Parliamentary questions

Jim Mather

709 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

7 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote employment opportunities in Scotland and the Fresh Talent initiative at careers events at higher education institutions in the European Union, broken down by country.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executives current activities to promote Fresh Talent overseas have included attendance at two careers fairs in Poland in March 2005.

7 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote employment opportunities in Scotland and the Fresh Talent initiative at careers events at higher education institutions in Australia.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executives current activities to promote Fresh Talent overseas do not include attendance at any careers events in Australia.

7 Apr 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to promote employment opportunities in Scotland and the Fresh Talent initiative at careers events at higher education institutions in Canada.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executives current activities to promote Fresh Talent overseas do not include attendance at any careers events in Canada.

7 Apr 2005 · Written Question

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Executive’s current activities to promote Fresh Talent overseas do not include attendance at any careers events in the United States of America. However, the Executive did have a stand within the Scottish Village in New York during Tartan Week, and this p…

23 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what process is in place to handle expressions of interest from ferry operators who are considering bidding for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-15542 on 22 April 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/…

23 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information is being made available to potential operators of the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route, including information on the berthing charges at Gourock Pier.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I have made clear that theproposals for the Gourock to Dunoon route will not be taken any further untilthe discussions with the European Commission on the need to tender the Clyde and Hebridesferry services have been completed and I have reported back to the …

21 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the status is of projects at Largs, Cumbrae, Wemyss Bay, Lismore, Brodick and Kennacraig on which the Minister of Transport announced on 8 December 2004 that he proposed spending "around £15.8 million".

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Subject to the necessary planningpermissions and other consents being secured, work on these projects is scheduledfor completion by March 2007. Work on site has yet to start in each case.

16 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, given that HM Treasury now uses the Consumer Price Index as its preferred measure of inflation, what guidance it issues to its departments and agencies and public bodies in respect of the measures they should use for calculating inflation.

Answer · Tom McCabe: There are a range of measures of inflation on the economy – the Consumer Price Index is one that is used for measuring the change in the prices of consumer goods and services. We will continue to use the appropriate measure for the individual issue being cons…

16 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, given that HM Treasury now uses the Consumer Price Index as its preferred measure of inflation, the Executive has adopted, or will adopt, that measure.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-15284 on 13 April 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…

7 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of people aged between 55 and 64 years of age is in work or looking for employment.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The proportion of people aged between 55 and 64 years of age in work or looking for employment for the autumn quarter in 2004 was 55.8%. This proportion is commonly referred to as the economic activity rate.The 2004 autumn quarter runs from September 2…

7 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of women between 55 and 64 years of age is in work or looking for employment.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The proportion of women agedbetween 55 and 64 years of age in work or looking for employment for the autumnquarter in 2004 was 45.9%. This proportion is commonly referred to as the economicactivity rate. The 2004 autumn quarter runsfrom September 2004…

7 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of men aged between 55 and 64 years of age is in work or looking for employment.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The proportion of men aged between 55 and 64 years of age in work or looking for employment for the autumn quarter in 2004 was 66.4%. This proportion is commonly referred to as the economic activity rate.The 2004 autumn quarter runs from September 2004…

7 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of people of working age is in work or looking for employment.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The proportion of people of working age in work or looking for employment for the autumn quarter in 2004 was 79.7%. This proportion is commonly referred to as the economic activity rate.The 2004 autumn quarter runs from September 2004 to November 2004.…

7 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of women of working age is in work or looking for employment.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The proportion of women of working age in work or looking for employment for the autumn quarter in 2004 was 75.8%. This proportion is commonly referred to as the economic activity rate.The 2004 autumn quarter runs from September 2004 to November 2004. …

7 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of men of working age is in work or looking for employment.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The proportion of men of working age in work or looking for employment for the autumn quarter in 2004 was 83.5%. This proportion is commonly referred to as the economic activity rate. The 2004 autumn quarter runs from September 2004 to November 2004.<…

4 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of all discussions between the Executive and (a) HM Treasury, (b) the Department for Trade and Industry, (c) the Scotland Office and (d) the European Commission on the funding of the European Union from 2007 to 2013 and the impact of future European budget …

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government and the European Commission on a wide range of issues, including the funding of the European Union from 2007 to 2013 and the impact of future European budget settlements on the level of Europ…

4 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons it has learned as a result of the draft interim report on the Objective One funding projects in the Highlands and Islands delivered to it by the European Commission on 27 September 2004.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The draft report concentrateson practices during the 1994–99 programming period. Procedures for the current (2000–06)period reflect revised regulations. The findings of the draft report underline ourconsistent advice to applicants on retention of documents an…

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the European Commission about regional funding in the 2007-13 funding period.

