Mr Keith Harding

26 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take in light of the report by Audit Scotland, 'A safer place': revisited - A review of progress in property risk management in schools, to cut the financial impact on schools resulting from vandalism.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Vandalism and fires in schools both cause disruption and distress to the pupils and staff affected by them and are matters of serious concern for the education service.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The recommendations in this report are directed at the local authorities…

22 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to tackle Huntingdon's Disease and to support sufferers of the disease.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: Huntington's Disease (HD) is a particularly distressing later onset hereditary illness caused by a faulty gene, which affects progressively the individual's ability to function physically, mentally and emotionally. There is no cure at present. Palliative care…

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of commissioning and publishing the research document The What, Where and When of Being a Councillor, produced by the Scottish Local Government Unit on behalf of its Central Research Unit.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The cost of commissioning and publishing this research document was £7,250.

21 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of commissioning and publishing the research document Motivations to Public Service, produced by George Street Research Ltd on behalf of its Central Research Unit.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The cost of commissioning and publishing this research document was £19,660.

15 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full cost was of the report GAE Population Distribution Indicators: Phase II prepared in 1998 by Pion Economics for the Scottish Office and whether it will publish the report.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The cost of the report was £23,855. A copy of the report is held in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 14427).

15 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full cost was of the report Street Cleaning GAE Assessment prepared in 1999 by Pion Economics on its behalf and whether it will publish the report.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The cost of the report was £18,342. A copy of the report is held in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 14426).

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full cost was of the report Parks, Allotments, Open Spaces and Regional Element GAE Review prepared in 2000 by Pion Economics on its behalf and whether it will publish the report.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The cost of the report was £19,309. A copy of the report is held in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 14429).

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full cost was of the report Corporate Economies of Scale Review prepared in 2000 by Pion Economics on its behalf and whether it will publish the report.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The cost of the report was £11,163. A copy of the report is held in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. no. 14428).

24 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed breakdown of the costs involved in publishing Checking for Change, including launch, printing and costs associated with publishing online.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The <I>Checking for Change</I> consultation paper has primarily been disseminated electronically. The launch of <I>Checking for Change</I> was carried out by news release and by e-mail to a number of relevant organisations. There were no separately identifiab…

22 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill applies to shared equity sheltered housing.

Answer · Iain Gray: The draft Title Conditions (Scotland) Bill, as prepared by the Scottish Law Commission, does contain provisions applicable to shared equity sheltered housing. As it stands, the Bill would provide a power for a majority of the owners to dismiss a manager appoi…

10 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to reverse any decline in the bird population.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: All birds are legally protected in the UK. The Scottish Executive and Scottish Natural Heritage work with a variety of governmental and non-governmental organisations to maintain and enhance the status of various species of birds which have shown sustained pe…

10 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its decision not to agree to Fife Council's request for new signposting on the A985 to the historic villages of Limekilns and Charlestown.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The original proposals submitted by Fife Council last year were not in accordance with Tourist Signposting Policy. However, revised proposals submitted earlier this year are likely to be approved by Executive officials who will be discussing the final design …

8 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in relation to local authorities being asked for permission by local politicians for political literature to be distributed, via teachers, to school children and what guidance it issues to local authorities on dealing with such requests.

Answer · Peter Peacock: This is a matter for local authorities and no guidance is issued by the Executive.

8 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15057 by Peter Peacock on 4 May 2001, what the difference is between technical consultation and other types of consultation.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The response to question S1W-15057 referred to a particular consultation dealing with draft legislation giving effect to policy which had already been the subject of public consultation and discussion.

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-15055 by Peter Peacock on 26 April 2001, when copies of its Consultation on the draft Local Government (Timing of Elections) (Scotland) Bill were issued to local authorities.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Copies of this consultation were issued by e-mail to all local authorities on 30 March. A number of authorities indicated that, because of technical problems, these were not received on that date but all have confirmed that the documents were received by mid-…

3 May 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of publishing and launching its Changing for the future: Social work services for the 21st Century document, including both the local and overview reports.

Answer · Jack McConnell: The cost of publishing and launching the report was £32,000.

20 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9252 by Mr Jack McConnell on 4 October 2000, whether it will publish the actuarial estimates made by local authorities regarding the impact of abolition of advance corporation tax credits.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The provision of £27 million made available to local authorities in 1999-2000 for the abolition of Advance Corporation Tax credits matched with CoSLA's estimates of the additional costs based on returns from local authorities. It is a matter for individual au…

20 Apr 2001 · SPCB Written Question

To ask the Presiding Officer, further to his answer to question S1W-9781 on 22 September 2000, what financial impact the abolition of advance corporation tax credits will have on the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme in 2001-02 and 2002-03.

