- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 28 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 6 February 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to minimise any disruption to the Glasgow courts caused by recent industrial action by Unison.
Answer
Local authorities are responsible for the running of their respective district courts. The industrial action of UNISON arises out of a dispute between the relevant local authorities and UNISON on behalf of its members. The Procurator Fiscal sought where possible in law to expedite some summary cases by accelerating them to be dealt with before the industrial action. Some cases may be dealt with after the conclusion of the industrial action.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 31 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-11591 by Mr Jim Wallace on 12 December 2000, what assessment it has made of the impact in Scotland of any proposed introduction across the United Kingdom of British Energy Saving Time.
Answer
The Executive has made no such assessment, as there are no plans to introduce British Energy Saving Time. The fact that there are no such plans being considered was made clear by Mr Brian Wilson MP, Minister of State at the Scotland Office, in an announcement on 20 November 2000.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 08 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Peter Peacock on 30 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive why Glasgow City Council is to receive the 27th highest increase in aggregate external finance over the years 2001-02 to 2003-04.
Answer
Glasgow City Council's grant allocation was calculated by formula based on long-established methods of establishing each council's need to spend on services. A floor mechanism was also introduced to ensure that all councils would benefit from increases of at least 5%, 4% and 3.4% over the three years. Glasgow continues to receive substantially more grant per person than any other mainland council and has benefited by £16 million from the floor.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 December 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 30 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking or plans to take to ensure effective and systematic implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is committed to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Making it Work Together - a Programme for Government emphasised our commitment to improving the lives of our nation's children and set out a range of targets to that end. The UK Government submitted its second report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child - which included a Scottish chapter - in August 1999. We will consider carefully the UN Committee's observations on that report once received.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the earliest date is when the construction of the M74 Northern Extension can commence.
Answer
I expect construction works for the new motorway to start in 2005 subject to completion of all of the statutory and procurement procedures.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 30 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a right of appeal for objectors to a particular planning development which has been approved.
Answer
We have no plans at present to introduce such a right of appeal into the planning system.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 30 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will respond to the report by the Federation of Small Businesses, Barriers to Growth and Survival, and, if so, when.
Answer
Officials in the Executive's Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department hosted a seminar on 7 December at which the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) gave a presentation on the report. This allowed the FSB representatives to discuss the findings with officials working on most of the subjects covered by the report. My officials will continue to meet regularly with the FSB.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact will be on regeneration, land reclamation and investment of constructing a modified M74 Northern Extension without junctions.
Answer
The scheme that will be taken forward in partnership with Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, will have four key junctions. It will create significant investment and regeneration opportunities for the whole of west central Scotland and in addition, more locally assist in making contaminated land safe.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 30 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the availability of venture capital finance to small businesses.
Answer
The Scottish Executive keeps the financial needs of small business under continued review. I am very pleased that the change of status afforded to Scottish Equity Partners - formerly Scottish Development Finance, Scottish Enterprise's investment arm - has allowed the company to raise £80 million for a new Venture Capital Fund aimed at early stage and growth technology companies. This will provide access to equity funding for an increasing number of Scottish small businesses.
- Asked by: Kenneth Gibson, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 January 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 30 January 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to assist local authorities in improving their planning systems.
Answer
In 1997 a Planning Audit Unit was set up within Planning Services Division of the Scottish Executive. Its initial purpose was to work with authorities to assist in securing improvements in the delivery of their development control service. As well as continuing to do this, it is now also working with authorities to improve their development planning functions.We also seek to keep national planning policy up to date. In November 2000 we published a revision of National Planning Policy Guideline 1: The Planning System. We will shortly be publishing a revision of Planning Advice Note 40: Development Control which will provide, inter alia, best practice advice on development control services.
