- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 August 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 23 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive further to the answer to question S1W-307 by Sarah Boyack on 9 August, whether it will provide details of the individual schemes recommended by the Route Action Plan study.
Answer
The individual schemes recommended by the A77 Route Action Plan study are as follows:-
1. Dalquat | 1.1 kms - Northbound climbing lane |
2. South of Ayr | 1.9 kms - Dual carriageway |
3. North of Maybole | 1.8 kms - Dual carriageway |
4. North of Kirkoswald | 3.1 kms - Wide single carriageway |
5. Burnside | 1.4 kms - Wide single carriageway |
6. Haggstone | 1.4 kms - Northbound climbing lane |
7. Ardwell to Kennedy's Pass | 1.4 kms - Wide single carriageway |
8. Auchencross to Carloch | 1.5 kms - Southbound climbing lane |
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish details of the current remit of its Chief Economic Adviser.
Answer
The role of the Chief Economic Adviser is to provide advice on all economic issues affecting Scotland and to act as Head of Profession for all economists employed by the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 18 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for alleviating poverty amongst pensioners in Scotland.
Answer
Action on pensioner poverty is happening on a UK and Scottish level. Changes to taxes and benefits are improving pensioners entitlements. VAT on household fuel has been reduced from 8% to 5%. From April 1999, pensioners have a guaranteed minimum income of not less than £75 a week, and pensioner couples £116 a week. Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners will rise from £20 to £100 minimum from December 1999. To complement these changes, a range of measures will be promoted to ensure that the needs of older people on low incomes are met. For example, the Scottish Warm Deal to tackle fuel poverty specifically targets pensioners on benefit, and we are committed to encouraging the improvement and integration of concessionary fare schemes.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 11 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the full reviews undertaken by Scottish Enterprise on the performance and impact of "Technology Ventures" during the last 12 months.
Answer
I have asked the Chairman of Scottish Enterprise to write to Alex Neil MSP on this matter and I understand that he has already done so.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 11 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it intends to take to end discrimination against single people in respect of the services delivered within its own areas of responsibility.
Answer
We are committed to mainstreaming of equality into all aspects of Scottish Executive policy and service delivery. This means that all policies will be examined for any differential impact on different groups within society. This could include people of different marital status. Where there is an unjustifiable differential impact, action will be taken.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 9 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the estimated cost of upgrading the A77 to dual carriageway status from the Whitletts roundabout in Ayr to Stranraer.
Answer
No estimate has been made of the cost of upgrading the A77 to dual carriageway status between Whitletts roundabout and Stranraer. A Route Action Plan (RAP) study recently undertaken on this section of the route recommended several individual schemes together with road safety improvement measures to bring the whole route up to a consistent standard.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 24 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 2 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will arrange for the publication of details of all financial awards, and the purpose of these awards, made by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to the Computer Department of Aberdeen University over the last year.
Answer
Scottish Higher Education Funding Council's allocation to Aberdeen University last year was published in the SHEFC Circular Letter No. 8/98, 18 March 1998, copies of which have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. SHEFC made no awards direct to the Computer Department of Aberdeen University.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Jackie Baillie on 30 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to publish details of any representations it receives in respect of the role of the voluntary sector in tackling social exclusion.
Answer
We intend to make available copies of representations received, in response to formal consultations on tackling social exclusion, provided the authors have no objections. These will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 29 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details of the division of responsibilities between the Scottish Administration and Her Majesty's Government for expenditure and policies relating to the New Deal for Young People.
Answer
Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which therefore takes the lead on the funding and delivery of the New Deal throughout Great Britain, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive. Many partner organisations at local level also provide New Deal services under contract or provide funds and other resources, including training funds to enhance the quality of New Deal in their areas. The public and voluntary sector organisations which contribute to the New Deal in this way fall within the remit of the Scottish administration.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 June 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 29 July 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will state how many young people who have obtained employment through the New Deal Gateway have been taken on by employers who are not receiving the New Deal subsidy, and what percentage does this represent of all those who have been taken on under the employment option.
Answer
Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal. In Scotland it does this in partnership with the Scottish Executive and contributing Scottish organisations as indicated in the answer to question S1W-00299 also answered today.The total number to the end of April was 5,570 and this represented 65% of those who had moved into sustained employment by that date.
