- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-29654 and S1W-30237 by Cathy Jamieson on 1 October and 29 October 2002, how the statement in the answer to question S1W-30237 that it is not for it to consider whether or not requests for liberalisation seek the privatisation of state-supplied public services is consistent with the answer to question S1W-29654 that requests for liberalisation by World Trade Organisation (WTO) members do not seek the privatisation of state-supplied public services.
Answer
The regulation of international trade is a reserved matter and the lead on WTO and General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations is taken by the UK Government. Any requests for liberalisation will take place, if at all, at member state, not at Scottish Executive level. However, it is the UK Government's view that public services are excluded from GATS and in any event WTO members have the right to choose in which sectors and to what extent they want to make commitments.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-29657 and S1W-29663 by Iain Gray on 2 and 3 October 2002 respectively, what assessment it has made, or plans to make, of the implications for tertiary education of liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services.
Answer
The Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) is currently conducting a public UK-wide consultation exercise which seeks views from interested parties on all aspects of the current round of General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations. The consultation paper was produced with input from the Scottish Executive and the deadline for responses is 3 January 2003. The Scottish Executive continues to be in close contact with representative bodies from the tertiary education sector in Scotland. We have encouraged these bodies and other interested parties to provide an input to the DTI consultation process in order to highlight any specific concerns which they may have around the potential impact of GATS on education services. The results of the DTI consultation will highlight any issues of concern and potential benefits of further liberalisation under GATS. The Scottish Executive will continue to be involved with this process and provide input as appropriate.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30235 by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 October 2002, when it last made representations to Her Majesty's Government about liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services.
Answer
The regulation of international trade is a reserved matter. However, the Executive continues to be in regular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry and other UK Government Departments regarding the General Agreement on Trade in Services.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services would prevent the reversal of its policy of encouraging public private partnerships.
Answer
Public private partnerships (PPPs) are one of a number of procurement tools available to the Executive and it's partners to increase investment in public services. There are no plans to reverse current policy towards use of PPP.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services would be beneficial overall to the education sector.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32594 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, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S1W-29655, S1W-29656, S1W-29659, S1W-29660, S1W-29661 and S1W-29662 by Cathy Jamieson on 1 October 2002, what assessment it has made, or plans to make, of the implications for (a) nursery, (b) primary and (c) secondary education of liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services.
Answer
The UK position is that GATS will not apply to state-provided school education so assessment of implications will not be necessary in that sector.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29654 by Cathy Jamieson on 1 October 2002, what adverse effects on trade in services in education need to be reduced or eliminated to provide effective market access for foreign service providers under the General Agreement on Trade in Services.
Answer
The UK position is that GATS will not apply to state-provided school education. There will, therefore, be no effects on such education in the UK following finalisation of the GATS agreement in January 2005.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-30235 by Malcolm Chisholm on 17 October 2002, when it was last in contact with the Department of Trade and Industry on trade issues and on how these issues may impact on the Executive's responsibilities.
Answer
The regulation of international trade is a reserved matter. However, the Executive continues to be in regular contact with the Department of Trade and Industry on trade issues.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-30230, S1W-30231, S1W-30233 and S1W-30234 by Cathy Jamieson on 17 October 2002, why it answered each of these questions by stating that "the regulation of international trade is a reserved matter", given that the questions asked about the impact of the General Agreement on Trade in Services on public services and, in particular, the provision of education.
Answer
The GATS negotiations are taking place at UK level and the Department of Trade and Industry has the lead. The Scottish Executive continues to be in regular contact with UK Departments about these negotiations and how they might impact on its responsibilities. However, the UK position is that the public services are excluded from the GATS. No WTO member has sought to challenge that interpretation.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29637 by Mr Andy Kerr on 7 October 2002, whether liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services is a motivating factor other than a key motivating factor in increasing the use of public private partnerships in public services.
Answer
Liberalisation under the General Agreement on Trade in Services is not a motivating factor in increasing the use of private finance initiative and public private partnership projects in public services. The Scottish Executive policy is ready to offer choice and encourage delivery of improved public services from whatever route - public or private - which offers the most economic and advantageous solution.
