Kenny MacAskill

3 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make funding available to Cruise Scotland and, if so, how much and when, and how it intends to promote tourism through cruise ships.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: No. This is an operational matter for the Scottish Tourist Board.

3 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the scheduling of roadworks on the M9 and the A720.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has regular discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the planning and programming of roadworks.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Discussions have been held prior to and during the current works on the M9 and A720 with the City of Edinb…

3 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much Proof of Concept Funding was made available in each of the last three years, broken down by university or other recipient body.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Proof of Concept Funding was launched in 1999 and the first round of awards was announced in June of this year. The breakdown of awards was:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=609><TR><TD WIDTH="49%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">University of D…

3 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Her Majesty's Treasury approval is required to alter the amount of private investment allowed in relation to projects which are eligible for funding from the Proof of Concept Fund and, if so, whether it has made any representations to the Treasury requesting that any current restr…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Treasury approval is not required to alter the rules of Proof of Concept Funding.

3 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial or other resources have been provided, and to whom, in order to encourage and promote trade links between the Scottish oil and gas industry and the Faroe Islands.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive already has established links with the Faroe Islands with, most recently, a visit to Scotland at the end of September by the Faroese Minister of Health and Social Affairs. These links have had a particular emphasis on co-operation in t…

2 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reduce the passenger service charge at Inverness Airport and what the reasons are for any such decision.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Any airport charges levied for the use of Inverness Airport are a matter for Highland and Islands Airports Ltd, the airport operator.

2 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many tourists visit Scotland for golfing holidays annually (a) in total; (b) broken down by the country which such visitors are from, and (c) broken down by the mode of travel used to travel to Scotland.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: It is estimated that 200,000 tourists visit Scotland for golfing holidays annually. Information on the country of origin of such visitors, and on the mode of transport they use to travel to Scotland, is not available.

2 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend the remit of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE) to cover freight transport and what the reasons are for its position on the extension or otherwise of SPTE's remit to include this issue.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no plans to extend the remit of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive as, in common with all Passenger Transport Executives, it was established to oversee and address the passenger transport needs of metropolitan areas.

2 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to find an operator or owner for the oil fabrication yard at Arnish, Isle of Lewis.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: Efforts are continuing to find an operator for the yard at Arnish. These involve the Stornoway Trust, the local authority, the Local Enterprise Company, HIE, and the Scotland Office as well as the Scottish Executive.

2 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether a public service obligation (PSO) could be imposed on every internal air route within the Highlands and Islands; if not, on which routes a PSO could not be imposed and why a PSO could not be imposed on any such routes.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: A member state, with the agreement of the European Commission, can impose a PSO on any route which meets the stated criteria set out in EC Regulation 2408/92. The criteria are contained within Article 4.1(a) - (d) of the Regulation. These involve the public i…

2 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) Glasgow Airport and (b) Edinburgh Airport will reach their maximum operating capacities according to current projections of the growth of air traffic.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: This is a matter for the British Airports Authority (BAA), the owner and operator of Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports.

2 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it assisted in any way with the tender made by Caledonian MacBrayne, in conjunction with a private partner, for the Northern Isles passenger ferry subsidy contract.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive did not assist Northlink, the joint venture involving Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd and the Royal Bank of Scotland, in the preparation of the tender submitted for the Northern Isles ferry contract. The limited costs incurred by Caledonian Ma…

2 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether Caledonian MacBrayne's tender, in conjunction with a private partner, for the Northern Isles passenger ferry subsidy contract was submitted on a commercial basis and, if not, on what basis it was submitted.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer to my reply to question S1W-10863.

2 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the rate of financial return assumed by Caledonian MacBrayne in its tender, in conjunction with a private partner, for the Northern Isles passenger ferry subsidy contract was an appropriate commercial rate.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I can confirm that the tender submitted by Northlink, the joint venture involving Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd and the Royal Bank of Scotland, was based on a full economic return.

