- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 February 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 7 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-21863 and S2W-21858 by Cathy Jamieson on 20 January 2006, why the answers are identical, given that they were answered respectively by the Minister for Justice and by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service on the minister’s behalf.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:
The answer to S2W-21858 contained a typographical error in line three where “him” should have read “me”.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 3 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21641 by Patricia Ferguson on 12 January 2006, whether this indicates that it shares the view of the International Olympics Committee that being a world city is a prerequisite to hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games and, if so, whether it considers that Atlanta, which hosted the 1996 games, is more of a “world city” than Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Answer
The consideration of whether Atlanta was a “world city” was a matter for the International Olympic Committee.
The Scottish Executive is aware that our major cities have world-class facilities capable of attracting premier cultural and sporting events. EventScotland works in partnership with a number of organisations to attract such events and this work is building on our reputation as a premier events destination.
The Scottish Executive currently has no plans to support an Olympic bid but would not rule out such a bid in the future. At present efforts are focused on bringing the Commonwealth Games to Scotland in 2014.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 3 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive when it hopes to appoint a Chair, Director and Board of the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. A Chair has now been identified and an announcement will be made shortly. Second stage interviews for the Director are scheduled for early February. In the meantime the SMAS team now operating within Scottish Enterprise will continue to report to Terry Currie, Director, Growing Business, as announced in November. The remainder of the advisory board will be appointed shortly after the chair and director.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 3 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21666 by Tavish Scott on 22 December 2005, whether the police have any responsibility for adherence to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation in Scotland.
Answer
The provisions of the Chicago Convention are applied by the United Kingdom through the Civil Aviation Act 1982 and the Air Navigation Order 2005. Apparent breaches of the law may be investigated by the police. The convention does not prevent investigation of aircraft by the police, immigration or customs services, should they consider it necessary.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 3 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21641 by Patricia Ferguson on 12 January 2006 and if this answer indicates that it accepts the opinion of the International Olympics Committee that London’s infrastructure and transport and travel links are such that it is the only city in the United Kingdom capable of staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games, why in its opinion additional outlay on infrastructure, transport and travel links is being made in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Answer
Following the unsuccessful Olympic Games and Paralympic Games bids from Manchester and Birmingham, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave clear guidance to the British Olympic Association (BOA) that London would stand the best chance of winning a future UK bid. Whilst London was seen to be the best placed candidate city to host the 2012 Olympic Games it was recognised that improvements to London’s infrastructure and travel links were still needed to cope with the influx of athletes and visitors caused by the games. The majority of these improvements were already planned, irrespective of the 2012 Games and reflected the London bid team’s realistic and achievable plans in their efforts to host the best games ever.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22333 by Cathy Jamieson on 25 January 2006, whether the Executive has reached a position on the opinions expressed by Lord Steyn.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not intend to take a position on the opinions expressed by Lord Steyn. Ministers have consistently made clear that if anyone has credible and reliable information regarding alleged criminal activity, it should be passed to the police.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-22335 by Cathy Jamieson on 23 January 2006, whether it considers it appropriate to now engage in discussions with the US Government in respect of the allegations that US agencies used Scottish airports as refuelling points for aircraft engaged in acts of “extraordinary rendition”, given the ongoing media reports on the issue and the opinions expressed by Senator Dick Marty in the interim report of his investigation into the existence of rendition flights.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has nothing to add to its answer to question S2W-22335 of 23 January 2006. 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/wa.search.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 27 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21753 by Cathy Jamieson on 24 January 2006, in what way the answer indicates the Executive's opinion of the claims made by Senator Dick Marty.
Answer
The answer to S2W-21753 set out the Scottish Executive’s position in relation to Senator Dick Marty’s report. It would not be appropriate for the Scottish Executive to give an opinion on claims made by Senator Marty. The UK government will respond to the report, as required, when it is published.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Patricia Ferguson on 2 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-21643 by Patricia Ferguson on 12 January 2006, how the Scottish Steering Group for London 2012 will be equipped to monitor the potential beneficial effects on the Scottish economy of London hosting the Olympic Games in 2012.
Answer
The Scottish Steering Group for London 2012 has members from Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and CBI Scotland. These organisations have significant contact with the Scottish business community and are well placed to ensure that Scottish businesses are aware of all opportunities created by London 2012 and monitor the benefits occasioned by this.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 January 2006
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Current Status:
Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 2 February 2006
To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the dossier detailing evidence of rendition flights from the United States landing at various Scottish airports that was sent to the First Minister by Angus Robertson MP, as reported in The Herald on 18 January 2006.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has received the document sent to the First Minister and a reply will be issued.
