Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)

Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Question reference: S1W-00367

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 July 1999
Current Status: Answered by Donald Dewar on 2 July 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement about future arrangements for joint working with Her Majesty's Government.

I expect to receive soon from the UK Government drafts of a memorandum of understanding and certain supporting concordats. These documents, which will be administrative rather than statutory agreements, are intended to set out the ground rules which will govern the working relationships between the devolved administrations and the UK Government.I will consider these drafts with my colleagues. Once we have agreed their contents with the UK Government and, where necessary, the other devolved administrations, we will present them to the Scottish Parliament for its endorsement before they come into effect.

Question reference: S1W-00366

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 01 July 1999
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 2 July 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive whether any local authority is likely to be capped this year.

No. Local authorities were issued with indicative expenditure guidelines this year. Most authorities have exercised their own discretion sensibly. Eight authorities have set budgets in excess of the guidelines, but in the case of five authorities only by a small amount. The other three authorities - Aberdeenshire, East Dunbartonshire and Perth and Kinross - have made larger increases. I met these councils with the Secretary of State for Scotland to discuss why they have made such large increases. The Secretary of State subsequently announced in the House of Commons that the authorities would not be capped, but at the meeting we did put them on warning that we will expect them to return to guideline next year. I have also asked each council to submit to me an action plan detailing what measures they intend to take to ensure that they do return to guideline next year, and they agreed to do so before the end of July.

Question reference: S1W-00347

Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
Current Status: Answered by Ross Finnie on 1 July 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to implement the provisions in the Water Industry Act 1999 establishing a new regime for regulating the Scottish water authorities.

We believe that the new regulatory regime set out in the Water Industry Act will best serve the interests of water customers. The Act provides for a Water Industry Commissioner with the statutory function to promote the interests of customers. The Commissioner will be a professional regulator with the duty of advising Ministers on all aspects of economic and customer regulation. The Commissioner will ensure that water customers in Scotland get the best possible deal from the water authorities on price and service.The Executive intends that the new regime will become operational on 1 November. As a first step, a notice will appear in the press shortly advertising the Commissioner's post.

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