- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 5 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will describe the mechanism through which the British Tourist Authority is accountable to the Scottish Parliament and whether it will list the occasions on which it has laid reports relating to the British Tourist Authority (BTA) before the Parliament or taken any other action relating to the accountability of the BTA to the Parliament since 1 July 1999.
Answer
The British Tourist Authority (BTA) is designated as a cross-border public authority by an Order in Council made under section 88 of the Scotland Act 1998. Section 88 specifies the requirements on cross-border public authorities relating to accountability to the Scottish Parliament. The BTA laid its Annual Report and Accounts for 1999-2000 before the Scottish Parliament on 23 October 2000. The Scottish Executive have been consulted about appointments to the board of the BTA.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 5 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many tourists arrive directly in Scotland from the USA and Canada each year, in total and broken down by the airport of arrival, and what proportion of the total number of tourists arriving in the UK from the USA and Canada each of these figures represents.
Answer
The last year for which information is available is 1998. It is as follows:
Entry | USA visitors | as a % of tourists arriving in the UK from USA | Canadian visitors | as a % of tourists arriving in the UK from Canada |
| Edinburgh Airport | 13,000 | 3% | 4,000 | 3% |
| Glasgow Airport | 109,000 | 23% | 68,000 | 50% |
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 06 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 5 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has power to give the British Tourist Authority (BTA) directions and guidance regarding the marketing of Scotland abroad; if so, whether it has given any such directions or guidance and, in particular, whether it has given the BTA any instructions regarding the promotion of Scotland as an arrival and gateway destination for the rest of the UK.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not have any direct influence on BTA operational matters. These are for the organisation itself to determine. The BTA is required to work closely with the Scottish Tourist Board. The two boards have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding, which sets out what each will do to promote Scotland overseas. Scotland benefits from BTA activity in 27 primary markets overseas.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 14 August 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 4 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to local authorities regarding the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 to the term contracts for the management and maintenance of trunk roads which are currently being considered and whether it considers that this guidance is in line with the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on "Staff Transfers in the Public Sector" issued in January 2000.
Answer
I refer Mr MacAskill to the answer given on 25 August to question S1W-8984 which explains the guidance the Scottish Executive will be giving to both local authority and private sector bidders and that account has been taken of the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 04 May 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the advice it sought and obtained regarding the requirement of European legislation and directives to put CalMac routes out to tender and to do so on a two-thirds route basis and whether (a) any such advice was from within its own offices and its own legal advisors; (b) it has obtained any independent advice from members of the Scottish Bar and (c) it has obtained any advice from European law experts; whether it will provide full details of the advice, and what are the specific sections of the legislation or directives which require this process to take place.
Answer
The general policy of the Scottish Executive is that it does not disclose legal advice, nor the fact that it has taken legal advice. It is not considered that there is any reason to depart from that policy in this case.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide revenue support to rural petrol stations.
Answer
Revenue support to rural petrol stations is available through the Village Shop Rate Relief Scheme. Under this scheme, rural petrol stations may be eligible for up to 100% rates relief. The Rural Petrol Stations Grant Scheme provides funding to rural petrol stations to help with the capital costs of replacing tanks and pumps, meeting groundwater protection needs and installing tanks and dispensers for the sale of liquid petroleum gas.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support rural petrol stations other than through the rural transport fund.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-10809.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to reduce the passenger service charge at Inverness Airport and what the reasons are for any such decision.
Answer
Any airport charges levied for the use of Inverness Airport are a matter for Highland and Islands Airports Ltd, the airport operator.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive when (a) Glasgow Airport and (b) Edinburgh Airport will reach their maximum operating capacities according to current projections of the growth of air traffic.
Answer
This is a matter for the British Airports Authority (BAA), the owner and operator of Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 02 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 1 December 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to extend the remit of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (SPTE) to cover freight transport and what the reasons are for its position on the extension or otherwise of SPTE's remit to include this issue.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no plans to extend the remit of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive as, in common with all Passenger Transport Executives, it was established to oversee and address the passenger transport needs of metropolitan areas.
