Former Member of the Scottish Parliament

Mr Keith Harding

Unknown party

At a glance Mr Keith Harding was a Member of the Scottish Parliament.

Questions382 tabled

Mr Keith Harding has tabled 382 questions in the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34201 by Peter Peacock on 5 March 2003, when it wi… 13 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34201 by Peter Peacock on 5 March 2003, when it will make its decision on the request for grant funding from the Association of Scottish Community Councils.

Answer · Peter Peacock · 21 Mar 2003

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34201 on 5 March 2003. We are waiting for further information from the Association of Scottish Community Councils in relation to its request for further funding. 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/search_wa">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa</A>.

To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of printing, publishing and distributing its annual report, Appointm… 5 Mar 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of printing, publishing and distributing its annual report, Appointments to Non-Departmental Public Bodies in Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr · 13 Mar 2003

The Executive's annual report on Appointments to Scottish Public Bodies is published in accordance with the recommendations of the First Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. The total cost of printing, publishing and distributing the report was £2623.48 (incl. VAT).

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement the recommendation made by the Accounts Commission's Overview o… 28 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will implement the recommendation made by the Accounts Commission's Overview of the 2001/02 local authority audits and Taking the initiative - Using PFI contracts to renew council schools that the Executive should consider developing a leadership role in order to ensure that the special experience and skills learned from current private finance initiative schools projects are transferred to future projects.

Answer · Andy Kerr · 11 Mar 2003

The Financial Partnerships Unit within the Scottish Executive has already developed a leadership role with regard to local authority schools public private partnership(PPP) projects in order that the experience and skills learned from current PPP projects are transferred to future schools projects. This role is continuing to evolve and takes several forms.To date, five seminars covering the PPP process and related skills have been held by the Scottish Executive. Three two-day training workshops will be held shortly. In addition, the Executive has encouraged and supported several seminars arranged by other organisations such as the Scottish Leadership Foundation and private companies.The Executive has commissioned Partnerships UK to undertake a Key Stage Review of each of the schools PPP projects. This will occur at two stages within the project, pre-Invitation to Negotiate stage and pre-Preferred Bidder appointment, and is intended to assure both the education authority and the Executive that the project is sufficiently well prepared to proceed to the next stage of the procurement. In support of the Staffing Protocol, a Technical Guidance Note "Scoping of Facilities Management Services and In-house Bids" was published for consultation in February. Members of Financial Partnerships Unit attend project board meetings. This acts as a useful check on how the authority is progressing with their project and can highlight any different approaches between projects. The Financial Partnerships Unit also provides advisory support to the Scottish Schools PPP Group.

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to the finding in the Accounts Commission's Overview… 28 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to the finding in the Accounts Commission's Overview of the 2001/02 local authority audits that "scope exists for improvement in the arrangements for monitoring the proper and effective use of funds".

Answer · Andy Kerr · 11 Mar 2003

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-34376 today. 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/search_wa">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa</A>.

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to assist local authorities in addressing the quality of perform… 28 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to assist local authorities in addressing the quality of performance of direct labour organisations (DLOs) and direct service organisations (DSOs), following the finding of the Accounts Commission's Overview of the 2001/02 local authority audits that the percentage of DLOs and DSOs breaking even has fallen since 2000-01.

Answer · Andy Kerr · 11 Mar 2003

Scottish Executive officials met formally with representatives of those local authorities with significant deficits earlier this year. These discussions established the causes of the deficits, and that recovery plans were being developed for the DSOs and DLOs in question. Progress against the recovery plans will be monitored and kept under review.

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to the finding in the Accounts Commission's Overview… 28 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take in response to the finding in the Accounts Commission's Overview of the 2001/02 local authority audits that "if Scotland's recycling record is to improve councils need to give recycling greater priority".

Answer · Ross Finnie · 7 Mar 2003

The Executive launched the National Waste Plan on 24 February 2003, which establishes the direction of our policies for sustainable waste management to 2020. This plan provides an integrated summary of the 11 Area Waste Plans, which were prepared by groups including local authority representatives. Implementing this plan will achieve 25% recycling and composting of municipal waste by 2006, and 55% by 2020. The Executive has allocated over £230 million over the next three years alone for local authorities to implement the Area Waste Plans. I announced funding of almost £110 million to eight local authorities over 17 years on 3 February. I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33419 on 3 February 2003. 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/search_wa">http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa</A>. Further bids from local authorities to the Strategic Waste Fund are currently being assessed.The Local Government (Scotland) Act 2003 places a new duty on local authorities to prepare integrated waste management plans for ministers' approval. The Executive will use this provision to direct authorities to establish mandatory recycling targets which will be based on the Area Waste Plans.

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take any action in response to the finding in the Accounts Commission's O… 28 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take any action in response to the finding in the Accounts Commission's Overview of the 2001/02 local authority audits that some local authority joint boards have yet to establish audit committees or equivalent scrutiny mechanisms.

Answer · Andy Kerr · 11 Mar 2003

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the continuing weaknesses in the fundamental financia… 28 Feb 2003 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to address the continuing weaknesses in the fundamental financial controls of local authority audits referred to in the Accounts Commission's Overview of the 2001/02 local authority audits.

Answer · Andy Kerr · 11 Mar 2003

It is the responsibility of the local authorities concerned to respond to weaknesses revealed by the auditors. From 1 April the new duty of Best Value provided in the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 will be accompanied by a broadening of the grounds on which the Accounts Commission can formally hold local authorities to account for poor performance caused by such weaknesses.

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Motions lodged44 lodged

26 Mar 2003	Closing the Opportunity Gap for Older People	0 sig.
7 Feb 2003	Fife's Ice Safety Plan	5 sig.
6 Feb 2003	Dog Fouling (Scotland) Bill	1 sig.
20 Nov 2002	Levenmouth Drug and Alcohol Project	6 sig.
6 Nov 2002	Quality of Life	0 sig.
10 Oct 2002	Breast Cancer Awareness	25 sig.

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Seat & career1 seat held

Mid Scotland and Fife (region) Regional MSP · Dissolution 6 May 1999 – 31 Mar 2003

Source: this MSP's profile on parliament.scot.

Source: this MSP's official Scottish Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.