- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Susan Deacon on 8 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what training is currently available to GPs and their staff in respect of the use of information and communication technologies.
Answer
Training for GPs and practice staff in respect of the use of information and communication technologies is co-ordinated by Primary Care Trusts and island health boards on the basis of locally identified needs.A national strategy for Information Management & Technology (IM & T) training in primary care, against which local training strategies will be reviewed, will be published shortly.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 8 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to impose statutory duties relating to flood defence and flood warning.
Answer
The Executive has no plans to impose statutory duties relating to flood prevention or flood warning beyond those introduced by the Flood Prevention and Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1997.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 6 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to ban, on safety grounds, mobile telephone masts on land it owns in the light of the decision by Kent County Council to do likewise.
Answer
The Executive has no such plans.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 6 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has conducted into the risks of having its websites "hacked" and what measures it is taking to ensure that any such attacks are not successful.
Answer
The Scottish Executive commissioned a study in August 2000, by an external company specialising in web security, to identify what if any vulnerability existed on its website. The Scottish Executive maintains a high level of IT security vigilance and keeps countermeasures under continuous review.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 6 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what studies it has conducted into the potential impact of the local loop unbundling process on rural economies and what steps it is taking to make rural businesses aware of the findings of any such studies.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has commissioned Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Island Enterprise to collaborate on a study to investigate the potential impact of unbundling across Scotland. We will make the results of this study available to businesses.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11898 by Sarah Boyack on 27 December 2000, what specific measures through the Scottish passenger rail franchise it will take to ensure that the rolling stock for rural services and less profitable lines is of a high standard and of the same standard as that used on more profitable and popular lines.
Answer
We intend that our directions and guidance for the renewal of the Scottish passenger rail franchise will include references to improving the overall quality and specification of rolling stock in use across the entire Scottish passenger railway network. These references will not, however, specify the type of vehicle to be used on particular routes.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 23 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11900 by Sarah Boyack on 27 December 2000, what specific systems of audit and accountability will be applicable to the Strategic Rail Authority.
Answer
As a Non-Departmental Public Body, established by the Transport Act 2000, the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) will be subject to external audit. Accountability for funding of the SRA by the Scottish Executive for the Scottish passenger rail franchise will be included in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' Accounts Direction and financial framework for the authority. The financial framework takes account of the requirements of the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 2 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-2801 by Mr Alasdair Morrison on 18 January 2001, what steps it is taking to examine the town improvement 'one initiative operating in England and Wales and explore whether it could be applied in Scotland.
Answer
We are currently examining the viability of introducing Business Improvements Districts/Town Improvement Zones in Scotland. Informal consultation has already taken place with business representative organisations. The Scottish Valuation and Rating Council are also examining the issue and are expected to report on the matter shortly. We would consult with all interested parties before any implementation is considered.In addition, Scottish Enterprise are examining ways in which more sustainable funding for town centres could be provided.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 2 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in implementing the recommendations of the Knowledge Economy Task Force.
Answer
The conclusions of the Knowledge Economy Task Force will be reflected in the Scottish Executive report on the cross-cutting initiative on the knowledge economy which will be published shortly.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 1 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether a slimming down of Visitscotland's management structure would be sufficient to deal with any problems which exist in relation to the performance of Visitscotland and reverse the drop in overseas visitors to Scotland.
Answer
The implementation of the recommendations contained in the recent Management Review of the Scottish Tourist Board is only one of the actions that are being taken to further support our tourism industry. The Executive's Tourism Strategy contains many new actions designed to grow tourism throughout Scotland. We are also providing increased levels of financial support through the STB.
