- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 27 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of the ongoing study into the Scottish Tourist Board by PricewaterhouseCoopers, what remit was given and what the proposed date is for publication.
Answer
The STB estimate that the cost of the consultancy will be around £100,000. I announced on 6 July that as part of the Review of the Enterprise Networks, I was asking the Chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board to undertake a review of the structure and linkages of that organisation. The Chairman has undertaken to conclude the review by the end of October.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 09 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicol Stephen on 27 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what input it has to the management and operation of the New Deal scheme.
Answer
In response to a request from the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, the Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning provided the committee with a paper on the Scottish Executive's responsibilities and progress of New Deal in Scotland.
The paper was provided in March 2000, and a copy can be obtained from the Clerk to the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 27 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many backpackers visit Scotland annually; whether it has any information regarding (a) their countries of origin; (b) their modes of travel to Scotland; (c) their reasons for visiting; (d) the average length of their stays; (e) what accommodation is used and preferred by them; (f) the locations they visit, and (g) their modes of travel within Scotland, and what contribution it estimates is made by backpackers to the Scottish economy.
Answer
This information is not available.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 25 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote air freight.
Answer
The Scottish Executive recognises that the continuing growth and development of air freight is vital to the Scottish economy. The enterprise networks are working with Scottish airports, Scottish industry and freight carriers to build on the strong growth seen in air freight traffic over the last 10 years.
- Asked by: Kenny MacAskill, MSP for Lothians, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Sarah Boyack on 25 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to regulate the sale or disposal of land at ports and harbours.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has no plans to alter the regulation of the sale or disposal of land at Scottish ports and harbours under their existing statutory powers and duties conferred by local Acts and Harbour Orders.
- 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 Henry McLeish on 24 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has and what funding it will make available for the promotion of creative industries through (a) creative fellowships in further and higher education, (b) commercialisation funding in the public and private sector, (c) international research fellowships and (d) a programme of overseas exchanges, as set out in the Scottish Enterprise document Creative Scotland: Shaping the Future.
Answer
The Creative Industries Cluster Plan, developed by Scottish Enterprise in conjunction with the sector, identifies key strategic objectives which will be developed over the next three to five years. It also anticipates the timescales and resources which will be required to meet these objectives.
One of these key strategic objectives is the enhancement and development of the skills and talent base. Scottish Enterprise is now working with educationalists and skills training providers to identify key projects which sit within the framework of that overall objective. This is an area which is seen as a sustainable medium to long-term intervention on the part of SE and its cluster partners. The initial research carried out with the industries and educationalists and skills providers identified the provision of opportunities to learn from peers both in the UK and overseas as a priority. Any projects developed in the skill/training field will be put forward for approval in the context of SE's annual planning cycle.
In relation to commercialisation funding, the Creative Industries Cluster is eligible to apply for assistance to the Scottish Executive's Proof of Concept fund, which has been established to facilitate the commercialisation of innovative ideas. Scottish Enterprise will also, within the cluster context, seek to build relationships between innovators and the private sector as appropriate.
- 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 Henry McLeish on 24 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it has of any "brain drain" from the electronics industry and what representations it has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the taxation of stock options and the effect upon the industry in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not hold comprehensive data on a "brain drain" within the electronics industry but we are aware of reports on specific shortages in some firms and sectors. This is emerging as a worldwide problem and the Scottish Executive has made a commitment to support training for skills that match jobs for the future.
The taxation of stock options is reserved. The Scottish Executive holds discussions with UK Departments as necessary on a range of issues.
- 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 Henry McLeish on 20 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff in each office of (a) Locate in Scotland and (b) Scottish Trade International are involved solely in promoting tourism in Scotland.
Answer
None.
- 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 Henry McLeish on 20 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive what strategy it has to encourage visits by cruise liners to Scotland and whether any funding is available for this purpose.
Answer
This is an operational matter for the Scottish Tourist Board. 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: Friday, 06 October 2000
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Current Status:
Answered by Henry McLeish on 20 October 2000
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people from England and Wales visited Scotland on a short break in each of the last five years and how many it estimates will visit in each of the next five years, broken down in each case into the number visiting (a) Edinburgh, (b) Glasgow and (c) the rest of Scotland.
Answer
Number of holiday trips of 1-7 nights by UK residents (millions)(actual 1995-99, forecasts 2000-04)
| | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
Scotland | 4.6 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.9 |
Edinburgh | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
Glasgow | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Rest of Scotland | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.8 |
