Parliamentary questions
Kenny MacAskill
2,611 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the age profile of technological studies teachers is currently and was in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jack McConnell: I refer the member to the reply to question S1W-10599.
24 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many qualified teachers of technological studies there currently are in each local authority area and how many such teachers there were in each local authority area in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jack McConnell: No information is collected centrally on teachers specifically teaching technological studies. The information available on the teachers with a teaching qualification in technological education, which includes the subjects of technological studies, graphic co…
24 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be a criterion for the building of new schools that they have suitable facilities and premises to offer technological studies.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The detailed design of new school buildings is a matter for the local authorities concerned, taking account of a number of factors including facilities necessary for the delivery of a curriculum range appropriate to local circumstances.
24 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary schools in each local authority area do not have sufficient premises or facilities to offer technological studies.
Answer · Jack McConnell: The information requested is not collected centrally.
24 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools in each local authority area offer technological studies as an option in second year and what percentage of each local authority's secondary schools this figure represents.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Information on schools which offer technological studies options in second year is not held centrally.
24 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many children were presented for examination in technological studies at each level in each of the last five years in each local authority area.
Answer · Jack McConnell: Information on the number of pupils who were presented for examination in technological studies at standard grade and higher grade in each of the last five years in each local authority area is presented below.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Table: Presentations in Techno…
18 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to promote the creation of an enterprise 'one running parallel to the proposed M74 north extension to assist economic enhancement of the area.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: No, however, the Scottish Executive recognises the potential for economic development and regeneration alongside the proposed M74 northern extension. Discussions with the three councils involved are ongoing.
18 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the expected commencement and completion dates are for work on the M74 north extension and whether workplace parking charges will be part of any requirement either to fund the scheme or as a condition to be met by any local authority to ensure the works proceed.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: A special project team is being established to take forward this large and complex project. The overall timetable for preparation, planning, land acquisition, any Public Inquiry and construction is presently estimated at around eight to nine years. The power …
18 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding any effect upon small businesses in Scotland of implementing and running stakeholder pension schemes.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of reserved issues, including stakeholder pension schemes. As a direct consequence of a Great Britain wide consultation, businesses with less than five employees were excluded…
18 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has in relation to the appointment and running of the (a) Office of Science and Technology, (b) Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, (c) Transdepartmental Science and Technology Group and (d) Council for Science and Technology and what representations or direction…
Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Executive liaises regularly with the Office of Science and Technology on a wide range of issues which relate to reserved, devolved and concurrent powers. The Office of Science and Technology (of which the Transdepartmental Science and Technology Group is …
18 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the operation of IR35 in the information technology sector in Scotland and its effect on growth and employment in this sector.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Tax issues are a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including tax matters.
18 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide greater community involvement in renewable energy schemes and what funds are currently available for such schemes.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: Under the last round of the Scottish Renewables Obligation in 1997, special provision was made to encourage the development of small, community scale clusters of wind turbines. The Executive is committed to a significant increase in renewable energy and we wi…
18 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has had to the Teaching Companies Scheme operated by the Department of Trade and Industry in Scotland.
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The Scottish Executive makes a very substantial input into TCS (formerly the Teaching Company Scheme) in Scotland.<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Scottish Executive is one of 11 TCS Sponsors, together with five other Government Departments (DTI is the lead sponsor) an…
18 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the slate industry.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to Lord James Douglas-Hamilton's question S1O-2345 on 2 November.
18 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote eco-tourism.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is a matter for the Scottish Tourist Board. I will ask the Chairman to write to you.
16 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has to allow Scottish tourism to benefit from any increase in tourism in Northern Ireland and what the benefits may be from this on a regional basis.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: STB is responsible for the marketing of Scotland throughout the UK. I will ask the Chairman to write to you.
16 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it proposes to give to the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority regarding direct Scottish freight and passenger links to the Channel Tunnel.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: European rail services are a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive has no statutory authority to issue advice to the shadow Strategic Rail Authority concerning direct Scottish freight and passenger links to the Channel Tunnel. The Scottish Executive is in r…
16 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been advised of the outcome of the British Railway Board's recent review of regional international services with reference to section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987; if so, whether it will publish the information it has received; if not, whether it will make representati…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: European and International railway services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a range of railway matters.
16 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8562 by Sarah Boyack on 22 August 2000, whether there are any European destinations in respect of which direct air links with Scotland would be particularly beneficial to the Scottish economy and, if so, why, and what action it will take to promote s…
Answer · Sarah Boyack: Direct air links between Scotland and European destinations can have benefits for the Scottish economy. Decisions on the development of new links are, however, for the commercial judgement of airlines as well as airport operators who assess the potential for …
16 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government with regard to the impact which any windfall tax on oil companies would have on the North Sea oil sector and the Scottish economy generally.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: Discussions with the UK Government take place on a wide range of subjects including the North Sea oil sector.
16 Oct 2000 · SPCB Written Question
To ask the Presiding Officer how many of the Parliament's staff were seconded from (a) the UK civil service; (b) other public sector bodies, and (c) the private sector (i) as at 1 July 1999 and (ii) currently.
Answer · David Steel: As at 1 July 1999, all staff working in the Parliament were employed by the Scottish Executive and had been recruited by them on our behalf. Out of a total of 319 staff in post at that time: 96 were career civil servants from the Scottish Executive; eigh…
16 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available about the modes of travel to Scotland of conference delegates attending international conferences at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
Answer · Sarah Boyack: None.
16 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is given to Cruse Scotland.
Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Executive has awarded revenue grant funding of £28,097, under section 10(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, to Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland for each of the years 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03.
16 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance is available to promote Scotland as a venue for international conferences.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: This is a matter for the Scottish Tourist Board. I will ask the Chairman to write to you.
16 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will describe the mechanism through which the British Tourist Authority is accountable to the Scottish Parliament and whether it will list the occasions on which it has laid reports relating to the British Tourist Authority (BTA) before the Parliament or taken any other action …
Answer · Alasdair Morrison: The British Tourist Authority (BTA) is designated as a cross-border public authority by an Order in Council made under section 88 of the Scotland Act 1998. Section 88 specifies the requirements on cross-border public authorities relating to accountability to …
13 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive in what ways the British Tourist Authority seeks to promote Scotland as an arrival and gateway destination for the rest of the UK.
Answer · Wendy Alexander: I will ask the Chairman to write to you.
12 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many backpackers visit Scotland annually; whether it has any information regarding (a) their countries of origin; (b) their modes of travel to Scotland; (c) their reasons for visiting; (d) the average length of their stays; (e) what accommodation is used and preferred by them; (f) the…
Answer · Henry McLeish: This information is not available.
9 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people visited Scotland from Austria over the last five years, broken down by mode of travel to Scotland, and what contribution it estimates these visitors made to the Scottish economy.
Answer · Henry McLeish: <P>Visitors from Austria to Scotland<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=609><TR><TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial"><P ALIGN="CENTER">1996</FONT></TD><TD WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial"><P…
9 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of the ongoing study into the Scottish Tourist Board by PricewaterhouseCoopers, what remit was given and what the proposed date is for publication.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The STB estimate that the cost of the consultancy will be around £100,000. I announced on 6 July that as part of the Review of the Enterprise Networks, I was asking the Chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board to undertake a review of the structure and linkages…
9 Oct 2000 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support hoteliers and owners of guest houses who have substantial borrowing commitments and declining numbers of visitors.
Answer · Henry McLeish: The actions contained in the New Strategy for Scottish Tourism, published earlier this year, are designed to benefit all sectors of tourism throughout Scotland.