Parliamentary questions
Claire Baker
1,724 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, how it will ensure that aligning VisitScotland with the six new regional enterprise bodies will not lead to a reduction in focus on Fife’s tourist industry.
Answer · Jim Mather: This is an operationalmatter for VisitScotland. The aim of re-aligning VisitScotland areas to match thoseof the new enterprise network regions is to increase the effectiveness of partnershipworking with the enterprise network alongside tourism businesses with…
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, what decisions regarding enterprise and economic development will continue to be made at the local level in Fife.
Answer · Jim Mather: This will be anoperation matter for Scottish Enterprise. However, as now, such decisions willreflect local Fife priorities and be informed by a continued ScottishEnterprise presence in Fife.</p>
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, what the financial costs and savings will be from the networks, VisitScotland and other organisations sharing back-office functions and other activities such …
Answer · Jim Mather: Work is currentlyunderway between the enterprise networks and VisitScotland to identifyopportunities for shared services. It is therefore not possible to quantifycosts or savings at present.</p>
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, what the financial costs and savings will be of co-locating Scottish Enterprise staff with local authority staff in (a) Fife and (b) Scotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: Co-location ofstaff will be an operational matter for discussion between Scottish Enterpriseand relevant local authorities which will be encouraged by the ScottishGovernment. It is thereforenot possible to quantify costs or savings at present.</p>
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise staff will be relocated to the Fife region.
Answer · Jim Mather: This will be an operationalmatter for VisitScotland and Scottish Enterprise.</p>
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many VisitScotland full-time equivalent staff are employed in the Fife area and whether the Executive will ensure that these levels do not fall following restructuring of VisitScotland.
Answer · Jim Mather: VisitScotland has18.63 full-time equivalent staff in the Fifearea.</p><p>The future allocationof staff is an operational matter for VisitScotland, who will ensure that appropriateresources are provided to continue to promote Scotland and its constituent parts…
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish Enterprise full-time equivalent staff are employed in the Fife area and whether the Executive will ensure that these levels do not fall following restructuring of the enterprise networks.
Answer · Jim Mather: There are currently43 full-time equivalent staff based at Scottish Enterprise Fife, not including locallybased Careers Scotland staff. Allocation of staff resources is an operational matterfor Scottish Enterprise.</p>
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, what status and function the Fife Economic Forum will have under the new Scottish Enterprise structure.
Answer · Jim Mather: The formal requirementfor Local Economic Forum structures matching Local Enterprise Company boundarieswill cease at the end of this financial year with the winding up of the localenterprise companies. However, Iam aware that in areas such as Fife there may be…
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, what assurances it can give that under the new Scottish Enterprise structure funding for enterprise and economic development in Fife will not fall below curre…
Answer · Jim Mather: This will be an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise.</p>
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been invested in Fife for enterprise and local economic development in each of the last five years.
Answer · Jim Mather: The funding allocationsfor Scottish Enterprise Fife in each of the last five years, ending 31 March, expressedin £000, are as follows:</p><p>2007 - 18,172</p><p>2006 - 22,569</p><p>2005 - 22,235</p><p>2004 - 22,225</p><p>2003 - 18,885.</p>
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, how community partnerships in Fife will be able to have input to operations at local, regional or Scotland-wide level under the new Scottish Enterprise struct…
Answer · Jim Mather: As the CabinetSecretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth made clear in his statement, theproposed regional structure will enable existing partnerships andcollaborations with the enterprise networks to continue, broaden and develop further.</p>
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what grants are administered through Scottish Enterprise Fife and, of these, which are (a) under review, (b) to end, (c) to continue to be administered by Scottish Enterprise staff based in Fife without review, (d) to continue without review but administered by Scottish Enterprise staff n…
Answer · Jim Mather: Scottish Enterprise Fife administers a range of grants for businesses, whichare offered throughout the Scottish Enterprise network. These cover:</p><p>Strategy development</p><p>Market development</p><p>Innovation</p><p>Workforce development</p><p>Business im…
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, whether existing Scottish Enterprise Fife staff will remain based in Fife, whether they will be given any decision-making responsibility and, if so, what deci…
Answer · Jim Mather: These are operationalmatters for Scottish Enterprise. However, as now, decisions affecting Fife willreflect local Fife priorities and be informed by a continued Scottish Enterprisepresence in Fife.</p>
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, who under the new structure will make decisions currently made by Scottish Enterprise Fife and where the new decision-makers will be based.
