Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S1W-08429

Asked by: David McLetchie, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 30 June 2000
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 July 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to withdraw training allowances from recipients who breach community service orders and whether it will conduct pilot studies in Scotland before introducing any such measures or use the pilots currently planned for England and Wales to assess the impact of introducing such measures in Scotland.

The Scottish Executive has no current plans to withdraw training allowances from recipients who breach the terms of a community service order. Subject to legislation being enacted by the UK Government, pilot studies to test such provision will take place in England and Wales. Once these pilots have been undertaken and an assessment carried out the matter may be given further policy consideration by the Scottish Executive.

Question reference: S1W-07376

Asked by: David McLetchie, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 14 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive Scottish Executive whether it will publish a weekly digest of all upcoming matters of public interest, including ministerial announcements and engagements and publication dates of documents issued by it and reports addressed to it.

Question reference: S1W-06648

Asked by: David McLetchie, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 12 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to bring forward a Bill dealing with the confiscation of assets of suspected drug dealers.

Scottish criminal courts already have wide powers to impose confiscation orders on persons convicted of drug trafficking offences. We wish to see full use of existing powers. Working together with Her Majesty's Government, we are considering how such powers might be strengthened so that drug dealers do not profit from their trade. We will announce our conclusions and any proposals for legislation in due course.

Question reference: S1W-05226

Asked by: David McLetchie, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Susan Deacon on 8 June 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of the reports that repairs to the roof of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh are necessary and, if so, to detail (a) the nature and extent of the repairs required, (b) when and how the Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust became aware that repairs were necessary, (c) when the Scottish Executive was made aware of the situation and (d) whether the Scottish Executive will provide financial support to meet the repair costs.

The Scottish Executive is aware that repairs are necessary to the roof of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

The Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust first became aware of the nature and extent of the repairs required to the roof of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh following maintenance to the roof of one of the hospital's associated buildings last year. An inspection programme was then commissioned last summer that revealed problems with the building's decorative and structural stonework, slates and associated leadwork. A thorough investigation was then conducted and the full extent of the problem became clear last December. This is when the Scottish Executive was first made aware of the state of repair of the roof at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

It is the responsibility of The Lothian University Hospitals NHS Trust to ensure the buildings owned by the Trust are safe and secure and to meet any costs involved in carrying out repairs.

Question reference: S1W-06452

Asked by: David McLetchie, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jim Wallace on 31 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce legislation to change the laws relating to bankruptcy in Scotland.

The Executive has no immediate plans to introduce changes to the laws relating to bankruptcy in Scotland. However, it is still considering the outcome of consultation carried out by the Scottish Office in July 1997 and September 1998 on detailed aspects of the law of personal bankruptcy. In addition, research will shortly be commissioned on the impact of bankruptcy on sole traders and small businesses. Together these studies may in due course lead to legislative proposals.

Question reference: S1W-06659

Asked by: David McLetchie, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 31 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5060 by Mr Jack McConnell on 23 March 2000 and in the light of the Presiding Officer's ruling that the terms and effects of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill do require a financial resolution to be moved under rule 9.12 of the Parliament's Standing Orders, whether it now intends to lodge the necessary motion to allow such a resolution to be passed.

Question reference: S1W-05124

Asked by: David McLetchie, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 08 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all design contracts, relating to Executive publications, printing and advertising, which have been placed on its behalf since 1 July 1999, including details of the agencies appointed and the estimated value of the contracts.

Most design work for the Executive is performed under framework contracts which cover a wide range of services of which design is a part. The following table contains details of specific design contracts let since July 1999.

Department/Agency	Company	Estimated Value (£)
Scottish Executive	Navy Blue	33,000
Scottish Executive	EH6 Design Consultants	8,500
Crown Office	EH6 Design Consultants	15,000
National Archives	REBUS	7,900
Scottish Prison Service	Catchline	2,000

Question reference: S1W-05280

Asked by: David McLetchie, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Friday, 10 March 2000
Current Status: Answered by John Home Robertson on 10 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what factors it took into account in reaching its decision to adopt its policy of not compensating for losses arising from fish diseases, and when that decision was taken.

The Scottish Executive has considered this matter very carefully. It has taken into account the nature of the disease, its obligations under UK and EC legislation, the potential read over effect for other animal and plant diseases and the socio-economic implications for the areas in which the affected farms are situated. It has also had regard to the policy adopted in other fish disease cases in recent years. The issue generally has consumed a great deal of time and effort since the Executive came into being on 1 July 1999.

Question reference: S1W-06234

Asked by: David McLetchie, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2000
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 10 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the benefits of Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line technology are available throughout Scotland.

This is initially a commercial decision for providers of telecommunications services. I understand that British Telecommunications PLC is providing access to ADSL in Edinburgh, Glasgow and parts of the central belt at the present time. Aberdeen will have access shortly.

ADSL is just one technology allowing broadband access. The Executive is in discussions with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to ensure that rural and more remote areas will also have access to broadband.

Question reference: S1W-06565

Asked by: David McLetchie, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 04 May 2000
Current Status: Answered by Donald Dewar on 8 May 2000

To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the First Minister's forthcoming absence, there are any of his powers and responsibilities which will not be assigned to the Deputy First Minister and, if so, which.

Most ministerial powers are conferred upon "the Scottish Ministers" and can be exercised by any member of the Scottish Executive. Any such powers which are at present, in practice, exercised by the First Minister will, during his absence, be exercised by the Deputy First Minister.

The Deputy First Minister will also deputise for the First Minister in the carrying out of administrative functions, such as the chairing of the Cabinet. He will also answer oral questions selected for answer at the First Minister's Question Time.

Certain functions are, however, conferred upon the First Minister alone. These include the functions in relation to appointing other Scottish Ministers, functions relating to the appointments to the judiciary and the functions of advising Her Majesty and of recommending the making of Orders in Council. As the First Minister will continue to be able to act during his absence, these functions will continue to be exercised by him.