- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 18 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what economic assessments of the impact of the aggregates tax on the Scottish economy it has undertaken and what conclusions have been reached.
Answer
Assessment of economic impacts of UK taxation measures is the responsibility of HM Treasury. No separate assessment has been undertaken by the Scottish Executive.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 21 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 18 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has undertaken into Porcine Dermatitis Nephropathy Syndrome and Post-weaning Multi-systemic Wasting Syndrome in pigs.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has not commissioned nor undertaken research into Porcine Dermatitis Nephropathy Syndrome or Post-weaning Multi-systemic Wasting Syndrome. Research to investigate the role of candidate viruses in both diseases is being undertaken by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 20 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 17 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce open learning initiatives for ICT training in Peterhead.
Answer
The Scottish Executive established the Scottish University for Industry (SUfI), in 2000, to simplify access to all types of learning for everyone in Scotland through its learndirect scotland services. Through learndirect scotland people can now access learning in the way, place and time which suits them best. Where ICT training in particular is concerned a growing number of people are choosing to learn through local learning centres and SUfI has administered £8 million in Scottish Executive Capital Modernisation Fund support for development of modern, flexible learning centre provision throughout the country.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 25 October 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Wendy Alexander on 11 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to the European Commission's proposed Physical Agents directives first published in April 1993.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-19339 on 17 December 2001.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 January 2002
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Simpson on 10 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has given to the voluntary sector for undertaking work with those suffering from drug addiction.
Answer
The Executive values the contribution made by the voluntary sector to tackling Scotland's drug problems. Our direct funding includes £1.5 million per annum for Scotland Against Drugs, £200,000 per annum for the Scottish Drugs Forum, and £27,000 per annum for Crew 2000.Our additional allocation of £128 million over three years, to support Scotland's drug strategy, will help to fulfil our commitment to promote stable funding for the voluntary sector. It is enabling NHS Boards and local authorities to offer three-year funding to voluntary bodies which provide treatment and rehabilitation, and work with drug offenders.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 23 November 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 7 January 2002
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-19660 by Iain Gray on 16 November 2001, whether it will provide the information requested in respect of each year to date for which the supply of such information would not incur disproportionate costs to the Scottish Prison Service.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:As of Tuesday, 18 December 2001, the Scottish Prison Service houses approximately 251 convicted sex offenders who have been placed on the sex offender register who are serving four years and over. Their location is:
Prison | 2001 |
Shotts | 3 |
Polmont | 8 |
Peterhead | 187 |
Perth | 3 |
Kilmarnock | 5 |
Glenochil | 31 |
Edinburgh | 6 |
Cornton Vale | 2 |
Barlinnie | 5 |
Aberdeen | 1 |
Total | 251 |
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 21 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the postponement of the introduction of the aggregates tax in Northern Ireland will place Scottish industry at any competitive disadvantage.
Answer
Assessment of economic impacts of taxation measures is a matter for HM Treasury.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 21 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding it plans to make available to businesses to mitigate any adverse affects of the introduction of the aggregates tax.
Answer
Most of the revenues raised from the levy will be returned to business through a 0.1 percentage point cut in employers National Insurance Contributions. The Executive has no plans to provide additional support in connection with the aggregates tax.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 21 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the introduction of the aggregates tax will lead to any increase in the level of imports of finished stone products and whether this will have an adverse effect on Scottish businesses.
Answer
The levy will apply to imports, while exports will be exempt. The Executive, therefore, does not expect to see a large increase in the level of imported finished stone products.
- Asked by: Stewart Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 07 December 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 21 December 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail any representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government in relation to the economic and environmental impact of the introduction of the aggregates tax and the date of the tax's introduction.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the aggregates tax.
