Parliamentary questions
Michael Russell
1,207 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
29 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to raise the quality of design for new buildings and refurbished buildings in rural villages.
Answer · Hugh Henry: The publication of <I>Designing Places</I> in November 2001 launched the Executive's policy to raise standards of design through the planning system. In particular, it sent key messages about improving the quality of design in new development in both rural an…
29 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Countryside Agency regarding its experience in promoting rural development in England while respecting rural traditions.
Answer · Ross Finnie: We maintain good working relationships with the Countryside Agency and my officials meet with agency officials on a regular basis to exchange information and experience. We also collaborate on a number of research projects into rural development issues.
29 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive why funding originally allocated to a community care centre in the Vineburgh area has been reallocated to projects planned in other areas.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Local Outcome Agreement between the Scottish Executive and North Ayrshire Council covering the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund (BNSF) did not include a commitment to build a community care centre in Vineburgh. There was a commitment to build a communit…
29 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund has the support and involvement of the residents of the Vineburgh community and how this support is monitored and measured.
Answer · Margaret Curran: We are aware that there have been difficulties between North Ayrshire Council and residents in Vineburgh about the use of Better Neighbourhood Service fund resources, which is intended to benefit residents in Redburn as well as Vineburgh. However, the council…
29 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it is currently dealing with, and responding to, the views of Vineburgh residents as expressed at organised public meetings and in petitions.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive has received written communications from two residents in Vineburgh to whom we have responded. We are aware that concern has been expressed by Vineburgh residents about North Ayrshire Council's proposals for the use of Better Neighbourh…
29 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the definition and boundaries of the Vineburgh area in North Ayrshire have been changed in recent years to include parts of other areas for the purpose of the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund.
Answer · Margaret Curran: The definition and boundaries of the Vineburgh area have not changed. However, in order to meet the criteria of the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund (BNSF) regarding the size of population to benefit from the BNSF, the area of Redburn was also included in N…
29 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a definition of the Vineburgh area in North Ayrshire.
Answer · Margaret Curran: Vineburgh constitutes a population of around 2,000 in the Social Inclusion Partnership area of North Ayrshire.
23 Oct 2002 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with local authorities in regard to any difficulties that are being experienced in funding the terms and conditions for teachers as agreed under the McCrone settlement.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has regular discussions with COSLA, the body which represents Scotland's local authorities in relation to these issues.<P>The Scottish Executive has more than met it's commitment to fund the agreement <I>A Teaching Profession for the 21…
9 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will seek parliamentary time to debate the recommendations of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Gaelic, as recommended in A Fresh Start for Gaelic.
Answer · Mike Watson: I have no plans at present to seek parliamentary time to debate the recommendations of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Gaelic.
7 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans are in place to support the rural economy in the Clydesdale area in relation to competition from the proposed e-tail venture at the former steelworks site at Ravenscraig.
Answer · Iain Gray: Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire is taking action in line with the direction and priorities set out in the Executive's <I>A Smart, Successful Scotland</I>. This sets out the foundation for sustained improvement in economic performance in Scotland. It focuses o…
7 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what information is available on what (a) economic and (b) social impact the proposed e-tail venture at the former steel works site at Ravenscraig would have in and on the Clydesdale area.
Answer · Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.
7 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what data is available to indicate that the proposed e-tail venture at the former steelworks site at Ravenscraig would be a success.
Answer · Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.
7 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the decision to proceed with the proposed e-tail venture at the former steelworks site at Ravenscraig is based on any research evidence of success from other comparative sites internationally.
Answer · Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.
7 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any feasibility studies have been carried out regarding the e-tail venture in relation to the joint proposal by Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire, William Bowden Developments Ltd and Corus to develop the former steelworks site at Ravenscraig.
Answer · Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.
4 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the 2002-03 unit cost paid by the (a) Scottish Further Education Funding Council and (b) Scottish Higher Education Funding Council is for a single place for a student on a (i) PGCE and (ii) BEd Primary Course.