2 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or intends to make to Her Majesty's Government regarding the reduction or abolition of track access charges for rail freight in Scotland.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including rail freight.

2 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding the promotion of oil exploration and extraction on "fallow field" sites, for which licences have been granted but which have not been developed.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Executive is in regular contact with DTI on a wide range of issues relating to petroleum exploration and development on the UKCS and these issues are regularly discussed at Pilot, the successor body to the Oil …

2 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was invited to contribute to the decision-making process which set the criteria to be used for the 19th round of licensing for exploration for oil and gas in the North Sea and, if so, what advice and guidance it gave and, if not, what representations it has made to the Departme…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with DTI on a wide range of issues relating to petroleum exploration and development on the UKCS. These matters are covered by the Concordat between the Executive and DTI.

1 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote, support and regulate training for employment in the motor trade.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive supports training for employment in the motor trade through the youth training programme, Skillseekers, which includes Modern Apprenticeships. Participation in Skillseekers is demand-led by young people and by employers. Uptake in the m…

1 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding motor vehicle retail pricing and any effect this may have on motor traders in Scotland, particularly in rural areas, and what position it has taken on the issue of any block exemption of an area of Scotland in respect …

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive makes representations to the UK Government on a wide range of issues. Pricing is normally a commercial matter for individual companies. Where pricing levels raise competition concerns, this would be a matter for the UK Government as com…

1 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support rural petrol stations other than through the rural transport fund.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10809.

1 Nov 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide revenue support to rural petrol stations.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Revenue support to rural petrol stations is available through the Village Shop Rate Relief Scheme. Under this scheme, rural petrol stations may be eligible for up to 100% rates relief. The Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme provides funding to rural petrol st…

1 Nov 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the British Tourist Authority concerning the promotion of Scotland overseas.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: I meet regularly with officials of the BTA. Officials of the Scottish Tourist Board work closely with their colleagues in the BTA when planning the marketing of Scotland overseas.

30 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding any impact which the levying of VAT on youth hostel charges has on tourism in Scotland.

Answer · Angus MacKay: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues.

30 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote and assist Scottish e-university facilities, in particular what financial assistance will be available for this purpose and to whom; who will be able to access any such financial assistance, and what criteria will be used to allocate any such financial assista…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The funding bodies for UK Higher Education, including the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC), are currently consulting on a model for an e-university. This might operate across and beyond the UK. The SHEFC will consider next steps, including an…

30 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support is available to Scottish universities and other organisations to support and promote the use of their e-university and e-learning facilities outwith Scotland.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council provides funding for superJANET, a network infrastructure in Scotland, which secures high-bandwidth connections for all higher education institutions in Scotland and Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs), which are lo…

26 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote Scottish education and learning abroad and what financial assistance is available to individual enterprises or organisations to carry out such work.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Scottish Trade International provides funding to Scottish Education + Training (SE+T) which is a joint initiative with the British Council Scotland and Scotland's education sector. SE+T's aim is to promote Scottish education and training expertise and in its …

26 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what direction and guidance it has given to Scottish Enterprise and local enterprise companies regarding the use of rail freight.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: None. The development of rail freight is the responsibility of the shadow Strategic Rail Authority which has at its disposal considerable resources to assist and encourage the continued growth of rail freight. The Executive is also committed to transferring f…

26 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the use of youth hostels during off-peak periods by education authorities and other such bodies, whether any funding is available for this purpose and, if so, which organisations have access to such funding.

Answer · Jack McConnell: It is for education authorities and other public bodies to decide whether they use youth hostels during off-peak hours. There is no central government funding specifically for this purpose.

26 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to regulate or licence backpacker hostels.

Answer · Alasdair Morrison: I have no such plans.

25 Oct 2000 · General Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it last had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer or the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry about the Scottish oil industry and what specific issues were discussed.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Discussions with UK Ministers and Departments take place on a continuous basis across a wide range of issues, including the oil industry. One major forum for discussion of issues affecting the offshore oil and gas industry is Pilot, a Government/Oil Industry …