Jim Mather

3 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise’s statement that it will take 15 to 20 years before any material benefit of its current policy will become apparent, what measures the Executive will take to enforce short-term accountability and accelerate the delivery of positive r…

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24956 on 4 May 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.sea…

3 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise’s statement that it will take 15 to 20 years before any material benefit of its current policy will become apparent, on what basis such a long-term delay in the achievement of positive results is justifiable.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish Enterprise isrequired to promote economic growth by pursuing the strategic direction set outby the Executive. This strategy involves short, medium and long-term objectives.While many programmes and projects will have an impact in the short term, the …

3 Apr 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the projects that have attracted Scottish Enterprise support in 2005-06.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: This is an operational matterfor Scottish Enterprise. A central list is not held by the Executive.</p>

31 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of reserves are held by Scottish Enterprise; where they are held, and what the process is for enabling Scottish Enterprise to access these funds.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Details of Scottish Enterprise’s2004-05 reserves are published in their annual accounts (Scottish ParliamentInformation Centre Bib. number 37329). The level of their 2005-06 reserves willbe reported in this year’s annual accounts.</p><p>Scottish Enterprise ca…

31 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the methods that are in place to measure the effectiveness of the performance of Scottish Enterprise and local enterprise companies compare with performance measures used elsewhere.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: A recent Audit Scotland reportexamined performance measurement in Scottish Enterprise and as part of this comparedmethods with those of similar agencies. The report concluded that Scottish Enterprise’sapproach is “well advanced”.</p>

31 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what methods are in place to measure the effectiveness of the performance of Scottish Enterprise and local enterprise companies beyond the assessment of best value.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The enterprise networks designtheir activities to achieve progress against the outcome measures tracked in theannual <i>Measuring Progress Towards a Smart</i>, <i>Successful Scotland </i>(SSS)reports published by the Scottish Executive. The resulting programm…

31 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been budgeted to pay the consultancy fees of KPMG for its work on confirming Scottish Enterprise's projected resource spend for 2005-06.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive expectto pay KPMG approximately £60,000 for its work in relation to Scottish Enterprise’soverspend.</p>

31 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Enterprise's £30 million overspend is the gross amount or net of the impact of other remedial steps that have been taken in 2005-06.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Scottish Enterprise estimatedin February that, following prioritisation, it would have an overspend of £30 million.The Executive engaged independent advisers to assess the accuracy of this figureand their report is available on the Executive’s website. The to…

28 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of its budget is spend on goods and services originally sourced from the Ireland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: This information is not collectedcentrally.</p>

28 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that ongoing maintenance work on the section of the A82 between Tarbet and Ardlui is carried out in accordance with the contractual obligations covering such maintenance work.

Answer · Tavish Scott: ScotlandTranServ took over thetrunk road term maintenance contract for the A82 and other trunk routes in the NorthWest Unit on 1 April 2006 and their contractual duties will be managed and monitoredby staff within Transport Scotland with assistance from the i…

28 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the delay in publishing the Route Action Plan for the A82 is having on ongoing maintenance work on the section of the road between Tarbet and Ardlui.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The publication of the <i>RouteAction Plan</i> will have no impact on the on-going maintenance works on the sectionof the A82 between Tarbet and Ardlui.</p><p>Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more in…

28 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it anticipates that the Route Action Plan for the A82 will be published.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The A82 Route Action Plan wasmade public on 19 April 2006. An Executive Summary of the Plan has been placed onthe Transport Scotland website and can be found at:</p><p><ahref="http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/uploads/documents/scott_wilson_A82_Route_action…

27 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24306 by Allan Wilson on 24 March 2006, what the cash flow implications will be in terms of the source and application of structural funds from the European Union in (a) 2006-07 and (b) those subsequent years for which data is available.

Answer · Allan Wilson: The Scottish Executive is reimbursedfor the expenditure it incurs in relation to European Structural Funds by the EuropeanCommission. Such reimbursements are requested on a regular basis, however, at anygiven time the amount disbursed by the Scottish Executiv…

21 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what general principles it uses to set ferry subsidies and to justify the difference between existing and proposed subsidies.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive treatseach existing or proposed lifeline ferry contract on its merits, taking accountof economic and social needs in formulating the service specification for the routes.On the basis of past experience, knowledge of the routes and resea…

15 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-23196 and S2W-23198 by Allan Wilson on 10 March 2006 and notwithstanding the fact that it is awaiting decisions on the new European structural funding regulations, what arrangements have been made with the HM Treasury for the treatment of EU receip…

Answer · Allan Wilson: In 2006-07 and subsequentyears structural funds income from the European Union will be offset againstthe Scottish Assigned Budget to fund expenditure incurred under the relevantregulations.</p>

10 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23197 by Allan Wilson on 10 March 2006 in respect of underspending under the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme which led to automatic de-commitment of European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund monies in 2003 and Financial I…

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24124 on 20 March 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/wa.…

