- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10755 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 13 November 2000, how it will ensure that Scottish universities are not adversely affected by any e-university proposal; whether there is any organisation in existence which will, if necessary, protect the interests of Scottish universities in this context; what steps any such organisation has taken to promote its activities to the e-university committee and, if no such organisation exists, whether it will consider establishing one.
Answer
All universities and higher education institutions throughout the UK are currently being consulted on the proposed e-university business model. A UK-wide steering group for the e-university (e-U) has representation from a Scottish university, and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) also has observer status on that group, to ensure that Scottish institutions' interests are considered and to keep Scottish institutions informed of the group's work.SHEFC will consider all responses from Scottish institutions to the current consultation, which will inform its future policies.The e-U business model report refers to the existence of "Scottish Knowledge", launched in 1999, as "perhaps the most comprehensive e-development within the UK, set up by a group of Scottish universities and UK businesses to act as a commercial and global marketing partner. (It) has some similarities with (the) proposals for the e-U". It is clear that the e-U steering group, and the consultants who prepared the business model report, are well aware of Scottish developments.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote Aberdeen as a centre of expertise for the alternative energy sector and what funding is available to support any such plans.
Answer
The Executive, through Scottish Enterprise Energy Group based in Aberdeen, is actively encouraging companies in Scotland to consider diversification into the manufacturing opportunities which are beginning to arise from the Executive's promotion of renewable energy developments. Some of the technological expertise developed in support of the oil and gas industry might be relevant to renewable energy development, which will in future be further stimulated by our Renewables Obligation (Scotland).
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what direction and guidance it has given to Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise network regarding the provision of capital to assist expanding companies to develop, and what funding has been allocated for this purpose.
Answer
Guidance on the need to stimulate business development has been issued by Ministers to Scottish Enterprise and is embodied in the network's current strategy. The details concerning the provision of capital to assist expanding companies is a matter for the Enterprise Network and we do not ring fence resources for this purpose.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sam Galbraith on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken or proposes to take to encourage, promote and support research and development and manufacturing of subsea technology in Scotland; what finance has been made available for this purpose in each year from 1997 to the present, and what finance it intends to make available in 2001-02.
Answer
The funding of research and development of subsea technology is a reserved matter for the Department of Trade and Industry.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many business start-up grants each local enterprise company (LEC) paid in 1999-2000; what the average time taken between applications being submitted and start-up grants being paid was in each LEC area, and what the total value was of the start-up grants paid in each LEC area.
Answer
This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and I have asked the Chairmen to reply to the member. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits direct transatlantic air services bring to the Scottish tourism industry and what steps it is taking to promote current and additional direct transatlantic flights from Scottish airports.
Answer
Decisions on new transatlantic air services links are for the commercial judgement of airlines and airport operators who assess the potential for new services. The Executive, Scottish Enterprise and the STB play a supportive and influencing role in promoting new and improved links.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Morrison on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people travel to Scotland from the USA for golfing holidays annually (a) in total and (b) broken down by UK airport of arrival.
Answer
The Scottish Tourist Board estimates that around 60,000 visitors from overseas will play golf as part of their holiday. Information about country of origin is not collected, but STB believe that the majority will come from the USA. Information about UK airport of arrival is also not collected.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 03 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what financial or other resources have been provided, and to whom, in order to encourage and promote trade links between the Scottish oil and gas industry and the Faroe Islands.
Answer
The Scottish Executive already has established links with the Faroe Islands with, most recently, a visit to Scotland at the end of September by the Faroese Minister of Health and Social Affairs. These links have had a particular emphasis on co-operation in the oil and gas sector. In addition, the Export Partnership for north-east Scotland, which co-ordinates local export support in this region, is helping to arrange a trade mission to the Faroes in spring 2001.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 07 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 30 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many foreign students are in receipt of funding or a bursary from the British Council and have been annually since 1997, broken down by college or university and showing the amount of any such funding or bursaries.
Answer
This information is not held by the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 November 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 29 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will carry out an audit of skills in Scotland.
Answer
The employer-led National Training Organisations are responsible for providing information about current and future skills requirements based upon detailed knowledge of their sectors. NTOs operate on a UK-wide basis and audit the skills requirements of their sectors by a variety of means, such as:
conducting Skills Foresight surveys, and publishing the results;
gathering labour market intelligence, and
participating in skills benchmarking.Robust labour market information and intelligence systems are essential if sectoral skills shortages are to be forecast accurately and timeously. A new Scottish Labour Market Intelligence Unit is presently being established to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the information needed to inform decisions about steps needed to address current and future sectoral skills shortages.
