Kenny MacAskill

28 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the incoming directors of the Scottish Tourist Board will be recruited and what the cost will be of this recruitment process.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for visitscotland. The three incoming senior directors have already been recruited.

28 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what severance payments will be made to each of the departing directors of the Scottish Tourist Board and from which budget any such monies will be paid.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for visitscotland which will make any payments from its Running Costs provision.

28 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what foundation Modern Apprenticeships at Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) level 2 have existed, how many apprenticeship places were available and how many were filled in each sector in each year since 1997 to date, broken down by local authority and local enterprise company area.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: There is no such information available. Modern Apprenticeships were introduced in Scotland to address the skills needs at intermediate level and lead to a SVQ Level 3. Skillseekers provides training opportunities for young people at SVQ Level 2, at a similar …

28 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a person awaiting a decision regarding asylum is eligible for an individual learning account and what the reason is for the position on this matter.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Education and Training (Scotland) Regulations 2000 determine the qualifying arrangements regarding eligibility for an Individual Learning Account (ILA). These regulations require that an individual must be resident in Scotland on a temporary or permanent …

28 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement regarding a freight facilities grant for the Rosyth Euroterminal.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: We are currently giving careful consideration to two Freight Facility Grant applications in connection with this project. I understand that my officials have recently written to the applicants seeking further information on their proposals.

28 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the eligibility criteria are for individual learning accounts.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Regulation 3 of the Education and Training (Scotland) Regulations 2000 stipulates that Individual Learning Accounts are available to all persons aged 18 and over who satisfy certain specific conditions. The person must be resident in Scotland on a temporary o…

28 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by each local enterprise company (LEC) in 2000-01 on training, broken down by trade/profession, and what the budget of each LEC is in the current financial year for this purpose.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for the Enterprise Networks. I will ask the chairmen of both Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to write to the member direct. A copy of both replies will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

28 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is for assisting employers in up-skilling their workforce.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The strategy for assisting employers to up-skill their workforce and for ensuring the availability of appropriate training opportunities was set out in <I>A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks</I>. Priorities include encouraging …

28 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available to employers in the current financial year to up-skill their workforce.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have a duty to assist employers to up-skill their workforce under the provisions of <I>A Smart, Successful Scotland: Ambitions for the Enterprise Networks.</I> Planned expenditure by the enterprise netw…

26 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed to work on tourism in each local authority.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The information requested is not held centrally.

26 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed in the tourism departments of (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the Chairman of both organisations to write to the member direct. A copy of the replies will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

26 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the remits relating to transport are of (a) the Executive, (b) Scottish Enterprise, (c) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (d) the Scottish Tourist Board.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is responsible for transport other than in those areas set out in Schedule 5 (E) of the Scotland Act 1998.<P>The remits of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Visit Scotland do not extend to transport.

22 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been put in place to enable production engineers being made redundant from the Motorola plant in Bathgate to move into the field of micro-electronic design and to participate in Project Alba.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Support from the Scottish Executive will continue to facilitate the provision of high quality training programmes for those individuals wishing to develop their skills. It is a priority of the Motorola Taskforce to ensure that all Motorola workers have access…

22 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16175 by Angus MacKay on 20 June 2001, when and how the information on numbers of hardship relief claims by businesses affected by the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak will be made available.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The table below shows the number of cases of hardship relief that had been granted by each council as at 21 June 2001, and the number that were still under consideration at that date. Data on unsuccessful claims are not held centrally.<P>Applications for reli…

19 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has spent to date on setting up and running helplines connected with the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

Answer · Ross Finnie: This information is not held centrally.

19 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether using an internet service provider which uses an internet exchange located in Scotland can offer any financial benefits to Scottish public bodies and, if so, what these benefits are.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The Executive welcomes the establishment of internet exchange facilities in Scotland and hopes that they will prove to be successful. Internet service providers which use an internet exchange based in Scotland, like any other service provider, should have the…

19 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) internet service provider and (b) internet exchange is currently used by (i) Scottish Enterprise, (ii) Highlands and Islands Enterprise, (iii) visitscotland, (iv) each health board and (v) each local authority; whether, if some or all of these bodies do not currently use an inte…

Answer · Angus MacKay: Procurement decisions by non-departmental bodies, health boards and local authorities are a matter for the individual bodies concerned. The information requested is not therefore held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. It is not po…

19 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive which (a) internet service provider and (b) internet exchange it currently uses and, if this internet exchange is not located in Scotland, what plans it has to change to an internet service provider which uses a Scottish exchange, and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive's internet service provider is Cable and Wireless, who support the Government Secure Intranet (GSI). Members of the GSI have access to a range of services including a facility to exchange classified electronic mail securely, secure acce…

19 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many high profile or VIP visits to Edinburgh since 1 July 2000 have required the use of Lothian and Borders police resources.

