- Asked by: Andrew Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 24 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) reports have been referred to procurators fiscal and (b) arrests have been made in relation to identified fraudulent activity involving the individual learning account scheme.
Answer
Search warrants have been executed in respect of a number of learning providers who are presently being considered by Crown Office, ahead of possible referral to procurators fiscal. A large quantity of documentation and computer records has been recovered, analysis of which is likely to be a lengthy task. No case has yet been referred to procurators fiscal and it is understood that no arrests have yet been made.
- Asked by: Andrew Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 24 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost has been of the investigation into fraudulent activity under the individual learning account scheme; what amount has been budgeted for any further investigations, and from which departmental budget such amounts will be met.
Answer
Investigations into potentially fraudulent and irregular activity under the individual learning account (ILA) scheme have not yet been concluded. Until they are, the total cost of the investigations cannot be established. While a specific budget for the investigations has not been set, the cost-effectiveness of the process is being kept under review. Direct costs, thus far, have been met from the ILA budget administered by the enterprise networks on behalf of the Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department.
- Asked by: Andrew Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 21 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive why the compensation package for homeowners in Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld, has been based on the current value of their properties and not on the value that the properties would have had if the construction defects had not been present.
Answer
It is for the North Lanarkshire Council to interpret and apply the law on compensation should they decide to acquire properties at Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld. No package of compensation and assistance has yet been agreed. North Lanarkshire Council is examining these matters in discussion with relevant stakeholders.
- Asked by: Andrew Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 21 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures were in place at the time of construction in order to identify construction defects such as those now identified as affecting housing in Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld; who had responsibility for ensuring that any such procedures were followed, and why the defects were not identified and prevented at the time of construction.
Answer
The underlying construction methods used in the flats at Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road were regarded at the time of the construction of the flats as accepted practice. The building of these properties would have been subject to the standards and inspection processes required by the local byelaws or the building regulations as they applied at the time.
- Asked by: Andrew Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 21 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any act and section in legislation that would prevent a larger compensation package being offered than that offered to homeowners in Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld.
Answer
Any compensation paid will need to be in accordance with the statutory provisions used by North Lanarkshire Council should it decide to acquire the properties in question. No package of compensation and assistance has yet been agreed. North Lanarkshire Council is examining these matters in discussion with relevant stakeholders.
- Asked by: Andrew Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 19 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive why the successor to the individual learning account (ILA) scheme could not have commenced within this session of the Parliament.
Answer
While good progress is being made in developing a new ILA scheme, it is essential to ensure that all the practical lessons of the first scheme are being taken fully into account. I will be giving careful consideration to the report on ILAs by Audit Scotland, due to be published in March, before announcing operational plans for the new scheme. Decisions on the timetable for introduction of the replacement scheme will be finalised when I am content that the new scheme incorporates all the necessary improvements.
- Asked by: Andrew Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 03 February 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Margaret Curran on 18 February 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected final cost is of the compensation scheme for homeowners in Ainslie Road and Maclehose Road, Cumbernauld, what bodies will be responsible for meeting this cost, and what percentage of the cost each such body will meet.
Answer
The overall cost of the compensation element of the package and the contributions to that cost are the subject of continuing discussions and will depend on the housing needs of the homeowners involved.
- Asked by: Andrew Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 27 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 30 January 2003
To ask the First Minister what impact the changes to Her Majesty's Government's funding policy for higher education in the rest of the UK will have on the Scottish budget.
Answer
The implications of any changes will be considered by Phase 2 of the Review of Higher Education, announced by Iain Gray last week.
- Asked by: Andrew Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 11 December 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 29 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-32029 by Mr Jack McConnell on 10 December 2002, what each of the civil service management functions are for which the First Minister is solely responsible relating to the staff of the Scottish Administration
Answer
The functions relating to civil service management which have been delegated to the First Minister alone are the function to prescribe the qualifications for the appointment of staff in the Scottish Administration (with the exception of the Fast Stream) and the function to determine the number and grading of posts outside the senior civil service and the terms and conditions of employment of such staff. The delegation is subject to the condition that the First Minister complies with the provisions of the Civil Service Management Code.
- Asked by: Andrew Wilson, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 January 2003
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 23 January 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive when Scottish gross domestic product per head will reach the same level as UK average gross domestic product per head.
Answer
The composition of the Scottish economy is different to the UK as a whole with different industries having different contributions to overall output. Each industry is affected by global economic circumstances in a different way and consequently the overall performance of the Scottish economy and the UK average often differs. The Executive is committed to growing Scotland's economy, but setting a relative GDP target is inappropriate.
