- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 March 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 28 March 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of comments on 14 March 2007 by the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning that the Executive had considered the mutualisation of Scottish Water, what research has been carried out into the financial implications of mutualisation and the long-term capital costs that would be incurred by a mutual company.
Answer
Research on the options for the Scottish water industry, includingmutualisation, was undertaken in 1997 and 2001. This work informed the creationof the three regional water authorities and Scottish Water respectively. Since thenno research on any prospective mutualisation has been undertaken by the executive.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 21 March 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what issues it has raised in relation to the proposal, published in October 2006 by the European Commission and currently under discussion by an ad hoc working group of the European Council, for the establishment of an European Institute of Technology (EIT); whether it has raised such issues with Scottish MEPs, and what discussions have taken place with relevant UK or EU bodies about Scotland being a potential base for the board of the EIT or Scottish individuals or institutions becoming members of the board.
Answer
I recently wrote to the Secretaryof State for Trade and Industry setting out Scottish ministers’ views on the EuropeanCommission’s proposal to establish a European Institute of Technology (EIT). I saidin my letter that I support the UK’s negotiating strategy which reflects the issues thathave been raised by the Scottish higher education sector and other stakeholderswhich are:
EIT should add value to competitivenessand innovation and not duplicate or cut across existing instruments such as theSeventh Framework Programme.
Funding of EIT needs to be clarified.
EIT should not have independentdegree-awarding powers and this should remain the preserve of individual institutions.
The engagement of business iscritical to the success and reputation of the EIT and we need to ensure that businessesin Scotland are involved in the development of the EIT and its proposedKnowledge and Innovation Communities.
Since the Commission’s Communicationwas first published, I have written to Alyn Smith, MEP indicating my broad supportfor the concept of EIT and that further work is needed before the proposal can befully supported.
It would be premature to discussthe location for the board of the EIT at such an early stage in the negotiations.However, we will continue to closely monitor this and we will work with the sectorand other stakeholders to ensure that Scotland is able to take best advantage of the opportunities thatEIT may offer.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 March 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 21 March 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the impact of the integration of the careers service in the Western Isles into Highlands and Islands Enterprise and, if so, what the impact will be on the level of resources required to meet the needs of clients.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has notevaluated the impact of the integration of the careers service in the Western Islesinto Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 28 February 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Robert Brown on 8 March 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans have been initiated by its Education Department to address the issues raised in the UNICEF report on child poverty and what aspect of the report will be the department¿s top priority.
Answer
We are already taking actionon the key areas identified in this report so new plans are not required.
Improving outcomes andopportunities for all children in Scotland so that they can reach their full potential is amajor priority for the Scottish Executive. We are investing in pre-schooleducation, and in new and refurbished schools, improving educationalattainment, supporting effective and affordable child care, and protecting andsupporting our most vulnerable children, young people and families.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 7 March 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and students and staff of the University of Strathclyde concerning the university’s proposals to cut jobs and when these meetings took place.
Answer
Ministers have not heldmeetings with students, staff or management of the University of Strathclyde on this issue and no such meetings have beenrequested.
We are of course aware of the financial pressures being faced by the University of Strathclyde.The university has communicated its position to the Executive and the Scottish FundingCouncil and has not sought extra funding in response to its current financialsituation.
I understand that the universityhas given the assurance that savings against staff budgets will no be made byimposing voluntary redundancies, and that the university will consult on thisissue with the unions and other stakeholders. Given that financial managementis rightly the responsibility of the university’s management, this is thecorrect approach.
The funding council and inparticular its audit committee closely monitor the financial health of ouruniversities and advise ministers of any specific difficulties. The FundingCouncil’s Chief Executive has been in regular contact with the Principal of theUniversity of Strathclyde on this matter.
The funding council have notapproached ministers to intervene in the situation at Strathclyde or indeed atany other institution.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 7 March 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and students and staff of the University of Dundee concerning the university’s proposals to cut courses and jobs and when these meetings took place.
Answer
Ministers have not heldmeetings with students, staff or management of the University of Dundee on this issue and no such meetings have been requested.
We are of course aware of the financial pressures being faced by the University of Dundee. The universityhas communicated its position to the Executive and the Scottish Funding Counciland has not sought extra funding in response to its current financialsituation.
