Parliamentary questions
Kenneth Gibson
2,008 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
9 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the view of Strathclyde Passenger Transport that football fans in Glasgow should not travel to matches by Underground.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The operation of the Glasgow Underground is a matter for the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive.
9 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what it considers to be the impact on confidence in public transport in Glasgow as a result of the closing down of the Underground system for five hours on 31 July.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: The operation of the Glasgow Underground is a matter for the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive.
6 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that any additional costs incurred by Scottish local authorities as a result of decisions made by the Parliament should be fully funded from expenditure approved by the Parliament rather than by local authorities themselves.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Any potential new burdens on local authorities arising from decisions taken by the Scottish Executive will be discussed fully with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities as part of the statutory consultations which take place each year on the local gove…
6 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that any additional costs incurred from the Scottish Consolidated Fund as a consequence of decisions by the Westminster Parliament should be fully funded by Her Majesty's Treasury.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The funding arrangements for the devolved administrations are set out in the Statement of Funding Policy, published by HM Treasury on 31 March 1999. The Statement provides that budgets may be exceptionally adjusted to compensate a devolved administration for …
6 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its view is on the extent to which the increase in violent crime of 17.5% in attempted murders, 9.25% in serious assaults, and 12.7% in robberies across Strathclyde last year can be attributed to cuts in funding which leave Strathclyde Police 350 officers below the establishment deem…
Answer · Jim Wallace: Grant aided expenditure to forces last year was increased by 2.4%. Most forces reported an increase in recorded crime but some did not. There was therefore no question of funding being cut nor any apparent relationship between trends in funding and trends in …
4 Aug 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-586 by Mr Jack McConnell on 30 July, whether the advance planning and preparations for converting from Sterling to the Euro, and the changeover itself, will require local authorities to incur costs and, if so, what these costs are estimated to be and…
Answer · Jack McConnell: It is too early to estimate the potential costs to local authorities, if it were decided that the United Kingdom should join the Economic and Monetary Union. As I indicated in my previous response (to Question S1W-585 on 30 July 1999) both the Scottish Execu…
20 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that public sector organisations which are within its general responsibility and who are able to borrow in European currencies, review their currency portfolios or any derivative contracts in order to avoid being locked into higher interest payments in…
Answer · Jack McConnell: The only relevant public sector organisations currently borrowing from European Institutions are local authorities.<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>The Scottish Executive and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) are both represented on the Joint C…
20 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any businesses in Scotland which were made bankrupt as a result of the late payment of bills by local authorities in Scotland in the financial years 1997/98 and 1998/99 and, if so, how many.
Answer · Henry McLeish: Official Insolvency Statistics are published quarterly by the Department of Trade and Industry. There were 2,585 individual insolvencies (sequestrations) and 501 company insolvencies in Scotland in 1997/98 and 3,090 individual insolvencies and 569 company ins…
20 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the total amount of money owed by local authorities in Scotland, in the current financial year, in respect of bills from contractors and suppliers after the date due for payment.
Answer · Jack McConnell: This information is not held centrally.
16 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the expected impact on the financial systems of local authorities in Scotland in the event of the United Kingdom entering European Monetary Union and what measures will be put in place to deal with the impact.
Answer · Jack McConnell: There would be considerable implications for financial systems. For example systems including payroll, pension, purchasing and billing operations would need to be adapted to handle the Euro as would council tax and business rate collection arrangements. Coi…
16 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it envisages any disruption to local authority services in Scotland as a result of preparing for the possible entry of the United Kingdom into European Monetary Union.
Answer · Frank McAveety: A Joint Central/Local Government Working Group has been established to ensure that any disruption that arises from a decision to join the Economic and Monetary Union is kept to a minimum as far as local authority services are concerned. The Scottish Executive…
16 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the estimated cost to local authorities in Scotland of converting from Sterling to the Euro and whether local authorities will be expected to meet this cost from their existing resources.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The cost of changeover would depend on the approach taken. By undertaking advance planning and preparations, we will ensure that local authorities are in a position to make a smooth and cost-effective changeover.