Answer · David Steel: The abolition of advance corporation tax credits will have no financial impact on the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme in 2001-02 and 2002-03.

20 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9252 by Mr Jack McConnell on 4 October 2000, what provision has been made in the financial settlement for each local authority for 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03 to offset the cost of the abolition of advance corporation tax credit for pension funds.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The sum of £38.5 million which was made available to local authorities in 2000-01 and 2001-02 for the abolition of Advance Corporation Tax credits has been retained in the local government settlement for 2002-03. Additional provision has also been made for ge…

20 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-9252 by Mr Jack McConnell on 4 October 2000, what financial provision will be made for local authorities for the impact of the abolition of advance corporation tax credit for pension funds in 2002-03.

Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-15206.

12 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the abolition of advance corporation tax on pension funds has had on the budgets of (a) Highlands and Island Enterprise, (b) the Accounts Commission for Scotland, (c) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, (d) the Scottish Legal Aid Board, (e) Scottish Natural Heritage an…

Answer · Angus MacKay: No adjustments have been made to the Executive's budgets for these organisations as a result of the abolition of payment of tax credits to pension schemes for dividends paid on or after the July 1997 budget day.<P>It is well worth making the point that not al…

12 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the full cost was of publishing, launching and distributing its Review of Funding for Black and Minority Ethnic Groups in the Voluntary Sector document.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The consultant's final report on the <I>Review of Funding for Black and</I> <I>Minority Ethnic Groups in the Voluntary Sector</I> was published by the Executive on 26 March for consultation until 31 July. 5,000 copies of the report have been printed. Printing…

12 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why it did not issue a press release announcing the launch of its consultation on the draft Local Government (Timing of Elections) (Scotand) (Bill).

Answer · Peter Peacock: Press releases are not routinely issued to draw attention to technical consultations such as this.

12 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what budget has been set aside to cover the costs of its consultation on the draft Local Government (Timing of Elections) (Scotland) Bill, broken down by staff, publicity, printing and any other categories of expenditure.

Answer · Peter Peacock: This type of consultation is part of the normal workload of Scottish Executive staff as the Government is committed to, wherever practicable, pre-legislative consultation on draft bills. There were no publicity or printing costs as the consultation documents …

12 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations and individuals have been sent copies of its Consultation on the draft Local Government (Timing of Elections) (Scotland) (Bill).

Answer · Peter Peacock: Copies of the consultation documents were sent to:<P>Leaders of Scottish Local Authorities<P>Chief Executives of Scottish Local Authorities<P>Convention of Scottish Local Authorities<P>SOLACE<P>SOLAR<P>MSPs<P>Local Government Committee<P>Scottish Parliament I…

6 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce a quality mark scheme for public bodies as part of its 21st Century Government programme.

Answer · Angus MacKay: We have no plans at present to make any particular quality scheme mandatory; but we believe that the various schemes available which are aimed at raising service and quality standards (including Chartermark, Investors in People, EFQM the business excellence m…

5 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10392 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 30 October 2000, whether it will publish the criteria to be used for the designation of pressured areas in relation to its plans to exempt some areas from right to buy under its Housing (Scotland) Bill.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: The criteria are set out in section 39 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill. This will be supplemented by further guidance in due course.

5 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation exercises on (a) local government and (b) housing have been initiated since 1 July 1999.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Effective consultation is fundamental to good government. The Scottish Executive is committed to providing appropriate opportunities for all those who wish to express their opinions on a proposed area of policy change to do so in ways which will inform and en…

5 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take in response to the statement in the Accounts Commission's Overview of the 1999/2000 Local Authority Audits that progress in developing corporate governance arrangements in local authorities has been relatively slow.

Answer · Peter Peacock: Developing corporate governance arrangements should be seen as an evolutionary process, both as councils develop their performance management systems under Best Value and policy development and decision-making structures following the McIntosh Report. The Lea…

5 Apr 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to assist local authorities to address the need identified in the Accounts Commission's Overview of the 1999/2000 Local Authority Audits to improve the quality of performance information in relation to direct labour organisations and direct service organisat…

Answer · Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive will continue its partnership approach with the Accounts Commission, local authorities and others to further develop Best Value in local government. Best Value encourages the pursuit of continuous improvement and effective performance m…