Answer · Jim Wallace: Lothian and Borders Police have advised us that since 1 July 2000 there have been 141 high profile or VIP visits to Edinburgh each requiring different levels of police involvement. This figure includes royal visits, foreign Heads of State and a number of othe…

19 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority has contributed to its local area tourist board in each year since 1997.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The information is as follows:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Local Authority Grants to Area Tourist Boards<P ALIGN="CENTER"><CENTER><TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 BORDERCOLOR="#000000" CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=608><TR><TD WIDTH="13%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=2><P>Are…

18 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money from Scottish Executive or Scottish Office sources has been committed to the Pilton/Muirhouse area of Edinburgh in each year from 1997-98 to the current year, specifying the recipient organisation in each case.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Information on Executive financial allocations is not generally attributable to specific neighbourhoods, but available information about spending commitments which include Pilton and/or those specifically dedicated to Muirhouse is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CEL…

18 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much money from Scottish Executive or Scottish Office sources has been committed to the Wester Hailes area of Edinburgh in each year from 1997-98 to the current year, specifying the recipient organisation in each case.

Answer · Jackie Baillie: Information on Executive financial allocations is not generally attributable to specific neighbourhoods, but the available information about spending commitments specifically dedicated to Wester Hailes is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 W…

18 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all representations it has made, or intends to make, to Railtrack or the Strategic Rail Authority regarding the upgrade and modernisation of Waverley Station.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Scottish Executive officials are in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority and Railtrack on a wide range of matters, including the improvement of railway infrastructure.

15 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the construction of a new Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters at Gogarburn would have on traffic flow and what financial assistance would be offered to the bank or the City of Edinburgh Council to promote mass transit schemes for the area.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The effect of any major development on traffic volumes on the adjacent local roads is a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council to take into account. The Scottish Executive has, of course, an interest in trunk road impacts and will in due course take part in…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recent reports on the status of the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme, what directions and guidance it will give regarding any alternative mass transit schemes proposed for Edinburgh in the future.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Development Department Circular No 3/2001 announced the procedures for local authorities and the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Authority in applying to the Public Transport Fund for projects commencing in 2002-03. Further guidance will be issued for bids to…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of recent reports on the status of the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme, what conditions will be imposed in relation to any funding made available for transport schemes in Edinburgh in future.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Any transport authority seeking funding from the Scottish Executive for public transport schemes would need to demonstrate that such schemes contribute towards the objectives of its Local Transport Strategy. Projects would be expected to satisfy the five crit…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to take any action to recover any of the funding made available to City of Edinburgh Council in connection with the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit scheme.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I understand that the City of Edinburgh Council may be considering its position with regard to the City of Edinburgh Rapid Transit soon. I have asked the council to advise ministers of the outcome of this consideration and the consequences for its future plan…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken, or proposes to take, so that a rail station is created at Edinburgh Park.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish ministers issued an Intentions Letter on 12 July 2001 indicating their intention to grant permission for business development at Edinburgh Park subject to an appropriate planning agreement. Among other things, the agreement will require an area o…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any official contacts it has had with representatives of the governments of Ireland and South Africa.

Answer · Jack McConnell: Officials have enjoyed contacts with representatives of the governments of Ireland and South Africa on a wide range of issues, including the recent visits of the Taoiseach and President Mbeki. A single record of all such contacts is not kept and could only be…

14 Jun 2001 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to post departmental officials to serve in the UK embassies in Ireland and South Africa to carry out functions along the lines of the official to be posted to the UK Embassy in Washington and whether it will set out the timetable for any such postings, the number and sen…

Answer · Jack McConnell: We have no plans to replicate the Washington post in any other Embassy, although this remains an option for the future.