The university will now beconsulting on this issue with the unions and other stakeholders. Given thatfinancial management is rightly the responsibility of the university’s management,this is the correct approach.
The funding council and inparticular its audit committee closely monitor the financial health of ouruniversities and advise ministers of any specific difficulties. The FundingCouncil’s Chief Executive has been in regular contact with the Principal of theUniversity of Dundee on this matter.
The funding council have notapproached ministers on the situation at Dundee or indeed at any otherinstitution.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 7 March 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and students and staff of the University of Glasgow’s Crichton Campus in Dumfries concerning the university’s decision to withdraw from the campus and when these meetings took place.
Answer
On 22 February, the DeputyMinister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and I met with a delegation fromDumfries and Galloway Council and representatives of the Crichton Campus toidentify a way forward that will secure provision at the campus. The DeputyMinister also met with the Principal of the University of Glasgow on 23February. There has not been a meeting with student representatives.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 6 March 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what total costs have been incurred by (a) it, (b) other public bodies and (c) Caledonian MacBrayne and its successor companies in relation to the tender for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services since 1999, including (i) civil servants’ time and related costs, including the time of senior civil servants, (ii) the costs of dividing Caledonian MacBrayne into three companies, offshoring jobs and transferring ownership, including establishing new offices at Port Glasgow and in Jersey, (iii) the costs of all external legal advice sought by the Executive, (iv) the costs to any Executive agency or organisation funded by the Executive in relation to the tender and (v) any other associated costs.
Answer
It is not possible toprovide an exact estimate of the cost of the tendering process. However thefirst of following tables sets out approximate costs incurred by the ScottishExecutive. The following table sets out the identifiable costs incurred by thepublic bodies involved. We are not aware of any other public bodies incurringspecific costs on the process.
The costs incurred to datefor tendering the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services are as follows:-
The Scottish Executive(November 1999 to 31 January 2007)
Staff Costs* | £1,170,108 |
Travel and Subsistence | £15,526 |
External Legal, Financial and Technical Advice | £937,800 |
Advertising Costs (including Official Journal of European Union and recruitment of non executive directors for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd) | £19, 585 |
Consultations/Publications | £47,455 |
Sub total | £2,190,474 |
Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd(April 2000 to 30 September 2006)
Staff Costs | £366,000 |
Restructuring Costs | £1,105,000 |
Consideration of State Aids Issues | £206,000 |
Offshore Crewing** | £167,000 |
Sub total | £1,844,000 |
CalMac Ferries Ltd (1 October 2006 to 31 January 2007)
Restructuring Costs | £138,000 |
Sub total | £138,000 |
Caledonian Maritime AssetsLtd (1 October 2006 to 31 January 2007)
Taxation*** | £11,000,000 |
Staff Costs | £71,133 |
Legal fees etc | £72,772 |
Consultancy fees | £34,793 |
Administration Costs | £15,597 |
Sub total | £11,194,295 |
Total | £15,366,769 |
Notes:
*This cost doesnot include the cost of senior officials in Transport Group, specialistofficials or ministers as their time cannot be separately accounted for.Neither does it include any allowance for the overheads that the Executiveaccrues generally.
**The creation of the offshore crewing company was notas a direct result of the EU tendering process, the benefit to the company iscirca £1 million per annum.
***The tax costs were aconsequence of the restructuring and derive from a notional disposal of assetsfrom Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and a change oftrade on the part of the latter from owning and operating to simply owning thevessels. This deemed disposal resulted in a claw back of capital allowances(tax relief) previously claimed by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd reflecting thecompany’s past investment in new vessels. The tax liability of £11 million was paidin two equal payments to HM Revenue and Customs in October 2006 and January2007.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 February 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 2 March 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what meetings have taken place between the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning and the workforce or trade union representatives of the Simclar plants in Irvine and Kilwinning concerning the closure of the plants and when these meetings took place.
Answer
I met representatives of theworkforce and trade union representatives on Monday 5 February 2007 and again at Parliament on Thursday 8 February. I also met with DTIMinister Jim Fitzpatrick on Tuesday 27 February 2007.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 30 January 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 1 March 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of any problems encountered in the current tender process for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry service, it will ensure that the tender process is not repeated in this manner in future.
Answer
A key priority for any ferrytendering process is that there should be no disruption to the lifeline Clyde and Hebridesservices. The current tender exercise, as with all such projects, will bereviewed on completion.