- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 24 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32809 by Ross Finnie on 13 January 2003, on what date the survey "Public Attitudes Towards Wind Farms in Scotland" was withdrawn.
Answer
Information about the survey was removed from the Scottish Executive website on 21 November 2002, pending an investigation into the information that had been provided by a member of the public. A statement explaining that there had been an error in the data used to draw the results for the survey, that we had been advised that the conclusions had not been materially affected by this error, and that we had decided to commission a new survey, was posted on the Scottish Executive website on 6 December 2002.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Mike Watson on 19 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether audio-visual services play an important cultural, social and political role and, if so, whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government opposing liberalisation of these services under the General Agreement on Trade in Services.
Answer
Audio-visual services have a vital role in all aspects of our lives. Currently there are no EU commitments in this particular sector, and the Commission has proposed excluding commitments in the audio visual sector in the draft order it has now submitted to the Council and the European Parliament.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 14 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32583 by Ms Margaret Curran on 7 January 2003, when a framework will be published on the arrangements between the employer of neighbourhood wardens/patrols and citi'ens in those neighbourhoods.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33598 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 14 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32584 by Ms Margaret Curran on 20 January 2003, when guidelines on the delivery and management of neighbourhood wardens will be available.
Answer
I will make an announcement in the very near future.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 14 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31405 by Mr Frank McAveety on 20 November 2002, whether the BetterCare Group Ltd ruling implies that there is any potential for health services to be subject to the Competition Act 1998.
Answer
The application of the Competition Act 1998 is a reserved matter.Our understanding of the Competition Commission ruling in the Bettercare case is that it established that in the circumstances of that particular case the public body involved could be regarded as acting in itself as an undertaking and hence was subject to the Competition Act 1998 and further examination by the Office of Fair Trading. Our understanding is that any other cases would also have to be considered on their own merits.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 14 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31405 by Mr Frank McAveety on 20 November 2002, whether the BetterCare Group Ltd ruling implies that there is any potential for education services to be subject to the Competition Act 1998.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33605 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 14 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31405 by Mr Frank McAveety on 20 November 2002, whether the BetterCare Group Ltd ruling implies that there is any potential for auxiliary services provided by local authorities to be subject to the Competition Act 1998.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-33605 today. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search_wa.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 13 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32577 by Mr Andy Kerr on 3 January 2003, why the answer did not give an explanation of whether liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services would prevent the reversal of its policy of encouraging public private partnerships and whether it will now give such an explanation.
Answer
As already stated in previous questions, the public private partnerships (PPP) route is one of a number of procurement methods available for investment in the public sector. PPP will only be chosen over the conventional route when it can be shown to provide better value for money.PPP is governed by EU Procurement Regulations which already require an open and inclusive approach. The General Agreement on Trade in Services applies worldwide and its policy of liberalisation is not inconsistent with the rules under which PPP is procured.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 13 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32582 by Ms Margaret Curran on 7 January 2003, whether all neighbourhood wardens will be expected to carry out duties of reducing crime or the fear of crime, reducing anti-social behaviour, improving environmental quality, promoting community cohesion, supporting vulnerable residents and building confidence in local agencies and intolerance of crime and disorder.
Answer
The duties of particular wardens will be based on a local assessment of needs, but all schemes will contribute to the Scottish Executive's commitment to build strong, safe communities.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 31 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 11 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-32773 by Ms Margaret Curran on 7 January 2003, whether it would expect to be consulted by the Home Office regarding the siting of accommodation centres in Scotland under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 before or after the decision on such siting has been taken.
Answer
Section 40 (1) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 provides that the Home Secretary may not make arrangements for the provision of premises in Scotland for use as an accommodation centre unless he has consulted Scottish ministers.
