Parliamentary questions
Kenny MacAskill
2,611 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what direction and guidance it has given to Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise network regarding the provision of capital to assist expanding companies to develop, and what funding has been allocated for this purpose.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Guidance on the need to stimulate business development has been issued by Ministers to Scottish Enterprise and is embodied in the network's current strategy. The details concerning the provision of capital to assist expanding companies is a matter for the Ent…
16 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits direct transatlantic air services bring to the Scottish tourism industry and what steps it is taking to promote current and additional direct transatlantic flights from Scottish airports.
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Decisions on new transatlantic air services links are for the commercial judgement of airlines and airport operators who assess the potential for new services. The Executive, Scottish Enterprise and the STB play a supportive and influencing role in promoting …
16 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people travel to Scotland from the USA for golfing holidays annually (a) in total and (b) broken down by UK airport of arrival.
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Scottish Tourist Board estimates that around 60,000 visitors from overseas will play golf as part of their holiday. Information about country of origin is not collected, but STB believe that the majority will come from the USA. Information about UK airpor…
16 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has provided in each of the last three years for the promotion of the services offered by Scotland's oil and gas sector at trade fairs either in the UK or overseas.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Through the services of Scottish Trade International and Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Executive has provided direct support to companies, as well as promoting the Scottish oil and gas industry sector, at international trade fairs in the UK and throughout…
16 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote Aberdeen as a centre of expertise for the alternative energy sector and what funding is available to support any such plans.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive, through Scottish Enterprise Energy Group based in Aberdeen, is actively encouraging companies in Scotland to consider diversification into the manufacturing opportunities which are beginning to arise from the Executive's promotion of renewable …
16 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken or proposes to take to encourage, promote and support research and development and manufacturing of subsea technology in Scotland; what finance has been made available for this purpose in each year from 1997 to the present, and what finance it intends to make avail…
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The funding of research and development of subsea technology is a reserved matter for the Department of Trade and Industry.
16 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage and number of students will receive the young students bursary (a) in full and (b) in part.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive estimates that 10% (7,024) of all young students will qualify for the maximum Young Students' Bursary of £2,000 a year irrespective of whether they live with their parents or away from home. This maximum amount will be available to stud…
16 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10755 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 13 November 2000, how it will ensure that Scottish universities are not adversely affected by any e-university proposal; whether there is any organisation in existence which will, if necessary, protect the interests of …
Answer · Wendy Alexander: All universities and higher education institutions throughout the UK are currently being consulted on the proposed e-university business model. A UK-wide steering group for the e-university (e-U) has representation from a Scottish university, and the Scottish…
15 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an audit of skills in Scotland.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The employer-led National Training Organisations are responsible for providing information about current and future skills requirements based upon detailed knowledge of their sectors. NTOs operate on a UK-wide basis and audit the skills requirements of their …
15 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage Scots working abroad or in England with skills in the labour market that are scarce to return to Scotland.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Policy on employment issues is a reserved matter.<P>The Scottish Executive's <I>Programme for Government</I> places a high priority on employability, the relevance of education and training provision to employer needs, and matching skills to the employment ma…
15 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will fund and support a survey of commuters using the Forth Road Bridge into their needs and requirements for any fast ferry crossing of the estuary.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Decisions on cross-Forth transport matters need to be taken within the context of the Forth Transport Infrastructure Partnership (comprising the Executive, the Forth Road Bridge Joint Board and Edinburgh, Fife and West Lothian Councils) and in future will be …
15 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are employed at Scotland House in Brussels, broken down by levels of seniority in civil service grading and by sector in which they are employed, and what the remit is of Scotland House.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive established a Brussels-based EU Office in July 1999. This office is located in Scotland House, which also houses a number of other Scottish organisations.<P>The purpose of the office is to assist the Scottish Executive in carrying out i…
15 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the interaction and relationship between the UK Embassy in Brussels and Scotland House in terms of responsibility and authority to act.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Scotland House accommodates several Scottish organisations including the Scottish Executive EU Office. The Scottish Executive EU Office is fully responsible to the Scottish Executive and acts in accordance with Scottish Ministers' instructions. The Scottish E…
15 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are involved in the marketing of Scotland in trade and tourism, broken down by grade and remit.
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Scottish Trade International promotes trade and exports from Scotland through development assistance to companies at an individual level. It does not undertake the generic marketing of Scotland in terms of trade.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Scottish Tourist Board h…
14 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated number of cruise ships visiting Leith was expected to be on completion of Ocean Terminal Complex at Leith at the time planning permission was given.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: No indication is given in the report of the public local inquiry into the planning application as to the anticipated number of cruise ships.
