Jim Mather

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps could be taken to overcome any inherent structural differences between the Scottish and UK economies.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Structural differences betweeneconomies are normal and our aim is not simply to match the UK structure.</p><p>The Executive’s economic developmentstrategy, the Framework for Economic Development in Scotland (FEDS), focuses onthe key drivers for economic devel…

18 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform’s comments about structural differences between the Scottish and UK economies when discussing Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland (GERS) on BBC Newsnight Scotland on 14 December 2006, how it explains such structura…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Overall, the UK andScottish economies have similar, though not identical, structures. Alleconomies have a degree of variation in, for example, their industrialcomposition, their fiscal and legislative environment, the gender-mix in theirlabour market, the ski…

13 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) from 16 to 24 and (b) 25 and over are currently participating in the modern apprenticeship scheme and how many places will be available on modern apprenticeship schemes in 2007.

Answer · Allan Wilson: In Scotland at the start of Decemberthere were (a) 28,100 people aged 16-24 doing a modern apprenticeship (MA) and (b)5,860 aged 25 or above.</p><p>The MA programme continues tobe demand-led so unfortunately we have no way of telling how many new starts there…

13 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, using both claimant count and labour force survey information, which 10 areas of Scotland had the highest unemployment rates in 2003 and what the rate (a) was in 2003 and (b) is currently in each of those areas; which 10 areas of Scotland in the most recent survey have the highest unempl…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Table1 shows the 10 local authority areas of Scotland that had the highest unemployment rates in 2003 basedon the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for 2003. The table also provides the rates forthe year ending March 2006 (latest data available) taken from the Annual…

13 Dec 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any progress in identifying the cost of achieving the savings attributed to the Efficient Government initiative and whether it now has baseline outcome data to measure the impact that these savings have had on departmental performance.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I am very pleased that the AuditScotland report which issued on 19 December recognises the progress we have madein identifying costs and that the initiative is delivering efficiencies that wouldnot otherwise have been achieved.</p><p>I am also pleased that th…

7 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the repayment of PFI/PPP project debts, showing the annual cash flow required to meet these commitments over the life of each contract, broken down by NHS board, local authority or other body that authorised the projects.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-28685 on 18 October 2006, for the information requested from 2006-07 to 2030-31.All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’swebsite, the search facility for which can be found…

7 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) total and (b) individual capital value is of public sector PFI/PPP projects currently being paid for, also broken down by NHS board, local authority or other body that authorised such projects.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The information requested isavailable from the Scottish Executive Financial Partnerships Unit’s website at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/ppp">www.scotland.gov.uk/ppp</a>.</p><p>An estimate of the totalcapital value of PPP projects that are either …

5 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30020 by Tavish Scott on 4 December 2006, on what dates since 30 September 2005 the “various written and oral exchanges” between the Executive and Western Ferries on matters relating to the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service took place.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The following table sets outfurther details of the various written and oral exchanges between the Executiveand Western Ferries between 1 October 2005 and 30 November 2006.</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=147 valign=t…

4 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the exclusion of people from employment in the civil service who are not from the United Kingdom or the European Economic Area or who are not Commonwealth citizens, British protected persons or citizens of British dependent territories complies with the Executive’s obligations un…

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30344 on 29 January 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/w…

4 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis it excludes people from employment in the civil service who are not from the United Kingdom or the European Economic Area or who are not Commonwealth citizens, British protected persons or citizens of British dependent territories.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30344 on 29 January 2007. All answers to writtenparliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website,the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

4 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will include people remaining in Scotland under the Fresh Talent initiative among those eligible for employment within the Executive.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30344 on 29 January 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/w…

4 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has reviewed the nationality criteria for employment within the Executive at any time since 1999 and whether it has any plans to conduct such a review in the future.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-30344 on 29 January 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/w…

4 Dec 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether people remaining in Scotland through the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland visa scheme are eligible for employment in the civil service.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Many people remaining in Scotland throughthe <i>Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland</i> scheme meet the eligibility requirementsfor direct employment in the Civil Service. These requirements are outlined in theCivil Service Nationality Rules, which are a reserv…

30 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has had any meetings or correspondence with any ferry operators since January 2004 regarding a possible foot-passenger-only ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon and, if so, on what dates any such (a) meetings took place and (b) correspondence was exchanged.

Answer · Tavish Scott: No meeting has taken placesince January 2004 to discuss a foot-passenger-only option.</p>

29 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any European regulations that would prevent multiple interventions, such as both a public service obligation and aid of a social character, being applied on any one transport route.

Answer · Tavish Scott: There are no EuropeanCommunity Regulations preventing multiple interventions in respect of the sametransport route, such as both a public service obligation which is funded andan aid of a social character. However, Article 87(2)(a) of the EC Treaty statesthat…

22 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport will explore the suggestion by the Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform, reported in the Press and Journal on 21 November 2006, that “the air discount scheme is a model which needs to be examined further in the context of ferry fares”; …

Answer · Tavish Scott: Once the tendering of the Clyde and Hebrides ferryservices has been completed, the Executive will be commissioning a review of thefares structure that applies to the Clyde and Hebrides routes. We will report further on these matters in duecourse.</p>

20 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions and correspondence it has had with Western Ferries since 30 September 2005 in relation to the Gourock to Dunoon ferry market.