Answer · Jim Mather: This will be an operationalmatter for Scottish Enterprise. However, as now, decisions affecting Fife will reflect local Fifepriorities and be informed by a continued Scottish Enterprise presence in Fife.</p>
24 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on enterprise networks by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 26 September 2007, what body or bodies will make decisions on the allocation of funding to Fife for enterprise and local economic development under the new Scottish Enterprise s…
Answer · Jim Mather: These will be operationalmatters for Scottish Enterprise within the parameters set by the Cabinet Secretary’sstatement to Parliament.</p>
4 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make a decision on whether to approve the Fife Structure Plan.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: A decision will be taken after Fife Council submit proposed revisions to the Structure Plan at the end of 2007.</p>
4 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the justification is for allowing Fife Council to evaluate only one part of the Fife Structure Plan.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Fife Council wrote to ministers in June 2007 indicating that, because of new population and housing projections, it wished to re-appraise the housing requirements in the Structure Plan. Ministers agreed to this in July 2007.</p>
4 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that Fife Council has fulfilled its statutory duties, particularly in respect of public consultation, in undertaking its strategic environmental assessment.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: As the ResponsibleAuthority, it is for Fife Council to ensure it meets all statutory obligations,including those for early and effective public consultation, under strategic environmentalassessment legislation.</p>
4 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Fife Council will have to re-evaluate the entire Fife Structure Plan following its re-evaluation of requirements for housing development.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Fife Council is currently re-appraising the housingrequirements in the structure plan which it submitted to ministers in 2006. It willsubmit the results of this process, including any resulting changes that need tobe made to other parts of the structure plan,…
4 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when its study into strengthening or replacing the cables on the Forth Road Bridge will be completed and when the results will be published.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The study into strengtheningor replacing the main cables on the Forth Road Bridge is the responsibility of the Forth EstuaryTransport Authority (FETA) who operates and maintains the bridge.</p><p>FETA expects the finaltechnical report on this during spring 20…
4 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will know whether dehumidifying the cables on the Forth Road Bridge will slow or halt the cable corrosion.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The outcome of Forth Estuary Transport Authority’s work to dehumidify the main suspension cablesis expected by 2011-12.</p>
4 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when the next update will be given on the progress of efforts to dehumidify the cables on the Forth Road Bridge.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Forth EstuaryTransport Authority (FETA) is responsible for the maintenance and operation of theForth Road Bridge.</p><p>Providing updateson the progress of the dehumidification works is therefore, a matter for FETA.</p>
4 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest update is on efforts to dehumidify the cables on the Forth Road Bridge.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The operation andmaintenance of the Forth Road Bridge is the responsibility of the Forth EstuaryTransport Authority (FETA).</p><p>FETA has stated thatthe installation of dehumidification equipment should be completed in 2009.</p>
4 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether allowing the Forth Estuary Transport Authority to borrow to pay for the construction of a new Forth crossing would require approval from the UK Government.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: I refer the memberto answer to question S3W-5114 on 25 October 2007. 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.sea…
4 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has ruled out using private finance to pay in any way for a new Forth crossing, whether agreed (a) directly by it or (b) indirectly through the Forth Estuary Transport Authority or any other public authority.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: No decision has beenmade regarding the financing of the replacement crossing.<</p
4 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what options it is considering for paying for the construction of a new Forth crossing.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Initial considerationsof potential funding options were set out in Report 3 Chapter 7 and included traditionalgrant funding and private finance options. No decision has been made regarding thefinancing of the replacement crossing.</p>
27 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it is undertaking with external bodies regarding ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.
Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Governmenthas discussed, with both Forth Ports plc and Scottish Natural Heritage, the completionof an appropriate assessment of proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfer in the Firthof Forth, including implications of the proposals for three Natura…
24 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide a substantive answer to question S3W-2451 which received a holding reply on 23 August 2007.
Answer · Jim Mather: I refer the memberto answer to question S3W-2451 on 1 October 2007. 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.sear…
24 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3561 by Adam Ingram on 5 September 2007, when proposals to increase public awareness of the national Child Protection Line will be discussed with the national working group for this project and with child protection committees.
Answer · Adam Ingram: Proposals to increasepublic awareness of the national gateway line to local child protection serviceswill be discussed with the Child Protection Line Working Group on 15 November 2007 and with the Chairs of the Child Protection Committeesat their next quarter…
24 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2458 by Jim Mather on 4 September 2007, what plans it has to monitor the terms and conditions of staff working for independent voluntary sector public service contractors.
Answer · Jim Mather: None.</p><p>I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-2459 on 4 September 2007. 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…