Answer · Jim Wallace: I met with European Commissioner Barnier in November 2003. One of the issues we discussed was the Commission’s emerging thinking on the future of the Structural Funds. The Commission’s proposals were published in the form of draft regulations in July 2004.</p…

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will release details of all discussions held about European Regional Development Funding for Scotland (a) with the Department for Trade and Industry, (b) with HM Treasury, (c) as part of any joint ministerial committee meeting and (d) with the European Commission.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The European Structural FundsDivision of the Scottish Executive is in regular contact with Department of Trade and Industry(DTI) and HM Treasury (HMT) officials, on a number of European Structural Fundsissues, including the European Regional Development Fund.…

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister or any other Scottish Minister plans to meet Danuta Hubner, European Regional Commissioner, and, if so, what the subject of the discussions will be.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Arrangements are currently being made for me to meet with Commissioner Hubner when range of issues will be discussed, particularly the future of European Structural Funds after 2006.

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any contact with European Regional Commissioner, Danuta Hubner, and, if so, what the details were of such contact.

Answer · Jim Wallace: No Scottish ministers have metwith Danuta Hubner since she became EU Regional Commissioner in May 2004.

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support the Highlands and Islands European Partnership's (HIEP) update of the Oviedo Declaration for Statistical Effect Regions.

Answer · Jim Wallace: At this stage, it is difficultto say what the outcome of the negotiations on the Structural Funds will be. However,the Executive is committed to promoting a strong regional policy by securing fundingfor regional development for the whole of Scotland. This is …

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations it has made to comply with the follow-up audit of the Objective One projects in the Highlands and Islands and to ensure that the information requested by the European Commission is provided in a timeous and efficient manner.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Officials are working closely with applicants to ensure that all documentation is available at the time of the visit. However, ultimately it is the responsibility of the individual applicants to ensure that all the necessary documentation is to hand.

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to investigate how the draft interim report on the Objective One funding projects in the Highlands and Islands, delivered to it by the European Commission on 27 September 2004, came to be in the hands of the BBC.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Copies of the report were legitimately in the hands of a number of organisations involved in the audit. The leak is regrettable and serves no constructive purpose. It would be impractical to attempt to establish the BBC’s source.

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations in Scotland had access to the draft interim report on the Objective One funding projects in the Highlands and Islands delivered to the Executive by the European Commission on 27 September 2004.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Water and Highlands and Islands Partnership Programme.

3 Mar 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it took to ensure that the draft interim report on the Objective One funding projects in the Highlands and Islands, received by the Executive from the European Commission on 27 September 2004, remained confidential until the completion of the audit process.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The document is a draft European Commission report. It forms part of a relatively open process between the Commission, the Scottish Executive and applicant organisations to allow preliminary findings to be made known, a detailed response provided and a final …

2 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports any change to the privative jurisdiction of sheriff courts.

Answer · Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-14050, on 28 February 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/webapp…

2 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to alter the privative jurisdiction of sheriff courts.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The setting of a privative limit filters out the lowest value cases from the Court of Session. We believe that the case is made for an increase in the privative limit. The current limit of £1,500 dates from 1988. We believe that should rise to a more realisti…

2 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has carried out of the cost implications of civil jury trials in the Court of Session and when the next assessment is planned.

Answer · Hugh Henry: We have no immediate plans to review the current entitlement, under the court rules, for a pursuer to seek resolution of a case by the use of a civil jury trial. Such trials are relatively rarely sought and it is even more rare for a civil jury trial to proce…

2 Feb 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on civil proofs, excluding civil jury trials, in the Court of Session in each of the last three years, broken down by category of spending.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The expenditure is shown in the attached table. <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=384> <thead> <tr> <td> Civil Proof Costs </td> <td> 2001-02 (£) </td> <td> …