- Asked by: Tricia Marwick, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 21 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any public loans and grants awarded to Mining (Scotland) Ltd; when they were awarded, and by which public authority.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25913.
- Asked by: Tricia Marwick, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 10 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are used to inform local authorities when new funding is made available.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26002.
- Asked by: Tricia Marwick, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 10 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are used to inform local authorities of new burdens and responsibilities.
Answer
All local authorities are advised of new policy initiatives and funding allocations through circulars and guidance. Ministers consult COSLA before making any local government finance order.
- Asked by: Tricia Marwick, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 10 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are used when it is required by statute to consult local authorities.
Answer
Where we have a statutory duty to consult, including with local government, appropriate procedures are followed in each case.
- Asked by: Tricia Marwick, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 7 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to review the current procedures to require appointees to public bodies to declare any party political membership.
Answer
No, the Executive has no plans to do so since the current arrangements are satisfactory and comply with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice.A standard question on political activity, as set out in the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code, is asked of all applicants for appointments to public bodies. The question only asks for information which is already in the public domain and does not ask for private or personal information such as membership of a political party or voting preferences.We will be publishing political activity information on public appointees in future editions of the annual report on public appointments. Legislation to establish a separate Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland will be introduced in the Parliament shortly.
- Asked by: Tricia Marwick, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 10 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 6 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive how much money has been paid in lump sum payments to former ministers and junior ministers since May 1999.
Answer
Since May 1999, £98,731.50 has been paid in lump sum payments to former ministers and junior ministers. A further £8,839.50 was paid at the end of May 2002.
- Asked by: Tricia Marwick, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 5 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14355 by Angus MacKay on 11 April 2001, what matters of "collective importance" have been communicated directly to those local authorities that are not members of COSLA since 1 January 2001.
Answer
The Scottish Executive communicates with councils on a regular basis, both directly and through COSLA, but the detail of this information is not held centrally and could only be collated at disproportionate cost.
- Asked by: Tricia Marwick, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 5 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the answer to question S1W-14355 by Angus Mackay on 11 April 2001, how it defines matters of "collective importance" and "local significance" and what the reasons are for its position on this issue.
Answer
The Scottish Executive consults COSLA and local authorities on a wide range of issues. Proposals which affect the broad structure, role functions and financing of local authorities generally are more likely to be dealt with, initially, through COSLA whereas a proposal which directly affects some but not all councils will be more specifically targeted. We believe that it is in the interests of a strong partnership between central and local government that local government should speak with one voice and that we should consult through COSLA on matters of collective significance to local government. All local authorities can make representations to the Scottish Executive at any time.
- Asked by: Tricia Marwick, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 17 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 5 June 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14355 by Angus MacKay on 11 April 2001, whether it plans to alter its consultation procedures for those local authorities that are not members of COSLA and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
Ministers are content with the current arrangements whereby consultation on matters of collective local authority interest is carried out through COSLA and with individual councils on matters of local significance, as it has done in the past.
- Asked by: Tricia Marwick, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 May 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 29 May 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-24906 and S1W-24907 by Iain Gray on 13 May 2002, whether the original agreement to act as guarantor was between Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Coal and not with the subsidiary company Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Ltd.
Answer
The guarantee referred to was given to the Royal Bank of Scotland by Scottish Enterprise in respect of bank borrowing by Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Ltd. The guarantee documentation was agreed by Scottish Enterprise and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The agreement relating to the provision of a guarantee for Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Ltd was between Scottish Enterprise, Mining (Scotland) Ltd, and Scottish Coal (Deep Mine) Ltd.
