- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 22 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Knowledge Economy Task Force to report.
Answer
The Knowledge Economy Task Force is expected to finalise its report by August of this year, following which I will consult with Cabinet colleagues.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 24 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of its communications with local authorities are carried out electronically and what targets it has to increase this proportion.
Answer
We are discussing with local authorities ways of improving the speed and efficiency of communications between us, in support of the overall aim of ensuring that all public services can be carried out electronically by 2005. All Scottish Executive consultation documents are placed on the Executive's website and are therefore available to local authorities electronically. Increasing numbers of less formal communications with councils - for example, letters between officials - are now routinely sent electronically. Statistical information is also exchanged electronically. The proportion of electronic exchanges will grow further as new ways of working are adopted generally.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 19 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many classroom days will be lost as a result of the Scottish Qualification Authority's proposal that those teachers who act as markers should be released from classroom duties for two days to mark exam papers at home.
Answer
The recruitment of markers is the responsibility of SQA.
I understand from SQA that the total numbers of days for which markers have to be released will not be known until the recruitment process is complete.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 19 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost will be of the Scottish Qualifications Authority's proposal that those teachers who act as markers should be released from classroom duties for two days to mark exam papers at home.
Answer
The recruitment of markers is the responsibility of SQA.
I understand from them that the total cost will not be known until the recruitment process is complete.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 05 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 19 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), about the SQA's proposal that those teachers who act as markers should be released from classroom duties for two days to mark exam papers at home in order to overcome the problem of lack of markers and, if so, what guidance it gave to the SQA.
Answer
As the recruitment of markers is an operational matter for the SQA, the Executive was not consulted on its proposals. However, we have been assured by the SQA that marking of exam papers will be completed on time. We are continuing to monitor the situation.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 19 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the future transfer or creation of posts in the Scottish Executive, including its agencies, broken down by parliamentary constituency.
Answer
The Executive's policy on location and relocation of Civil Service jobs remains as set out by the First Minister in his answer of 15 September 1999 (S1W-1558, Mr Duncan McNeil MSP). Potential locations across Scotland will be considered on a case-by-case basis consistent with our objectives of efficiency and effectiveness.
We plan to transfer 83 posts to the Europa Building later this month, completing the move of the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department (ELLD) to Glasgow. A number of other posts will also transfer to Glasgow to support ELLD operations.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 19 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any consents under any sections of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (other than section 74(2)) or under any other Acts have been given to Dumfries and Galloway Council in connection with the disposal of Benreay Residential Home and Lydiafield Residential Home and Day Care Centre.
Answer
No
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 19 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether any section 74(2) consents under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 have been given to Dumfries and Galloway Council in connection with the disposal of Benreay Residential Home to Burnfoot Homes (Lockerbie) Limited and Lydiafield Residential Home and Day Care Centre to Burnfoot Homes (Annan) Limited.
Answer
Consent was given to Dumfries and Galloway Council under section 74(2) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to sell Lydiafield Residential Home and Day Care Centre to Burnfoot Homes Ltd on 6 August 1998.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 June 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 15 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport and the Environment last visited Moffat and what road issues she discussed with local residents.
Answer
I last visited Moffat on 10 June when I attended the first meeting of the Southern Upland Partnership. In the margins of that meeting I had a number of informal discussions with local residents on roads issues and have agreed that my officials should meet locals to discuss the issue of tourist signing for Moffat.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 14 June 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered the theories set out by Jonas Ridderstale and Kjell Nordstrom in their book Funky Business and, if so, what conclusions it has drawn and whether they will have any implications for its own working practices and its policies on the working practices of Scottish business.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is continually modernising its working practices and encourages all other organisations to do the same. The Executive is receptive to a range of current thinking in this area.
