Parliamentary questions

Kenny MacAskill

2,611 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

9 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has to the management and operation of the New Deal scheme.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: In response to a request from the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning provided the committee with a paper on the Scottish Executive's responsibilities and progress of New Deal in Scotland.<P ALIGN="JUS…

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many tourists arrive directly in Scotland from the USA and Canada each year, in total and broken down by the airport of arrival, and what proportion of the total number of tourists arriving in the UK from the USA and Canada each of these figures represents.

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The last year for which information is available is 1998. It is as follows:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=604><TR><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Entry</TD><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">USA visitors</TD><TD WID…

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministerial meetings it has had with the British Tourist Authority since 1 July 1999.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Scottish Ministers have met with officials from the British Tourist Authority on five occasions since 1 July 1999.

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the 27 British Tourist Authority overseas offices which represent Scotland; how many tourists from each of these areas visit Scotland each year, and what percentage of the total number from each area visiting the UK each of these figures represents.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Number of visitors to UK and Scotland from countries in which BTA has a presence<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><P ALIGN="CENTER">Overseas visitors to UK (000)</TD><T…

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has power to give the British Tourist Authority (BTA) directions and guidance regarding the marketing of Scotland abroad; if so, whether it has given any such directions or guidance and, in particular, whether it has given the BTA any instructions regarding the promotion of Sco…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive does not have any direct influence on BTA operational matters. These are for the organisation itself to determine. The BTA is required to work closely with the Scottish Tourist Board. The two boards have agreed a Memorandum of Understan…

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has to encourage visits by cruise liners to Scotland and whether any funding is available for this purpose.

Answer · Henry McLeish: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Tourist Board. I will ask the Chairman to write to you.

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to regulate landing charges for cruise liners at Scottish ports.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: Ports and harbour authorities in Scotland have a right to charge dues for ships, passengers and goods. Their general powers derive from the Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847 and further controls in the Harbours Act 1964 (which include giving users a …

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what information it holds regarding the level of landing charges for cruise liners at Scottish ports.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The level of harbour dues for ships, passengers and goods at Scottish ports and harbours is a matter for the port or harbour authority concerned. Information on the level of charges is not held centrally.

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many people from England and Wales visited Scotland on a short break in each of the last five years and how many it estimates will visit in each of the next five years, broken down in each case into the number visiting (a) Edinburgh, (b) Glasgow and (c) the rest of Scotland.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Number of holiday trips of 1-7 nights by UK residents (millions)<P>(actual 1995-99, forecasts 2000-04)<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=616><TR><TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP"> </TD><TD WIDTH="8%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT FACE="Arial"><P ALIGN="CENTER">1…

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what budget (a) it and (b) the Scottish Tourist Board has available annually to spend on joint advertising with companies for the purpose of promoting Scotland abroad.

Answer · Henry McLeish: Responsibility for marketing of Scotland to overseas tourists rests with the STB. I will ask the Chairman to write to you.

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff in each office of (a) Locate in Scotland and (b) Scottish Trade International are involved solely in promoting tourism in Scotland.

Answer · Henry McLeish: None.

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has and what funding it will make available for the promotion of creative industries through (a) creative fellowships in further and higher education, (b) commercialisation funding in the public and private sector, (c) international research fellowships and (d) a programme o…

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Creative Industries Cluster Plan, developed by Scottish Enterprise in conjunction with the sector, identifies key strategic objectives which will be developed over the next three to five years. It also anticipates the timescales and resources which will b…

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has of any "brain drain" from the electronics industry and what representations it has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the taxation of stock options and the effect upon the industry in Scotland.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive does not hold comprehensive data on a "brain drain" within the electronics industry but we are aware of reports on specific shortages in some firms and sectors. This is emerging as a worldwide problem and the Scottish Executive has made…

6 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide assistance through grants or incentives to the acting profession.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Arts Council provides a range of schemes to support theatrical activity throughout Scotland.