Answer · Iain Gray: The allocation of resources to individual further education colleges and higher education institutions is a matter for the Scottish Funding Councils for Further and Higher Education.<P>Teacher training courses are offered by higher education institutions and …
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of it and its agencies' advertisements were placed in national print media from 1 August to 30 September 2002, excluding recruitment campaigns and the publication of statutory notices; what the subject was of each such advertisement; how often each advertisement was placed; how m…
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is detailed in the table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=472><TR><TD WIDTH="28%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Campaign</TD><TD WIDTH="26%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Production Costs (£)</TD><TD WIDTH="26%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>No. of Ads</TD><TD…
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of it and its agencies' advertisements were placed in local newspapers from 1 August to 30 September 2002, excluding recruitment campaigns and the publication of statutory notices; what the subject was of each such advertisement; how often each advertisement was placed; how much …
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is detailed in the table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=482><TR><TD WIDTH="39%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Campaign</TD><TD WIDTH="25%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Production Costs<P>(£)</TD><TD WIDTH="16%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>No. of Ads (£)</…
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of it and its agencies' advertisements were broadcast on commercial radio from 1 August to 30 September 2002; what the subject was of each advertisement; how often each advertisement was broadcast, giving the total number of broadcasting slots and the duration of each slot; how …
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is detailed in the following table:<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=595><TR><TD WIDTH="32%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Campaign</TD><TD WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Production Costs</TD><TD WIDTH="13%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>No of Spots<…
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of it and its agencies' advertisements were broadcast on commercial television from 1 August to 30 September 2002; what the subject was of each advertisement; how often each advertisement was broadcast, giving the total number of broadcasting slots and the duration of each slot; …
Answer · Andy Kerr: The information requested is detailed in the table.<TABLE BORDER CELLSPACING=1 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=567><TR><TD WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Campaign</TD><TD WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>Production Costs</TD><TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP"><P>No of Spots</TD><TD WI…
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much its agencies spent on (a) television, (b) radio, (c) national newspaper and (d) local newspaper advertising in (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-01 and (iii) 2001-02 and how much it and its agencies expect to spend in 2002-03.
Answer · Andy Kerr: Media spend on television, radio and press is detailed in the following table. It is not possible to split the amount spent on national and local press as the figures are not recorded separately. The figures could not be obtained without incurring disproporti…
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedure it and its agencies follow to purchase print space and air time for advertising and how much it and its agencies spent on buying air time on television and radio and print space in national and local newspapers for advertisements that ran between (a) 1 August and 30 Septemb…
Answer · Andy Kerr: The Media Communications Group discusses the need for a campaign with the commissioning department. It then manages a further meeting with its media buying agency, advertising agency and the department. A full briefing is given and the media buying agency is …
1 Oct 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a procedure for ensuring that its advertising campaigns are scrutinised by the Minister for Finance and Public Services before approval of the use of advertising media is given; when any such procedure came into effect, and which advertisements run (a) on television, (b) on…
Answer · Andy Kerr: Budgets are held by Executive departments who seek their responsible ministers authority before running any advertising campaign. I am regularly updated on all campaign planning but under current arrangements, ministers are not required to seek central approv…
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many classes in primary 3 were reduced in number by more than five children in order to meet the commitment in Working together for Scotland - A Programme for Government to reduce class si'es to 30 or smaller.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally.
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional primary school classes were required in early primary education to implement the commitment given in Working together for Scotland - A Programme for Government to reduce class si'es in primary 3 to 30 or smaller.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally.
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many additional primary school teachers were employed in early primary education in order to implement the commitment given in Working together for Scotland - A Programme for Government to reduce class si'es in primary 3 to 30 or smaller and what assessment it has made of the cost of…
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The <I>Working together for Scotland: A Programme for Government</I> commitment to reduce class sizes in primary 3 was part of a larger commitment to reduce class sizes in primary 1 to primary 3. To assist authorities to reduce class sizes, £48.2 million was…
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what its strategy is for implementing the commitment given in Working together for Scotland - A Programme for Government to reduce primary 3 classes si'es to 30 or smaller.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The reduction of class sizes in primary 1 to primary 3 is underpinned by the Education (Lower Primary Class Sizes) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/1080). These regulations placed a statutory duty on authorities to reduce class sizes in primary 1 to pri…
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost will be of implementing its Working together for Scotland - A Programme for Government commitment to reduce class si'es in primary 3 to 30 or smaller.
Answer · Nicol Stephen: The <I>Working together for Scotland: A Programme for Government</I> commitment to reduce class sizes in primary 3 was part of a wider commitment to reduce class sizes, in primary 1 to primary 3, to 30 or less. Between April 1999 and March 2002, £48.2 millio…
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the time period required for notice of bankruptcy proceedings to be served.
Answer · Jim Wallace: In terms of section 12(2) of the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act, it is provided that "where a petition for sequestration of a debtor's estate is presented by a creditor or a trustee acting under a trust deed, the court shall grant warrant to cite the debtor t…
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether plans for safeguarding goods in the ownership of third parties are robust and effective enough to ensure that such goods are not detained for lengthy periods of time as a result of poinding and other actions for the recovery of commercial debt.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29971 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/searc…
25 Sep 2002 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what safeguards freight forwarding and logistics companies will be able to apply to ensure that goods handled by them but in the ownership of third parties will not be liable to poinding during actions for recovery of commercial debt.
Answer · Jim Wallace: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-29971 today. All answers to written parlliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at <A HREF="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/sear…