14 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is or will be available to improve the infrastructure at ports and harbours.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Assistance is available from the Executive for certain fishery-related harbour development, for pier and harbour improvements in the Highlands and Islands and from the EC through European Funds (ERDF) in eligible areas. Freight Facility Grants (FFG) can also …
14 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will be made available for wave energy research on an annual basis for the next five years.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Funding for research and development of renewable energy is a reserved matter. The funding allocated for such purposes, through the Department of Trade and Industry's New and Renewable Energy Programme, is available for projects throughout Great Britain.
14 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether present access to the National Grid power supply in the north and islands of Scotland is adequate and, if not, what plans it has to improve such access.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Virtually all of the population of Scotland has access to the electricity grid. However the grid in some remote parts of Scotland is relatively extended and it is not always straightforward for new generation capacity, for example new renewable energy project…
14 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make a site available for the testing and demonstration of wave energy production and engineering and what funding is available for the construction of such a site.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The availability of sites for wave energy production is a matter for the developers concerned and the Crown Estate Commissioner. Funding for research and development of renewable energy is a reserved matter. The funding allocated for such purposes, through th…
9 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the proposed timetable is for the Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The detailed timetable for the Bill is a matter for the Parliament. The Scottish Executive expects the Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Bill, and the regulations to be made under it, to be in force for the start of the academic ye…
9 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for the implementation of a student bursary scheme and whether this is dependent upon the progress of the Education (Graduate Endowment and Student Support) (Scotland) Bill.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: From the start of the academic year 2001-02, we intend to introduce a wide-ranging package of measures to assist students and their families, including bursaries for mature students and for young students entering higher education from low income backgrounds …
9 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what input and involvement it has had in the Bermuda II negotiations on international aviation and their effect on the economic prospects of Scottish airports and whether any Scottish Minister has attended any meetings or been consulted by their UK counterpart on this issue.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: This is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament. The Scottish Executive has had no input into Bermuda II negotiations nor have the Scottish Ministers attended any meetings nor been consulted on this issue by the UK Government.
7 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the proposed involvement of Sony in any development at Pacific Quay; whether there has been a change in their possible involvement and, if so, whether it will provide details, and whether the costs of the proposed facilities are affected in any way and, if so, how.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: In relation to Pacific Quay, there is currently no proposed involvement with Sony.
7 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the report on the New Deal by the Federation of Small Businesses, Creating the Right Person for Your Job; what response it will make to the recommendations and content of the report, and whether it has any plans to implement any of its recommendations.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive welcomes this report produced by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), in collaboration with the Employment Service.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Scottish Executive and the Employment Service, with the support of the Scottish New Deal Advi…
7 Nov 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer, further to the answer to question S1W-10467 by Sir David Steel on 6 November 2000, whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will provide a breakdown of the gradings and level of seniority of the staff currently on secondment from the Scottish Executive.
Answer · David Steel: The grading of the Scottish Executive secondees working in the Scottish Parliament are set out below. The ranking is from most senior (C2) to most junior (A3). The list does not include the Directors. The terms and conditions of service of the Directors (with…
7 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will direct or encourage Scottish Trade International, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other such bodies promoting Scotland to actively market Scottish Knowledge.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish Knowledge is a private company and as such it is responsible for its own marketing strategy.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">However, the Executive recognises that activity to promote Scotland is enhanced by a collaborative, inclusive approach, which allows and en…
7 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has to promote the selling of Scottish education abroad in terms of both attendance at Scottish colleges and universities and the acquisition and sale of educational packages prepared by them and whether it will make funding available and, if so, how much and when.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to S1W-10670.
7 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funds are being made available to provide flood prevention and defence schemes, showing amounts and dates remitted, broken down by local authority.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Following the Spending Review, the former Minister for Finance, Mr McConnell, announced increased provision for the local authority non-housing capital programme for the construction of flood prevention or coast protection schemes. It will be for councils to …
7 Nov 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many foreign students are in receipt of funding or a bursary from the British Council and have been annually since 1997, broken down by college or university and showing the amount of any such funding or bursaries.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This information is not held by the Scottish Executive.
7 Nov 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body staff are precluded from purchasing Scottish Parliament Christmas cards and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer · David Steel: For the purpose of clarification, I can confirm that Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body staff are able to purchase Scottish Parliament Christmas cards. Where these are for personal use, the purchase and postage costs must, of course, be met by the individu…