- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 14 May 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-12386 by Mr Jack McConnell on 6 March 2001, whether it will list the topics discussed between it and Her Majesty's Government prior to the Inter-Governmental Conference in Nice or, if this information is confidential, whether it will set out the grounds under which disclosure would not be in the public interest under the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information.
Answer
Discussions between the Scottish Executive and the UK Government are normally conducted on a confidential basis. Part 2, section 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Scottish Executive Information exempts information whose disclosure would harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 19 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14252 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 30 March 2001, how many of the firms assisted by the Defence Diversification Agency have reduced their dependence on defence manufacturers as a result of assistance from the agency and what percentage of their total business this reduction represents.
Answer
The role of the Defence Diversification Agency (DDA) is not to reduce the dependence of certain companies on defence, but, inter alia, to facilitate the transfer of technology into and out of the defence sector in order to help ensure UK industry remains competitive in the changing global market place. In so doing in Scotland, the DDA works closely with Scottish Enterprise, in accordance with the regional development strategies of the Scottish Executive. The information requested cannot be made public, as to do so, might harm the competitive position of the companies involved.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 05 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 19 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14252 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 30 March 2001, whether it will name the companies assisted by the Defence Diversification Agency.
Answer
As I stated in my previous reply, the Defence Diversification Agency has assisted over 100 companies and details cannot be made public in order to protect the competitive position of the companies concerned. That position remains unchanged.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 18 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made, or will make, to the Ministry of Defence to offer Scottish educational qualifications at the proposed Army Foundation College at Dundee.
Answer
The Scottish Qualifications Authority already has close links with the Ministry of Defence through its joint venture company, Awards UK. Should Dundee be confirmed as the site for the new Army Foundation College, Awards UK can offer access to the full SQA portfolio of qualifications.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 April 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 18 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-14254 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 30 March 2001, whether it will list the dates, places and agendas of its meetings with the Defence Diversification Agency since its inception, and which Ministers or representatives of the Executive were in attendance at such meetings.
Answer
It is not Scottish Executive policy to disclose information of this nature.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will give a substantive answer to question S1W-13248.
Answer
Parliamentary question S1W-13248 was answered on 30 March 2001.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 10 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what stocks of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine there are in Scotland and, if there are none, what steps it has taken to obtain stocks and in particular whether it has directly or through Her Majesty's Government applied for any of the stocks of the vaccine held in the EU.
Answer
Contingency plans are in place to obtain from several sources adequate supplies of vaccine to help combat the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Scotland. The use of the vaccine in Scotland will only be considered where veterinary advice based on science and epidemiology recommends its use. The final decision to vaccinate will be taken by Scottish Ministers.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 9 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to achieve the objectives of the Making it in Renfrewshire Network which involves, among others, the local chamber of commerce and businesses, within the structure and policies set out in Created in Scotland: The Way Forward for Scottish Manufacturing in the 21st Century.
Answer
Manufacturing industry is already supported extensively by the Executive and the Enterprise Network and we are anxious to avoid duplicating this role. However, as a result of the work in Renfrewshire, I have asked Scottish Enterprise to review whether the needs of the sector are being fully met, in particular the support provided through the Small Business Gateway. Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire will also work in partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce to map areas of existing support against those required by manufacturers. Based on this work, Scottish Enterprise will then be able to develop remedies where gaps in provision or in communication of existing support are identified.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to ensure the availability of maternity services of the highest standard across the Argyll and Clyde Health Board area and whether it will guarantee the continuance of consultant-led maternity services at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Vale of Leven Hospital and the Royal Alexandria Hospital.
Answer
The provision of maternity services in Argyll and Clyde is a matter for Argyll and Clyde Health Board and its NHS Trusts. Any proposals for significant change or reconfiguration of maternity services must be subject to comprehensive public consultation. The Framework for Maternity Services, published in February, establishes clear action points and recommendations to enable NHS Boards, NHS Trusts and other agencies to put in place maternity services appropriate to the needs of women in Scotland. The Chief Executive of NHSScotland wrote to Chairmen and Chief Executives of Health Boards and NHS Trusts on 2 February emphasising the importance of the Framework for the future local planning of maternity services. By August this year, NHS Boards and Trusts will be required to demonstrate that current maternity services strategies have been tested against the Framework.
- Asked by: Colin Campbell, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 March 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 3 April 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what it will do to ensure that the criteria laid down by the Royal Colleges which govern the consultant establishment in specialised medical provision take account of areas of sparse population and are not based solely on population totals.
Answer
The consultant establishment is decided by the local health board, in consultation with the NHS trusts in its area, in order to provide a modern, flexible service matched to local needs. Criteria produced by Royal Colleges do not govern the consultant establishment, although boards will have regard to them. The development of managed clinical networks, the work of the Remote And Rural Areas Resource Initiative (RARARI) and the commitment in "Our National Health; a plan for action; a plan for change" for boards in rural areas to draw up plans for rolling out good practice from RARARI projects, will assist boards which have areas of sparse population. Health Boards' and NHS trusts' performance is judged on the services they provide and their effect on health, which will be addressed by a new performance framework as indicated in "Our National Health; a plan for action; a plan for change".
