- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Angus MacKay on 13 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding any impact which the levying of VAT on youth hostel charges has on tourism in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the United Kingdom Government on a wide range of issues.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 13 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote and assist Scottish e-university facilities, in particular what financial assistance will be available for this purpose and to whom; who will be able to access any such financial assistance, and what criteria will be used to allocate any such financial assistance.
Answer
The funding bodies for UK Higher Education, including the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC), are currently consulting on a model for an e-university. This might operate across and beyond the UK. The SHEFC will consider next steps, including any funding implications, after this consultation closes in late November 2000.
- 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 David Steel on 9 November 2000
To ask the Presiding Officer whether the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body staff are precluded from purchasing Scottish Parliament Christmas cards and what the reasons are for its position on this matter.
Answer
For the purpose of clarification, I can confirm that Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body staff are able to purchase Scottish Parliament Christmas cards. Where these are for personal use, the purchase and postage costs must, of course, be met by the individuals themselves.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 9 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what direction and guidance it has given to Scottish Enterprise and local enterprise companies regarding the use of rail freight.
Answer
None. The development of rail freight is the responsibility of the shadow Strategic Rail Authority which has at its disposal considerable resources to assist and encourage the continued growth of rail freight. The Executive is also committed to transferring freight from road to rail and water borne modes of transport. We recently announced a doubling of expenditure on Freight Facility Grants to £36 million up to March 2004. The scheme's target for removing lorry miles from Scottish roads was also increased from 15 to 18 million per annum.
As part of its existing support for the Scottish business community, SEn assists its customers in accessing relevant Government programmes, including the Freight Facility Grants scheme.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 26 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Jack McConnell on 9 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the use of youth hostels during off-peak periods by education authorities and other such bodies, whether any funding is available for this purpose and, if so, which organisations have access to such funding.
Answer
It is for education authorities and other public bodies to decide whether they use youth hostels during off-peak hours. There is no central government funding specifically for this purpose.
- 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 Alasdair Morrison on 9 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the British Tourist Authority concerning the promotion of Scotland overseas.
Answer
I meet regularly with officials of the BTA. Officials of the Scottish Tourist Board work closely with their colleagues in the BTA when planning the marketing of Scotland overseas.
- 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 Wendy Alexander on 8 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has to allow Scottish tourism to benefit from any increase in tourism in Northern Ireland and what the benefits may be from this on a regional basis.
Answer
STB is responsible for the marketing of Scotland throughout the UK. I will ask the Chairman to write to you.
- 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 Sarah Boyack on 6 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8562 by Sarah Boyack on 22 August 2000, whether there are any European destinations in respect of which direct air links with Scotland would be particularly beneficial to the Scottish economy and, if so, why, and what action it will take to promote such links.
Answer
Direct air links between Scotland and European destinations can have benefits for the Scottish economy. Decisions on the development of new links are, however, for the commercial judgement of airlines as well as airport operators who assess the potential for new services. The Enterprise Networks and others with a relevant interest in the establishment of new links can also assist in determining the need and demand for such services.
- 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 Sarah Boyack on 6 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it proposes to give to the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority regarding direct Scottish freight and passenger links to the Channel Tunnel.
Answer
European rail services are a reserved matter. The Scottish Executive has no statutory authority to issue advice to the shadow Strategic Rail Authority concerning direct Scottish freight and passenger links to the Channel Tunnel. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a range of rail matters.
- 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 Sarah Boyack on 6 November 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been advised of the outcome of the British Railway Board's recent review of regional international services with reference to section 40 of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987; if so, whether it will publish the information it has received; if not, whether it will make representations to Her Majesty's Government requesting publication of this information, and what input it had to the review.
Answer
European and International railway services are reserved matters. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the Strategic Rail Authority on a range of railway matters.
