- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 16 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive who appointed the Scottish Raptor Group and who are the board members.
Answer
I am not aware that such a group exists. The Scottish Raptor Study Groups are groups established on a regional basis to monitor raptors in Scotland. They are voluntary organisations and membership records are not held by the Executive.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 10 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to alter the terms and conditions of the pension scheme covering the fire brigade and the police, and, in particular, whether any changes are planned to the respective percentage contribution of the employees and employers.
Answer
Consultation documents setting out options for changes in the police and fire service pension schemes, including changes in contribution rates, were published by the Home Office in March1998. The response to consultation is under consideration.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 10 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the upgrading of railway stations between Kilmarnock and Glasgow, including Kilmarnock station.
Answer
The development and upgrading of railway infrastructure, including stations, is primarily a matter for Railtrack. I understand that the company is currently spending over £1.7 million on refurbishing Kilmarnock station.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 10 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what is the planned spend on replacement vehicles for each Fire Brigade in Scotland for the current and each of the next two financial years and how these figures compare with those for each of the last two financial years.
Answer
The available information is as follows:-
Actual, forecast and planned spend on purchase of vehicles by fire brigades in Scotland: figures in £,000.
Brigade | Actual | Forecast | Planned |
| | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-2001 | 2001-2002 |
Central Scotland | 470 | 375 | 318 | 350 | 350 |
| Dumfries & Galloway | 359 | 169 | 169 | 230 | 240 |
Fife | 380 | 490 | 769 | 730 | 470 |
Grampian | 750 | 603 | 215 | 680 | 675 |
| Highland & Islands | 878 | 444 | 550 | 750 | 750 |
| Lothian & Borders | 1,012 | 535 | 805 | 1,962* | 2,120* |
Strathclyde | 1,160 | 683 | 731 | 742 | 957 |
Tayside | 545 | 486 | 747 | 778 | 809 |
(Source: specific returns from brigades) (Note: * figures represent desired rather than projected spend)
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 10 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what investment it has undertaken either directly or through its executive agencies in the development of nanotechnology in Scotland.
Answer
Funding for research into nanotechnology is provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. One of the recipients is the University of Glasgow, which is one of the leading centres for research into nanotechnology in the United Kingdom. Funding for nanotechnology research is also available to Scottish companies and research institutions from the EC Fifth Framework Programme. Projects involving nanotechnology are eligible for the full range of UK Government, Scottish Executive and Scottish Enterprise innovation support available for new technologies.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations, if any, it has made to Her Majesty's Government about the safety and security arrangements at Faslane.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is constantly in touch with HMG on a range of matters. Responsibility for safety and security at the Faslane base, however, rests primarily with the Ministry of Defence. Strathclyde Police are responsible for dealing with safety and security matters requiring police involvement which arise outside Faslane's perimeter. There is close liaison between both on these matters.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 10 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive how many Community Service Orders are currently being carried out in East Ayrshire and what work is being undertaken as part of these Orders.
Answer
There are currently 107 Community Service Orders being supervised by East Ayrshire Council Social Work Department. Work being undertaken includes environmental improvement work, painting and decorating for the elderly and support for various community organisations.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 8 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to merge Local Enterprise Companies anywhere in Scotland with the economic or business development departments of local authorities.
Answer
We have no plans for such mergers at this stage, although we encourage partnership and co-operation between local economic development agencies.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 30 September 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 8 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a breakdown of spending on the National Drug Prevention Initiative.
Answer
The Scottish Office allocation for the Drug Prevention Initiative in the last three financial years of operation was £387,000 each year.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 October 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 8 November 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have entered Modern Apprenticeships and how many have completed Modern Apprenticeships.
Answer
Since Modern Apprenticeships were introduced in Scotland in 1996 17,726 young people have entered the programme and 1,979 people have completed.Since a Modern Apprenticeship takes 3-4 years to complete, 1999-2000 is the first year when we expect a number of young people to complete their training. We have set Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise a target of 2100 Modern Apprentices to complete their training by March 2000.
