Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S2W-18782

Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 27 September 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects research and development spending in Scotland to meet the EU average of 2% of GDP and what percentage of this spending it expects to come from the private sector.

Total Scottish expenditure (publicand private) on research and development in Scotland was equivalent to 1.5 percent of GDP in 2003. Total private business expenditure on research and development(R&D) in Scotland was equivalent to 0.6 per cent of GDP in 2003, whichaccounted for just under two fifths (38%) of the total R&D expenditure in Scotland.

The Executive has not set specifictargets for growth in R&D expenditure relative to GDP, but is committed to improvingScotland’s position relative to our main competitors. The Executive and its agencieshave a range of policies to encourage R&D and commercialisation activity inScotland and address this priority. These include:

The SCoRe and SEEKIT initiatives which support collaborative,pre-competitive R&D, jointly undertaken between SMEs and public sector sciencebase as well as enhancing public sector research organisations’ ability to workwith business;

The highly successful R&D grants under SMART/SPUR/SPURplus aimed at small and medium sized enterprises, researchers and prospective entrepreneurs,which are now at record levels;

The Proof of Conceptfund of £40 million fills a funding gap aimed at a pre-development conceptual phaseof high risk projects;

The Scottish Co-investment Fund (£45 million) and ScottishProposal Assistance Fund (SPAF) provide additional sources of assistance;

The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council has establisheda Knowledge Transfer Grant which will total at least £12 million in 2005-06, doublethe level in 2002-03, and

R&D plus designed to actively support large companiesengaged in new and innovative research aimed at developing products with potentialfor global commercial success.

Complementaryto these programmes is the establishment by Scottish Enterprise of three IntermediaryTechnology Institutes (ITIs). The three ITIs focused on the three industry sectors:energy, life sciences and communication technology and digital media will receivefunding of £450 million over 10 years. They will assist the commercial exploitationof knowledge and the creation of more knowledge based companies in Scotland.

In addition to this, annual UK surveys continueto show that Scotland performs well in UK terms on a range of measuresof commercialisation. The Executive is consulting with business about a furtherscheme linking business rates relief with research and development expenditure.

Question reference: S2W-18777

Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 27 September 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to consult the Parliament regarding a (a) Scottish national and (b) UK programme for growth and jobs and, if so, when.

National reform programmes arebeing produced at member state level. The UK position on economic reform is consistentwith that of the Executive The Lisbon Strategy and the renewed EU focus on growthand jobs fits well with existing Executive policy, as set out in The Frameworkfor Economic Development in Scotland (FEDS) and the Executive’s Enterprise strategyA Smart Successful Scotland (SSS). Both these documents have been informedthrough discussion with stakeholders in various forums and through regular consultationwith the Scottish Parliament and parliamentary committees.

The UK Government consults widelywith national, regional, local and sectoral stakeholders in developing proposalsfor structural economic reform. Many of the reforms necessary to meet the Lisbon objectiveshave already been implemented in the UK and in Scotland and have been consulted on. In preparation of its Nationalreform programme, which is due to be submitted on 15 October 2005, the UK governmenthas held an open stakeholder dialogue from 8 July to the 12 August 2005, invitingcomments and input from all stakeholders across the United Kingdom on the proposalsfor structural economic reform. Any new commitments will, in accordance with normalgovernment practice, be consulted on.

Question reference: S2W-18778

Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 27 September 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to engage the Parliament and social partners in Scotland in (a) discussions and (b) action in respect of the revised Lisbon agenda programme for growth and jobs.

The revised Lisbon agenda forgrowth and jobs fits well with existing Executive policy as set out in Frameworkfor Economic Development in Scotland and the Executive’s Enterprise strategyA Smart, Successful Scotland (SSS). The Executive consults regularly with ourkey stakeholders through various forums, ensuring that all views are represented.Many of the reforms necessary to meet theLisbon objectives have already been implemented in the UK and in Scotland andhave been consulted on. All new commitments will, in accordance with normal governmentpractice, be consulted on.

Question reference: S2W-18779

Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 27 September 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to engage local authorities in (a) discussions and (b) action in respect of the revised Lisbon agenda programme for growth and jobs.

The revised Lisbon agenda forgrowth and jobs fits well with existing Executive policy as set out in Frameworkfor Economic Development in Scotland and the Executive’s Enterprise strategyA Smart, Successful Scotland (SSS). The Executive consults regularly with ourkey stakeholders, including Scottish local authorities, through various forums inorder to ensure that all views are represented. Many of the reforms necessary to meet the Lisbon objectives have alreadybeen implemented in the UK and in Scotland and have been consulted on. All new commitmentswill, in accordance with normal government practice, be consulted on.

Question reference: S2W-18787

Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 27 September 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what its national employment rate targets are for (a) 2008 and (b) 2010 under the revised Lisbon agenda and what contribution it has made to the setting of UK targets for the same indicators.

The requirement to produce nationalemployment rate targets for 2008 and 2010, under the revised Lisbon agenda,is for member states. The national employment rates for both Scotland andthe UK are presently in excess of the 70 per cent target set by Lisbon for 2010.The Executive has on-going dialogue with UK departments in accordance with existing practice to ensureScotland is fully represented. The Executive has also contributed directly to theUKnational reform programme with specific regard to this issue.

