Mike Watson

Answer · Jim Wallace · 26 May 2005

The Enforcement Concordat launched jointly by central and local government in March 1998, encourages constructive relationships between regulators and the business community in enforcement matters by advocating precepts of openness, helpfulness, proportionality and consistency.</p> <p>The Improving Regulation Unit issues reminders bi-annually to all Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies to encourage them to fulfil their obligations to the principles of the Concordat towards improving the regulatory and enforcement environment for business in Scotland. </p><p>The regulatory sub group of the Small Business Consultative Group is also looking at enforcement by Scottish regulators as part of its general look at aspects of the regulatory environment.</p>

Answer · Jim Wallace · 1 Feb 2005

In 2002-03, there were 6,303 Scottish-domiciled students studying for first degrees in higher education institutions in England and Wales. This is the most recent year for which data are available at present. Tuition fees in England were£1,150 per student for the year 2004-05.</p><p>It is difficult to accurately estimate the additional total cost of providing non-means tested free tuition to Scottish students studying in England. The actual cost for the individual can vary depending on the family income levels of students The possible liability for meeting the cost of providing free tuition to EU students studying in England would be a significant addition.</p>

Answer · Tom McCabe · 29 Oct 2004

I am pleased to announce today that I have been able to significantly increase the £30 million provision for the third round Modernising Government. Over the next three years I will be able to provide up to £38.45 million for a number of key public sector projects which will support our Partnership Commitment to delivering excellent public services, cutting bureaucracy and ensuring that services are both flexible and focused. These projects will also contribute towards the efficient government drive. Included in this will be:</p><p>· A further £13.1 million for the 32 local authorities to work together in their programme for delivering more efficient public services. The focus for this will be service delivery from single points of contact, providing access to secure electronic customer records (which reduces the demand for customers to repeatedly provide the same information) and ensuring that well trained customer services staff can deal with a wide range of customer enquiries at first contact.</p><p>· £4 million to further develop, encourage and promote the take up of online – self-service – transactions.</p><p>· £6.6 million to the further development of the single voluntary citizens entitlement card. This which will extend the young persons scheme to cover 12 to 26-year-olds, support our national concessionary fares scheme and help to promote integrated transport.</p><p>· £9.5 million for public sector bodies to work together to deliver a secure national infrastructure which will allow different parts of the public sector to share and exchange critical data.</p><p>In addition to the above I will also make a further provision of:</p><p>· £0.5 million to support Dialogue Youth in providing a “challenge fund” for young people which offers them the opportunity to come forward and present their ideas on how technical innovation, improved communications and service delivery can be designed around the needs of the young people.</p><p>£3.4 million to take forward the work already begun in the development of a secure and integrated electronic childrens services record.</p>

Answer · Lewis Macdonald · 15 Jun 2004

The decision on priority sectors was taken following advice from the enterprise networks and Futureskills Scotland. Under Round 4 of the Scottish Skills Fund all sectors were eligible to apply. The enterprise networks are working closely with Skillsmart, the Sector Skills Council for the retail sector.</p>

Answer · Andy Kerr · 26 Apr 2004

Tartan Day offered Scottish ministers and members of the Parliamentary delegationan excellent opportunity to promote Scotland as a good place to visit, study in, live and do businesswith.  </p><p>Theprogramme, co-ordinated and supported bythe Scottish Executive, around Tartan Day 2004 was the most extensive yet witha range of events promoting both contemporary and traditional Scotland. Theseevents included an Executive sponsored ScotlandRun and Pavilion in Central Park which brought together 20 organisations showcasingsome of the best of Scottish tourism, business, education and creative industries.Organisations involved included the Executive and the Scottish Parliament, VisitScotland,Scottish Development International, Universities, Glasgow and Edinburgh City Councilsand Scottish Screen. In addition the Executive and Scottish Parliament co-hosteda reception for over 300 guests representing academic, political and business leadersfrom the New York area. The First Minister and I represented the Scottish Executive at these and otherTartan Day events including &quot;Dressed to Kilt&quot;, promoting contemporary Scottish design, a reception at the BritishEmbassy in Washington DC and the Icons of Scotland Awards dinner, co-sponsored byVisitScotland and Scotland magazine. </p><p>Alongsidethese promotional events, key policy areas were successfully pursued. The FirstMinister gave a keynote address on &quot;The New Scotland; Attracting Fresh Talent&quot;at Columbia University as well as hosting a joint SDI/Forbes Magazine seminar promotingthe excellence of Scotland's Financial Services. The First Minister visited Baltimore andmet with Mayor O'Malley to discuss how that city has met the challenges that alsoface Scotland in attracting fresh talent to address population decline and increase economic regeneration. I spoke at a VisitScotlandlunch for over 40 key media contacts to promote Scotland's growing global importanceas a destination for business tourism as well as undertaking visits to learn moreof the urban regeneration work being carried out in both New York andWashington as part of their business improvement districts. I also met with a numberof US businesses already investing in Scotland and considering further expansion here.</p><p>Good coverage of these eventswere secured in both the US print and broadcast media with the focus being on ourFresh Talent initiative. The programme of events undertaken this year and the verypositive reaction from US businesses offer us an excellent platform to build onfor 2005.</p>

Answer · Tom McCabe · 1 Apr 2004

A framework for theprovision of services for CFS/ME sufferers in Scotland was developed by a shortlife working group, set up by the Executive, and commended to NHS boards inFebruary 2003. The Executive has asked boards for reports on action taken inthe light of the working group’s report and has undertaken to convey theoutcome to the Health and Community Care Committee.</p>

Answer · Nicol Stephen · 11 Mar 2004

We providerevenue support to local authorities for roads, bridges and tunnels, includingthe Clyde Tunnel, through the general local government finance settlement. Thatsupport is not ring fenced, and it is for each local authority to decide how toallocate its expenditure.</p>

Answer · Hugh Henry · 11 Mar 2004

TheExecutive is working to reduce re-offending rates by developing betterthroughcare services, as recommended by the Tripartite Group in its report <i>Throughcare– Developing the Service</i> published in January 2003. The enhancedthroughcare strategy will strengthen the support provided for prisoners ontheir release from prison. It is supported by additional funding for localauthority criminal justice social work services.</p><p>We are alsoseeking views on how best we can manage offenders to reduce reoffending throughour consultation “Re:duce, re:habilitate, re:form” which Cathy Jamiesonlaunched last week. Over the next 12 weeks we will be meeting withstakeholders, interest groups and communities to discuss how best we deliversafer communities through reducing reoffending.</p>