Mr Keith Harding

15 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25514 by Peter Peacock on 14 May 2002, what grant funding was given to the Association of Scottish Community Councils in 1997-98 and 1998-99.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive provided grant funding of £37,000 in 1997-98 and £29,000 in 1998-99 to the Association of Scottish Community Councils.

1 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the si'e threshold stipulated for the mandatory licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), in the light of Issues in Improving Quality in Private Housing, the first report of the Housing Improvement Task Force and any anecdotal evidence that the reclas…

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive gave a commitment at the time the licensing scheme for HMOs was introduced to conduct a review of implementation in the light of the first year of operation of the scheme. Research to support this review is currently in progress and we …

1 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to remove the remaining rent controls on private sector landlords, in the light of the conclusion in Issues in Improving Quality in Private Housing, the first report of the Housing Improvement Task Force, that "the remaining rent controls in the regulated (private rente…

Answer · Margaret Curran: There are no plans at present to remove remaining rent controls on houses let by private sector landlords. However, we will consider any recommendations that the task force may make on this issue.

1 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to encourage a growth in the private rented sector to create a wider availability of property in this sector and encourage market forces to ensure that rental price better reflects the quality, rather than simply the scarcity, of each property, in the light of Issues in…

Answer · Margaret Curran: The remit of the Housing Improvement Task Force does not extend to issues of increasing supply; it is looking at the quality of the existing stock in the private rented sector. However, we are of the view that a strong private rented sector is important in pr…

1 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make any additional funds available to local authority non-housing revenue account housing expenditure in the light of Issues in Improving Quality in Private Housing, the first report of the Housing Improvement Task Force.

Answer · Margaret Curran: In announcing the publication of the Housing Improvement Task Force's first report, I also announced an additional £10 million as an initial allocation of resources for the implementation of its recommendations. We will make final decisions on the way these r…

1 May 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reintroduce the ring-fencing of local authority capital funds for non-housing revenue account spending on housing grants, in the light of the statement in paragraph 69.5.1 of Issues in Improving Quality in Private Housing, the first report of the Housing Improvement …

Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive has no plans at present to re-introduce a "ring-fence" for local authority non-housing revenue account expenditure on housing grants. We will, however, consider carefully any recommendations that the task force choose to make …

30 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) financial and (b) other support it has provided to the Association of Scottish Community Councils (ASCC) in each of the last three years.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive has provided support in the form of grant-funding to the ASCC over the past three financial years as follows: £29,000 in 1999-2000, £30,000 in 2000-01 and £27,000 in 2001-02.

30 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21589 by Peter Peacock on 29 April 2002, whether a list of those who voted in the Teith ward by-election in April 2002 will be publicly available for inspection as occurs in normal local authority elections.

Answer · Peter Peacock: No. Under the terms of the election pilot run at the Teith by-election, the poll was conducted by an all-postal ballot and every registered voter was issued with a ballot paper. Election rules prevent the use of completed ballot papers to mark a register.

30 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25189 by Peter Peacock on 29 April 2002, whether the issuing of ballot papers to postal voters in normal local authority elections is entered on a marked register.

Answer · Peter Peacock: In addition to the marked copy of the register showing the issue of ballot papers to voters at polling stations, marked copies are kept of the list of proxies, postal voters and postal proxies to whom ballot papers are issued.

26 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring forward proposals to upgrade the A92 between Preston, Fife, and the Tay Bridge.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: A programme of junction improvements is currently underway covering the Balfarg Junction, the Preston Roundabout and construction of a new roundabout at the Markinch/Tullis Russell Junction. In addition the Executive intends to commission a Route Study Report…

25 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the members of its Advisory Panel for the Review of Management and Decision-Making in NHSScotland were selected; why no patients' representative was included on the panel; how it will ensure that patients' interests are being addressed by the panel, and what budget has been set aside …

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Advisory Panel for the Review of Management and Decision-Making is intended to act as a high level reference group which will inform the overall strategic direction of the review. Its membership is not intended to be representative, and members have been …

24 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full costs were in publishing, printing and distributing Enforcement of Civil Obligations in Scotland: A Consultation Document.

Answer · Jim Wallace: The estimated total costs to date are £6,560.

24 Apr 2002 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet representatives of COSLA to discuss its submission to the 2002 Spending Review.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I will meet with COSLA in the next few weeks to discuss its Spending Review submission. Other ministers are also arranging meetings with COSLA to discuss their portfolio interests.

23 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual financial impact will be of the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions for (a) VisitScotland, (b) each area tourist board, (c) the Scottish Prison Service and (d) Communities Scotland in each of the next three years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25291.

