- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 8 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the European Commission's Decision of 15 July 2005 on the application of Article 86(2) of the EC Treaty on State aid in the form of public service compensation granted to "undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest", whether it considers that the European Commission and legal advice were not erroneously dismissive of the relevance of the Altmark case to the Caledonian MacBrayne tendering issue and, if so, whether it will state why it believes this to be the case.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18551 on 8 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 8 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the European Commission's Decision of 15 July 2005 on the application of Article 86(2) of the EC Treaty on State aid in the form of public service compensation granted to "undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest", whether it now considers that the European Commission and legal advice were erroneously dismissive of the relevance of the Altmark case to the Caledonian MacBrayne tendering issue and that the Executive should now be allowed more time by the European Commission to make a case for not tendering, based on the Altmark precedent.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-18551 on 8 September 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 8 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, following the European Commission's Decision of 15 July 2005 on the application of Article 86(2) of the EC Treaty on State aid in the form of public service compensation granted to "undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest", whether it has reconsidered the application of the European Court of Justice Altmark ruling to Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.
Answer
The European Commission’s “Decision on the application of Article 86(2) of the Treaty on State aid in the form of public sector compensation granted to certain undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest” does not seek to provide guidance on the Altmark case nor the application of the Altmark decision. The Decision does refer to the Altmark case but only so as to make clear that the Decision relates only to public compensation which does not meet the Altmark criteria. This is because public compensation which does meet the Altmark criteria does not constitute State aid within the meaning of Article 87 of the EC Treaty.
The Decision provides an administrative framework which exempts certain State aids from notification to the European Commission. It does not, however, exempt public authorities from any other requirements in relation to state aids rules nor exempt them from the requirements of sectoral state aid rules. This means that, in relation to the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services, the Scottish Executive is still required to comply with the terms of the maritime state aid rules (the maritime cabotage regulation) and, in particular, the requirement to act in a non-discriminatory way.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 18 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 8 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has taken on the potential impact of the European Commission's Decision of 15 July 2005 on the application of Article 86(2) of the EC Treaty on State aid in the form of public service compensation granted to "undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest" and its relationship to the European Court of Justice Altmark ruling and the need to tender Clyde and Hebrides ferry services, and whether it will publish (a) such advice or (b) a summary of the advice.
Answer
The Executive has significant legal advice at its disposal. The Executive does not normally disclose legal advice which it receives.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 5 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, regarding the Scottish Executive Statistics Plan Overview and Annual Report 2004-05, what statistics have been classed as "no longer needed", as referred to in paragraphs 22 and 23; which of these statistics have been discontinued, and which have been amended and what they now measure.
Answer
The information requested is given in Statistics classed as ‘no longer needed’, discontinued or amended 2004/2005, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 37324).
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 1 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding the review of the Framework for National Statistics.
Answer
Preliminary discussions on thereview of the framework for National Statistics have been held at official levelat the Government Statistical Heads of Profession meetings.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 1 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive, regarding the Scottish Executive Statistics Plan Overview and Annual Report 2004-05, what it considers to be the "key statistics relevant to measuring the impact of government programmes", as referred to by the Office of the Chief Statistician in paragraph 10.
Answer
The term key statistics in paragraph10 of the Scottish Executive Statistics Plan Overview and Annual Report 2004-05 does not relateto a definitive set of statistics but refers to National Statistics which show outcome trends in the areas of government programmes.High level summary trend statistics on outcomes across the range of government activitywill be incorporated into the Scottish Executive Statistics internet site as part of a redesign of thesite.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 August 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 1 September 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has responded to the Statistics Commission report, Legislation to Build Trust in Statistics, published in May 2004; whether it will make any such response publicly available, and whether it supports the introduction of an overall legislative framework, as suggested by the report.
Answer
The Executive has not respondedto the Statistics Commission report. Any response will be made publicly available.
The Executive has not made adecision on whether it supports the need for legislation in Scotland.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 July 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 24 August 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals applied for the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme, broken down by (a) year of graduation, (b) awarding institution and (c) level of qualification awarded.
Answer
The information is not currently available. However, the Relocation Advisory Service will be monitoring the success of the scheme by issuing a questionnaire to all successful applicants. This will include questions to collect the information being requested. A breakdown of the data collected through the questionnaires will be issued on a six monthly basis. We expect the first breakdown to be published around the turn of the year.
- Asked by: Jim Mather, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 July 2005
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 24 August 2005
To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals transferred to the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme from other immigration schemes, such as the Science and Engineering Graduates scheme.
Answer
We expect information on individuals applying for the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme to be published in due course.