5 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail, with regard to the proposals for Pacific Quay as a centre for creative industries, (a) what funding has been and is being made available; (b) who will be resident and in occupation at the centre; (c) what the projected si'e is of the project; (d) what the intended…

Answer · Wendy Alexander: Pacific Quay is one of the key infrastructure developments associated with the Creative Industries Cluster Strategy. £2.6 million has been identified in the operating plan for 2000-01 for infrastructure development on the part of the site owned by Scottish En…

5 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding tax incentives to maintain and encourage creative artists in Scotland.

Answer · Rhona Brankin: Issues related to tax are a reserved matter.

5 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been provided by Scottish Screen to create a Scottish film fund and what directions or instructions it has given to Scottish Screen regarding such a fund.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: No funding has been provided by Scottish Screen to create a Scottish film fund and no directions or instructions have been given.

5 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist the creative and media industries in distribution and marketing.

Answer · Sam Galbraith: The Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Enterprise announced on 20 September a joint initiative to help music and publishing companies reach wider markets through innovative use of technology. The Executive will continue to work with these agencies and others …

5 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail, with regard to the proposed development of a centre for the creative industries at Pacific Quay, (a) who will operate the studio; (b) what room for expansion will be available at the proposed site or whether other additional venues are earmarked and, if so, where, …

Answer · Sam Galbraith: No decisions have yet been taken on the proposal for a production studio at Pacific Quay.

5 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider granting Enterprise Zone status to other ports and harbours.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The criteria for the creation of Enterprise Zones are a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Executive has no plans at present to consider granting Enterprise Zone status to other ports or harbours.

5 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it will give to granting Enterprise Zone status to Rosyth port.

5 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote direct airlinks from Inverness to European destinations.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: It is for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), along with local stakeholders, to assess the potential for direct air links from Inverness to European destinations. HIAL also has the discretion to offer start-up rebates for new services. However, decisio…

5 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take regarding the level of landing charges at Inverness Airport.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: This is a matter for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd which operates Inverness Airport.

5 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement in Creative Scotland: Shaping the Future that incubation facilities for the development of new ideas and the transfer of ideas across the creative industries sector will be created, what facilities will be developed, where such facilities will be, when they will …

Answer · Henry McLeish: The Scottish Enterprise Network has two priority projects which relate directly to the provision of incubator facilities for new and start-up businesses in the creative industries. These are:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">The Pacific Quay development in Glasgow, and:<P A…

5 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the #25 million to be invested in a development programme for the creative industries over the next five years referred to in Creative Scotland: Shaping the Future will be spent in each of these years and what specific projects will receive funding under this programme.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The SE Network operates within an annual planning cycle. Each cluster plan developed by SE so far identifies key strategic objectives for development and anticipates the timescales and resources needed to achieve these objectives. The next stage, as defined i…

3 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made or proposes to make to the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority regarding a rail link to Edinburgh Airport.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: On 28 November last year we published a consultation paper on strategic priorities for Scotland's railways as part of the process of developing directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority. During this process we will give consideration to a wide r…

3 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to regulate the sale or disposal of land at ports and harbours.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no plans to alter the regulation of the sale or disposal of land at Scottish ports and harbours under their existing statutory powers and duties conferred by local Acts and Harbour Orders.

3 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote air freight.

Answer · Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive recognises that the continuing growth and development of air freight is vital to the Scottish economy. The enterprise networks are working with Scottish airports, Scottish industry and freight carriers to build on the strong growth seen…

3 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many enterprise 'ones there are, when they were created and why they were selected.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The creation of Enterprise Zones is a reserved matter. The Lanarkshire Enterprise Zone is the only zone in Scotland. It was designated on 1 February 1993 for a period of 10 years.

3 Oct 2000 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it uses for the creation of an enterprise 'one.

Answer · Henry McLeish: The criteria for the creation of Enterprise Zones are a reserved matter.