23 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual financial impact will be of the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions for (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (c) each local enterprise company in each of the next three years.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The overall annual financial impact of the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions for the public sector in Scotland as a whole is estimated to be no more than £80 million. For any individual organisation such as the enterprise bodies, the imp…

18 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the North Atlantic drift has had on cod stocks in the North Sea.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The North Atlantic drift is part of the oceanic current system that is responsible for the temperate climate of the UK, and northwestern Europe. It influences the temperature of the North Sea, and is also likely to have an influence on cod stocks in the North…

18 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there was any scientific evidence to fully justify the closure of the Sprat fisheries in the Firth of Forth.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The seasonal closure of the sprat fishery in the inner waters of the Firth of Forth is currently set out in Article 21 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles o…

18 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is unnecessary for Stirling Council to maintain a marked register of all those who voted in the Teith Ward by-election held on 18 April 2002.

Answer · Peter Peacock: A marked register is used to show that ballot papers have been issued to a voter in person at the polling station. The by-election in the Teith ward was conducted as an election pilot under section 5 of the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Act 2002, and …

5 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, with regard to its news release SE5621/2002 on 28 March 2002, what criteria it used to select the winners in its Digital Communities initiative.

Answer · Iain Gray: There was strong interest in the Digital Communities initiative with 29 local authorities submitting a bid by the closing date of 30 November 2001. Bids were assessed against a range of criteria - including compatibility with digital inclusion objectives; ove…

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5228 by Mr Jim Wallace on 24 March 2000, what the additional direct costs associated with the abolition of Crown Exemption for police properties were in 2001-02 and what the estimated cost is for 2002-03.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Outturn information on the additional direct costs associated with the abolition of Crown Exemption for police properties in 2001-02 is not yet available.<P>The total additional amount estimated for non-domestic rates for police properties in 2002-03, based o…

3 Apr 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full costs were of publishing, printing and distributing The Scottish Budget: Annual Expenditure Report of the Scottish Executive 2003-04, including both the summary and detail booklets.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The costs of publishing, printing and distribution <I>of The Scottish Budget: Annual Expenditure Report of the Scottish Executive</I> for both the summary and detail documents are set out as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=387><TR><TD …

28 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full costs were of publishing, printing and distributing Renewing Local Democracy; The Next Steps.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Details of the full costs of publishing the document and summary are not yet available but the final cost is expected to be around £6,500. I will write to the member with this information once it is available and place a copy in the Parliament's Reference Cen…

28 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full costs were of publishing, printing and distributing Scottish Economic Statistics 2002.

Answer · Andy Kerr: The total cost of publishing <I>Scottish Economic Statistics 2002</I> was £18,468.

28 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full costs were of publishing, printing and distributing Water Supplies in Public Buildings: A Consultation.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The total cost was £1,627.52.<P>A breakdown of the costs is as follows:<P>Print costs - £1,332.75<P>Distribution - £85.78<P>Website conversion - £208.99.

28 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full costs were of publishing, printing and distributing Scotland's Bathing Waters: A strategy for improvement.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Two thousand copies of the bathing water strategy were printed. The costs of printing and publishing, including website conversion, were £2,314.46.<P>We are still distributing copies of the strategy on request. However, the main bulk of distribution was carri…

22 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full costs were of publishing, printing and distributing its consultation document Community Budgeting: A consultation on local services and community engagement.

Answer · Iain Gray: The publication and printing of the consultation document <I>Community Budgeting: A consultation on local services and community engagement</I> has to date cost £778. In addition, the distribution of the consultation document has so far cost an estimated £209…

18 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Fife Constabulary has any plans to close any police stations in its area and, if so, which police stations will be closed.

Answer · Jim Wallace: This is a matter for Fife Constabulary in the light of operational requirements.

18 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many police stations have been operated by Fife Constabulary in each of the last five years.

Answer · Jim Wallace: In each of the last five years, Fife Constabulary have operated the following numbers of police stations:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=94><TR><TD WIDTH="60%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>1998</TD><TD WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>31</TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH=…

7 Mar 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many circulars, guidelines and guidance notes it has issued to local authorities in each of the last three years.

Answer · Peter Peacock: This information requested is not collated centrally by the Scottish Executive and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. A significant amount of information is however issued by the Scottish Executive to local authorities. In an effort to reduce th…

28 Feb 2002 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it cost to print, publish and distribute its report Evaluation of New Deal for Young People in Scotland: Phase Two .

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The <I>Evaluation of New Deal for Young People in Scotland: Phase Two</I> report by the Policy Studies Institute was published by the Scottish Executive on 28 February 2002. The total cost to print, publish and distribute the report was £1,100.