Answer · Tavish Scott: We have had various written andoral exchanges with Western Ferries since 30 September 2005 on matters relating to the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service.</p>

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its proposal to participate in the arrangements provided for by the UK Statistics and Registration Services Bill is predicated on all statisticians currently working for the Executive continuing to work on this basis and not for a subsidiary of the UK non-departmental public body …

Answer · Tom McCabe: Yes, all statisticianscurrently working for the Executive will continue to work on this basis underthe new UK arrangements.</p>

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its proposal to participate in the arrangements to be provided for by the UK Statistics and Registration Services Bill is predicated on the UK non-departmental public body providing only oversight and advisory functions to Scottish-based statisticians.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The UK Statistics andRegistration Service Bill will give the new independent body a role in settingand monitoring the standards of Scottish statistics. It will help todemonstrate that Scottish statistics are produced to high standards and subjectto independen…

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether its proposal to participate in the arrangements to be provided for by the UK Statistics and Registration Services Bill includes establishing a specific office in Scotland as a subsidiary of a UK office.

Answer · Tom McCabe: No, it is not intended that Scotland’sinclusion in UK Statistics and Registration Service Bill will lead to aspecific office in Scotland as a subsidiary of the new UK office.</p>

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the production of economic statistics by it will be affected by the UK Statistical and Registration Services Bill in any way other than with regard to oversight and guidance.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Subject to the passage of the necessary Legislative Consent Motion, the Statistics and RegistrationService Bill will give the Statistics Board a role in setting and monitoringthe standards of Scottish statistics (including economic statistics). Itsindependent…

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether economic statistics, currently produced by it, will fall within the responsibility of the proposed non-departmental public body for statistics.

Answer · Tom McCabe: No, economic statisticscurrently produced by the Executive will not fall within the responsibility of the new non-ministerial department for statistics.</p><p>The work of the Office forNational Statistics (ONS), which produces much of the underlying data forE…

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether economic statistics, currently produced by it, will in future be produced by the proposed non-departmental public body for statistics.

Answer · Tom McCabe: No, economic statisticscurrently produced by the Executive will not transfer to the new non-ministerialdepartment.</p><p>The work of the Office forNational Statistics (ONS), which produces much of the underlying data forExecutive statistics on the economy, wi…

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which statistics, currently produced by the Executive, it expects to be produced in future by statisticians operating within the new non-departmental public body for statistics.

Answer · Tom McCabe: No statistics currentlyproduced by the Executive will be transferred to the new non-ministerialdepartment.</p>

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in proposing to participate in the new statistical arrangements being put in place at UK level, it has any plans to change the position or employment of statisticians currently working in its departments.

Answer · Tom McCabe: No. The organisational changesproposed in the Statistics and Registration Service Bill will not affect the employmentof Scottish Executive statisticians.</p>

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made cost estimates for the establishment of a non-departmental public body in Scotland to work within the proposed new statistical system for the United Kingdom; whether any budget for such an organisation would be funded in Scotland outwith the spending review, and whethe…

Answer · Tom McCabe: We do not consider that creatinga new public body for the production of statistics in Scotland is necessary.Therefore, we have not considered any specific fundingor budget issues. We envisage that the UK Government will meet all the costs of the Statistics Bo…

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will lodge a legislative consent motion in the Scottish Parliament in relation to the UK Statistics and Registration Services Bill.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Legislative Consent Motion,to extend the relevant aspects of the UK Statistics and Registration Service Billto Scotland, should be lodged in December 2006.</p>

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will issue a public consultation on its proposal to participate in the new statistics arrangements being put in place at UK level and whether this will occur prior to a legislative consent motion being lodged in the Scottish Parliament.

Answer · Tom McCabe: A public consultation documentwill be published around the same time as the Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) islodged in the Scottish Parliament.</p><p>The consultation paper will includea range of proposals to improve statistical services in Scotland includi…

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the decision at UK level to separate the census and registration functions of the General Register Office and to assign the census functions to the new non-departmental public body responsible for statistics will be replicated for the General Register Office for Scotland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The proposal in the Statisticsand Registration Service Bill to separate the census and registration functionsof the General Register Office relates to England and Wales. No changes will be made to the General Register Officefor Scotland, which is already a no…

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in discussions with the UK Government on reform of statistics, it has secured guarantees of Scottish representation on the board of the proposed non-departmental public body responsible for statistics and, if so, what percentage of such a board will be representatives of Scotland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Statistics and RegistrationService Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 21 November 2006, makes provisionfor one non-executive board member to be appointed by HM Treasury after consultationwith Scottish ministers.</p><p>The bill states that theboar…