16 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans have been made to prepare local authorities in Scotland for the possible entry of the United Kingdom into European Monetary Union between 2002 and 2005.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) are both represented on the Joint Central/Local Government Working Group set up by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) to consider the introduction…
16 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to provide a list of the local authorities in Scotland who pay more than 25 per cent of their bills from contractors and suppliers after 30 days from the date due for payment.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Information on the percentage of invoices paid within 30 days is published by the Accounts Commission in their Annual Report "Comparing the Performance of Scottish Councils 1997-98" (Figure 3). Based on this information, the authorities that p…
15 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to recognise Glasgow's metropolitan status in serving an area much wider than its designated boundaries.
Answer · Jack McConnell: We already recognise the additional pressures which Glasgow and other major urban centres face. The local government finance settlement takes account of commuters and other non-residents in the assessments for a number of council services.<B><FONT FACE="Aria…
9 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that Glasgow is not adversely affected by the decrease in the proportion of the UK population covered by objective 1 and Objective 2 status.
Answer · Jack McConnell: As noted in my reply of 30 June to the Member's earlier question, the responsibility for agreeing a list of areas where the UK will propose Objective 2 designation lies with the UK Government. The Scottish Executive and the UK Government are considering join…
9 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the planned level of capital investment in the National Health Service in Scotland for financial years 1999/2000 to 2001/2002 inclusive, in real terms.
Answer · Susan Deacon: Capital investment at 1999-2000 prices is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=529><TR><TD WIDTH="57%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="43%" VALIGN="TOP"><B><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">£ million</B></TD></TR><TR><TD WI…
9 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is providing to schools in the current financial year in order to reduce the number of pupils being expelled.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive is providing £6m in the current financial year to education authorities through the Excellence Fund and the pilot Alternatives to Exclusion Programme. These resources will support authorities in making provision for pupils at risk of e…
7 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the future of the Glasgow Careers service.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The existing contract between the First Minister and Glasgow Careers Service Company expires on 31 March 2000. The company will be asked to re-contract and it is expected that the contract documentation will issue towards the end of September. Providing…
7 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the membership, remit and report date for the review of local authority capital finances.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The existing review of the local authority (non-housing) capital finance system is being taken forward under the auspices of the Capital Planning Committee of the Working Party on Local Government Finance in Scotland, comprising representatives of the Scottis…
7 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the review of local authority financial distribution arrangements to report.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Local authority financial distribution arrangements are under review by the Distribution Committee of the Working Party on Local Government Finance in Scotland. Representatives from 16 councils and COSLA are members of the Committee. Changes affecting the d…
7 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive to outline why an independent inquiry into student tuition fees is necessary and why an independent inquiry into local government finance is not.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The reasons are as set out in the "Partnership for Scotland" agreement.<P>On tuition fees, the Partnership Agreement said that we would propose a Committee of Inquiry, to review tuition fees and financial support for those participating in further a…
7 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relax the obligation on Scottish local authorities to use 75% of housing capital receipts to repay debt.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The requirement to use housing receipts to repay debt was introduced in order to reduce the debt burden carried by local authorities. The set aside arrangements were considered last year as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. No change was made. The…
7 Jul 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the total amount in cash terms of capital receipts from housing assets set aside to repay debt by Scottish local authorities for each financial year since 1997/98.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Housing capital receipts set aside by Scottish local authorities to redeem debt in 1997-98 totalled £172 million. Although final figures are not yet available, local authorities have estimated capital receipts set aside in 1998-99 to be £149 million.
24 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends giving local authorities the power to appoint wardens to enforce speeding limits and collect fines.
Answer · Jim Wallace: We believe that enforcement of speed limits, including the collection of fines, should remain the responsibility of the police. We do not believe that it would be appropriate to separate speeding offences from the criminal law more widely.
24 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to allow legally enforceable 20 mph speed limits near play areas, community facilities and housing schemes to be determined by local authorities.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer Mr Gibson to my reply of 17 June to Mrs Margaret Smith.
18 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in the light of the recent report prepared for Glasgow City Council's Best Value review, what plans it has to review the funding of Scotland's museums and art galleries to ensure that council tax payers are not subsidising national resources.
Answer · Rhona Brankin: Under the provisions of the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, the National Museums and Galleries of Scotland are funded by central government grant. Local authorities operate and fund their own museums and galleries as part of their statutory duty to en…
17 Jun 1999 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to ensure that Glasgow and Strathclyde retain the funding it has enjoyed through Objective 2 status.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Responsibility for agreeing a list of areas which the UK will propose for Objective 2 designation lies with the UK Government. The Secretary of State for Scotland is liaising closely with the First Minister about Scottish areas to be included in the list whi…