Parliamentary questions

Derek Brownlee

680 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

23 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the £20 million that the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the Budget for seedcorn finance for the first enterprise capital fund for the environment will be allocated to Scotland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: There is no specific allocationof resources to Scotland in respect of this initiative. The Enterprise CapitalFunds are being financed by the UK Government and will operate across the UK, extendingthe funding options available to Scottish companies. Decisions …

23 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the net change in the number of self-employed people has been in each year since 1997.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: Estimates for the number ofpeople in self-employment each year are available from the Labour Force Survey.Table 1 gives estimates of the number of self-employed people in each yeartogether with the change in the estimate from the previous year.The esti…

23 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much business investment there has been in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-21965 on 3 February 2006. All answers to written parliamentaryquestions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility forwhich can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/w…

23 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what the capital investment has been in schools in each of the last 10 years.

Answer · Peter Peacock: The following table givesdetails of local authority gross capital expenditure on schools for thefinancial years 1995-96 to 2004-05, compiled from local authority capitalpayment returns. The figures do not include Public Private Partnershipprojects, where the …

21 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide comparative data on total managed expenditure in real terms for each year from 1996-97 to 2007-08, broken down by department.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The information requested isshown in the following table.<table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td width=158 valign=top> Department </td> <td width=76 valign=top> Outturn <p align=c…

21 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide comparative data on total managed expenditure in cash terms for each year from 1996-97 to 2007-08, broken down by department.

16 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many copies of Supporting People Matters - Issue 20 were printed; to which individuals and organisations they were distributed, and what the total cost was of (a) printing, (b) distribution and (c) any other expenditure associated with the publication.

Answer · Malcolm Chisholm: The Supporting People Mattersnewsletter is produced quarterly providing information and examples of goodpractice to a wide readership including people who use the services. The totalnumber of copies printed for issue 20 was 3,716 which were dist…

15 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when the consultation document, Non Domestic Rates: Consultation on Rates Relief Scheme for Research and Development in Scotland, will be published.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The consultation on a possiblenon-domestic rates relief scheme for research and development will be publishedshortly.

15 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive why the consultation document, Non Domestic Rates: Consultation on Rates Relief Scheme for Research and Development in Scotland, was not published on 11 March 2006, as previously announced by the Executive.

Answer · Tom McCabe: I am still considering a numberof issues raised during the preparation of the consultation document. It will bepublished once these have been addressed.

8 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21646 by Tavish Scott on 7 March 2006, which individuals and organisations were notified, and on which date, of the decision not to proceed with the Glenmayne scheme.

Answer · Tavish Scott: On 17 November 2005, MrNeil Cloughley, West Lodge, Glenmayne was notified that the scheme was not beingtaken forward at this time, thereby allowing him to develop plans for his garden.This letter was also copied to Councillor Fiona Moore of Planning and Econo…

8 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21646 by Tavish Scott on 7 March 2006, what analysis of value for money of the Glenmayne scheme was carried out prior to its announcement on 20 March 2003.

Answer · Tavish Scott: An operational analysis of theroute was carried out be Scottish Borders Council using the computer model RouteEvaluation from Vehicle Simulation (REVS). This did not provide a specific economicassessment of the project but quantitatively indicated the prospec…

8 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21646 by Tavish Scott on 7 March 2006, whether the statement in its news release of 20 March 2003 that the Glenmayne scheme would offer “substantial road safety and economic benefits” still applies, notwithstanding the decision not to proceed with th…

Answer · Tavish Scott: The statement in the news releasereferred to nine separate schemes. Following subsequent development work and considerationof all options available, it no longer applies to the scheme at Glenmayne.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility fo…

8 Mar 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21646 by Tavish Scott on 7 March 2006, why, if the decision had been taken not to proceed with the Glenmayne scheme in November 2005, this was not confirmed until 7 March 2006.

Answer · Tavish Scott: It is not normal practice toannounce the decision to suspend work on a particular road scheme.Transport Scotland hasthe operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more informationif required.

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults living in each NHS board area were registered with an NHS dentist in 2005.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: The information requested can be found at Child and Adult Registrations by Year on the Scottish Health Statistics website: <ahref="http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/info3.jsp?pContentID=990&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&">http://www.isd…

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a target date for all adults in (a) the Borders, (b) Dumfries and Galloway and (c) Scotland having access to an NHS dentist and, if so, what that date is.

