Questions and answers

Question reference: S1W-02239

Asked by: Mr Lloyd Quinan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 21 October 1999
Current Status: Answered by Frank McAveety on 28 October 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive what the time-scale is for the implementation of a review of fuel poverty and energy efficiency in Scotland.

Question reference: S1O-00468

Asked by: Mr Lloyd Quinan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 20 October 1999
Current Status: Answered by Frank McAveety on 28 October 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive what the time-scale is for the implementation of a review of fuel poverty and energy efficiency in Scotland.

Question reference: S1W-01593

Asked by: Mr Lloyd Quinan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 1999
Current Status: Answered by Jack McConnell on 18 October 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive how many task forces it has initiated since July 1999, what their remits are, and who are the members of these task forces.

Details of the task forces initiated since July 1999 are below. Arrangements are being made to place this information in SPICe, and to update it on a six-monthly basis. Similar information will also be provided for policy reviews and consultation exercises.

(1) The Homelessness Task ForceRemitTo review the causes and nature of homelessness in Scotland; to examine current practice in dealing with cases of homelessness; and to make recommendations on how homelessness in Scotland can best be prevented and, where it does occur, tackled effectively.Membership

Title	Name
Ms	Jackie Baillie, Deputy Minister for Communities
Cllr	Rita Miller, Convener of Community Services, South Ayrshire Council (CoSLA)
Mr	Mark Turley, Director of Housing, Edinburgh City Council (CoSLA)
Cllr	Robert Aldridge, Director, Scottish Council for Single Homeless
Ms	Liz Nicolson, Director, Shelter Scotland
Ms	Margaret Taylor, Director, Glasgow Council for Single Homeless
Mr	Mel Young, Director, The Big Issue in Scotland
Mr	David Orr, Director, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
Ms	Pat Bagot, Policy and Practice Manager, Scottish Homes
Ms	Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Department of Urban Studies, Glasgow University
Mr	David Belfall, Head of Group, Development Department, Scottish Executive

(2) Poverty and Inclusion Task ForceSRemitTo promote the development and implementation of effective, integrated policies and programmes to promote social inclusion in Scotland, and to report progress to the Cabinet at regular intervals.Membership

Title	Name
Ms	Wendy Alexander MSP, Minister for Communities
Mr	Sam Galbraith MP MSP, Minister for Children and Education
Mr	Henry McLeish MP MSP, Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
Mr	Jack McConnell MSP, Minister for Finance
Ms	Susan Deacon MSP, Minister for Health and Community Care
Mr	Ross Finnie MSP, Minister for Rural Affairs
Ms	Jackie Baillie MSP, Deputy Minister for Communities
Mr	Kenneth MacKenzie, Head of the Scottish Executive Development Department
Mr	David Belfall, Head of Housing and Area Regeneration Group, SEDD
Mrs	Gillian Stewart, Head of the Children and Young People Group, SEED
Dr	Andrew Goudie, Chief Economic Adviser
Ms	Linda Rosborough, Head of Social Inclusion Division
Mr	Brian Fitzpatrick, Policy Unit
Mr	John McLaren, Policy Unit
Prof.	Duncan McLennan, Policy Unit

S This task force was initiated on 28 June but held its first meeting on 30 July.

Question reference: S1W-01745

Asked by: Mr Lloyd Quinan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 September 1999
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 13 October 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive what direct trade, both import and export, Scotland has with Indonesia, and what is the nature of that trade.

Scotland's manufactured exports to Indonesia last year amounted to £21.7 million. The top three exporting sectors were: 1. Machinery and Equipment; 2. Electrical machinery and apparatus; 3. Pulp paper and paper products. It is not possible at this time to provide import figures for Scotland, as the only figures currently recorded are for the UK as a whole. However, Customs and Excise have put in place new procedures and will be able to provide figures for Scotland from January 2000.

Question reference: S1W-01741

Asked by: Mr Lloyd Quinan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 September 1999
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 13 October 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive how many students from Scotland have benefited from the UK Dance and Drama Awards Scheme and which local authorities have provided support funding to students receiving an award under the scheme and attending courses outside Scotland.

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland is currently providing support for two students who have been successful in obtaining Dance and Drama Awards for higher education courses outwith Scotland in session 1999-2000, the first year of this Scheme.Individual local authorities are responsible for considering applications for assistance from students who have secured places on further education courses under the scheme. Information on the number of students being assisted in this way is not held centrally.

Question reference: S1W-01666

Asked by: Mr Lloyd Quinan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 September 1999
Current Status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 7 October 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive what the remit is of the Kvaerner Energy Working Group, who serves on the group, and when reports from the group will be available to MSPs.

I set up the Kvaerner Energy Working Group on 2 August. The remit of the Working Group is to assist Kvaerner in finding a buyer for all parts of the Kvaerner Energy operation at Clydebank. It is not expected that there will be any written reports from the Group.

I chair the Working Party. The members of the Working Party are:

Tony Worthington, MP for Clydebank and Milgavie

Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milgavie

Councillor Andrew White, Leader of West Dunbartonshire Council

Tim Huntingford, Acting Chief Executive of West Dunbartonshire Council

Dave Anderson, Chief Executive of Dunbartonshire Enterprise

Malcolm Clark, former member of the Kvaerner Task Force

Robbie Robertson, Chairman of the Joint Shop Stewards at Kvaerner Energy

Alan Oakly, Convener of AEEU at Kvaerner EnergyJohn Mason, Head of Industrial Policy, Scottish Executive Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department.

Question reference: S1W-01594

Asked by: Mr Lloyd Quinan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 1999
Current Status: Answered by Donald Dewar on 5 October 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive in what circumstances it considers it reasonable to give a holding answer to a written question within 14 days rather than a substantive answer.

Question reference: S1W-01773

Asked by: Mr Lloyd Quinan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 23 September 1999
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 30 September 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1891 by Rhona Brankin on 20 September 1999, what level of assistance will be made available specifically to Dumbarton Football Club from the Football Trust, from sportscotland, and from any other national agencies under the direction of the Scottish Executive to allow the club to complete construction of its proposed new stadium.

Question reference: S1W-01591

Asked by: Mr Lloyd Quinan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 September 1999
Current Status: Answered by Sarah Boyack on 30 September 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to protect Scotland's maritime heritage.

The Scottish Executive recognises the importance of Scotland's maritime heritage, and the need to protect it. For example, sites of five historic wrecks lying in Scottish waters are protected by orders made by Scottish Ministers under Section 1 of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. Such designation orders ensure that any investigation of the shipwrecks are carried out in a respectful and responsible way.The Scottish Executive seeks to establish equal treatment for underwater archaeology with similar activity on land. It also aims to promote interest in, and appreciation of Scotland's underwater archaeology. In natural heritage terms there are already 19 candidate Special Areas of Conservation in Scotland, proposed under the EC Habitats and Species Directive, for a range of marine interests. The Scottish Executive is awaiting advice from its statutory nature conservation advisers on the identification of areas appropriate for classification as marine Special Protection Areas under the EC Wild Birds Directive.

Question reference: S1O-00390

Asked by: Mr Lloyd Quinan, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 September 1999
Current Status: Answered by Rhona Brankin on 30 September 1999

To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1891 by Rhona Brankin on 20 September 1999, what level of assistance will be made available specifically to Dumbarton Football Club from the Football Trust, from sportscotland, and from any other national agencies under the direction of the Scottish Executive to allow the club to complete construction of its proposed new stadium.

Chamber and committees