Question reference: S2W-18784

Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 27 September 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects Scotland to meet the EU target set by the Lisbon agenda for two thirds of all research and development spending to come from the private sector.

Total Scottish expenditure (publicand private) on research and development in Scotland was equivalent to 1.5 percent of GDP in 2003. Total private business expenditure on research and developmentin Scotland was equivalent to 0.6 per cent of GDP in 2003, whichaccounted for just under two fifths (38%) of the total R&D expenditure in Scotland.

The Executive has not set specificnumerical targets for growth in R&D expenditure relative to GDP, but is committedto improving Scotland’s position relative to our main competitors.

Question reference: S2W-18780

Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2005
Current Status: Answered by Nicol Stephen on 27 September 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures it is taking to ensure that its policy and budgetary actions comply with the European Commission's Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs (2005-2008), broken down by guidelines 1 to 23 and showing how the Executive's policy and budgetary actions apply to each guideline.

The European Commission’s IntegratedGuidelines for Growth and Jobs (2005-2008) set out for member states a packageof broad policy guidance on macroeconomic, microeconomic and employment issues.On the basis of the guidelines, member states will draw up three-year national reformprogrammes. Many of the reforms necessaryto meet the Lisbon objectives have already been implemented in the UK and in Scotland.

The national reform programmeof the United Kingdom will be consistent with the implementation of the Executive’seconomic development policies as set outin The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland and the Executive’sEnterprise strategy, A Smart, Successful Scotland..

Question reference: S2W-19251

Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2005
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 26 September 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15237 by Mr Tom McCabe on 13 April 2005, how many enquiries have now been received by the Relocation Advisory Service, broken down by country of residence and month of enquiry.

The web-based element of the Relocation Advisory Service opened on 12 October 2004. The service became fully operational at the end of that month. Between 12October and 15 September 2005 a total of 7,382 enquiries have been received. These can be broken down as follows:

By month,

Pre-Launch	21
12-10-2004 to 31-10-2004	321
November	480
December	739
January	1,031
February	698
March	1,124
April	733
May	591
June	698
July	413
August	348
01-09-2005 to 15-09-2005	185
Total	7,382

By country,

Unspecified	1,219
Albania	5
Algeria	8
Argentina	6
Armenia	2
Australia	62
Austria	2
Bahamas, The	2
Bahrain	1
Bangladesh	23
Belarus	2
Belgium	9
Benin	1
Bolivia	1
Botswana	2
Brazil	10
Brunei	2
Bulgaria	8
Cameroon	11
Canada	138
Cayman Islands	3
Chile	1
China	45
Congo, Republic of the	2
Croatia	3
Cyprus	2
Czech Republic	11
Denmark	2
Ecuador	1
Egypt	2
England	286
Eritrea	1
Finland	1
France	15
Gambia, The	4
Germany	48
Ghana	13
Greece	16
Guyana	2
Hong Kong	12
Hungary	8
Iceland	5
India	1,331
Indian Ocean	2
Indonesia	3
Iran	8
Israel	1
Italy	18
Jamaica	1
Japan	6
Jordan	4
Kenya	6
Korea, South	2
Kuwait	1
Latvia	1
Lebanon	1
Lithuania	2
Luxembourg	1
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of	3
Malaysia	111
Malta	6
Mauritius	6
Mexico	23
Moldova	1
Morocco	9
Nepal	17
Netherlands	30
New Zealand	10
Nicaragua	1
Niger	1
Nigeria	332
Northern Ireland	6
Norway	1
Oman	2
Pakistan	64
Panama	1
Peru	15
Philippines	23
Poland	1222
Portugal	14
Qatar	1
Republic of Ireland	11
Romania	17
Russia	10
Saudi Arabia	6
Scotland	761
Senegal	1
Serbia and Montenegro	4
Singapore	19
Slovakia	1
South Africa	54
Spain	28
Sri Lanka	8
Swaziland	1
Sweden	11
Switzerland	2
Taiwan	13
Tanzania	2
Thailand	1
Trinidad and Tobago	5
Tunisia	3
Turkey	10
Turkmenistan	1
Uganda	11
Ukraine	20
United Arab Emirates	11
United Kingdom	452
United States	600
Uruguay	1
Venezuela	1
Vietnam	1
Wales	20
Zambia	3
Zimbabwe	9
Total	7,382

Question reference: S2W-19252

Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 15 September 2005
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 26 September 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive how many enquiries to the Relocation Advisory Service have resulted in relocations to Scotland.

Question reference: S2W-18859

Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 31 August 2005
Current Status: Answered by Tom McCabe on 26 September 2005

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-18125 by Mr Tom McCabe on 24 August 2005, whether it has begun to compile information on applications for Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme visas; if so, how many individuals who successfully applied for such a visa are now resident in Scotland, and, of these, how many were resident (a) in Scotland and (b) overseas at the time of application, broken down into the first and second month of the scheme's operation.