Derek Brownlee

20 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-17769 and S2W-17771 by George Lyon on 1 August 2005, when it will publish a summary of responses to the consultation on local tax liability of residents in housing support accommodation.

Answer · George Lyon: Those who responded to the consultation expressed differing views on a preferred route, including those within the housing support sector. We are currently considering the way forward on this issue and will make an announcement, and publish a summary of respo…

19 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will give to the Scottish University for Industry for (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08 and from which level 3 budget this will come.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish University forIndustry will receive the following funding:</p><p> (a) £8,500,000 for 2005-06</p><p>(b) £9,500,000 for 2006-07</p><p>(c) £9,500,000 for 2007-08.</p><p>These funds will come fromthe <i>Learndirect Scotland</i> level 3 budget.</p>

19 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will give to the Scottish Social Services Council for (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08 and from which level 3 budget this will come.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Grant-in-aid funding for the Scottish Social Services Council is set at £7,552,904 in 2005-06 with similar levels anticipated in 2006-07 and 2007-08. The future years’ figures are indicative and will be subject to final agreement in light of efficiencies and …

19 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will give to the Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board for (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08 and from which level 3 budget this will come.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Scottish Industrial Development Advisory Board will receive the following funding:</p> <p>(a) £2,000 for 2005-06</p><p>(b) £2,000 for 2006-07</p><p>(c) £2,000 for 2007-08.</p><p>These funds will come from the <i>Other Miscellaneous </i>level 3 budget, whi…

19 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will give to the Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards for (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08 and from which level 3 budget this will come.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Department does not provide any funding specifically for the Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards (SACDA). SACDA is serviced by NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) (formerly the Common Services Agency) and any expenditure is met from within …

19 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will give to the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland for (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08 and from which level 3 budget this will come.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland will receive the following funding:</p> <p>(a) £200,000 for 2005-06</p><p>(b) £200,000 for 2006-07</p><p>(c) £200,000 for 2007-08.</p><p>These funds will come from the <i>Other Public Transport </i>level 3 budget…

19 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will give to Architecture and Design Scotland for (a) 2005-06, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2007-08 and from which level 3 budget this will come.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Architecture and Design Scotland will receive the following funding:</p> <p>(a) £727,000 for 2005-06</p><p>(b) £752,000 for 2006-07</p><p>(c) £752,000 for 2007-08.</p><p>These funds will come from the <i>Other Arts and Culture</i> level 3 budget.</p>

6 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18951 by Mr Tom McCabe on 16 September 2005, whether it will provide details of the square footage of primary office space in each property it rents.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The square footage of primary office space in each of our rented office buildings is as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p align=center>Leased Properties</p></td> <td> <p align=center>Area (ft²)</p…

6 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18950 by Mr Tom McCabe on 16 September 2005, whether it will provide details of the square footage of primary office space in each property it owns.

Answer · Tom McCabe: The primary office space in square footage for each of our owned office buildings are as provided as follows:</p> <table border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=3> <thead> <tr> <td> <p>Owned Properties</p></td> <td> <p align=center>Area (ft²)</p…

3 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the public sector employment statistics from 1997 to 1999 on a basis consistent with those published for the first two quarters of 2005.

Answer · Tom McCabe: There are currently no plans to publish public sector employment statistics in Scotland from 1997 to 1999 on a consistent basis with those published for the first two quarters of 2005.</p>

3 Oct 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the public sector employment statistics from 1999 to 2004 on a basis consistent with those published for the first two quarters of 2005.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Work is currently on-going to publish public sector employment statistics for Scotland from 1999 to 2004 in the next Quarterly Public Sector Employment Statistics release which will be published on 13 January 2006. This work is dependent on the Cabinet Office…

21 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is in relation to land which has been subject to a compulsory purchase order but which is subsequently not required for the purpose specified when the order was made.

Answer · Johann Lamont: Circular 38/1992: <i>Disposal of Surplus Government Land – The Crichel Down Rules</i> sets out the non-statutory arrangements under which surplus Government land which was acquired by, or under a threat of, compulsion should be offered back to former owners, …

16 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18629 by Tavish Scott on 15 September 2005, whether it will make any conclusions emerging from the lessons learned report on the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine project available to the promoters of the Waverley Railway (Scotland) Bill and the Parliament i…

Answer · Tavish Scott: Yes.</p>

16 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18629 by Tavish Scott on 15 September 2005, when the lessons learned report from the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine project will be published.

