates will be kept under review and a decision made at a later date as to whether any additi…
31 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-18124 and S2W-18125 by Mr Tom McCabe on 24 August 2005, whether reports on the uptake of the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme will be compiled by the Home Office or the Executive.
Answer · Tom McCabe: Reports on the operation of the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme will be joint publications by the Executive and the Home Office.</p>
31 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18125 by Mr Tom McCabe on 24 August 2005, whether it has begun to compile information on applications for Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme visas; if so, how many individuals who successfully applied for such a visa are now resident in Scotlan…
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer to the answer to question S2W-18125 on 24 August 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa/search"…
31 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18124 by Mr Tom McCabe on 24 August 2005, how many individuals applied for the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme in its (a) first and (b) second month of operation; of these, how many applications were made (i) in person, (ii) from within the …
Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer to the answer to question S2W-18124 on 24 August 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa/search"…
31 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18124 by Mr Tom McCabe on 24 August 2005, on what specific date it will provide details of Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme applications.
Answer · Tom McCabe: We are in discussions with the Home Office about the date for publication of details on the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme.</p>
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what way putting Clyde and Hebrides ferry services out to tender will improve the environmental position of the west coast; what environmental standards will be set for any company delivering ferry services as a result of the tendering process, and what level of environmental monitorin…
Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18794 on 23 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what way putting Clyde and Hebrides ferry services out to tender will benefit workers currently employed by Caledonian MacBrayne; what direct benefits they will receive as a result of the tendering process, and what guarantees the Executive can offer those workers that they will be in …
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive attaches great importance to the future of the Caledonian MacBrayne workforce. Should another operator be successful in the bidding process, the Executive will do everything possible, within EU and domestic legislation, to secure their continued…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what way putting Clyde and Hebrides ferry services out to tender will increase the competitiveness of west coast communities in areas served by these ferry services.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18794 on 23 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what way putting Clyde and Hebrides ferry services out to tender will reduce the cost of travel to and from the islands for island residents and how it will make travel to islands more attractive and affordable for tourists.
Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18794 on 23 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/web…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what way putting the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services out to tender will produce more frequent services that are more dependable and are of an ever-increasing standard.
Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has concluded that tendering a Public Service Contract for the network of services currently provided by Caledonian MacBrayne is the best way to meet the requirements of European law and thus protect the vital lifeline Clyde and Hebride…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce the unemployment gap between non-EU and EU nationals in Scotland in accordance with the European Commission's Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs (2005-2008).
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Executive has a range of policies, in conjunction with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), aimed at increasing employment opportunities for nationals of all countries in Scotland.</p> <p>In Scotland the DWP through Jobcentre Plus offers a range of …
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in respect of the implementation of the European Youth Pact under the Lisbon agenda; what areas of the pact have already been implemented, and what further actions it intends to take to implement the pact.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Youth Pact aims to improve the education and training of young Europeans and to integrate policies aimed at young people fully into the Lisbon process. The pact acknowledges that it can only succeed with the involvement of regional and local authorities a…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its national employment rate targets are for (a) 2008 and (b) 2010 under the revised Lisbon agenda and what contribution it has made to the setting of UK targets for the same indicators.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The requirement to produce nationalemployment rate targets for 2008 and 2010, under the revised Lisbon agenda,is for member states. The national employment rates for both Scotland andthe UK are presently in excess of the 70 per cent target set by Lisbon for 2…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to participate or encourage participation from Scotland in joint European technology initiatives.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Member states have still to agree the details of the Commission’s proposals on Joint Technology Initiatives under European Framework Programme 7 and whether or not they are prepared to commit to funding them.</p> <p>The Executive and its agencies are working …
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its research and development expenditure targets are for (a) 2008 and (b) 2010 and what measures are being put in place to meet these targets.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Although the Executive does not set specific targets for growth in R&D expenditure relative to GDP, it has a range of policies to encourage R&D and commercialisation activity in Scotland. The Executive is committed to improving Scotland’s position rel…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects Scotland to meet the EU target set by the Lisbon agenda for two thirds of all research and development spending to come from the private sector.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Total Scottish expenditure (publicand private) on research and development in Scotland was equivalent to 1.5 percent of GDP in 2003. Total private business expenditure on research and developmentin Scotland was equivalent to 0.6 per cent of GDP in 2003, which…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects research and development spending in Scotland to meet the EU target under the Lisbon agenda of 3% of GDP.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Total Scottish expenditure onresearch and development in Scotland was equivalent to 1.5 per cent of GDP in 2003, whichis the most recent year for which we have data. The Executive has not set specifictargets for growth in R&D expenditure relative to GDP, …
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects research and development spending in Scotland to meet the EU average of 2% of GDP and what percentage of this spending it expects to come from the private sector.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: Total Scottish expenditure (publicand private) on research and development in Scotland was equivalent to 1.5 percent of GDP in 2003. Total private business expenditure on research and development(R&D) in Scotland was equivalent to 0.6 per cent of GDP in 2…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures are being put in place to "direct the composition of public expenditure towards growth-enhancing categories" and "adapt tax structures to strengthen growth potential", as set out in guideline 3 of the European Commission's Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs (…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: All departments within the Executive play a part in determining and contributing to economic development in Scotland. Greater economic prosperity is secured through the efforts and contributions of a wide range of individuals and bodies, working in an integra…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures it is taking to ensure that its policy and budgetary actions comply with the European Commission's Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs (2005-2008), broken down by guidelines 1 to 23 and showing how the Executive's policy and budgetary actions apply to each gui…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The European Commission’s <i>IntegratedGuidelines for Growth and Jobs (2005-2008)</i> set out for member states a packageof broad policy guidance on macroeconomic, microeconomic and employment issues.On the basis of the guidelines, member states will draw up …
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to engage local authorities in (a) discussions and (b) action in respect of the revised Lisbon agenda programme for growth and jobs.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The revised Lisbon agenda forgrowth and jobs fits well with existing Executive policy as set out in <i>Frameworkfor Economic Development </i>in <i>Scotland </i>and the Executive’s Enterprise strategy<i>A Smart, Successful Scotland (SSS). </i>The Executive con…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to engage the Parliament and social partners in Scotland in (a) discussions and (b) action in respect of the revised Lisbon agenda programme for growth and jobs.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The revised Lisbon agenda forgrowth and jobs fits well with existing Executive policy as set out in <i>Frameworkfor Economic Development </i>in <i>Scotland </i>and the Executive’s Enterprise strategy<i>A Smart, Successful Scotland (SSS). </i>The Executive con…
29 Aug 2005 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult the Parliament regarding a (a) Scottish national and (b) UK programme for growth and jobs and, if so, when.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: National reform programmes arebeing produced at member state level. The UK position on economic reform is consistentwith that of the Executive The Lisbon Strategy and the renewed EU focus on growthand jobs fits well with existing Executive policy, as set out …