- 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.
- 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 Malcolm Chisholm on 3 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-31405 by Mr Frank McAveety on 20 November 2002, whether the Competition Commission Appeal Tribunal's judgement on 20 September 2002 regarding the Bettercare Group Ltd affects the Executive's opinion of the scope and impact of the General Agreement on Trade in Services and, in particular, whether any revision is required to the answers given to previous questions on this matter in the light of the judgment.
Answer
No general assessment has been made of the implications of the ruling but we remain in close contact with our counterparts in the other UK administrations on this issue.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Hugh Henry on 23 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any consideration is being given to the reform of fire safety legislation.
Answer
The need to reform fire safety legislation was among a range of issues considered and recommendations made in the policy paper The Scottish Fire Service of The Future which we published on 29 April. We do not, however, plan to bring forward proposals for legislative reform on this subject during the current Parliament.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 23 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29391 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September, whether the #20 million for child care is guaranteed to be spent in 2004-05.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to spending £10 million for child care provision in 2004-05 and £10 million in 2005-06.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 23 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been made to Her Majesty's Government about the impact of World Trade Organisation rules on animal welfare.
Answer
Officials from the Scottish Executive are working closely with the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs officials to try and ensure that the World Trade Organisation will take animal welfare issues into consideration when setting trade rules.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 23 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29391 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether the further announcements referred to about the #20 million spending on child care will be made in advance of the Parliament election in May 2003.
Answer
I shall make further announcements about how this funding will be used in due course.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 23 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-18432 by Jackie Baillie on 5 October 2001, what protection is given to any pre-existing right to buy entitlement of tenants in houses transferred to a registered social landlord that has achieved charitable status since the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 received Royal Assent
Answer
Registered social landlords which qualify for charitable status after the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 received Royal Assent will not be exempt from the right to buy as a result of obtaining charitable status. As a result, tenants of houses transferred to a registered social landlord in this situation will continue to retain any pre-existing right to buy entitlement.
- Asked by: Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 23 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-29391 by Ms Margaret Curran on 30 September 2002, whether the commitment to spend #20 million on child care in 2004-05 is properly a matter for new ministers after the election to the Parliament in May 2003.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32469 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: Tuesday, 10 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 23 December 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how many credit unions have been created in each year since May 1999 and what information it has received about the number of applications to register as a credit union in each of those years.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-32282 on 17 December 2002. 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.Detailed figures for new credit unions are not held centrally but with the registering body, the Financial Services Authority.
