- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 10 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-2331 by Sarah Boyack on 10 December 1999, whether it will provide full details of how Midlothian Council intends to finance the A701 Midlothian Project and any implications for council tax levels in Midlothian.
Answer
Further to my previous answer, how Midlothian Council finance the project and the implications for council tax are matters for them.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 28 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 10 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) public servants and (b) civil servants (i) were employed by The Scottish Office, Executive Agencies and associated departments in June 1997; (ii) are currently employed by The Scottish Executive including Executive Agencies and associated departments and (iii) have transferred to The Scotland Office since its formation.
Answer
The full time equivalent of permanent staff employed in the main departments between 1 June 1997 in The Scottish Office and 1 February 2000 in The Scottish Executive are set out in the attached table.In the past three years, the definition of the core Scottish Executive (Scottish Office) has changed with movements of responsibilities into and out of the Office/Executive. The figures shown below have been back-dated as far as possible for comparison purposes. Therefore, the Scottish Courts Administration and Parole Board staff (135 staff at Feb 2000) have been included within the core Office/Executive throughout the period, although the actual transfer of staff took place in July 1999.
| | 1/4/97 | 1/6/97 | 1/4/98 | 1/4/99 | 1/2/00 |
| Scottish Office/ Executive | 3,611.2 | 3,556.5 | 3,570.3 | 3,677.6 | 3,926.0 |
| Crown Office | 1,104.0 | 1,072.7 | 1,112.0 | 1,084.0 | 1,089.7 |
| Scottish Courts Service | 816.0 | 819.4 | 828.0 | 833.0 | 854.4 |
| Scottish Prison Service | 4,510.0 | 4,359.7 | 4,723.0 | 4,824.0 | 4,824.0 |
| Agencies | | | | | |
| Fisheries Research Services | 205.9 | 227.9 | 227.0 | 256.5 | 257.9 |
| Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency | 254.0 | 257.0 | 255.6 | 274.9 | 274.5 |
| Scottish Agricultural Science Agency | 123.0 | 122.7 | 121.0 | 114.3 | 127.4 |
| Scottish Public Pensions Agency | 153.1 | 151.1 | 143.5 | 139.5 | 152.6 |
| Historic Scotland | 587.0 | 603.4 | 626.8 | 622.3 | 630.8 |
| Student Awards Agency for Scotland | 120.3 | 124.2 | 125.8 | 126.8 | 122.8 |
| Others (incl Associated Depts) | | | | | |
| National Archives of Scotland | 119.1 | 120.2 | 112.9 | 114.2 | 119.2 |
| General Register Office | 206.8 | 205.8 | 202.4 | 214.4 | 235.4 |
| Registers of Scotland | 1,063.0 | 1,044.7 | 1,045.0 | 1,057.0 | 1,268.8 |
76 staff have transferred to the Scotland Office since its formation.It should be noted that although a number of staff from other public sector organisations are on loan/secondment to the Executive, they remain employees of the parent organisation.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 January 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Iain Gray on 10 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make representations to Her Majesty's Government to consider the establishment of a Joint Ministerial Committee to look at the implications for Scotland of asylum seekers.
Answer
No. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including asylum seekers.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 March 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by David Steel on 9 March 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer how the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body arrived at its different estimates of the cost of the Holyrood building and its related facilities, and how many different estimates it has been given and by whom.
Answer
I advise members to await the publication of Mr Spencely's report which will set such details in context.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Frank McAveety on 7 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has provided or intends to provide any guidance to local authorities as to the application of the provisions of on the Human Rights Act 1998 to the statutory functions of local authorities; if so, when such guidance has been or will be issued and whether any such guidance will be made public.
Answer
Guidance on the Human Rights Act, in the form of a booklet A new Era of Rights and Responsibilities: Core Guidance for Public Authorities was issued to all local authorities on 1 February 2000. This guidance is also published on the Internet and copies are available from the Scottish Executive.The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities also intends issuing their own guidance in due course.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 6 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether every written objection to the proposals for the A701 will receive a written reply outlining why the Scottish Executive did not call a public inquiry.
Answer
It has never been the practice to notify decisions to everyone who has submitted written objections to a proposal and there are no plans to introduce such arrangements.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 2 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the provisions of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (as amended), relating to the licensing and regulation of taxis and private hire cars are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and, if not, what plans it has to amend the 1982 Act.
Answer
We are systematically reviewing all of our activities to identify issues where there is a risk of ECHR challenge. If we believe it is necessary to amend existing legislation in order to comply with the Convention, then we will bring forward proposals for that purpose at the appropriate time.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 2 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the powers currently exercised by police officers to search persons and property and to detain and arrest persons are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights within the meaning of section 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and, if not, what plans it has to amend the law covering such powers.
Answer
We are systematically reviewing all of our activities to identify issues where there is a risk of ECHR challenge. If we believe it is necessary to amend existing legislation in order to comply with the Convention, then we will bring forward proposals for that purpose at the appropriate time.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether all documents submitted by Midlothian Council in its application to the Executive for permission to construct the A701 through the Edinburgh greenbelt are made available to the public and, if so, where, and whether it will outline the reasons for any restrictions in access.
Answer
Relevant documents in relation to the Notice of Intention to Develop for the construction of the A701 are available at the public libraries in Roslin, Penicuik and Loanhead and at the Council offices at Fairfield House, Dalkeith. There is no restriction on access to these documents.
- Asked by: Lord James Douglas-Hamilton, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 17 February 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 2 March 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that Midlothian Council met all statutory requirements in relation to public consultation on its proposals to construct the new A701 through the Edinburgh green belt.
Answer
The responsibility for meeting all the statutory requirements in relation to public consultations on these proposals rests with Midlothian Council.
