- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 24 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what video conferencing facilities are available to Ministers and officials.
Answer
There are video conferencing facilities in each of the main Scottish Executive buildings in Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are available for use by Scottish Ministers and officials of the Executive. In addition there are facilities in the offices of the Scotland Office in Dover House, London, which are available for use by Scottish Ministers and Scottish Executive officials when required; and Ministers may use the video conferencing suite in the Parliament Committee Chambers at George IV Bridge provided for MSPs.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 24 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what weight it gives to the need to police the M74 and A75 when considering the allocation of resources to Dumfries and Galloway Police Force.
Answer
The allocation of police officers to specific individual tasks is an operational matter for Chief Constables. The 2000-01 GAE settlement took into account a needs assessment made by individual forces.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 24 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has entered into discussions with Her Majesty's Government, local authorities or other bodies with a view to achieving a co-ordinated approach to the use of video conferencing facilities and, if so, what has been the outcome of those discussions.
Answer
Scottish Executive officials are discussing with colleagues in the Confederation of Scottish Local Authorities the further development of video conferencing among Scottish local authorities and between them and the Scottish Executive. The use of video conferencing facilities between the Executive and London-based Departments is already well-established.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 21 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued or intends to issue any mandatory requirements or guidelines in relation to local authority spending per secondary school pupil taking into account si'e of school.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to Question S1W-3552.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 05 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 21 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken steps to investigate any significant deviations between local authorities in average spend per secondary school pupil, taking into account si'e of school and, if so, what the outcome of those investigations is.
Answer
The detailed decisions on levels of school funding are matters for individual education authorities and depend on a range of factors and local circumstances which they will take into account. Accordingly, we do not investigate authorities' school expenditure decisions. No guidelines about levels of spending per pupil exist, and we have no plans to issue such guidelines.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 21 January 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer what consideration has been given to the use of videoconferencing facilities during meetings of the Committees of the Parliament.
Answer
The committee conveners are aware of the availability of the video conferencing facilities in the Parliament and use will be made of them in appropriate circumstances.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 December 1999
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 20 January 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Benefits Agency and the Post Office about the consequences which the introduction of a system of payment of pensions and other benefits by automated bank transfer could have on the viability of rural sub post offices in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government across a range of issues, including those relating to the Post Office. The UK Government has indicated its commitment to maintaining a network of post offices throughout the country. The UK Government has also indicated that all benefit recipients who wish to collect their benefits in cash at post offices will continue to be able to do so.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 20 January 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer what use has been made of the video conferencing facilities in Parliament buildings to date.
Answer
Video conferencing facilities at the Parliament have been used by Members and staff to connect to a number of academic establishments, to Scottish Executive sites, and as part of an international link-up in conjunction with the United Nations AIDS conference held last year.The Parliament's Education Service also used the facility on the 22 June 1999 for a "video surgery" between the Deputy First Minister and a group of pupils from Kirkwall Grammar School, Orkney. The Education Service hopes to develop this aspect of its work in the future, particularly with remote schools.Video conferencing facilities were recently used by the Member and South of Scotland Members for a public meeting from the Parliament Headquarters to Langholm, Dumfriesshire.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 20 January 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has commissioned any study into the comparative costs of travel by members to meetings and use of video conferencing facilities.
Answer
No, but the SPCB is keen to ensure the most efficient and effective use of available resources and would encourage members always to consider use of video conferencing facilities as an alternative to travel. Parliament staff will shortly issue further guidance on use of the Parliament's own facilities.
- Asked by: David Mundell, MSP for South of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 20 January 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer what steps the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body has taken to promote the use of the video conferencing facilities in the Parliament buildings.
Answer
Promotion of video conferencing facilities has been limited. We plan to address this in the near future and could use global e-mails plus possibly enlist the help of WHISP.A paper to the Convener Liaison Group in December 1999 proposed greater use of video conferencing and other ICT facilities in committee work, and this is being taken forward through discussions with conveners.
