Parliamentary questions
Mr Keith Raffan
121 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Sep 1999 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the charging of voluntary organisations for criminal record checks on their staff.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We fully appreciate the contribution voluntary organisations make, and are concerned about the impact charging for criminal record checks will have. I am therefore pleased to announce today that I am establishing a review group to consider in detail charging…
29 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of the cost of renting office accommodation for the Scotland Office is being met from its block grant.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to Lord James Douglas-Hamilton's question S1W-745.
28 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister was consulted by the Secretary of State for Scotland in regard to the cost of setting up offices and employing additional staff for the Scotland Office.
Answer · Donald Dewar: Yes.
28 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made or intends to make any representations to Her Majesty's Government in regard to the number and allocation of staff to be employed in the Scotland Office and the remit of each of its departments and, if it has, to provide details of such representations.
Answer · Donald Dewar: The staffing requirements of the Scotland Office is properly a matter for that government department. My officials are, however, assisting the Scotland Office with meeting their staffing needs.
27 Jul 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer to specify the total expected running cost of the Parliament for the current financial year and for each of the next three financial years and to disaggregate the cost by committee and by directorate.
Answer · David Steel: The provision for the Scottish Parliament for this year and the following 2 years are published in The Government's Expenditure Plans 1999-00 to 2001-02. The expenditure plans for the Scottish Parliament are as follows: <P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><DIR><DIR><B><…
27 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify its estimated total running cost for the current financial year and each of the next three financial years and to disaggregate the cost by department.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive's expenditure plans for 1999-2000 to 2001-2002 are set out in "Serving Scotland's Needs". Appendix 3 of this publication shows the planned expenditure on running costs in 1999-2000 for the whole of the Scottish Executive. The …
27 Jul 1999 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer to specify the total cost of MSP's salaries and allowances for the current financial year and each of the next three financial years.
Answer · David Steel: MSPs' salaries and allowances for the current year and the following 2 years are estimated to be:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">		<B>£million<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">	1999-00	2000-01	2001-02<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">	Plans	Plans	Plans<D…
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the percentage increase, in cash and in real terms, by which Scottish expenditure in each devolved area will increase over the next three years and the comparable figures for equivalent matters in England and Wales.
Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to his earlier question (S1W-691).
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that, as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review, Scottish expenditure on devolved matters will increase more slowly than expenditure on the equivalent matters in England and Wales over the next three years.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Based on figures in the Public Expenditure: Statistical Analyses 1999-2000 the Scottish Budget grows on average by 1.7 per cent per annum in real terms over the CSR period, while UK Total Managed Expenditure grows on average by 2.8 per cent per annum in real …
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the expected total cost to the Scottish Consolidated Fund of the Scotland Office in the current financial year and each of the next three financial years.
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to his earlier question (S1W-679).
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the expected total cost of its press and public relations operations for the current financial year and each of the next three financial years.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The estimated total running cost of press and public relations operations for the Scottish Executive and its Agencies for the current financial year is £2,280,900.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Figures for subsequent financial years are not available.
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the expected total cost of Scottish Executive Ministers' special advisers and press officers for the current financial year and each of the next three financial years, and to specify the number of special advisers and press officers, how many are attached to each department and…
Answer · Donald Dewar: Until numbers are final, it is not possible to specify the expected cost of special advisers, either for the current financial year or for the next 3 years.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">There are currently 7 special advisers in the Scottish Executive, 4 of whom work in …
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the expected total cost of Scottish Executive Ministerial salaries for the current financial year and each of the next three financial years and to breakdown the cost for each Minister.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Salaries are set at £33,360 for Ministers and £17,305 for Deputy Ministers, with the exceptions of the First Minister (£64,308), the Lord Advocate (£86,186) and the Solicitor General (£73,755). Scottish Ministerial salaries, therefore, should total £697,539 i…
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what official meetings have taken place between the First Minister and the Secretary of State for Scotland and between the Minister for Finance and the Secretary of State for Scotland to discuss the expected cost to the Scottish Consolidated Fund of establishing and running the Scotland O…
Answer · Donald Dewar: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to his earlier question (S1W-679).
23 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an official residence is to be acquired for the Secretary of State for Scotland and, if so, to specify the expected total cost to the Scottish Consolidated Fund of acquiring such a residence.
Answer · Donald Dewar: The provision or otherwise of an official residence for the Secretary of State for Scotland is a matter for the United Kingdom Government. Any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State, for whatever purpose, comes from the United Kingdom Consolidated Fun…
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm that its first Annual Report will outline its budget proposals for the financial year 2001-02 and its provisional budget plans for the following two financial years.
Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to his earlier question (S1W-648).
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish its first Annual Report, as recommended in the Financial Issues Advisory Group report.
Answer · Jack McConnell: We plan to publish our first report on 20 March 2000 which is in advance of the recommended FIAG deadline. It will contain provisional budget plans up to financial year 2001-02, which is the latest year for which a Scottish Budget has been agreed with the UK …
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to what detailed level it plans to disaggregate its budget figures.
Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to his earlier question (S1W-646).
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will present the budget documents not only according to current Scottish Executive departmental structure, but also reflecting the former Scottish Office departmental structure, in order to make possible direct comparison with spending in previous years in both cash and real te…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive is committed to allowing time for detailed scrutiny of draft Budget proposals by Subject committees and the Finance committee. Final Budget proposals will be presented to the Parliament in January alongside the Budget Bill. Following FI…
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish its detailed budget proposals for the financial year 2000-01.
Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the Member to the answer I gave to his earlier question (S1W-639).
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is its timetable for a more detailed discussion on spending priorities with the Finance Committee, following the publication of its preliminary draft budget for the financial year 2000-2001.
Answer · Jack McConnell: I intend to discuss and agree a timetable with the Convener of the Finance Committee shortly.
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish its preliminary draft budget for the financial year 2000-01.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The revised draft budget for 2000-01 will be presented to Parliament in October 1999.
21 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its plans are for discussions with the Parliament and the Finance Committee on its strategic spending priorities for the financial year 2000-2001, and what is its deadline for those discussions.
Answer · Jack McConnell: As I said during the debate on Financial Issues on 24 June, I intend to make a statement in the autumn on the financial expenditure announced in the partnership agreement. The revised draft budget for 2000-01, based on decisions of the new Scottish Executive,…
8 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what will be the organisational structure of the Drug Enforcement Agency and how will it relate to the existing police forces, their drug squads and Custom and Excise.
Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer the Member to my answer to his earlier question S1W-00488.
8 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive who it plans to appoint as Chief Executive of the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer the Member to my answer to his earlier question S1W-00488.
8 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive where it plans to locate the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer the Member to my answer to his earlier question S1W-00488.
8 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what will be the cost of setting up the Drug Enforcement Agency, what will be the its total budget in the first year of operation and whether it will provide a breakdown of that budget by cost of premises, staff, administration, and other costs.
Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer the Member to my answer to his earlier question S1W-00488.
8 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to initiate a parliamentary debate on the role and purpose of the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer the Member to my answer to his earlier question S1W-00488.
8 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide additional resources to the Scottish Courts and the Scottish Prison Services to deal with the potential increase in the number of prosecutions and imprisonments arising from the work of the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer the Member to my answer to his earlier question S1W-00488.
8 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to consult on how the Drug Enforcement Agency will operate and whether the consultation will include the Scottish Advisory Committee on Drug Misuse, the Scottish Drugs Forum and COSLA.
Answer · Angus MacKay: I refer the Member to my answer to his earlier question S1W-00488.