Jim Mather

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many statisticians employed by it work only on statistics that are published by the Office of National Statistics or classified as national statistics.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Statisticians employed by the Executive use a variety of data sources to provide information to the public andfor policy analysis. It is unlikely thatany will work only on statistics that arepublished by the Office for National Statistics or classified as nat…

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many statisticians employed by it work on statistics published by the Office of National Statistics or classified as national statistics.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Statisticians work on a mix ofNational Statistics, administrative information, survey data and data collectedby other government bodies (such as Office for National Statistics (ONS)) for publicationsand to support government policy.</p><p>All statisticians em…

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many statisticians employed by it will work for a new non-departmental public body responsible for statistics to be created under proposals for UK statistics and registration reform.

Answer · Tom McCabe: No statisticians employed bythe Executive will work for the new non-ministerial department.</p>

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whom it consulted before determining that it will participate in the new arrangements being put in place for the production and independence of statistics at UK level.

Answer · Tom McCabe: We consult a wide range of stakeholdersannually on the statistics plan which includes some of the statistics reform issues.However, this has not generated any significant public interest.</p><p>However, in reaching our decision,we have considered the response…

17 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish plans for the operation of the system for producing official national statistics in Scotland, following the Executive's indication to the UK government that it will participate in the new arrangements being put in place at UK level.

Answer · Tom McCabe: We will publish our plans forimproving statistical services in Scotland through a consultation paper to be published around thesame time as the Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) is lodged. The LCM should be lodgedin December 2006.</p>

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is confident that it will receive more than one bid to operate the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answerto question S2W-29871 on 24 November. Allanswers 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/wa.sea…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is confident that it will receive bids to operate the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive is committedto implementing a fair and robust tendering process that will create a level playingfield for bidders. We will do everything possible to encourage a positive responseto this exercise but it will be for the companies involved…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the provision of financial and carrying information and the timescales in which this information was provided to Western Ferries during the tender process for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive is satisfied thatit provided bidders for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service tender with as muchinformation as was required to allow them to construct a robust bid. A considerableamount of detailed information was made available to bidders at th…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had, and intends to have, with the operators of Caledonian MacBrayne, Western Ferries and V Ships in relation to the decision by each of the companies not to bid to operate the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service currently operated by Caledonian MacBrayne.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive plans to inviteeach of the companies involved to meetings to discuss the outcome of the tenderingprocess.</p>

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instruct Caledonian MacBrayne to continue to operate the ferry service on the Gourock to Dunoon route and, if so, whether it will provide a subsidy to Caledonian MacBrayne for the provision of that service.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29867 on 27 November 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…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has prepared to ensure the continued provision of ferry services on the Gourock to Dunoon route currently operated by Caledonian MacBrayne.

Answer · Tavish Scott: CalMac Ferries Ltd will continueto provide its Gourock to Dunoon service until such times as an alternative arrangementis put in place.</p>

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full cost has been to it of the tender process for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry services from the initial proposal to tender the route to the closure of the tender process on 13 November 2006.

Answer · Tavish Scott: It is not possible to providean exact estimate of the total cost of the tendering process. However, we are ableto provide approximate Scottish Executive staffing costs incurred during the tenderingprocess and approximate costs in relation to professional advi…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what independent analysis will be undertaken of the failure of the tender process for ferry services for both the Campbeltown to Ballycastle and the Gourock to Dunoon routes to attract bids.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29862 on 24 November 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…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has confidence in the procedures in place for the tender of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services, in light of the failure of tender processes for the operation of the Campbeltown to Ballycastle and the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service to attract bids.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29862 on 24 November. 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/wa.s…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will suspend the tender process for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Arrangements for the tenderingof the services are continuing. The services are being tendered to bring them intocompliance with the European Union’s Maritime Cabotage Regulation and EU rules onstate aids. Proceeding with the tender will allow us to protect th…

14 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what lessons it has learnt from the failure of the tender processes for both the Campbeltown to Ballycastle and the Gourock to Dunoon ferry routes to attract bids and whether it will apply those lessons to the tender process for the remaining Clyde and Hebrides ferry routes before that pr…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Campbeltown to Ballycastletender has not yet been completed as it has been suspended following the NorthernIreland Office’s decision to withdraw its funding commitment. The Executive hasasked the Northern Ireland Office to reconsider this decision. It is,…

13 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-26119 and S2W-28960 by Tavish Scott on 7 June and 9 November 2006 and given that the imposition of public service obligations (PSOs) is a precondition for any compensation being granted and that the Executive sees no need to consider, nor intends t…

