- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 16 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its developed proposals on methodology for the national indicators on Scotland Performs, as referred to on the Scotland Performs website.
Answer
The methodology for evaluating the latest change is published on the website and comments on this have been invited. Any improvements to the methodology will be published in due course.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 16 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 16 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scotland Performs will be independently monitored and, if so, by whom.
Answer
The current methodology is transparent and therefore open to independent scrutiny by anyone.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 7 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive when it notified Scottish Water and Business Stream of its intention to extend the Water Charges Exemption Scheme until 2014.
Answer
Ministers published their draft 2010-14 Principles of Charging Statement (covering all aspects of future water charging policy including the continuation of the water services charges exemption scheme in its present form until 2014) on 30 May 2008.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 7 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether, when it notified Scottish Water and Business Stream of its intention to extend the Water Charges Exemption Scheme until 2014, it provided any guidance to them on the issuing of invoices for nil amount water and wastewater charges to charitable and voluntary organisations which qualify for exemption under the scheme.
Answer
With the recent opening of the retail market to competition, the billing of non-household customers is entirely an operational matter for retail services providers – in this case Scottish Water’s retail subsidiary, Business Stream.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 7 July 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the question S3W-14046 by Stewart Stevenson on 19 June 2008, in terms of financial magnitude what is meant by “minimal” in the reference to minimal costs.
Answer
With the opening of the non-household retail market to competition, questions about Business Stream’s detailed retail costs are a matter for it.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 25 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many premium rate numbers are used by (a) it, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies and what revenue it has derived from each such number in 2007-08.
Answer
Information Services and Information Systems (ISIS) Division manages telephony services used within the Scottish Government. ISIS does not use any 09 or other premium rate numbers in the provision of telephony services.
Information on the use of 09 or other premium numbers across agencies and non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and therefore we are unable to provide the information requested in relation to these bodies.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 25 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the First Minister has had with the Secretary of State for Scotland on the preparation of legislative proposals for a referendum on independence for Scotland.
Answer
None. The government’s proposals and a draft Referendum Bill are set out in Choosing Scotland’s Future – a National Conversation, published on 14 August 2007. The Scottish Parliament will be invited to consider the draft bill in time for a referendum to take place in 2010.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 12 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 25 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive which of its departments use premium rate telephone numbers and for what purpose.
Answer
Information Services and Information Systems Division (ISIS) manages telephony services used within the Scottish Government. The division does not use any 09 or other premium rate numbers in the provision of telephony services.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 13 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 19 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the recommendations in the Crerar Review, The Report of the Independent Review of Regulation, Audit, Inspection and Complaints Handling of Public Services in Scotland, are being accepted; will be implemented, and on what dates.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s response to the Crerar Review was published in January 2008. The response deals with each of the 42 review recommendations and makes clear that 30 have been accepted in full for implementation. The response identifies a further five recommendations which have been accepted in principle, pending consideration of the practicalities in more detail. The remaining seven recommendations required further work before a view could be reached on acceptance and implementation by government.
On dates, some recommendations have already been implemented, while others require legislation, or rely on detailed work being undertaken with delivery partners and so will take longer to achieve. This government is determined to make progress as quickly as possible, but has listened to the advice given in Parliament on the need for caution and consideration on changes which could impact on vulnerable service users.
- Asked by: Tavish Scott, MSP for Shetland, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 June 2008
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 19 June 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive why charitable and voluntary organisations which qualify for exemption from water and waste water charges under the Water Charges Exemption Scheme have been sent invoices by Business Stream for nil amount water and waste water charges for 2008-09.
Answer
With the recent opening of the retail market to competition, billing of non-household customers is entirely an operational matter for retail services providers in this case Scottish Water’s retail subsidiary, Business Stream.
We understand, however, that nil rated bills are issued to customers who are exempt from paying for their water services. This is to maintain contact with these customers, encouraging them to advise the retail services provider should their circumstances, and therefore their eligibility for the scheme, change. We also understand that costs associated with billing these customers are minimal.
