- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 July 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 10 August 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recommendations in the Enterprise and Culture Committee's 6th Report 2004 (Session 2), Renewable Energy in Scotland, whether it will impose a moratorium on all locally-opposed wind farm applications until it sets out a new national strategic framework for wind farm applications.
Answer
No. The Committee’s Report provides no support for a moratorium on wind farm development.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 12 July 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 9 August 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to HM Treasury on the impact of the introduction of whisky strip stamps on the Scottish economy.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including whisky tax stamps.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 July 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Lewis Macdonald on 9 August 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will develop a new national strategic framework for wind farm applications, as recommended in the Enterprise and Culture Committee's 6th Report 2004 (Session 2), Renewable Energy in Scotland.
Answer
We will respond to the committee’s report in due course.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 July 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 9 August 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty's Government regarding the impact of any proposals to amalgamate Scottish regiments.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including defence.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 July 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 28 July 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to compensate businesses that might be adversely affected by any ban on smoking in public places which results from its current public consultation on the issue.
Answer
The consultation andevidence gathering process currently underway will place a wealth ofinformation at the Executive’s disposal, including the potential costs andbenefits to businesses of different types of statutory controls. It is by nomeans clear that the impact on business would be negative. The ScottishExecutive always examines the scope for mitigating any cost likely to beincurred by businesses in determining the way forward and as with any proposalan economic impact assessment will be conducted.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 July 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Tavish Scott on 27 July 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it makes available to local authorities who make bids for civil service jobs to be relocated to their areas.
Answer
Each year the ScottishExecutive writes to the Chief Executive Officers of all local authorities and localenterprise companies to inform them of any new bodies which have been broughtinto the relocation programme and to request information on available property intheir area suitable for these organisations. A brief description of eachorganisation is included along with details of its size and space requirement andan indication of when relocation decisions are due.
A copy of the guidance whichsets out the considerations which are taken into account in relocation reviewsis also included in the letter.
Relocation officialsregularly meet with representatives from local authorities and local enterprisecompanies to assist with relocation issues.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 22 July 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive whether paying the fees of Scottish students studying in England would require the Executive to pay the fees of every European Union student at an English University
Answer
European Union anti-discrimination rules require us to treat students from European Union member states in the same way that we treat students who are nationals of our State with regard to tuition fee support. Ultimately it is for the courts to decide the definitive interpretation of such rules.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 25 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 22 July 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8939 by Mr Jim Wallace on 23 June 2004, whether its plans include ensuring that all people and businesses that are currently too remote from their local telephone exchange to receive asymetric digital subscriber line are able to access it.
Answer
The Scottish Executive is taking forward a procurement exercise to bring broadband to every community in Scotland by the end of 2005. This intervention is supplier neutral and will not stipulate any particular technology for providing access.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 23 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Ross Finnie on 5 July 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria were applied in relation to the reappointment of Alan Sutherland as Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland.
Answer
The Water Industry Commissioner (WIC) re-appointment falls within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Commissioner’s Code of Practice allows for first reappointments (i.e. a second term of office in the same role) to be made without open competition, provided a formal assessment has been carried out which confirms satisfactory performance during the first term of office.
A formal appraisal of the WIC was carried out by the Executive. This report allowed ministers to consider Mr Sutherland for reappointment.
- Asked by: Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 08 June 2004
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Current Status:
Answered by Andy Kerr on 2 July 2004
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of its business suppliers' invoices have been paid within 30 days of receipt since 1 January 2004.
Answer
Between1 January 2004 and 31 May 2004, 86.2% of the suppliers’ invoices processed by the Scottish Executive’s Accounting System were paid within 30 days of the date of receipt, orwithin the terms of specific contracts. This compares with 74.8% for the same periodin 2003, and 74.4% for this period in 2002, when teething problems with a new computerisedfinancial system led to a drop in levels of performance.
The Executive is taking a rangeof steps to improve performance. For example, the rollout of the EaseBuy electronic procurement system will ensure that these paymentsare made consistently and promptly. For low value ad hoc purchases the Governmentprocurement card operates like a credit card, ensuring that suppliers get paid withina few days by the credit card company, while the Scottish Executive gets a monthly consolidated invoice fromthe card company. For other items, we have analysed in which parts of the Executivelate payments arise, and are tackling those problems.