Answer · Tavish Scott: On the specific question of compensation,we do intend to provide compensation to the operator of the Clyde and HebridesFerry Services as provided for in the 1992 Maritime Cabotage Regulation and EC legislationon state aid. We do not consider that this compens…

13 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26119 by Tavish Scott on 7 June 2006, whether the statement that “there is no need to consider, nor do we intend to consider, issues arising in relation to PSOs”, means that the Executive has precluded the use of public service obligations in the ten…

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29808 on 23 November 2006. 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/…

13 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28960 by Tavish Scott on 9 November 2006, whether the statement that “any contract imposes obligations on the contractor and in the case of a “public service contract” these are public service obligations” means that any and all obligations imposed b…

Answer · Tavish Scott: As noted in the response tothe answer to question S2W-28960 on 9 November 2006, the range of factors that canbe specified in “public service obligations” is limited to those set out in Article4.2 of the Maritime Cabotage Regulation. The obligations set out in…

13 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28960 by Tavish Scott on 9 November 2006 and in light of the European Transport Commissioner’s confirmation that the imposition of public service obligations is a precondition for any compensation being given, whether the Executive will specify the p…

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29808 on 23 November 2006. 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/…

13 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28960 by Tavish Scott on 9 November 2006, whether the answer indicates that there are different meanings for “public service obligation” and “Public Service Obligation” in respect of the application of the 1992 Maritime Cabotage Regulation and Europe…

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29808 on 23 November 2006. 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/…

13 Nov 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-28960 by Tavish Scott on 9 November 2006, what the possible alternative meanings of “public service obligations” are in respect of the application of the 1992 Maritime Cabotage Regulation and European Commission legislation on state aid.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-29808 on 23 November 2006. 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/…

31 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the invitation to tender for the Clyde and Hebrides lifeline ferry routes will be issued.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Executive is currently finalisingthe arrangements for the issue of the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for the Clyde and HebridesFerry Services. It is the intention to issue the ITT to the tenderers before theend of the year.</p>

9 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for subsidies, ferry operators and the communities that depend on lifeline ferry services of the statement in the Caledonian MacBrayne 2005-2006 Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements that “…the European Directive on maritime cabotage,…provides that …

Answer · Tavish Scott: There has been a degree of confusionon this issue in recent media coverage and it may be helpful if I set out a fullexplanation. Article 4.1 of the Maritime Cabotage Regulation says:</p><p>“A Member State may concludepublic service contracts with or impose pu…

9 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has about (a) why there is no data available for the NUTS 2 Scottish regions in relation to (i) population, (ii) employment in research and development, (iii) information and communication technology patent applications; (iv) biotechnology patent applications, (v) mort…

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Office for National Statistics(ONS) coordinate the supply of NUTS level data for each of the UK countriesto Eurostat. Some of the data used by Eurostat for their Regions:<i> </i>StatisticalYearbook<i> </i>were not available at the time of publication, alt…

5 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the official definition is of a hospice.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There is no official definitionof a hospice. However, hospices that provide specialist palliative care for NHSboards are expected to deliver services at a level set out in the <i>Clinical Standardsfor Specialist Palliative Care</i> which were published in 200…

2 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers that the delayed publication of the report of the budget review group will have on public perception of its openness and willingness to respond to feedback.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The report is an important partof our consideration of the next spending review.</p><p>Later publication providesministers with the time to explore carefully the options in the report.</p><p>The report will be as part of the background information that inform…

2 Oct 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its justification is for the delayed publication of the report of the budget review group, in light of an increasing emphasis on evidence-led policy making.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Early indications are that thenext spending review will be a time of lower growth in public spending soministers will need to make careful choices.</p><p>Later publication providesministers with the time to explore carefully the options in the report - early …

20 Sep 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how ministerial confidence in the Executive’s financial planning can be reconciled with the data in Statistics Release: Free Personal and Nursing Care Scotland 2002-2005 which omit figures for West Lothian in Table 13 and also imply that in 2004-05 the (a) gross cost per hour, gross of al…

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The statistics mentioned arebased on information provided by and quality assured by local authorities. Theyare not published as National Statistics as there are known problems with coverageand data quality which are gradually improving over time. All figures …

25 Aug 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how potential bidders for the Gourock-Dunoon ferry tender can comply with the condition to demonstrate that they have concluded several contingent contracts for a Gourock to Dunoon ferry service with VesCo by 30 October 2006, as referred to in the invitation to tender, given that VesCo d…

Answer · Tavish Scott: We expect that VesCo will bein existence by the closing date for the submission of proposals for theGourock tounoon service.</p>