Parliamentary questions
John Park
411 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
16 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5971 by John Swinney on 6 November 2007, how the impact of business rate reductions on small and medium-sized businesses will be monitored and evaluated.
Answer · John Swinney: Once the Small BusinessBonus scheme is fully implemented, we will be in a position to evaluate its impact,including how it interacts with other rates relief schemes, and to ensure that ratesrelief is targeted at those businesses which need it most.</p><p>I re…
6 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many public sector modern apprenticeships have been created in (a) the Executive, (b) local authorities and (c) Executive agencies in each of the last five years.
Answer · Maureen Watt: This information isnot held centrally. The total number of Modern Apprenticeships in the public sectoris an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.</p><p>In October 2001, the Scottish Government launched its Modern App…
6 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to make the public sector a better partner in modern apprenticeships under its new skills strategy.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Responsibility forthe operation of modern apprenticeships will pass to Skills Development Scotlandwhich is expected to be operational by April next year. The Scottish Governmentwill require Skills Development Scotland to work with all stakeholders – including…
1 Nov 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5572 by John Swinney on 1 November 2007, how its proposals on business rates will substantially benefit small and medium sized businesses.
Answer · John Swinney: We will publish proposalsshortly to remove or reduce the burden of business rates for a substantial numberof small and medium-sized businesses. Reducing their costs in this way will givethem a competitive advantage and a greater opportunity to grow and to inv…
25 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for applicants under the central heating programme to receive written correspondence regarding their applications.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Under the terms of the contract, the managing agent has five working days to acknowledge receipt ofan application, 15 working days to carry ou…
25 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring and evaluation takes place of the delivery of the central heating programme.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have askedAngiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Herresponse is as follows:</p><p>Monitoring andevaluation is undertaken on a number of levels.</p><p>The managing agentmonitors and evaluates delivery of the work undertaken by …
25 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applicants in Fife under the central heating programme will be without central heating or hot water over the next five months.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Currently in the KYpostcode area, which covers Fife, the managing agent has indicated that thereare 613 applicants on the waiting list. Howeve…
25 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting time is for applicants in Fife under the central heating programme.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>Information in theformat requested is not held centrally.</p><p>In Scotland as a whole, the average waiting time on the centralheating program…
25 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications made by people in Fife under the central heating programme since its inception are outstanding.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have askedAngiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Herresponse is as follows:</p><p>Currently in theKY postcode area, which covers Fife, the managing agent has indicated thatthere are 613 applicants on the waiting list as at the…
25 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been made by people in Fife under the central heating programme since its inception.
Answer · Stewart Maxwell: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:</p><p>The information requestedis not held at local authority level.</p><p>However, in the KYpostcode area, which covers Fife, the Managing Agent ha…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out, or intends to carry out, a regulatory impact assessment on its proposal to reduce and remove business rates to give small and medium-sized Scottish business a competitive tax position.
Answer · John Swinney: We will announceour proposals for removing orreducing business rates for small businesses in Scotland following the ScottishSpending Review. Ourproposals can be implemented as part of the annual programme of secondarylegislation for non-domestic rates and wil…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to help the progression of modern apprentices to other qualifications, as referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 12 September 2007 (Official Report c. 1589).
Answer · Maureen Watt: The ScottishCredit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) will be embedded in all modern apprenticesprogrammes so that apprentices can gain credit for the skills gained which canthen be transferred to further study or training.</p><p>The SCQF providesa framework…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will put in place other than extending modern apprenticeships to SVQ level 2, as referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 12 September 2007 (Official Report c. 1589), to help the retention of those undertaking modern apprenticeships.
Answer · Maureen Watt: The delivery of asuccessful modern apprenticeship programme will be the responsibility of thenew skills body and it will be for them to establish effective mechanisms tohelp the retention of individuals undertaking a modern apprenticeship. However,the complet…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when and how it intends to implement the conclusions of the recent modern apprenticeship consultation undertaken by the previous administration, as referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 12 September 2007 (Official Report c. 1589).
Answer · Maureen Watt: We will beworking with our stakeholders and delivery partners to fully implement theconclusions of the modern apprenticeship consultation. As this will likelyinvolve changes to the delivery infrastructure, the new skills body (who willhave operational respons…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the announcement by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills of increased spending on higher education and skills from £14.2 billion in 2007-08 to £16.4 billion by 2010-11 to implement the recommendations of the Leitch Review, what funding it intends to commit t…
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish SpendingReview 2007 will detail how the Scottish Government intends to allocate its funds.</p>
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to publish its programme for the implementation of Skills for Scotland: A Lifelong Skills Strategy, as referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on 12 September 2007 (Official Report c. 1585).