Answer · Lewis Macdonald: Provision of dental services in each NHS board area is the responsibility of that NHS board. Both Borders and Dumfries and Galloway have been designated for the purpose of assisting those boards to recruit and retain NHS dentists. Across Scotland, the …

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the report, Tail Injuries of Shorthaired German Pointer Dogs Born in Sweden in 1989, is unscientific and, if so, on what basis it has reached that conclusion.

Answer · Ross Finnie: The report is unscientific inits methodology and has no veterinary input. It was an in-house survey carried outon German Shorthair Pointer (GSP) owners by the GSP Council in Sweden whichrelied solely on volunteered owner feedback. Their responses were not sup…

28 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what flaws it has identified in the report, Tail Injuries of Shorthaired German Pointer Dogs Born in Sweden in 1989.

Answer · Ross Finnie: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-23657 on 7 March 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…

23 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal software, purchased for the Valuation Office Agency in England and Wales, will be used in Scotland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Assessors havebeen monitoring the work of the Valuation Office Agency in this area. However,a final view on whether similar software would be appropriate for Scotlandwill not be taken meantime, pending consideration of the conclusions of theLocal…

8 Feb 2006 · Written Question

Answer · Tom McCabe: The costs for utilities per head of staff incurred by the Scottish Executive between 2003 to 2005 are as follows: <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> Financial Year</td> <td> £…

7 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many external conferences its staff have attended in each of the last seven years, broken down by department.

Answer · Tom McCabe: This information is not held centrally.

7 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on its staff attending external conferences in each of the last seven years, broken down by department.

Answer · Tom McCabe: This information is not held centrally.

6 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-21779 and S2W-22555 by Mr Andy Kerr on 19 and 30 January 2006, what the outcome was of the meeting between Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, UK Health Departments, the Department for Education and Skills, NHS Employers and the University and Colle…

Answer · Andy Kerr: Health Department officials representingthe Executive attended the meeting. The outcome was that a Memorandum of Understandingis to be written to clarify the employment arrangements that exist between NHS bodiesand Universities, with a view to confirming that…

6 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22553 by Nicol Stephen on 3 February 2006, whether it uses any forecasts of employment in the textile sector and, if so, what these are.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: There is no centrally held informationon how specific employment forecasts have been used within the Executive. However,Futureskills Scotland reports are publicly available and data taken from these reportsmay occasionally be used in reports and analysis with…

6 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Improving Regulation Unit cost to run in 2005.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Improving Regulation inScotland Unit currently employs the equivalent of 2.5 full time members ofstaff, with additional support being given where necessary. The running costsof the unit are contained within those of the Enterprise and Industry Divisionand…

6 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive by how much in cash terms the Improving Regulation Unit reduced the assessed regulatory impact of the regulations which it reviewed compared with the assessed cost prior to review by the unit in each year since it was established.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The information requested isnot available.

6 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how many representations the Improving Regulation Unit received from non-governmental bodies or individuals in 2005.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The majority of concerns frombusiness are raised and addressed through the work of the Regulatory Sub Group of the Small Business Consultative Group.The Improving Regulation in ScotlandUnit (IRIS) itself received few direct representations, either via …

6 Feb 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the Improving Regulation Unit’s annual report for 2004-05.

Answer · Nicol Stephen: The Improving RegulationUnit’s report for the period to December 2005 will be published in spring 2006.

25 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding the Co-operative Group contributed to the Standing Up to Antisocial Behaviour Awards Scheme.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The Co-operative Group did not contribute financially to the Standing Up to Antisocial Behaviour Awards Scheme. The group contributed by promoting the awards through advertisements in their local stores, supplying material and information through their busine…

25 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has contributed to the Standing Up to Antisocial Behaviour Awards Scheme.

Answer · Hugh Henry: To date Scottish Executive expenditure on the Standing Up to Antisocial Behaviour Awards Scheme has been £59,099.

25 Jan 2006 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much the website www.standinguptoasbawards.com cost to create and how much it costs to maintain.

Answer · Hugh Henry: The site <a href="http://www.standinguptoasbawards.com/">www.standinguptoasbawards.com</a> cost £900 to create and maintain in the period November 2004 to January 2006. The awards site is a sub-site of a larger website, <a href="http://www.antisocialbehaviour…