Answer · Tavish Scott: It is expected that the report will be completed for publication by the end of the year.</p>

16 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18631 by Tavish Scott on 15 September 2005, whether the criteria referred to are applied to all requests for additional funding for rail projects.

Answer · Tavish Scott: Yes.</p>

16 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18559 by Tavish Scott on 15 September 2005, what the conclusions were of the independent assessments of the likely costs of construction of the Waverley Line.

Answer · Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-19283 on 30 September 2005. 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/web…

16 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18559 by Tavish Scott on 15 September 2005, whether it will publish the independent assessments of the likely costs of construction of the Waverley Line and, if so, when.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The independent assessment confirmed that the construction costs as presented by the Waverley Railway Partnership are in line with what can reasonably be expected for the Waverley Line project at its current stage of development.  Therefore, a detailed report…

16 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18559 by Tavish Scott on 15 September 2005, what the conclusions were of its review of the cost estimate prepared by the Waverley Railway Partnership.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The conclusions of the review undertaken by the Scottish Executive of the current cost estimates prepared by the Waverley Railway partnership are that they are in line with what could reasonably be expected for the project at its current stage of development.…

16 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18559 by Tavish Scott on 15 September 2005, whether it will publish the outcome of its review of the cost estimate prepared by the Waverley Railway Partnership and, if so, when.

Answer · Tavish Scott: The review undertaken by the Scottish Executive was an inspection of the information, assumptions and cost estimates prepared by the promoter, the Waverley Railway Partnership. No report is available for publication.</p>

15 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18506 by Cathy Jamieson on 14 September 2005, whether it will provide a breakdown by division of the annual figures for the number of officers eligible to retire.

Answer · Cathy Jamieson: The information held centrallycovers the total number of expected retirements. It does not enable figures to beprovided at the level of detail requested.</p>

9 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the rate of inflation for wage-related costs within NHS Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Details of the estimated increase in wage-related costs within NHS Scotland are given in Table 5.04 of the Draft Budget 2006-07, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37351).</p>

9 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the rate of inflation for non-wage-related costs within NHS Scotland.

Answer · Andy Kerr: Details of the estimated increase in non-wage-related costs within NHS Scotland are given in Table 5.04 of the draft Budget 2006-07, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37351).</p>

9 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the impact of changes in life expectancy on public spending in Scotland.

Answer · Tom McCabe: We published the Draft Budget 2006-07 on 1 September 2005. The spending plans within that report take into account up to date statistical information, including where appropriate population information.</p>

9 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any targets for altering the proportion of people over 65 in employment and, if so, what these targets are.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Executive has no such targets.</p>

9 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assumptions it uses in preparing its budget to determine the proportion of people over 65 in employment.

Answer · Tom McCabe: We published the Draft Budget 2006-07 on 1 September 2005. The spending plans within that report take into account up to date statistical information, including where appropriate, population information.</p>

9 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any targets for altering the proportion of people aged from 16 to 65 in employment and, if so, what these targets are.

Answer · Allan Wilson: Under the Executive’s Closing the Opportunity Gap approach, there will be targets to reduce the number of workless people dependent on DWP benefits in seven priority areas - Glasgow, North and South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Dundee and West Dunba…

9 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive what assumptions it uses in preparing its budget to determine the proportion of people aged from 16 to 65 in employment.

Answer · Tom McCabe: We published the Draft Budget 2006-07 on 1 September 2005. The spending plans within that report take into account up to date statistical information, including where appropriate, population information.</p>

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the single electronic patient record system will link with the system in England and Wales.

Answer · Andy Kerr: There are regular meetings between colleagues working on eHealth systems for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. An important objective of these meetings is to ensure that information can be shared between these countries effectively. We intend to …

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to the single electronic patient record system in each of the next three years and from which Level 3 spending category of the Draft Budget 2006-07.

Answer · Tom McCabe: Revenue funding for Information Technology (eHealth) of £35.3-£65.3 million and £100.3 million for 2005-06 to 2007-08 respectively is shown in table 5.03 of the Draft Budget 2006-07. Our eHealth strategy includes the development of single electronic patient r…

7 Sep 2005 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to the GP IT programme in each of the next three years and from which Level 3 spending category of the Draft Budget 2006-07.

Answer · Tom McCabe: A total of £11 million has been expressly identified for GP IT support within allocations to health boards for 2005-6. There has been no identification of specific funds for 2006-07 or 2007-08. This funding is included within the “Total available for NHS and …