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: The government willupdate parliament on significant developments on implementation of <i>Skills forScotland</i> as and when they arise and one of the key developments announced bythe government already has been the establishment of a merged body focussed on s…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, when it intends to make an announcement about the outcome of its investigations into the creation of a devolved Scottish civil service following completion of its consideration of the issues and further discus…
Answer · John Swinney: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-5547 on 1 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007 in relation to the creation of a devolved Scottish civil service, when it expects its consideration of the issues and further discussions with relevant colleagues and stakeholders to be completed.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-5547 on 1 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, how many directorates and civil servants are involved in the consideration of the creation of a devolved Scottish civil service.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-5547 on 1 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, what it estimates the cost would be of creating a devolved Scottish civil service.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-5547 on 1 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <ahref="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, whether it has made, or is in the process of making, an estimate of the cost of creating a wholly devolved Scottish civil service.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-5547 on 1 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, from what budget funding has been allocated for the consideration of the issues related to the creation of a devolved Scottish civil service and how much has been allocated.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer themember to the answer to question S3W-5547 on 1 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions areavailable on the parliament’s website, the search facility for which can befound at <a href="http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, with which relevant colleagues and stakeholders further discussions have taken place on the creation of a devolved Scottish civil service.
Answer · John Swinney: I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-5547 on 1 November 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…
22 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2495 by John Swinney on 14 August 2007, what further discussions have been held with relevant colleagues and stakeholders on the creation of a devolved Scottish civil service.
Answer · John Swinney: Furtherconsideration has been given to the proposal to create a devolved ScottishCivil Service. The work to date has focussed on clarifying the issues andidentifying viable options, including the financial aspects, and has includedfurther discussions with col…
8 Oct 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to First Minister’s answers to question S3F-191 on 4 October 2007 indicating the Executive’s commitment to match the previous administration’s school building programme brick for brick and not to use the private finance initiative for this purpose (Official Report c. 2465), wheth…
Answer · Maureen Watt: It is for Fife Councilto plan for the investment in or replacement of its schools and to set timescalesfor such work. As far as financing, nationally, of a school building programme,the Scottish Government is already working on the development of the Scottish…
21 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve access to dentistry in Tayside and what timescale and budget NHS Tayside has to implement such plans.
Answer · Shona Robison: The responsibilityfor the provision of NHS dental services in an area rests with the NHS board.</p><p>However, £3.45 millionwas awarded to NHS Tayside under the 2006-08 Primary and Community Care PremisesModernisation Programme. NHS Tayside has used this mone…
17 Sep 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S3O-503 by Stewart Stevenson on 6 September 2007 (Official Report c. 1515), how it intends to maintain traffic over the River Forth at 2006 levels; why it has chosen figures for 2006 as a maximum level; what contingency plans …
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The operation of aForth Replacement Crossing in combination with an appropriately refurbished Forth Road Bridge has been considered as part of the Forth<i> Replacement Crossing Study</i> (see Report 4) and will be the subject of future deliberations by Scotti…
12 Sep 2007 · General Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of modern apprenticeships.
Answer · Maureen Watt: Our Skills Strategysets out that we will invest in demand led training informed by the needs of individualsand employers and in the best interests of Scotland’s economy.</p>
31 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum capacity is of the Forth Rail Bridge and how close current usage by (a) all trains, (b) passenger trains and (c) freight trains is to such capacity.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: The Forth Bridge is owned and maintained by Network Rail. Thebreakdown of traffic is, therefore, an operational matter between them and trainoperating companies.</p><p>However, Network Rail’sRoute Utilisation Strategy Baseline Report advises of the Forth Rail…
31 Aug 2007 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Transport Scotland expects traffic flow across the Forth Road Bridge to increase and what the projected figures are for the next five years, also broken down into (a) all traffic, (b) cars and (c) heavy goods vehicles.
Answer · Stewart Stevenson: Traffic has grownon the Forth Road Bridge ever since the bridge opened in 1964.</p><p>As part of the ForthReplacement Crossing Study, the Transport Model for Scotland was used to compare the network conditions in 2005 with forecast conditionsin 2012, 2017 and…