10 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23197 by Allan Wilson on 10 March 2006 in respect of underspending under the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme which led to automatic de-commitment of European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund monies in 2003 and Financial I…

Answer · Allan Wilson: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24124 on 20 March 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/wa.…

10 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-23197 by Allan Wilson on 10 March 2006, who the project beneficiaries were whose underspending under the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme led to automatic de-commitment of European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund monies i…

Answer · Allan Wilson: This answer also covers questionsS2W-24125 and S2W-24126 answered on 20 March 2006.</p><p>In 2003 a total of €2,026,960.77(£1,380,461) was deducted from the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fundelement of the Highlands and Islands Special Transitio…

10 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the allocation of European Structural funding by the European Union was for the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme for 2000 to 2006; whether all this money will have been received by the Executive from HM Treasury by the end of 2006-07, and, if not, how much will ha…

Answer · Allan Wilson: The European Structural Fundsallocation for the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme (2000-06)is in the following table:</p><table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3 width=530> <tr> <td width=335 valign=top> <p align=center>Fund</p> </td…

10 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received from HM Treasury the full allocation of European Structural funding for (a) Scottish regions, (b) Scotland as a whole and (c) Scottish programmes for the period 2000-2006 and what those amounts were.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Expenditure for the Scottishprogrammes is paid in arrears to the member state through the Treasury, which thenremits in full to the Scottish Executive. Aswe are currently still within the 2000-06 programming period, the full allocationfor all Scottish program…

9 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the gross disposable household income is per head at current prices in (a) Scotland and (b) each local authority area in Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-24075 on 20 March 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/wa.…

9 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total Gross Value Added is at current basic prices for (a) Scotland and (b) each local authority area in Scotland.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The latest cash estimates ofGross Value Added (GVA or GDP at basic prices) available for Scotland arepresented in the Office for National Statistics Regional Accounts. These providea provisional estimate of GVA at current prices for Scotland in 2004of £82 bil…

9 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the gross disposable household income is per head at current prices in Scotland, shown as a percentage of the gross disposable household income per head in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) each local authority area in Scotland.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Net income per head in Scotland in 2004-05is estimated to be £183 per week. This is 94% of the Great Britainestimate per head of £195.</p><p>The Scottish Executive is unableto supply estimates at the local authority level.</p>

8 Mar 2006 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body to what extent the costs caused by the recent problem with the roof of the chamber are being offset by insurance or met directly by the construction companies responsible for those aspects of the building.

Answer · George Reid: I refer the Member to myletter to all MSPs of 11 May 2006. A copy of the letter is available at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-046.htm">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-06/pa06-046.htm</a>.</p>

24 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what aspect of the Accounts Commission’s report, Argyll and Bute Council: The Audit of Best Value and Community Planning, gave the Scottish Executive most concern and what action it will take to address the situation.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I wrote to the Council Leader,Allan MacAskill on 14 February following publication of the Best Value Audit ofArgyll and Bute Council, noting my concern that the report describes a council lackingclear corporate leadership to drive change and promote a culture…

23 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what level of funding it plans to make available to support the running costs of the upgraded facilities at Oban Airport.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has madea commitment to fund operations at Oban Airport which is owned by Argyll and Bute Council. The operationof the airport will be subject to competitive tendering arrangements.</p>

22 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22816 by Mr Tom McCabe on 21 February 2006 whether it will detail the specific measures it is taking to ensure that visas are issued for applicants in each of the following categories: (a) international students, (b) those looking for employment, (c)…

Answer · Tom McCabe: Immigration issues,including the issuing of visas and work permits, are a matter for the HomeOffice and UKVisas. However, the Relocation Advisory Service, which was set upas part of the Fresh Talent initiative, includes immigration experts who areable to offe…

22 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22816 by Mr Tom McCabe on 21 February 2006, whether it will detail the specific measures it is taking to attract each of the following categories: (a) international students, (b) those looking for employment, (c) entrepreneurs interested in setting u…

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Fresh Talent initiativehas already made considerable progress in seeking to attract bright, talentedand hard-working individuals to come and live, work and study in Scotland. Wehave established a Relocation Advisory Service to act as a one-stop stopofferi…

22 Feb 2006 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of senior staff in NHS Western Isles are currently suffering from stress-related illnesses, are on long term sick leave or are involved in grievance procedures and how these figures compare with the average percentages for each category in the other NHS boards.

Answer · Andy Kerr: These are matters for theboard and information is not held centrally. However, national records do show thatthat the sickness absence rate for all absence in 2004-05 for NHS Western Isleswas 4.87%, well below the national average of 5.35%.</p><p>The chairman …

15 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its understanding is in respect of what Government Expenditure and Revenue in Scotland data “should and should not be used for” as referred to by the UK National Statistician and Registrar General in his letter of 29 September 2004 to the Chief Statistician.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is asfollows: </p><p>Communities Scotlandregulates all of Scotland’s social housing; this includes the inspection of thelandlord services and services to homeless…